Cross Country in a UHAUL? Tell your experience.

Breakdowns.

 

Probably not the same, but I just took a UHaul trailer out to California and back. The trailer got a flat one day and they were there in 30 minutes to replace it.

 

ryder is cheaper.

 

I drove a Uhaul from Houston to Seatle about 10 years ago. It was fun.

 

I worked for a moving company parttime through college, and even as a second job early in my career. The company owned Ryder trucks, but occasionally didn't have enough, and would rent UHauls. UHaul doesn't maintain their trucks well at all, and breakdowns are common.

Ryder doesn't do one-way rentals. They sold that business to Budget.

 

I did a move from Chicago to Houston in a UHaul. Took 2 days. It was a fairly expensive rental, but went fine. I remember the cabin noise was very loud, so it was hard to talk to my wife or listen to music. The best rest stop was in Mississippi.

 

Are you posting from your grave, Panda Bear?

 

I would never want to ride across country in one of those monstrosities. I just relocated to SF, and I sold all my furniture before I left Austin.

 

That's more like half or 3/4 country.

 

Uhaul from Houston to Eau Claire, Wisconsin. No breakdowns, and generally an easy drive.

 

I've done this several times and it has been a huge suck each time. I've learned it is much easier to have a moving company do it.

 

Haven't done it myself, but a good buddy has pulled a U-Haul trailer between Texas and California 5-6 times now. With his Toyota Carolla.

 

Took a UHaul van from Austin to Flagstaff one time. Not quite cross country, but a good long trip nonetheless.

PROS:
- The A/C worked just fine
- The seats were comfy and there was plenty of space to stretch out
- The truck did not break down.
- Saw some pretty scenery.

CONS:
- The radio sucked. Tried an FM transmitter with an MP3 player, it was pretty awful. No music = not so much fun.
- Speed. Or, rather, the lack thereof. Truck would not go faster than 60-65, which in West Texas, is nothing. Trip took longer than I originally planned.

 

I'd do Penske.
in my experience, UHaul is more for local moving. They aren't maintained well enough for long distances.

 

I just got done with a North Carolina to NYC trip in a Budget rental truck. It was fairly expense, but probably cheaper than getting all new furniture and having to get it all shipped to my apartment. I'd never driven a truck that big, so at first it was kind of like learning to drive all over again. After a few hours though driving on the freeway was really easy. Luckily, I didn't get into the city until late and there wasn't too much traffic.

 

how about from dallas to houston?

i def don't want to be on the side of the road with a giant uhaul truck.

 

agree, only way to go for long hauls is Penske.