Penske Truck Rental

Choosing the correct Penske trailer is crucial for ensuring the safety and efficiency of your move or transportation needs. This guide will navigate you through selecting the ideal trailer, taking into account your vehicle, load type, and other essential factors.

Determine Your Vehicle’s Towing Capacity

• • Check Your Vehicle’s Manual: Before anything else, determine your vehicle’s towing capacity to ensure it can safely tow the trailer and load you have in mind.
  • Verify Hitch Type and Towing Equipment: Ensure your vehicle is equipped with the correct hitch type and towing equipment. Penske offers various hitch installations if your vehicle requires one.

Understand Different Types of Penske Trailers

• • Utility Trailers: Ideal for local moves and landscaping projects, these open trailers are perfect for transporting bulky items that don’t require protection from the elements.
  • Cargo Trailers: Enclosed cargo trailers offer protection for your belongings against weather and theft. They’re ideal for long-distance moves or transporting valuable items.
  • Car Trailers and Tow Dollies: If you need to transport a vehicle, Penske provides car trailers and tow dollies. Car trailers support the entire vehicle off the ground, while tow dollies lift only the front wheels.

Assess Your Load

• • List and Measure Your Items: Catalog everything you plan to transport, noting dimensions and weights. This will help you understand the space and weight capacity you need.
  • Consider Load Type: Fragile or valuable items are better suited for enclosed cargo trailers, while bulky, weather-resistant items can be transported in utility trailers.

Choose the Right Size and Type

• • For Smaller Loads: A 4×8 cargo trailer might suffice for moving a few pieces of furniture or a studio apartment’s worth of belongings.
  • For Medium to Large Loads: Consider a 5×10 or 6×12 cargo trailer for one to two-bedroom moves. These sizes offer ample space and the protection of an enclosed environment.
  • For Vehicle Transport: Decide between a tow dolly and a car trailer based on your vehicle type, weight, and your comfort level with towing. Car trailers are recommended for four-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive vehicles.

Additional Considerations

• • Check Local Regulations: Some areas have specific rules about towing trailers. Ensure you comply with all legal requirements in your region.
  • Driving with a Trailer: If you’re inexperienced with towing, practice driving with the trailer in a safe, open area. Learn how to navigate turns, reverse, and park safely.
  • Safety Inspections: Before departure, perform a safety inspection. Check the tire pressure, lights, and ensure the load is secure.
  • Rental Duration and Insurance: Determine how long you’ll need the trailer and consider opting for rental insurance for added peace of mind during your move or transportation project.

Reservation and Pickup

• • Book in Advance: Reserve your Penske trailer well in advance, especially during peak moving seasons.
  • Pickup Preparation: At pickup, have your vehicle, driver’s license, and payment method ready. Penske staff will assist with hooking up the trailer and ensuring everything is secure.

Final Thoughts

Selecting the right Penske trailer involves assessing your vehicle’s towing capabilities, understanding the different types of trailers available, and carefully considering your load’s size and type. By following these steps, you can ensure a safe and efficient transportation experience. Remember, Penske professionals are always ready to assist with advice and recommendations tailored to your specific needs.

Towing a car, whether for a move, road trip, or vehicle relocation, requires the right equipment and knowledge to ensure safety and efficiency. Penske car dollies are a popular choice due to their reliability and availability. This guide will help you choose the right Penske car dolly for your needs and provide essential dos and don’ts for towing a car.

Choosing the Right Penske Car Dolly

Understand Your Vehicle’s Towing Needs:

• • Compatibility: Check your car’s owner manual to ensure it can be towed using a dolly. Not all vehicles are suitable for dolly towing.
  • Weight Capacity: Know the weight of the vehicle being towed. Penske car dollies have a specific weight limit, and your car’s weight should not exceed this limit.

Selecting the Car Dolly

Penske offers two primary types of tow dollies:

• • Tow Dolly: Ideal for front-wheel drive vehicles. The front wheels are placed on the dolly, while the rear wheels remain on the road.
  • Auto Transport Trailer (Car Dolly): Suitable for four-wheel or all-wheel drive vehicles. This trailer supports the entire vehicle, lifting it off the ground.

Consider your vehicle type and towing distance when choosing between the two.

