On this page · 6 min read
- What does the chooser ask?
- How does the chooser pick a size?
- How does the chooser handle hitches and towing?
- What should you have ready when you call?
- What are the chooser's limits?
- How do you reserve what the tool suggests?
- Can you handle your car and your move in one trip?
- What does the chooser suggest for a few common moves?
- Should you tow a trailer yourself or drive a truck?
- How should you measure your largest items?
- FAQs
The U-Haul Size Chooser asks how many rooms you are moving, which large items you have, whether the trip is in-town or one-way, and whether your vehicle has a hitch. It suggests a truck, cargo van or trailer, names a backup size, and reminds you about the hitch check. Reservations at this location are by phone: call (909) 608-7699.
Try the tool
This tool gives general guidance only. Your owner's manual and an in-person inspection come first.
What does the chooser ask?
- Rooms to move: studio, one, two, three, or four and up, plus garage or storage unit
- Large items: sofa or sectional, king or queen bed, dresser, refrigerator, washer and dryer, piano, patio set
- Trip type: in-town or one-way to another city
- Towing a car: yes or no
- Hitch on your vehicle: yes, no, or not sure
- Packing style: light and tidy, or lots of boxes and loose items
Be generous with the large items list. Forgotten pieces, such as a treadmill in the garage, a grill on the patio or a crib in the back room, are the usual reason a truck fills up before the house is empty. If you are moving only part of a home, count the rooms you are emptying, not the rooms you live in.
How does the chooser pick a size?
The tool starts with a base size from your room count, using typical guidance: a 10-foot truck for a studio, a 15-foot truck for one to two bedrooms, a 20-foot truck for two to three, and a 26-foot truck for larger homes.
Then it adjusts. Several large appliances, a sectional, a garage or a heavy packing style move the suggestion up one size. A very light load with no large items may move it toward a cargo van or trailer if you have a hitch. It always shows a backup size, since truck specs should be confirmed when you call.
How does the chooser handle hitches and towing?
If you say you have a hitch, trailers become an option for small loads. If you are not sure, the tool suggests a truck or van and tells you how to check.
If you plan to tow a car, the tool adds a tow dolly or auto transport to the suggestion and notes that compatibility depends on both vehicles. Every result that involves towing includes a reminder: we check your hitch, ball, pin and lights before you leave. See the towing inspection.
What should you have ready when you call?
The call goes faster with a few details in hand.
- The size the chooser suggested and the backup size
- Your pickup date and time, and how long you need the equipment
- In-town or one-way, and the destination city for one-way trips
- For towing: the year, make and model of your tow vehicle and of any car you plan to tow
- Your hitch ball size, if you know it
- Measurements of your largest items
If you are unsure about any of these, call anyway. We walk through them with you.
What are the chooser's limits?
The tool does not know the exact dimensions of your furniture or your street. It cannot check live availability or rental rates, and it cannot reserve equipment. Truck specs can change, so the sizes it suggests are typical guidance.
- Measure your largest items before you call.
- Check whether your street or building has height or length limits.
- Confirm specs, availability and pickup details by phone.
For a deeper look at each option, read the U-Haul size guide.
How do you reserve what the tool suggests?
Call (909) 608-7699 to reserve. Tell us the suggested size, your date, whether it is in-town or one-way, and what you are towing, if anything. Month-end dates and weekends fill up first, so call early.
At pickup, we walk around the equipment with you, checking fuel, cleanliness and lights, and inspect your hitch if you are towing. Return it with the same fuel level. See reserve a U-Haul.
Can you handle your car and your move in one trip?
Yes. The shop does tires, brakes and repairs on the same lot as the rentals. If your own vehicle will tow a trailer or carry a heavy load, a quick tire and brake check before moving day makes sense. Mention it when you call to reserve.
See hitch and tow package for hitch questions and tire installation if your tires are due.
What does the chooser suggest for a few common moves?
These examples show how the adjustments play out. Sizes are typical guidance only; confirm current specs when you call.
| Your move | Likely suggestion | Backup |
|---|---|---|
| Studio with a bed and a few boxes, in town | About a 10-foot truck or a cargo van | A 15-foot truck if a sofa joins the list |
| One bedroom with a sectional plus washer and dryer | About a 15-foot truck | A 20-foot truck |
| Two bedrooms plus a packed garage | About a 20-foot truck | A 26-foot truck |
| Dorm room or small storage unit, vehicle with a hitch | A cargo trailer | A cargo van |
| Three bedrooms, one-way, towing a car | About a 26-foot truck with a tow dolly or auto transport | Size up, since a second one-way trip is rarely practical |
Your own list may fall between two rows, which is exactly why the result shows two sizes.
Should you tow a trailer yourself or drive a truck?
Towing a trailer with your own vehicle suits small loads when the vehicle, hitch and lights are ready. A truck is simpler for bigger moves and for anyone who has never backed up a trailer. The chooser leans toward a truck when you mark the hitch as not sure.
Before you decide to tow, look at:
- Your vehicle: its towing capacity is in the owner manual; stay under it.
- Your hitch: ball size, receiver and safety chain points have to match the trailer.
- Lights: the plug must run brake, turn and tail lights on the trailer.
- Your route: foothill grades and packed freeway lanes are harder with a trailer behind you.
- Your tires and brakes: a loaded trailer adds heat and stopping distance.
We check the hitch and lights at pickup either way. If something does not match, a truck may be the easier answer that day.
How should you measure your largest items?
Measure your three or four biggest pieces before trusting any size suggestion. The length, width and height of a sectional, a tall dresser, a refrigerator or a piano decide whether the smaller option will work.
- Measure each piece at its widest point, including legs and handles.
- Note which pieces come apart, such as bed frames and table legs.
- Measure doorways, hallways and stairwells at both addresses.
- Write the numbers down and read them to us on the call, so we can compare them with current specs for the size you are considering.