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.
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4 Tips to Treat Common Symptoms of Stomach Flu
Read moreGastroenteritis, popularly termed as stomach flu, is an inflammation of the stomach and the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in a ruthless mix of symptoms. The most common cause of stomach flu are viral infections; however, it can also be caused due to bacterial or parasitic infections and food-borne illnesses. The symptoms of stomach flu usually last up to 14 days. The condition is a highly contagious one that spreads through an oral-fecal route. The most common symptoms of stomach flu are as follows:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Cramping in the abdomen
- Low-grade fever
- Chills
- Muscle aches
Here are some tips to treat the symptoms of the stomach flu:
Drink Lots of Fluids
When affected by stomach flu, your body loses essential bodily fluids through vomiting, diarrhea, and sweating. Therefore, it is important to consume these fluids to regulate the body’s water levels and stay hydrated. The best fluids to consume when suffering from the symptoms of stomach flu are as follows:- Clear liquids such as water
- Ginger and peppermint tea to relieve nausea
- Energy drinks that assist in electrolyte replacement
- OTC preparations
Additionally, make sure to avoid highly caffeinated drinks such as coffee or black tea. These can muddle with your sleeping patterns and further upset your stomach.
Follow the BRAT diet
Most of the times, people with stomach flu do not feel like eating. But when they do, it’s best to start with a BRAT diet. BRAT is the acronym for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. These four foods are easy to digest and a rich source of carbohydrates. They will replenish the vital nutrients in your body and give you the needed energy to function.On the other hand, it is advisable to avoid dairy products, fibrous foods, and anything that is greasy or spicy as it will further complicate stomach distresses.
Try Acupressure
Acupressure is a great technique that helps in alleviating nausea and other symptoms of an upset stomach. You can locate the pressure point P-6 by measuring the width of three fingers, starting from the bottom of your hand palm. Massage the area with your thumb for 2-3 minutes to experience relief.Medicate with Caution
Several people take to medicines for curing the symptoms of the stomach flu. However, it is important to note that stomach flu cannot always be cured with medications, and taking antibiotics will not help if the condition is caused due to a viral infection. Certain medications can be taken for stomach flu unless you suffer from a liver disease. They relive aches and fever and is less likely to upset your stomach. You can also take over-the-counter antidiarrheal medications to ease symptoms that are usually associated with stomach flu, such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. -
Reasons why metal detection is such a popular hobby
Read moreMetal detection is a hugely popular hobby that has won the favor of numerous enthusiasts all around the world. You may wonder why metal detection is such an enthralling and exciting hobby that makes people go gaga over it. For a person who is consumed with the love for metal detection, answering what’s so exciting about it may be quite a task. Various people find different kinds of pleasures in it. Check out some of the reasons that make metal detection such a popular hobby.
Love of history
For some history buffs, the primary reason for embracing metal detection as a hobby may be the thrill of finding antiques and items that haven’t seen the light of the day for centuries. People interested in artifacts and archaeology may especially be inclined towards this activity. Many engage in it for their interest for ancient weapons that have sundry tales to tell.Love for collecting
Collecting sundry items is a popular hobby among several people. Some people may be able to satiate their love for coin collecting through metal detectors. Metal detection gives people the liberty to collect age old colonial coins and new age wheat pennies!Keeps you active
Believe it or not but metal detection is a great outdoor activity that keeps you alive and kicking. It is also a fantastic form of physical and mental exercise. Metal detecting keeps you going to new and far off sites and engages you in the most productive of ways.Financial gains
One of the most common reasons why some people are glued on and motivated to metal detection is for some extra bucks. Some people may delve into sites with the hope of finding valuable jewelry, gold coins or nuggets and sell their finds to earn some serious money! This may not always be the case. For most hobbyists, their finds are more meaningful to them than a few dollars.Adrenaline rush
Metal detection is quite an addictive and adventurous activity that gives hobbyists all the adrenaline rush a sport like mountain biking or rafting may provide. Hunting for antiques and bygone items in itself is an engaging and exciting pursuit. To top it up, finding and pulling out dirt laden rare and obscure artifacts is all the thrill you would ever want. What’s more, the activity gives you a reason to explore permitted public parks, beaches, woods and even your own private property!