Trailer vs Truck

Trying to do a cost comparison of trailering a U-haul vs getting a Uhaul truck for a 300 mile one-way trip.

Comparing:

Truck:

-10 or

-15' box truck Uhaul

vs

Trailering with Tacoma

5x8 enclosed

or

5x10.


Basides the prices quoted, wanted to hear experiences if it is worth the hassle, gas money, wear on truck etc.

I have the tow package on the 3rd gen.

 

You still have to get the truck there since you say it's one way.

 

Last time I moved, I bought a 7x14 aluminum haulmark trailer I towed with my 3rd gen tacoma. I had to move a whole house and make a few trips so it was nice because I could do it at my convenience and I can sell the trailer for nearly what I've got in it if I wanted.

Really just depends on how much stuff you've got to move and how much space you need. Uhaul isn't always the cheapest when it comes to trucks or trailers but its convenient because they have a lot of locations. You can get all the costs right from their site.

Also if you get a uhaul truck, you'll still need to get your truck to the destination either with a driver or a car trailer.

 

I wouldn’t worry about wear and tear over 300 miles.
I towed this monstrosity


~4,800 miles



Truck handled it like a champ.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...st-to-coast-tow-test-mission-complete.524857/

 

You should've done that the other way around. Save the Toyota, make that Hyundai do some work.

 

Yup. But will be bringing a second person or just take a bus there.

 

My wife and I have moved 4 or more times since we have been together. Our last move was 4 hours away. I strongly suggest getting a bigger truck than you think you will need and then go back and get your Tacoma (with a small trailer if possible). We loaded a full 26 or 28’ straight truck and then went back to do some clean up and put out the trash. My 16’ car hauler had slat sides I built for it and it was pretty full of the odds and ends that we expected to fit in the cab. You really don’t realize how much stuff you have until you start loading it.

I would only try and move a dorm room with a 5x8 trailer. I have a 7x14 and I opted out of moving my wife’s aunt and uncle a block down the street. They took our advice and rented a 26’ straight truck for the “one” trip down the road. 3 trips later and they were moved.

 

I second this! I would look even at a Penske diesel 26' with a lift gate even. You could potentially load all your gear and have enough tow capacity left over to tow your truck safely.

 

That is positively inspiring! (and somewhat insane.)

 

Get the 5x8 or 5x10 and haul it one-way. Your Taco will do just fine with as much as you can cram in the trailer, unless you're hauling lead bricks. I towed a 5x8 from central NC to South Florida and back with no issues, other than decreased gas mileage. My truck is a 2011 DCSB 4x4, 5spd auto, 4L. You'll have to tow out of overdrive, otherwise the tranny will continually hunt, shifting in and out of OD. I got 14 mpg there and back (at 70-75mph on the I-state in 4th, you're turning 2800-3000 rpm), each way; that might seem odd, since the trailer was empty coming back, but the aerodynamics of the trailer is almost worse than how much is in it. My trailer is a V-nose, BTW; you'd think it would cut the wind better, but it's two feet taller than the truck cab, and there's quite a bit of turbulence of the air coming over the cab and swirling around over the bed and then around the trailer.

 

You'll fit less I a box truck than you think. An 8x10 trailer is even worse. Our last move was about 3k miles, rented a 26' penske and towed my wife's car behind it. Everything that was left was brought down on the 2nd trip in a 10' uhaul. And our last vehicle I just paid to ship, about $700 door to door..

 

The best config would be a bubble nose trailer. Hard to find trailers that are nice and round up front.

 

Depends on what the OP needs to haul. In my 5x8 V-nose, I had a queen box spring, mattress, headboard, footboard and frame, a 9 drawer dresser and its mirror, a 6 drawer armoire, the nightstand, a rolled up 8x12 area rug, a bicycle and a bunch of boxes and plastic bins full of kitchen stuff. I had room left over.

I rented a 15 foot U-Haul truck (smallest that has the space over the cab) once and moved furniture that filled a 2 bedroom apartment. Towed a Honda Civic on a dolly behind it, the car was also packed.

 

If you rent a box truck to move, get a tow dolly and take a small compact along. Drop off the truck and tow dolly, drive the compact back home. Re: "had to move a whole house", I was picturing something like this on a larger scale: