Will be moving the daughter to California next month for her first job out of college. What's y'all's experience with one-way truck rentals? Trying to find the best combination of low cost, fuel economy, and equipment quality.

Pack her clothes and laptop in her car and sell everything else. Start from scratch in California

This.^^^^^^^
That is a long way to drive in box truck. Used to have a hard time finding any of my drivers who wanted to do those kind of long distance moves. Penske was the easiest one way company I dealt with on those kinds of moves.

I have heard there is a shortage of moving trucks in California. They may pay you to take a truck to California or let you have it for free. Just moved our younger son and the U-Haul place we picked up the truck said that depending on one way locations, they may do a no charge or pay you to use the truck just to get inventory to locations they need them.

Believe me this is not my first choice. Would prefer to just hire a trucking company to move her stuff but mama and daughter have complicated the works by bringing 2 of daughters friends along with her so the car is already full. I am intrigued by the idea of just getting new stuff there, but it's Napa so I don't think there are any cheap stores out there and we will have limited time so it's easier to just set up her existing stuff than try to shop for it.

We are breaking the trip up into several days to explore Route 66 and other attractions along the way so hopefully it won't be completely awful.

Where in California?

If you decide to go with a rental my best advice is to spray the inside well before you load it.
My son moved to Ft. Drum several years ago and carried in bed bugs from the U haul.
Had to trash their mattress and box springs along with a $1500 bill to fumigate the apartment.

Go with a pod

My son used Penske to move from here to New Mexico. Truck had a 60 MPH max speed. Told me it finished any thoughts he ever had about being a truck driver.

Thought about that too but the car will already be full and there'll be no room for me so might as well drive a truck.

Not sure what Penske he rented
The Penske we rented for my parents would cruise at 70MPH, this was CA to AL in June 2021.
It was a 28’ box van Internstional with Air Brakes

We used Budget rental trucks from Chicago to Alabama. No problem

In that case get the pod, let them suffer driving, and you fly to Cali and back.

Get her to take a job in Huntsville for 30k less and live twice as comfortable.

👍👍

Currently in St Louis going from bham to Denver. 20 foot uhaul— $1200 Pod was over 4k for the same trip. The 20 foot i have been driving 70ish the whole way. Good luck

I'll pm you tomorrow. Wife is about as high up as you can get at home job for U-Haul. She can get you the best rate and an honest opinion given your situation.


This is very true depending on demand any given day. Works out well for both parties

I rented a Penske truck for an 800 mile move. Two trips. The truck had no issues but all I can say is it was a long trip. The truck wouldn't go over 65 mph as I recall, and I believe it had the 454 gas burner and it was high rpms the whole time. Got around 8 mpg. Was a very inexpensive move but quite an ordeal.