Truck rentals can be used to move household items like furniture, accessories, clothes, and other items when you travel from one place to another. When you move houses, whether it is within a city or from one city to another, you need to move your belongings. A cost-effective way of doing this is to book rental trucks that you can drive yourself. The following is a guide to the things you need to keep in mind while getting a rental truck:

Selecting the truck type
There are different types of trucks that you can consider while using truck rentals for moving houses. You can decide the truck you want based on the size of your house and the items you need to move. The types of trucks include the following:

• Large moving trucks: These are huge trucks that would be ideal for moving a large home that has more than three bedrooms. They have a load capacity between 5,000 and 10,000 pounds. You need to be careful while driving these as they are about 20 to 26 feet long.
• Medium moving trucks: These trucks are 14 to 17 feet long and are good for moving houses with two or three bedrooms and have a load capacity of 3,000 to 6,000 pounds.
• Small moving trucks: These 10 to 12 feet long trucks can hold a maximum weight load of around 3,500 pounds. They are suitable for shifting one-bedroom houses or a studio apartment.
• Cargo vans: These are vans best-suited for shifting small houses or just a few rooms with very less furniture and belongings. They are preferred by students moving to college dorms.

Depending on the weight of your belongings and the type of home you have, you can select the type of rental truck most suitable.

Driving the rental truck
You can hire a professional agency to do your moving, but that can turn out to be an expensive option. Alternatively, you can opt for a rental truck and drive it yourself. Driving a truck is not very difficult if you give yourself time to get adjusted to it. There might be some apprehension for the initial few miles of driving, but it will be easy once you get the hang of it.

Anyone who is eighteen years or older can drive a truck as long as they have a valid license. If you are not up to it, you can find someone else, like a family member or friend, to drive it for you. You can even hire a driver, and this option is also cheaper than opting for a moving agency.

Make a plan
Before you book a rental truck, you need to make a plan for moving and decide the dates when the new home would be ready for you to move into. Before booking the truck, you also need to decide how many days you would need the truck for.

Work out the total distance and plan the route with the help of Google Maps. Remember that you can't drive the truck very fast as you're a new driver. Create an easy schedule and stick to it instead. If you are driving long distances, you need to decide where you will take breaks. You can look for parking lots where you can park the truck and rest for some time. Accordingly, add a buffer of five to ten percent to the overall time.

Once you plan the time, you can make a budget. Apart from rental fees, you need to pay for the fuel. You are unlikely to get a truck that gives you more than 10 miles per gallon. Decide on the budget for meals, motel (in case you want to stay in comfort), and snacks in advance.

Loading the truck
Once you make your plan, decide from where you would hire the truck. Always compare the prices of different truck rental services before making a choice. When the truck arrives, ensure that you have everything packed and ready. You can use padding, blankets, and other materials to protect your fragile belongings.

Keep equipment like a forklift and loading ramp ready to help you move your belongings. Try to disassemble furniture and other items, if possible, to make it easier to load the truck. While loading, keep the heaviest items at the back and on the sides, distributing the load evenly. Also, avoid stacking items high to prevent toppling. Ensure that fragile items are securely packed and kept to avoid damage.

Some tips to keep in mind

• Ensure that your driving license, insurance, and rental agreement is with you when you drive.
• Check the truck before taking driving to ensure that everything is right. Ensure that the mirrors are properly placed for driving.
• Drive slowly and carefully, and carry out the moving as per the plan.
  Once you finish moving, clean the rental truck before handing it over.

When buying a used truck, you need to check a number of things to ensure that you do not end up paying a fortune in fixing the truck. If that happens, it will fail the point of buying a used dump truck, which in most cases is to save money. A used truck comes with a lot of history in terms of use, wear and tear, performance, and if there has been an accident or other issues that you need to know about. This process requires a lot of time and you will have to dig up some records to assess the condition of the vehicle and finally make a buying decision. Following are a few points that you should keep in mind when buying a used dump truck.

• Inspect the truck The first step towards buying a good used dump truck in working condition is to inspect the truck thoroughly. This inspection involves checking the body of the truck and looking for signs of major wear and tear and repairs. Also, check the condition of the dump box which is the main component of the dump truck and check the tires to assess the tread wear in them.

• Check the frame, axle, and rails Next, you need to check the internal parts of the truck to notice the signs of overloading. If the truck was badly used in the past, the frame shows some sagging or bending. You also need to note if there is any corrosion in the frame, axle as well as rails.

• Check the cab Inside the cab, you need to check the condition of the interiors along with the kilometer reading. You also need to check the signals and other indicators like a fuel indicator. Check the automatic transmission and the condition of power steering also along with the functioning of the levers that control the dump box’s movement.

• Check the hydraulic lift The hydraulic lift of a used dump truck is the most important component of the setup. You need to check for the rods of the lifting set for cracks, dents, and leakage. You also need to check the reservoir tank to assess if it is leaking.

• Check the condition of the engine To check the condition of the engine, it is best to hire an expert like an engine mechanic who has a good understanding of the working of the engine. The power of the engine is highly important for a truck like this which needs to carry heavy loads on a daily basis.

