# We're moving: Share your experiences w/U-Haul, Penske, Budget? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 2, 2015, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-share-your-experiences-w-u-haul-penske-budget/739232 "2015-12-02T18:46:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-share-your-experiences-w-u-haul-penske-budget/739232/41 "2015-12-09T21:51:49Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > U-Haul will quote a low price for a rental. That price is _not_ what you’ll actually pay. You’re going to have to pay for insurance on the truck (which they will hard-sell you on by virtually _promising_ that if you don’t buy it, they’ll find something wrong with the truck that “wasn’t there before” and bill you for it.) You’ll have to pay to refill the tank, and heaven help you if the needle is a micrometer to the left of where it was when you picked it up or they’ll bill you for the price of the difference plus a “service charge” for the effort it took them to refill it. If you use the dolly that’s zip-tied to the inside of the truck, they’ll bill you for that. You’ll be required to put down a deposit on the truck which is considerably higher than the quoted rate, and it’ll take them a good long time to actually bother refunding you the difference. This is exactly what happened to our ex-housemates when they moved up here from MD last year. They hadn’t taken any of these fees into account when they reserved their truck because they either weren’t aware of them or weren’t told. It was a rather ugly scene when they returned the truck :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-share-your-experiences-w-u-haul-penske-budget/739232/42 "2015-12-10T02:14:30Z")
I used U Haul once. Well I tried. I needed a trailer that day to move a transformer. My son looked on line with U Haul to reserve the trailer, if it became avable. At 5:50 he got a text message that one was being held for us at the U Haul in San Jose. We jumped into my pick up and headed to U Haul. Called to tell them we would be coming in. Pulled into the lot at exactly 6:00 PM on a Friday night. An employee let us into the yard as another employee went back to the office and locked the door. The 1st employee went to his car and drove away. After looking at the trailer to b e sure it would work and no employee came out to help us we went to the office and found the door locked. After pounding on the door a employee came out the door and locked behind himself, and told us that the employee inside would be with us in a few minutes. And he left. In a few minutes the last employee came out and said they were closed and we should come back tomorrow morning. Problem was our plan was to pick up trailer, pick up transformer, and leave for Monterey as soon as we could. We were starting set after a 8:00 team breakfast the next morning. So we had to leave that night. Spent an several hours on the phone with U haul and the only response was tough that is the way we do business and we don’t care, if you don’t like it rent elsewhere. While I drove my son got on the phone to U haul customer service to complain about the situation. All we got was well I am sure you can drive back tomorrow and pick up the trailer. U Haul still charged me for the rental because I did not cancel 24 hours before the pick up time. I called my credit card and canceled the charge. U Haul had the nerve to dispute my claim because I did not follow policy and give 24 hours notice. I called the credit card company back and explained in detail the time line between being notified the trailer was back at the yard and U Haul closing with out notice even though I talked with them on the phone on the way letting them know I would be there a little after 6:00PM. This time the credit was reversed and it stayed reversed, U Haul was sent a letter from the CC company explaining that they do not offer their service to companies that take advantage of the CC companies customers and if they recieve more complaints like mine the contract with U Haul would be canceled. And the charge stayed reversed. I would not use U Haul unless there is no other option. ---
**Author:** ![birchtree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@birchtree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/birchtree)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-share-your-experiences-w-u-haul-penske-budget/739232/43 "2015-12-10T14:28:03Z")
Re U-Haul: The company seems to be “snake-bit”–FUBAR–with deeply embedded systemic problems. They might have patched up a few things after the 2007 LA Times articles [links in original post], but it’s still the same company, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-share-your-experiences-w-u-haul-penske-budget/739232/44 "2015-12-10T16:05:10Z")
U-Haul trucks are rickety pieces of shit, a fact of which I was grateful when I rented one and sideswiped a concrete pole while trying to maneuver a tight corridor to my storage unit. They either didn’t notice it among the other dents and scrapes, or didn’t care. I had to rent their biggest truck twice recently and I hope I never have to drive one again. ---
