U-Haul U-Box® Moving Containers vs. 1-800-Pack-Rat
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What is the best moving-container company?
Moving and storage containers offer you a convenient moving and storage solution. Containers can be delivered to your home, allowing you to pack them at your own pace. When you are finished loading them, they can be stored at a nearby storage facility or shipped to your new destination. U-Box® containers and 1-800-Pack-Rat® containers give you the function of long distance moving without having to drive a moving truck. They can also be used as on-site storage containers once you have them delivered to your home or business location. When you no longer need your storage container rental (after a remodel or business event), your containers are picked back up for a hassle-free storage solution.
Find out which moving container company is best for you by comparing the products yourself.
Are moving containers secure?
Whether you are shipping your containers cross-country or storing them until your new home is ready, we know that you want your belongings to stay safe and secure.
Both U-Box and Pack Rat containers come with a secure steel-locking mechanism. You use a lock that you keep the keys to, so only you have access to what's inside.
U-Box containers are individually made from premium, pest-resistant plywood. Wood construction keeps the container breathable and keeps your items protected from mold and mildew. All steel containers don't breathe, so moisture can be trapped inside and may cause mold or mildew.
U-Box containers sit about six inches off the ground and have composite pads on the feet, which protects against standing water or water seeping inside. When the container is on your property, it comes with a durable weather-resistant vinyl cover to protect your belongings from the elements.
U-Box containers are only shipped inside enclosed, locked tractor trailers. This means that even when moving cross-country, your containers are not exposed to any elements. Pack Rat containers are shipped on flatbed trucks, so they can be exposed to rain and snow.
Container Size
U-Box containers are 8x5x7.5 feet and can hold 257 cubic feet of household belongings. The small, compact size makes it easy to break a larger move into bite sized pieces or pack rooms into different containers. You can order as many containers as you think you'll need, and only have to pay for the ones you use. U-Box containers are the only moving container in the market that can be placed on a custom-built trailer and towed behind a vehicle, so it can be placed in any legal parking spot. This makes moves from apartments and urban areas easier if you don't have the space to place a container directly on the ground.
Pack Rat containers come in 3 sizes, but the size you need may not be available in your area.
Delivery
U-Box is the only one in the industry to offer a variety of delivery types that can fit your needs and budget. You can get a free quote online to see exactly what delivery types are available in your area. Options include:
- Truck Delivery - Have your container delivered directly to your door by a U-Haul driver. The container will be placed in your driveway or wherever you prefer by a certified driver and placed using a forklift. A driver will return to pick it up when you have finished loading it at your home, or when you are finished using it as temporary storage.
- Moving Help Delivery - Professional service providers in your area will deliver your containers to you on a U-Box trailer. They will return to pick up your container when you are ready and take it back to the U-Haul location for shipping or storage. For added service, you can choose Moving Help Full Service and they will load your container for you as well!
- Self-Delivery - Tow one or two U-Box containers yourself using your vehicle and U-Box trailer. If you don't have a vehicle that can tow you can rent a U-Haul truck. There is no charge for the U-Box trailer so this option can be a great way to lower costs.
- Access at Location - If you don't have a place to leave a container, you can bring your belongings to a U-Haul facility and load your container on site. You can still take as long as you need to load and only pay for the monthly container rent.
A U-Box trailer with one container on it can be parked in any legal parking spot, so this option is great for people with limited or no driveway space, those who live in apartment complexes, or anybody with container restrictions in their city or neighborhood. U-Box is the only company in the industry who provides this option.
Pack Rat offers delivery to your door.
Availability
There are over 2,400 U-Box locations in the United States and Canada, offering the most rental locations and shipping destinations in the industry. U-Box containers are available in all 50 states and all Canadian Provinces. U-Box containers also ship internationally and cross-border between the U.S. and Canada.
Pack Rat has around 65 locations in the United States so they may not be available where you're moving from or where you're moving to.
Company Facts
U-Box containers are provided by U-Haul® international who you have trusted for all your moving and storage needs for over 75 years. U-Haul has the most industry experience and is the leader in the self-Moving industry. U-Haul is a family owned company, based in the U.S.
Moving Container Cost
Your total move cost will depend on how many containers you use and the delivery method you select. When you rent with U-Box, you can order as many containers as you think you'll need. If you end up using fewer, you won't have to pay for the ones you don't use. Each container comes with the free use of 24 furniture pads, so you can be sure you furniture and belongings are well packed and protected.
You can get a free quote online and see all costs, including monthly rent, delivery fees and shipping (when applicable) by entering the address you are moving from and to. You will quickly see why moving with U-Box containers is the lowest cost option in the industry.