U‑Haul Size Guide: Trucks, Vans, Trailers and Dollies

Size guidance is a starting point. Families with lots of boxes, a garage or oversized furniture often need the next size up. Confirm current dimensions and capacity when you call, since specs can change.

See which truck size do I need for more detail on each.

Measure the largest items first: the couch, the dresser, the refrigerator, the mattress. Write down length, width and height. Then compare them with the truck's interior and door opening, which we can confirm when you call.

Also count rooms, not just furniture. Boxes, lamps, rugs and garage shelves take more space than people expect. If you are on the edge between two sizes, the larger one usually saves a second trip.

A cargo van is easy to drive and park, and it keeps things out of the weather. It suits small moves, deliveries and a few large items. A trailer lets you use your own vehicle, which helps when you already have a truck or SUV with a hitch.

• Cargo van: no hitch needed, enclosed, good for tight streets. See cargo van.
• Enclosed cargo trailer: needs a hitch, keeps items covered.
• Open utility trailer: needs a hitch, good for yard waste, furniture that can get dusty, and tall items.

See cargo trailers and utility trailers.

A tow dolly lifts the front wheels of the car being towed while the rear wheels roll on the road. It typically suits many front-wheel-drive cars. An auto transport trailer carries the whole car with all four wheels off the ground, which suits more vehicle types, including many rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive cars.

Not every tow vehicle and not every towed car is approved for each option. Tell us both vehicles when you call, and we check compatibility before you reserve. See tow dolly and auto transport.

Before you tow anything, we check your hitch, ball, pin and trailer lights. A loose ball or a dead turn signal is a problem you want to find in the lot, not on the freeway. See the towing inspection.

We also walk around the equipment with you at pickup: fuel level, cleanliness, lights and any existing marks. At return, we do the same walkaround. Bring the truck back with the same fuel level and clean out your items to avoid disputes.

Month-end and weekends are the busiest times for moves, so call early if your date falls there. Reservations are by phone only: call (909) 608-7699 to reserve. We cannot show live availability on the website.

An in-town rental is picked up and returned here. A one-way rental is dropped at a location in another city. Tell us your destination when you call. See in-town rentals and one-way rentals.

A well-loaded truck drives better and protects your things. Put the heaviest items, like appliances and dressers, against the front wall of the box, low and centered. Fill gaps with boxes and tie the load in sections so it cannot shift.

Rental trucks are taller, wider and slower to stop than a car. Watch overhead clearance at drive-throughs and parking garages, leave extra following distance, and take turns wide. On a trailer, keep more weight toward the front than the back, and never exceed the rated capacity we confirm with you.

Most sizing trouble comes from counting furniture and forgetting everything else. The couch fits, then the patio set, the bikes and forty boxes show up on moving day. A second trip across town costs time and fuel that a bigger box would have saved.

• Leaving out the garage, side yard and storage closet
• Guessing a sectional's length instead of measuring each piece
• Forgetting that a mattress stands on edge and needs height
• Assuming a trailer adds room without checking the tow rating
• Booking the smallest truck for a long one-way trip with no chance to go back

Walk every room and outdoor space with a notepad before you call.

Pairing a truck with a trailer or a car hauler makes sense when you are moving a household and a second vehicle at once. It is also handy when the load is a good fit for a mid-size truck plus a few bulky outdoor items that can ride in an open trailer.

A single larger truck is simpler to drive, back up and park, especially on narrow residential streets. Towing adds length, wider turns and more to check at pickup. Ask about both setups when you call, and see truck plus trailer for how the pairing works.

A full truck or a car towing a trailer works much harder than it does empty. In inland summer heat, engines and transmissions run hotter, and tires on the tow vehicle build more pressure and heat on long freeway stretches.

• Check the tow vehicle's tire pressure cold, before loading, using the door sticker.
• On long downgrades, use a lower gear instead of riding the brakes.
• On climbs, watch the temperature gauge and ease off if it rises.
• Plan hot-weather moves for early morning when you can.

If your own car or truck is doing the towing, a brake and tire check on the same lot before pickup is easy to add.

A short call covers what a website cannot: current equipment, dimensions and fit for your plans. Have your list and measurements in front of you so the call goes quickly.

1. Which size do my rooms and largest items point to?
2. What are the current interior and door opening dimensions?
3. If I am towing, is my vehicle and hitch a match for this trailer?
4. What should I bring to pickup, and what time works?
5. For one-way, where can I drop it off?

Call (909) 608-7699 to reserve. For quick sizing before you call, try the U-Haul size chooser.