**Author:** ![botsgotme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@botsgotme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/botsgotme)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-share-your-experiences-w-u-haul-penske-budget/739232/45 "2015-12-10T16:10:45Z")
> [@mind\_the\_gap](#): > > I rented a U-Haul truck to move a load of stuff from Florida to the SanFran Bay area. I reserved a 17’ truck. When I went to pick it up, it was a 15’. “No 17 footers in the whole state!” Yeah. Thing is, a U-Haul 15’ isn’t a 15’, it’s a 12’. The truck has a little space that extends the box over the cab. They call it “moms attic” or some cutesy wootsey bullshit. They count that into the length of the truck, even though it can’t be fully utilized like the main box. I had to work like the devil to get 17’ worth of stuff in a 12’ truck. > Then there was the flat tire. Morning after I picked it up, the inner rear tire on the drivers side was flat. I pumped it up and drove to the dealer. “Well, we can get another truck in a couple days.” I pointed out to them that the wheel can be removed. You know, all those pretty little bolts in a circle. They couldn’t do that. I wasn’t going to unload the whole damn truck and reload it into another one of dubious quality. I filled the flat full of flat fixer, kept it pumped up and didn’t mention it on the other end. (by the way, their “full coverage” insurance doesn’t cover tires or the roof of the box.) > NEVER USE U-HAUL IF YOU HAVE ANY OPTION. > I’ve used Budget before, they were great. Indeed-most of the Uhaul trucks around here are junk. Anybody ever seen the old “U-Hell” site? It was hilarious…until UHaul lawyers got it shut down. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-share-your-experiences-w-u-haul-penske-budget/739232/46 "2015-12-11T03:31:19Z")
I do have to put in a good word for uHaul. They are overworked and often in bad shape. But they are a good option for local moves, especially if you are young and don’t have tons of furniture, and have friends willing to help you. I did once rent a uHaul pickup truck with a sprayed-in liner in the back. We used it to haul dead sod for a water runoff solution. The truck was clean and unmarked with only 6000+ on the odo. We hauled 150 rolls of sod (2 trips) and then cleaned the heck out of the bed and returned it. Yes, it cost more than initally advertised. But so very worth it for that job. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-share-your-experiences-w-u-haul-penske-budget/739232/47 "2015-12-11T04:57:08Z")
The last time I moved, I used UPack [http://www.upack.com/lp/abfupackmoving.asp?refnum=googleabf&c=G%2FBRAND%2FUS&g=E%2Fupack&m=exact&k=upack&ad=35766785956&test=yes&gclid=Cj0KEQiA4qSzBRCq1-iLhZ6Vsc0BEiQA1qt-ziyUMv7iFYWqXY\_BD9FomeKgCvtRcXj5cMkiBgxG-aEaAmu68P8HAQ](http://www.upack.com/lp/abfupackmoving.asp?refnum=googleabf&c=G%2FBRAND%2FUS&g=E%2Fupack&m=exact&k=upack&ad=35766785956&test=yes&gclid=Cj0KEQiA4qSzBRCq1-iLhZ6Vsc0BEiQA1qt-ziyUMv7iFYWqXY_BD9FomeKgCvtRcXj5cMkiBgxG-aEaAmu68P8HAQ) They drop off a trailer in your driveway. You load the trailer. They drive it to your new home and drop the trailer in your new driveway. You unload it. They take the trailer away. Total cost was $2k for a 1000 mile trip. Plus, if I was driving a moving van, we would have had to pay to ship one of the vehicles. It was also nice driving my own car and not feeling like I would die in a U-Hell death trap. ---
**Author:** ![birchtree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@birchtree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/birchtree)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-share-your-experiences-w-u-haul-penske-budget/739232/48 "2015-12-31T19:42:55Z")
I’m the OP–update for those interested–another data point: We went with Penske, 16-ft truck, one-way drop-off. From beginning to end–web site, phone contact, email confirmation, pickup, drive, return–total quality, fine experience; got 300-miles on one tank of gas– Thx for info– ---
**Author:** ![Oddball\_92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b3f665/32.png) [@Oddball\_92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oddball_92)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2016, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-share-your-experiences-w-u-haul-penske-budget/739232/49 "2016-01-02T03:02:10Z")
For what it’s worth, if you travel overnight in a rental truck and decide to stay in a motel, use caution. Rental trucks are real targets for thieves. Not only do they get the truck they get what’s in it. This type of crime is very common. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-share-your-experiences-w-u-haul-penske-budget/739232/50 "2016-01-03T01:47:20Z")
The only time I ever used a rental truck was in 1981. In one of the stupidest things I ever did, I tried to ride a motorcycle from western Indiana to New York. Throttle cable broke near an exit in Ohio so I and an Ohio state trooper (who just happened to be parked in a construction zone where it happened) jig rigged it to get it moving. I decided to get a U Haul and transport it back to New York. I don’t remember what the fee was, but the U Haul man was very helpful…helping me to strap it so it would stand up in the middle. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-share-your-experiences-w-u-haul-penske-budget/739232/51 "2016-01-03T03:01:20Z")
If you need service I think Penske has the best program, I spent 25 years with them. As for price I don’t have any idea. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-moving-share-your-experiences-w-u-haul-penske-budget/739232.md?page=2)