A “truck rental” can mean many things from needing an extended cab to pick up a couch you scored on Craigslist to a massive moving truck to get into your dream home across state lines. If you’ve ever been a truck owner yourself, you know to steer clear of calls from friends when you’ve caught wind that they’re moving—when space and power on wheels are necessary, everyone wants access to a truck.
Unfortunately for many, truck ownership just isn’t feasible. They don’t offer the best gas mileage for a daily commuter, they can take up way too much space for an urban dweller, and they’re not going to fit into those compact spots for those who are regulars at the mall.
However, when you need a truck, you need one that’s up for the job.
- When You’re Moving
Whether you want to move your entire one-bedroom condo in a big moving truck or simply take the big pieces of furniture in a king cab, a truck is a must when moving. Renting a truck and loading it as well as driving it yourself can save you a lot of money. However, also keep these moving tips in mind:
- Pack room by room as early as possible
- Load an emergency bin last complete with favorite tools, checkbooks, and other daily necessities
- Consider hiring professionals to at least load the truck, then drive it yourself
- Make sure your property is insured while en route
- When You Bought Furniture
Consider this: The delivery fee for a single couch could be up to $100. If you buy more furniture, you might get charged per piece. It can easily cost 25 percent of that to rent a spacious truck for the entire day. The benefits of truck rental over delivery include:
- No being stuck at home to make the “delivery window”
- You don’t have to add tipping into the mix
- You can take care of a number of other tasks that require a truck the same day
- Your furniture shopping isn’t dictated by delivery fees
- When You’re Going on a Weekend Warrior Adventure
You have the jet skis, the inflated tubes or the snowmobiles—but now what? It doesn’t make sense to buy a truck if you only head into the great outdoors with all your gear a few times per year. Renting a truck for the weekend gives you all the space you need for great outdoor activities like:
- Hunting and fishing
- ATVing or snowmobiling
- Skiing and snowboarding
- Camping and overnight hiking
Plus, trucks can access dirt roads and rough terrain better than any commuter car. You’ll simply be in better hands behind the wheel of a truck.
- When You’re Headed to a Roundup
If you’ve never been to a “roundup” before—a rodeo that’s reached festival level—you’re missing out. They happen around the country and feature rodeo finals, BBQ competitions and a raucous good time. Everyone embraces their inner cowboy or cowgirl, and it’s the perfect opportunity to slip into your Wranglers, boots and a ten-gallon hat.
However, everything comes crashing down if you pull up in a Prius. Renting a truck completes the adventure, and you can finally decide which side of the fence you fall on—Ford or Chevy.
- When Garage Saleing or Antiquing
These are true treasure hunts and you’re never sure what you might discover—which is exactly why you need a truck. What happens if you stumble across the perfect antique secretary you’ve always wanted, but didn’t know until you saw it?
To make the most of a Saturday hitting the sales, get a truck rental just in case. It frees you up to score the deal of a lifetime.
The Kicker Blog 