When a home lease ends or new opportunities arise, there are many things people need to do to move. One of those things is renting a U-Haul truck that meets a household’s needs. Many like the idea of a 15-foot truck but want to have additional information before reserving one is vital.
A 15-foot U-Haul truck has a 40-gallon gas tank. This vehicle travels approximately 10 miles per gallon of gas, which is considered good gas mileage due to the vehicle’s weight and size, the weight of the additional cargo, and general road conditions.
Knowing a moving truck’s gas mileage is helpful, as it can help you plan and create a gas budget. However, many other factors must be considered before renting a moving truck. These things include the dimensions, what can fit in a 15-foot truck, and tips to help improve the truck’s gas mileage.
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What are the Dimensions of a 15-foot truck?
The dimensions of a 15-foot U-Haul truck are unique compared to some of the smaller rental models. The truck has a lot of room, being 15 feet in length, 7’8 ” wide, and 7’2 ” high. This is significantly larger than the classic 10-foot model.
The truck also has an overhead area for additional packing space that the other models do not have. This area is at the very back of the truck and sits above the driver and passengers. The space is nicknamed “Mom’s Attic” and is usually used for smaller, more fragile items like picture frames, sculptures, and instruments.
This truck is marketed for people who are moving out of a one-bedroom home or a two-bedroom apartment. This vehicle has a ramp attached that allows people to move things in and out of the truck much easier. Some common items the vehicle is said to hold easily include a King-size mattress, a matching bed frame, a washer and dryer, a fridge, dressers, and a couch. It is also estimated to be able to hold up to 6,385 pounds and tow around 10,000 pounds. This vehicle is perfect for those wanting to tow one vehicle, as it might even be able to tow multiple vehicles depending on the weight of the cars it tows.
What Can Realistically Fit in a 15-Foot Truck?
However, it is also important to see what people have been able to fit in this truck size, which sometimes doesn’t match the marketing. Some people can fit much more in a 15-foot truck, especially when aided by professional movers.
This person claimed that they were able to fit a king-sized bed, a queen-sized bed, two twin beds, three dressers, three nightstands, a foldable dining table, and about 40 boxes in one of these trucks. They remarked that it is best to go by weight when considering the size of the rental truck. Others mentioned that they were only able to move much less and suggested that the same individual with four beds should go up a size and rent a 20—or 26-foot truck.
The main thing to consider when determining rental size is how adept the person/household is at moving items. Some people can afford professional help and will be okay sizing down at times. Others are new at moving or just not quite at a professional level and would benefit from getting a larger truck.
People often underestimate how much stuff they actually own. The space in the truck can also be impeded by the wheel wells. The most accurate way to know what size vehicle you need to rent is to measure the items needing to be moved. If the items measured can fit in the dimensions given for a 15-foot truck, it is likely that they can fit everything in a 15-foot truck.
Tips to Help Improve Gas Mileage and Moving
U-Haul is aware that people want to be cautious and efficient with gas, especially given how gas prices have risen since the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the vehicles have been equipped with a few different tools, use regular gas instead of diesel, and are even designed with the most aerodynamic shapes possible to decrease drag.
U-Haul has tools that allow people to be more fuel efficient, including a monitoring system. This system can assess the speed at which a person should travel for optimal gas usage. This is said to reduce the fuel cost by 20%! This can help someone save several dollars, especially considering the vehicle has a 40-gallon tank. Another tip is to try to have the tires at the correct air pressure. When the tires are pumped with the correct air, they can move efficiently and require less gas to gain and maintain momentum.
Another helpful tip is to balance the vehicle correctly when packing. The correct way to pack a vehicle is to put 60% of the weight as close as possible to the vehicle’s front end. This includes putting furniture in first and stacking light things on top of it. It is also recommended that the lightest objects and boxes be put in last. Both of these tips help the vehicle keep the weight central, which allows for less fuel to be burned to get the vehicle up to speed.
This last fact might surprise some! When picking a route, it is best to find one with few stops and a speed limit of up to 50 miles per hour. When people drive over 50 miles per hour, the car’s fuel efficiency rapidly decreases. A similar occurrence happens when people are inconsistent with their speed. Putting the moving vehicle at 50 miles per hour on cruise control is best to promote better fuel efficiency.
Now that you understand and have this knowledge, you are better empowered to choose the best rental vehicle size. You will also be able to move your belongings easily, efficiently, and within your financial means.