It's Flashback Friday— each week, U-Pack will revisit a blog topic that's been helpful and fun for our readers. Be sure to check the comments section of each post for even more valuable moving advice!

The post about rental truck gas mileage is one of our favorites because it's very helpful when trying to determine your moving budget. U-Pack developed the rental truck fuel calculator to help you accurately compare moving options. Considering the current prices at the pump, the true costs for driving a rental truck may come as a shock!

Rental Truck = Low Fuel Economy

Normally when you think about gas mileage you think about it in relation to your personal vehicle. Most cars have 10-15 gallon gas tanks but get 20-25 (or more) miles per gallon on the highway. Rental trucks on the other hand have much larger gas tanks and much lower fuel economy so you'll be stopping more often and pumping A LOT more gas!

14 foot rental trucks have 30-40 gallon gas tanks and are advertised to get 11 mpg. The miles per gallon will be even lower depending on how fast you drive, how heavily it is loaded, the terrain you are driving and whether you're driving city or highway miles. Plus, since gas prices vary from city-to-city and day-to-day you may be paying $2.95/gallon one day and $3.75/gallon the next. The numbers get worse when you have a larger home and need a bigger truck. 24 and 26 foot rental trucks get 6-10 miles per gallon and have 50+ gallon gas tanks!

Rental Truck Fuel Calculator

U-Pack has a handy rental truck fuel calculator to help you gauge (Ha!) the impact that paying your own fuel cost would have on your move. Also factor in the extra money that you will blow on beef jerky, sunflower seeds, gum and diet soda each time you stop while you are at it. You may also want to consider the fact that you are likely to spend one or two extra nights in a hotel or motel since you can't cover the same amount of mileage as you could in your car.

Factoring in all of these costs plus the comfort and convenience of letting U-Pack do the driving for you should help you make the best choice for your next move.