Straight Trucks and Combination Vehicles.
Our moving trucks are part of a diverse fleet of vehicles designed to access several different types of loading and unloading scenarios. There are situations where one vehicle type is more beneficial over another, and so we maintain a fleet of different truck and trailer set-ups. Our trucks have a variety of different equipment options including different ramps, lift-gates, lengths, heights, weights, etc..
The Truck and Trailer Combination – Moving Truck
The truck and trailer combination is the most common moving truck we use to execute residential moves. These trucks are lighter and more versatile than other moving trucks. There are many advantages to this set-up, including overall efficiency and accessibility.
Size and Capacity of Combination Moving Trucks
Our trailers are 24′ V-nose trailers that are 8.5 feet wide and 8 feet high. These trailers are attached to a power unit (a truck) that is adds an additional 14 – 17 feet. There is additional equipment used to attach the vehicle to the trailer, called the trailer tongue and the ball and hitch system. In total, the combination vehicle could reach between 40 – 45 feet depending on the exact equipment.
The trailers are designed to hold an average 3 bedroom home. The total cubic feet available is about 1,632 which is a tad less than your straight truck option. If you have a home that is a larger 3 or 4 bedroom, you may want to request a straight truck or utilize multiple moving trucks.
Loading and Unloading Combination Moving Trucks
Our combination vehicles have the most diverse loading and unloading capabilities of all. There are usually multiple access points to the trailer. We have at least one ramp door on the back of the trailer and another on the passenger side. These ramps are 8.5 feet wide and 8 feet tall. This makes for a very large area for loading and unloading. Unlike straight trucks, several movers can easily pass through the ramp area without getting in each other’s way. The ramp is also only about 18 inches from the ground to the cargo area, which means the ramp is not very steep at all.
Weight of Combination Moving Trucks
The weight of the combination vehicle is also lighter than the average straight truck. Most of our towing vehicles are around 7,000 lbs and our trailers are around 3,000 lbs, adding up to a gross combination vehicle weight of about 10,000 lbs. The trailer is designed to hold 10,000 lbs of cargo and so fully loaded the total weight should not exceed more than 20,000 lbs. Again this allows the vehicle to access areas where heavier vehicles cannot. Many bridges and roads have limits on vehicle weight, which can be 10 tons and lower, etc..
Height of Combination Moving Trucks
The truck and trailer combination is very diverse in its ability to access areas where larger trucks simply could not go. The trailer is the tallest point on the unit, but only reaches a maximum height of 11 feet. Many residential neighborhoods have tree drip lines that are extremely low and cause problems for larger vehicles to pass through. This set up allows us to access the home problem free.
The Straight Truck – Moving Truck
We also utilize what’s known as a straight truck. These types of moving trucks are single units. Straight trucks are used for most commercial moves accessing loading docks and also for moves with bulky or heavy items.
Size and Capacity of Straight Trucks
Straight trucks have a 26 foot long cargo box that is 8 feet wide and 8.5 feet high (1,768 cu. ft.). The cargo area is approximately 1,800 cubic feet depending on the box size, which can vary by 6 inches or so. Our straight trucks have a two or three seat front row in the crew cab. In total the straight truck is about 32 feet long.
A large 3 bedroom home will be about 1,800 cubic feet, so these small differences in size can dictate whether or not you will need two trucks or need to make two trips. If your home is a larger 3 or 4 bedroom, then you could expect to make 2 trips for shorter moves and you can expect to use 2 trucks if you are moving a longer distance.
Loading and Unloading Straight Trucks
The straight truck has a 12 foot aluminum ramp or lift-gate on the back.Whether or not the truck for your job has a lift gate or a ramp will depend on the demands of the job.
Using Lift-Gates
We usually dispatch lift gate trucks for jobs with extremely heavy items. Using a ramp for heavy duty loads can be dangerous and so the lift-gate is used to add an extra layer of safety to the process. Lift-gates are slower moving than using ramps, so expect a crew using a lift-gate to take a little longer than those using ramps.
Using Ramps
Ramp trucks are the most common types of straight trucks. Some straight trucks have both ramps and a lift-gate. Movers prefer to use ramps during the loading and unloading process because they are very efficient.
There are some downsides to using ramps though. Ramps are restricted to 24 – 30 inches in width which restricts access for some larger dollies and carts. Ramps also become very dangerous in bad weather conditions, for example, if it is raining or if there are high winds. The ramps on straight trucks usually reach from the ground to the cargo area which is about 4 feet off of the ground, so the ramp is set in place at about a 20 degree angle.
Weight Of The Straight Truck
Our straight trucks weigh approximately 16,000 lbs in total. The straight truck is designed to carry a 10,000 lb payload. This means that when fully loaded the truck should not exceed 26,000 lbs. This, as with our combination vehicles, keeps our trucks within the legal limit for our drivers, not requiring a CDL.
Height of the Straight Truck
The straight truck is much taller than our combination vehicles, measuring a minimum of 12.5 feet and sometimes reaching 13 – 14 feet in height. This effects the ability of a straight truck to access some communities where there are lower bridges and trees.
