While moving companies offer convenience, rental companies serve the do-it-yourselfers.

Unlike the van lines, which have seen some slowdown because of the economy, U-Haul, the rental equipment company based in Phoenix, said business continues as usual this year.

"A moving company is a little excessive," said Kevin Ford, who rented a 17-foot truck to cart his possessions from Richmond to Philadelphia. He said it was more efficient, and cheaper, for him to do the packing. "I have friends who helped me pack it all up."

Ford, 27, of Philadelphia moved two bedrooms of furniture and belongings for $275 plus gas, he said.

If he hired Dunmar Moving Systems, it would have cost $3,800 to move 5,000 pounds of goods -- about what would fit in a 17-foot truck. But the estimate by the Chesterfield County company includes fuel, a 19 percent fuel surcharge, insurance on his items and workers to pack and unpack and load and unload the truck.

Mike O'Brien, 53, of Chesterfield rented a U-Haul truck to help his daughter move home from Virginia Commonwealth University recently. "U-Hauls are convenient and you can get whatever size you need to fit everything," he said. "And you can do it on your own schedule. That's the real advantage of renting a truck."

U-Haul does not charge extra for gas, and most of the trucks take regular unleaded fuel, not the more expensive diesel that moving vans use. Customers are expected to bring the rentals back with the same amount of gas that they left with, said Lance Lalonde, general manager of the Lombardy U-Haul Center.

Lalonde said most people who are moving locally choose to rent because they aren't traveling far.

"We look at the total cost to move, and we know our customers have to pay for fuel," Lalonde said. "We take that into account when pricing our rates."
Contact Lindsay Machak at (804) 649-6243 or lmachak@timesdispatch.com.