Moving with a cargo van is a great option for your move that many people may overlook. Not everyone lives in massive 6+ bedroom mansions. Most of us have a bit smaller moves to deal with, and for those people a cargo van can be the perfect solution to many of your moving day issues.
Parking
You may be lucky enough to live somewhere where parking is abundant, or you have a large driveway or loading area to use. For many, especially urban dwellers, this is not the case. If you can only load from a single assigned parking space, or need to parallel park on the street, then moving with a cargo van may be a wise decision. Cargo vans can be parked in most average parking spaces, and the shorter length makes it simpler to get it parked in the street. Once you are parallel parked, the side-loading doors make it easy to still load and unload your household goods.
Height Restrictions
Can you only access your apartment through a parking garage? Are there overhangs or low hanging trees between your house and the road? Moving with a cargo van allows you to get to many of these places where taller moving trucks could not go. The worst thing to deal with is a stuck or damaged truck on your moving day, just because you thought “It looks like the truck will fit.” Check the inside of the vehicle for your clearance, and always look for height restriction signs to be sure, but cargo vans are the best option.
Low Price
We know that money can be tight, and a move can come with many extra unexpected costs. At U-Haul, cargo vans are still priced from $19.95, and can have a much lower per mile rate than the larger moving trucks. If you are moving on a budget, this makes a van a great option for saving some money. Check out these posts for more information about budgeting for your move.
Space
It might surprise you how much you can actually fit in in a cargo van. Couches? Couches up to 9′ long will fit in the back of a cargo van. Beds? Full size mattresses will easily fit. There is room for all of that and more. The dimensions for the back doors on U-Haul cargo vans are approximately 5’1-1/2″ x 4’1-1/2″ (WxH), and you have 9’6″ x 5’7″ x 4’7″ (LxWxH) in the cargo area totally 245 cubic feet of space for your household goods. (Note: U-Haul has several different types of vans in its fleet, you should check with your local dealer for specifics). Check out this U-Haul video showing everything that can fit into the back of a cargo van for a household move:
Have you ever used a cargo van for a small move? Share your experience and tips here.
