It’s no secret that big trucks consume a lot of gas. You should take seriously the gas mileage of the truck that you are renting to help you with your next move. Gas mileage is important to know when you are considering renting a moving truck from U-Haul or any other company that provides such a service.
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When you are preparing your budget to do a DIY move, don’t forget to add the cost of gas and the fuel efficiency of the moving truck. If you do a DIY move, you’ll be able to know how much your move will cost, and how many times you’ll need to stop to fill up gas tanks.
This is a comprehensive guide that will tell you everything you need to know about the gas mileage of a 26-foot U-Haul truck and what the average miles per gallon is.
How is the Gas Mileage of a UHaul 26 Foot Truck?
Like the majority of U-Haul truck rentals, the 26-foot moving truck is powered by a gasoline engine – so, like most gas engines, it uses gasoline.
U-Haul trucks can carry a gas tank that is larger than the average car and run on gasoline that is non-leaded, which means they can get an average gas mileage of around 10 miles per gallon. If the tank of your 26-foot moving truck is full, it should take you 600 miles.
Several factors can cause your truck to use less fuel during a move. Adding extra weight to your moving truck can cause you to have lower gas mileage because it requires more power to move heavier loads. If you plan to tow a large trailer or car carrier behind your moving truck, you will receive less gas mileage and pay more for gas.
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Increasing the speed of your vehicle significantly when you are accelerating or braking hard, or using your car’s heater or air conditioner, can all affect your gas mileage. Driving up and down mountains can affect fuel efficiency because the truck has to work harder to move the load uphill. A dirty air filter or under-inflated tires can also cause the truck to run less efficiently. Check with your U-Haul dealer to ensure that the moving truck is in good driving condition before you hit the road.
Factors that Influence the UHaul Gas Mileage
Choosing the right size truck for you is key to getting the best gas mileage. Because the bigger the move, the bigger the truck needs to be. If you plan to move a large furniture and appliance group (or even more) anywhere in the country, you’ll need a larger pickup truck to do the job. You may have to spend more money to fill your rental truck up with gas as you drive across the country, and you’ll also need to make frequent stops to refuel.
The farther you move, the more gas you’ll use. Please keep these things in mind when you’re preparing to do your own relocation. If you’re moving very far and need plenty of room to fit three people comfortably, you’ll need to rent a larger rental truck. This is because the bigger trucks have more room for people to sit in the cab. If you are moving far away from your home, there is no way you can make multiple trips back and forth between your houses.
Since gas prices vary from state to state, you’ll have to find a cheaper way to fuel your truck. If you drive through a state where gas prices are higher or lower, be sure to be aware of those factors when renting a truck.
If you need a long-distance truck for your job, our recommendation is to choose the smaller 10-ft. Box rental. It gets 12 mpg. Box truck rentals are the cheapest, but you’ll pay more if you get the best gas mileage possible. Considering that all of your belongings will fit in the top of this truck, you’ll probably get the best gas mileage possible. Renting a 10-ft. box truck with a high gas mileage will help you get the most for your money. U-Haul offers the largest box truck rental for this size of move.
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Ask a Mechanic Live NowHow to Save the Gas of a UHaul 26 Foot Truck
All of your items will be different, so you’ll need the right truck for your move. Being extra cautious when choosing a truck is important because the bigger the truck, the less MPG it will get. It’s important to know that if you buy a smaller vehicle because it’s cheaper and gets better gas mileage, you’ll be making more trips, so you may not save money in the end.
It’s important to weigh all the items that you plan to load into your moving truck, because doing that will help you to be as efficient as possible. Try to store 60% of your things in the front of the truck, including heavier items like furniture and appliances. It’s important to put lighter items in the back of the truck last and on top of heavier items if you can. Remember to balance things properly on the right and left sides of the truck, too.
Speeding up can cause you to use more gas, since it increases resistance in tires and decreases the efficiency of your engine. Some vehicles have more power at different speeds, but at speeds above 50 miles per hour (mph), the fuel efficiency declines rapidly. It’s important to speed slowly and keep it steady. If you drive at a steady speed, you will get better gas mileage. Plan your route carefully to avoid jams and stop-start traffic, because doing that in a large moving truck will take a lot of gas. The U.S. Department of Energy says that reducing the time spent idling while you drive will help you save money on gas — another reason to plan your route carefully.
With the help of our money saving tips, you can easily keep money in your bank account. U-Haul offers the most fuel-efficient moving trucks to keep your money in your account when you go to the pump and move on to the next chapter of your life.
Max Anthony
Max is a gizmo-savvy guy, who has a tendency to get pulled into the nitty gritty details of technology and cars. He attended UT Austin, where he studied Information Science. He’s married and has three kids, one dog and a GMC truck and a Porsche 911. With a large family, he still finds time to share tips and tricks on cars, trucks and more.
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