Dos:

• • Do Inspect the Equipment Before Use:
    Check the dolly straps, ratchets, and tire pressure to ensure everything is in good working order.
  • Do Practice Safe Driving Habits:
    Drive at a moderate speed and avoid sudden stops or sharp turns. Remember, the added length and weight of the towed vehicle affect handling and braking.
  • Do Use Safety Chains Correctly:
    Attach safety chains between the towing vehicle and the dolly, and between the dolly and the towed vehicle, as an additional safety measure.
  • Do Regularly Check Attachment Points:
    Stop periodically during your trip to inspect the car dolly and car attachment points, ensuring everything remains secure.
  • Do Follow Legal Requirements:
    Be aware of and comply with towing regulations and requirements in the areas you’ll be traveling through.

Don’ts:

• • Don’t Overload the Dolly:
    Exceeding the weight capacity can lead to equipment failure and pose serious safety risks.
  • Don’t Ignore Vehicle Compatibility:
    Towing a vehicle not suited for a dolly can cause damage to the transmission and other components.
  • Don’t Neglect Tire Pressure:
    Ensure both the towing vehicle and the dolly tires are inflated to the recommended pressures to prevent blowouts and ensure stability.
  • Don’t Rush the Attachment Process:
    Take your time to securely fasten the towed vehicle to the dolly, double-checking all straps and locks.
  • Don’t Forget About the Added Length and Weight:
    Allow for extra stopping distance and be mindful of the increased vehicle length when changing lanes and navigating turns.

Final Thoughts
Choosing the right Penske car dolly and following proper towing practices are crucial for a safe and successful vehicle tow. By considering your vehicle’s specifications, selecting the appropriate dolly, and adhering to these dos and don’ts, you can ensure a smooth and secure towing experience. Always prioritize safety, both for you and your vehicle, throughout the towing process.

When planning a move or seeking additional storage space, it’s crucial to understand how the size of a truck or trailer translates to the size of a storage unit you’ll need. This guide provides insights on making this conversion, ensuring you select the right storage unit size based on the vehicle you’ve used to transport your belongings.

Understanding Truck and Trailer Sizes

Trucks and trailers come in various sizes, typically measured by length in feet, and are designed to accommodate different volumes of items, usually quantified in cubic feet. Here’s a quick overview:

• • Small Pickup Truck/Trailer (4’x8′): Ideal for a single room’s worth of belongings. Suitable for small moves or as additional space for a few items.
  • Medium Truck/Trailer (10’x10′): Can carry the contents of a one-bedroom apartment, including furniture, boxes, and appliances.
  • Large Truck/Trailer (15’x20′): Designed for moving the contents of a two to three-bedroom home, including larger furniture and numerous boxes.

Converting Vehicle Size to Storage Unit Size

To convert the size of your truck or trailer to the storage unit size you’ll need, consider both the physical dimensions and the volume capacity of the vehicle.

• • Calculate Volume: Start by calculating the volume of your truck or trailer in cubic feet. Multiply the length by the width and height (all in feet). This gives you a rough estimate of the total volume you can transport.
  • Estimate Storage Unit Size: Storage units are typically measured in square feet, with their volume capacity also considered based on the standard ceiling height of 8 feet. To convert the vehicle’s volume to the storage unit size, use the total volume of items you plan to store and match it with the volume capacity of available storage units.

Matching Truck/Trailer Size to Storage Unit Size

• • 4’x8′ Truck/Trailer: Approximately translates to a 5’x5′ or 5’x10′ storage unit, depending on how densely packed the trailer is and the items’ stackability.
  • 10’x10′ Truck/Trailer: This vehicle size is like a 10’x10′ storage unit, suitable for a one-bedroom apartment’s belongings.
  • 15’x20′ Truck/Trailer: This larger vehicle would typically require a 10’x15′ or 10’x20′ storage unit, ideal for a two to three-bedroom home’s contents.

Tips for Choosing the Right Storage Unit Size

• • List and Measure Your Items: Make an inventory of items to be stored and measure large items to ensure they will fit comfortably in the unit.
  • Consider Room for Access: Choose a unit size that allows for some extra space to walk between items if you’ll need to access them regularly.
  • Think Vertically: Utilize the height of the storage unit. Plan to stack items safely to maximize space.
  • Consult with Professionals: Storage facility staff can offer valuable advice based on experience with previous customers who’ve moved using similar-sized vehicles.

Final Thoughts
Selecting the right storage unit size after moving with a truck or trailer doesn’t have to be complicated. By understanding the relationship between the vehicle’s capacity and the storage unit’s dimensions and volume, you can make an informed choice that fits your storage needs perfectly. Remember, it’s always better to err on the side of having a bit more space than not enough, especially if you anticipate needing access to your items or adding more to storage in the future.