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Pick U-Haul equipment by asking three questions: how much are you moving, can your own vehicle tow, and does a second car need to come along. Route 66 Auto Repair in Upland is a U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer, so the counter can walk you through these choices at the counter.
Where should you start when choosing U-Haul equipment?
Moving is stressful enough without standing in a lot wondering whether the truck is too small. Most bad rentals come from one of three mistakes: guessing the size of the load, assuming a vehicle can tow something it is not rated for, or forgetting that a second car has to make the trip too. Answer those three questions before you reserve, and the choice gets much simpler.
First, how much are you moving? A few pieces of furniture and some boxes is a very different job from a full household. Second, do you want to drive a rental, or tow with your own vehicle? Towing keeps you in a vehicle you know, but only if that vehicle and its hitch are rated for the load. Third, is there a car that needs to come along? If so, a tow dolly or auto transport trailer behind a moving truck may replace a second driver.
Rates, exact capacities and availability are set by U-Haul and change over time. We do not quote them here. Confirm current capacity on uhaul.com (opens in a new tab), where reservations are made, or start from our U-Haul dealer page (opens in a new tab), and use the notes below to narrow down what to look at.
What equipment can you rent through a U-Haul dealer?
This is the general lineup and what each option is usually chosen for. Exact dimensions and capacities are published by U-Haul.
| Equipment | Usually chosen for | What to confirm on uhaul.com |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo van | Store runs, a few large items, small apartment moves | Current cargo space and payload |
| 10 ft truck | Smaller moves driven by one person | Capacity and loading height |
| 15 ft truck | Mid-size moves | Capacity and whether a ramp is included |
| 20 ft truck | Larger households | Capacity, ramp and towing options |
| 26 ft truck | The largest household moves | Capacity, ramp and towing options |
| Cargo trailer | Enclosed, weather-protected hauling behind your own vehicle | Trailer size, loaded weight and hitch needs |
| Utility trailer | Open hauling for yard, bulky or tall items | Trailer size, ramp option and hitch needs |
| Tow dolly | Towing a car with two wheels on the ground | Whether your car is approved for a dolly |
| Auto transport trailer | Carrying a car fully off the ground | Whether your tow vehicle is approved to pull it |
Should you rent a truck or tow a trailer?
A moving truck or van makes sense when the load is large, when your own vehicle is not set up to tow, or when you would rather not add a trailer to a long drive. A truck puts everything in one enclosed box with one set of wheels to think about. The trade-off is driving something bigger than you are used to, with different mirrors, longer stopping distances and more height to watch at drive-throughs and parking structures.
A trailer makes sense when the load is modest and your vehicle is properly equipped. Cargo trailers are enclosed and lockable, which helps with boxes, electronics and anything that should stay dry. Utility trailers are open and easier to load with bulky or tall items, and some come with a ramp for equipment you roll on.
Heat and grades matter here. Pulling a loaded trailer up the Cajon Pass on a hot afternoon asks a lot of an engine, transmission and brakes. If you are unsure whether your vehicle is up to it, that is a question to answer before moving day, not halfway up the hill.
Tow dolly or auto transport trailer: which one fits your car?
A tow dolly lifts the front wheels of your car and leaves the rear wheels rolling on the road. It is lighter and simpler, and it suits many front-wheel-drive cars. An auto transport trailer carries the whole car, all four wheels off the ground, which is often the right answer for rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive vehicles and for longer trips.
Do not guess on this one. Towing some vehicles with drive wheels on the ground can damage the drivetrain. U-Haul asks about the vehicle being towed and the vehicle doing the towing when you reserve, and its requirements decide which equipment is allowed. Your owner's manual also has a section on towing your car behind another vehicle, and it is worth reading before you commit.
How do you choose the right equipment, step by step?
Step 1: List what you are moving
Walk through each room and write down the large items, then estimate boxes. Note anything tall, heavy or fragile, since those items often decide between a truck and a trailer.
Step 2: Decide who drives what
Choose between driving a rental truck or towing with your own vehicle. If a second car has to come along, decide whether someone will drive it or it will ride on a dolly or transport trailer.
Step 3: Check your tow vehicle rating
If you plan to tow, find the towing capacity and hitch rating in your owner's manual and on the hitch itself. The lower rating is the limit you work with.
Step 4: Compare options on uhaul.com
Enter your dates and details on uhaul.com, confirm current capacity for each piece of equipment and reserve the one that fits the load and your vehicle.
Step 5: Plan pickup and return
Pick a pickup time that leaves room for the hookup check and loading. If you will return after hours, ask about the drop card and fuel-level photos at pickup.
