Using a car carrier with a truck rental can be a bit tricky. Read our tips in how to best use a car carrier for your next move.
If you're moving long-distance, you'll probably opt for a car carrier when making your move. Renting a car carrier can save you lots of money since you won't have to pay for gas and wear and tear on your car, especially for a cross-country move. And with a truck rental, utilizing a car carrier becomes that much easier. But if you've never used one of these types of carriers before, it might be a little intimidating at first. To help you with this process, we've listed some tips on how to best use your car carrier when renting a truck rental.
Attach the car carrier to your truck rental before loading the car
Though it might seem obvious, it's crucial to attach the car carrier to your truck rental prior to loading up your car. That's because the weight of the car could possibly cause the carrier to move. If you're not 100% sure in how to attach the carrier to the truck, ask your truck rental salesman for an actual demonstration.
Position the car properly on the carrier
It's not enough to simply drive the car onto the carrier. The car must be centered on the carrier, facing forward (front end facing the back of the truck rental). If not, the car might slide off the carrier during transit.
Don't load up the car
Though it might be tempting, don't load up your boxes into the car. And it goes without saying that people and animals should not be placed in the car.
Don't drive in reverse
Once your car carrier is attached to the truck rental, avoid backing up in reverse, as it can cause damage to the truck and to the car carrier. If you do need to back in reverse, first unload the car from the carrier and then detach the carrier from the truck.
Drive extra cautiously
It's difficult enough to drive a truck rental if you have never driven a truck before. Add to that the extra length of driving with a car carrier and you can only imagine that you'll need to drive that much more carefully. Make full use of the truck's side mirrors whenever changing lanes, making turns and parking.
