When looking for the perfect U-Haul for your needs, you’ll want to ensure that the truck dimensions will fit all the items you need to move. We’re here to help! In this article, we will go over all you need to know about the measurements of the 20-foot U-Haul truck and what you can fit inside it.
The length, width, and height dimensions of the 20-foot U-Haul truck box are 19 feet 5 inches by 7 feet 8 inches by 7 feet 1 inch. These dimensions include the over-the-cap dimensions of 2 feet 6 inches by 7 feet 8 inches by 2 feet 7 inches, which provides extra storage space for valuables.
To learn more about the 20-foot U-Haul truck measurements and all you’ll need to know about the truck before renting, continue reading!
Contents
Box Dimensions & What Can Fit Inside
The box dimensions of a U-Haul include only the truck bed and box, where you’ll be loading all the items you need to haul. This does not include the entire length of the truck, from the end of the trailer hitch to the front bumper, nor does it include the entire height, from the roof of the box to the ground. Instead, the box length, width, and height dimensions are 19 feet 5 inches by 7 feet 8 inches by 7 feet 1 inch.
These dimensions also include the dimensions of the over-the-cab storage space, which is referred to as the “Mom’s Attic.” This storage space is meant for smaller, more fragile items to protect them from the larger, heavier items on the main deck. On its own, the “Mom’s Attic” has a length, width, and height of 2 feet 6 inches by 7 feet 8 inches by 2 feet 7 inches.
The dimensions of the box as a whole, once you’ve subtracted the dimensions of the “Mom’s Attic,” will be 16 feet 10 inches by 7 feet 8 inches by 7 feet 1 inch. This is how much space available deck space you’ll have for loading and stacking boxes and furniture onto. The total dimensions of the entire box, including the “Mom’s Attic” storing space, calculate to the total volume of 1,016 cubic feet.
To use up this total volume, you’ll be able to store a large apartment’s worth of items, or even store an entire 2 to 3-bedroom home’s worth of stuff. This includes up to two king-sized mattresses plus their bed frames and box springs, as well as some regular-sized furniture including a sectional couch, end tables, a coffee table, a medium-sized dining table with 6 chairs, and you’ll be able to fit all your other household items packed into boxes.
Deck Height & Loading Ramp
The deck height is included in the overall height of the truck itself, which greatly contributes to the overhead maximum clearance, both of which we will discuss later on in this article. The total height from the top of the box deck to the ground is 35 inches, which is close to 4 feet, and because the deck height is low compared to many other box trucks, it makes for easier loading and unloading.
While a near 4 feet deck height is a bit higher than the deck height of the 10, 15, and 17-foot U-Haul trucks, the 20-foot truck comes equipped with a loading ramp, which makes loading and unloading the truck even easier. This loading ramp has a width of 2 feet and 2 inches, so you’ll have plenty of space to walk across the ramp or wheel items up the ramp with a moving dolly.
Overall Truck Size Measurements
When considering how large the truck is, we will take into account the measurements of the entire width of the truck, plus the length of the truck including the cabin, and the height of the truck from the top of the box roof to the ground. The total height will include the height of the box plus the deck height, or 7 feet 1 inch plus 35 inches.
With these considered, the overall length, width, and height of the truck are 26 feet 7 inches by 7 feet 8 inches by 10 feet. The overall truck length and height are important to ensure whether or not you will be able to fit it in your garage or in a parking spot, as well as to determine the height clearance.
Maximum gross vehicle weight
The maximum gross vehicle weight includes both the weight of the empty truck by itself and how much weight the truck will be able to haul inside of it. The truck’s empty weight is 8,800 pounds, but it can run on a total weight of 14,500 pounds once loaded. This means that you will be able to load up to 5,700 pounds onto the truck deck.
Exceed this amount and you could compromise the weight distribution of the entire truck and create problems for the truck’s ability to haul the weight of the load you place onto it, so it won’t be able to drive efficiently or effectively.
Towing capacity
Knowing the towing capacity of your U-Haul can help you determine how much additional weight you will be able to load onto a trailer attached to the back hitch of the truck. The towing capacity of the 20-foot U-Haul truck is up to 7,500 pounds, meaning it can pull your family car, an open bed trailer, or even a closed trailer with additional cargo. You can rent these trailers or a car carrier or car dolly from U-Haul, making for an easy pickup or drop off of both your U-Haul truck and trailer.
The towing capacity is lower for this truck than it is for smaller-sized U-Haul trucks because it is already able to hold much more weight than smaller trucks because of its larger truck bed and longer truck height. Thus, it can store more. The difference in pounds that it cannot tow is made up for in how much it can haul inside the truck itself.
Height clearance
Whenever you are driving a large vehicle, it’s important to know the height clearance so that if ever you need to drive through a parking garage, a drive-through, a motel, or a bridge while driving, you’ll be able to know if the truck can fit beneath it. Nobody wants to get stuck during their move, as this can cause expensive damage to the vehicle and tack extra hours onto your total rental payment.
The overall height clearance of all U-Haul moving trucks is 12 feet, so you’ll want to ensure that the height clearance bars and other overhangs indicate or appear to be 12 feet or higher. Luckily, U-Haul moving trucks don’t fluctuate too much in height differences, so you can expect the same height clearance regardless of which size of truck you choose to rent.