Saving Money by Using Portable Moving Containers (plus Information about Car Shipping, Crating and Fragile Items, and Express Air Palletized Shipping)

If you’re looking for discount moving methods or low-cost alternative moving solutions, you’ve come to the right place.

If you want to save money in a way that will still get your goods to their destination on time, then consider using portable moving containers. All the driving is done by a professional driver, so you don’t have to worry about the hassles of driving a large truck with a heavy load. A variety of companies provide these services, so see which one best suits your needs.

At least two companies specialize in portable containers as their main service, PODS being one, and Pack-Rat being another. They offer three sizes (lengths) of containers, 7- or 8-foot, 12-foot, and 16-foot. Both companies also offer storage, too.

The smallest containers (7- or 8-foot) are usually good for moving studio apartments or small one-bedroom apartments. The medium sized containers (12-foot) are typically used for two- and three-bedroom dwellings. The largest containers (16-foot) are often used for moving three- to four-bedroom homes. However, each home is different, and one might have an attic, garage, basement, and storage shed stuffed with goods, while another has none of these and is sparsely furnished throughout. So select carefully.

These containers are not only used for moving, but they can also be used for storage on site (on your property) or at their storage facilities. Storage can be done in conjunction with a move, or it can be used for other purposes. On site is often used for remodeling projects, where furniture and other items that would be in the way are moved temporarily into a portable storage container while carpenters and other workers remodel the kitchen, etc.

In any case, the company delivers the storage container to your home for you to load. These containers are weatherproof and very sturdy. When you’re finished loading the container, the company will pick it up and drive it to your new destination. Or, if you’re just using it to hold goods while you remodel your kitchen, they will simply pick it up and take it back to their store when your remodeling project is finished.

In any case, all the driving is done by a professional driver. And the cost for a long distance move can be less than one third that of hiring a moving company for a full-service move. So it’s a good way to save money.

Other companies that provide portable moving containers are U-Haul (U-Boxes), ABF (ReloCubes), and United Mayflower (United Mayflower Containers).

U-Boxes have a 257 cubic foot internal capacity and U-Haul offers climate controlled storage, while ReloCubes have about 305 cubic feet of interior space. U-Boxes are 8’ x 5’ x 7 1/2’ while ReloCubes are just a bit larger. So these are limited in their capacities, but you can always order more than one. All offer storage.

While the U-Haul Boxes are not weatherproof themselves, weatherproof covers are delivered with them. ReloCubes are weatherproof.

United Mayflower only offers one size container, and that is the 16-foot container. So it will hold a lot more than a single U-Box or ReloCube. It is weatherproof.

There are also other companies that provide container moving services, such as Smartbox, so it’s good to check around and see what’s available before ordering.

In any case, you’ll save money using these services, and you’ll have the advantage of not having to drive a truck cross country or even within your state.