If you’re looking to buy new tires, Sam’s Club is the best place to choose. It scores high on price, performance, and convenience. The whole point of purchasing tires is safety, but people also want to get good deals and customer service. Their Michelin-certified tire technicians go the extra mile and make sure you’re comfortable and safe with your new wheels. Let’s examine some of the key benefits of purchasing Sam’s Club tires.

• Value for money Sam’s Club offers the best service and is worth every penny. With their quality-tested tires and assured post-sale service, they seem to be the right choice. The purchase of the tire is not a one-time affair. It requires maintenance and upkeep every year or two. A lifetime maintenance comes by purchasing Sam’s Club products. This includes rotation and flat repair. The 24-hour emergency roadside service and road hazard protection are very handy if you suddenly get a flat tire in the middle of nowhere.

• Price Sam’s Club offers the best price for the installation of a set of four tires. They regularly agree to match the best prices of their nearest competitors like Good Year and Pirelli. The idea of buying four tires together is that tires are not made independently and usually, the four-set assures you safety and convenience. The tires are top-of-the-line and offer better performance as well. If you’re unsure of what to get, their tire search feature will get you what you need based on the model of your car and the trim level.

• Superior quality Sam’s Club is known to only stock the best brands out there that have built up a reputation over the years for their unmatched quality. They use the best equipment to mount your tires and service them. They are extremely professional and will make sure all tire changes and maintenance are consistent with the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Time and convenience The savings you may make by buying Sam’s Club tires are one of the highlights of the shop. Also, Sam’s Club offers more than just wheels. You may shop for groceries, jewelry, appliances, and baby items amongst other stuff. You may get all your shopping done while a technician works on your car. You may schedule appointments so that the tire technician is ready for you as you walk in. You don’t even have to wait in a line as you may check out on the app or on an in-store kiosk. Plus, there’s a drive-thru to check out.

Automotive lifts, also known as car lifts, are one of the most useful tools used by mechanics at a maintenance or repair shop because most of the work is done underneath the car. Automotive lifts can make your work easier, especially if you are working on brakes and on power train or engines. When thinking about installing automotive lifts, you need to know which type will work best for your vehicles as you need to consider the garage space and the vehicle type, and, of course, the budget. Here are the factors you need to consider before buying an automotive lift: Type of vehicle It is necessary to choose an automotive lift based on the type of vehicle and its weight. Every automotive lift comes with weight limitations. Buy a heavy-duty automotive lift if you own a commercial auto garage or a two-post automotive lift for household garages. Number of posts You can choose an automotive lift based on space availability and the intended use. As discussed above, heavier lifts are recommended for commercial purposes and single or two-post automotive lifts for motorcycles, hatchbacks, and sedans. Four posts can be used for pickup trucks and if you have a commercial auto garage, consider installing in-ground automotive lifts as they can be hidden in the shop floors when not in use. Garage slab considerations Once you have determined the type of automotive lifts based on your vehicle, you also need to consider the slab thickness. Experts suggest that a garage slab should have at least five inches of thickness to support the weight of the automotive lift when it is in use. You also need to consider the height of the workshop and ensure that the lift can be hoisted without any interruptions. Ask a specialist If you are still not sure about the type of automotive lift for your personal or commercial garage, it's best to consult a specialist or a mechanic. There are many brands such as Triumph, Atlas, BendPak, and Danmar, among others, that manufacture automotive lifts of different types based on the types of vehicles and their intended use. Read their customer reviews before deciding to buy an automotive lift for your vehicle.

Many shoppers find the freewheeling process of good used auto deal daunting. The Internet serves a plethora of information on how to find the best deal on used cars. This article sheds light on four main factors that you should consider while buying used autos, such as cars and trucks. Read on to find out more. Affordability A rule of thumb suggests that if you are taking a loan to pay for your used car or truck, then it should not be more than 25 percent of your take-home pay. Used vehicles let you stay well within your affordability and budget. However, you need to pay extra attention to its maintenance and other ownership costs, such as fuel expenses and insurance. Hence, look for a used auto that fits well within the 25 percent margin. Create a list of used cars Most of the cars cost a couple of $1000 dollars more (or less) based on the car manufacturer and the type of car. Hence, create a list and consider including cars of different brands. Auto experts suggest shortlisting three used cars of the same budget and pick the best on the basis of its technical specifications, age, mileage, overall condition, etc. Consider certified pre-owned (CPO), if you are planning to buy a vehicle that is less than five years old. Check the vehicle history Once you have narrowed down your favorite car and have contacted the seller, plan to get a vehicle history report because it helps in making better decisions and change your preferred car sooner in case it has a bad history. Sources like AutoCheck and Carfax reveal the vehicle history about almost every used auto. To get this information, you will need the vehicle identification number (VIN) or the license plate number of the used car or truck. Test-drive the car This is yet another crucial step in finding the best used auto. Test-driving a car helps in deciding if it is the right make and model for you. Check every factor that contributes to a comfortable driving, right from the seating position to engine performance. Pop up the hood and check if all the electrical and powertrain connections are intact. Check the engine response when you accelerate or shift gears. It is also advised to take the car to an experienced mechanic for a detailed inspection. It might cost you a couple of $100 dollars, but it will help you find the problems (if any) that aren’t apparent and visible while test-driving the car.