Step 6: Get the hookup checked
Before you leave with a trailer or dolly, use the free towing inspection to confirm the connection between the U-Haul equipment and your vehicle is right.
What does the free towing inspection actually check?
The free towing inspection is a hookup check. It looks at the connection between the U-Haul trailer or tow dolly and the vehicle pulling it. It is quick, it is free, and it catches the mistakes that cause trouble on the freeway: a coupler that is not fully latched, a missing pin, chains that are not crossed, or lights that do not work.
It is not a mechanical inspection of your own vehicle. If you want your tow vehicle's brakes, tires, cooling system or transmission looked at before a long haul, that is a normal paid inspection. The diagnostic fee is stated at the counter before testing and applies to approved related repair, and anything we find comes with a written estimate before any work. For a heavy load over the grades, it is often worth the time, and it is best booked a few days before the move rather than on the morning you leave.
What is included in the hookup check?
Included on the work order
- 01Coupler latched and matched to the correct ball size
- 02Hitch pin and clip in place
- 03Safety chains attached and crossed under the tongue
- 04Trailer or dolly lights working with the vehicle's signals and brake lights
- 05Tongue weight and hitch rating checked against U-Haul requirements
- 06A reminder of anything that falls outside the hookup check and would need a paid inspection
What has to be fixed before you tow, and what can wait?
If we look at your own vehicle as part of a paid inspection, each finding is labeled. For towing, the line between now and later is stricter than for everyday driving.
Need now: call
- Worn brakes, since a loaded trailer adds a lot of stopping work
- Tires with low tread, damage or the wrong pressure for the load
- Coolant leaks or an overheating history before a hot climb
- Any hitch or wiring problem that stops the hookup check from passing
Need later: book
- An oil change that is coming due but not overdue
- Minor seepage that is being watched and is not dripping
- Cosmetic wear on the hitch that does not affect its rating
- Wiper blades and cabin items that do not affect towing
What happens at pickup and return?
At checkout we take fuel and cleanliness photos, so there is a clear record of how the equipment left. Bring the reservation details from uhaul.com and the vehicle you plan to tow with, if you are renting a trailer or dolly. Loading goes better with the heaviest items low and toward the front of a trailer, and with everything tied down so it cannot shift when you brake.
If you return after hours, use the drop card and take your own fuel-level photos. Our counter hours are Monday to Friday 8 AM to 5 PM and Saturday 8 AM to 2 PM, and we are closed Sunday. You can find us at 1775 W Foothill Blvd, at Foothill Blvd and Central Ave, one block east of In-N-Out Burger. For everything else we offer as a dealer, see our U-Haul rentals page.
What mistakes do renters make most often?
- Reserving by guesswork instead of listing what is actually being moved
- Assuming a vehicle can tow because it has a hitch, without checking the rating
- Putting a car on a dolly without confirming it is approved for that kind of tow
- Loading a trailer with the weight at the back, which makes it sway
- Skipping the hookup check because the pickup ran late
- Forgetting fuel-level photos on an after-hours return
Frequently asked questions
How do I know which truck size I need?
List the large items and estimate the boxes, then compare that against the capacity U-Haul shows for each truck on uhaul.com. If the load sits between two sizes, many renters choose the larger one rather than making a second trip. The counter can talk it through with you, but U-Haul sets the published capacities.
Can you give me rental rates over the phone?
Rates are set by U-Haul and shown on uhaul.com when you enter your dates and details. Reservations are made there too. We can help with questions about the equipment and the pickup process, but the price you see on uhaul.com is the one that applies to your rental.
Is the free towing inspection a full check of my car?
No. It is a free hookup check of the connection between the U-Haul trailer or dolly and your vehicle: coupler, ball, pin, safety chains, lights and tongue weight. A mechanical inspection of your own tow vehicle, such as brakes, tires or cooling, is a normal paid inspection with a written estimate.
Should I use a tow dolly or an auto transport trailer?
It depends on the car being towed and the vehicle pulling it. A dolly keeps two wheels on the ground and suits many front-wheel-drive cars. An auto transport trailer lifts the whole car. U-Haul's requirements decide what is allowed, so enter both vehicles when you reserve and check your owner's manual.
Can I return the equipment after you close?
Ask at pickup. For after-hours returns, use the drop card and take fuel-level photos when you park. We take fuel and cleanliness photos at checkout, so both sides have a record of how the equipment left and came back.
Can you check my vehicle before a long tow?
Yes, as a normal paid inspection. We look at the items that matter most when towing, like brakes, tires, cooling and the transmission, and label each finding as need-now or can-wait. The diagnostic fee is stated at the counter first, and you get a written estimate before any repair.