When you are planning a move, the default assumption is you rent a moving truck. That is what the ads have taught everyone. But for a lot of Wisconsin moves — especially local ones, one-bedroom to three-bedroom moves, and anything you can spread across two trips — a trailer rental is faster, cheaper, and easier to park. This guide walks through the honest tradeoff so you can pick the right tool for your specific move.
The trailer for this job: Enclosed Trailer — 7.5' x 16' · our biggest cargo bay. Text Nick at (920) 381-9770 to check a date.
The Short Answer
- Pick a moving truck when the whole move has to happen in one shot, you don't already have a capable tow vehicle, and you have zero interest in driving with a trailer
- Pick an enclosed trailer when you have a truck or SUV that can tow, the move is local or under two hours away, and you can either do multiple trips or fit everything in one 6x12 or 8.5x24 load
- Pick an open utility trailer when you are moving lawn stuff, tools, appliances, or single big items — and weather is not a problem that day
Real Cost Comparison
| Cost line | 26ft moving truck from a chain | 6' x 12' enclosed trailer from Fondy |
|---|---|---|
| Rental | Often $80 to $140 per day | From $40 for 4 hours, cheaper daily rate |
| Mileage | $0.99 to $1.29 per mile on top | None. No mileage limits, ever |
| Fuel | 8 to 10 mpg loaded, roughly $40 to $80 | Only the extra your own vehicle burns towing |
| Insurance add-on | $15 to $30 per day if bought | Liability required; coverage available if your policy does not cover it |
| Typical out-the-door | $180 to $260 for one day | Well under that for a local move |
Numbers vary, but here is the honest breakdown most Wisconsin renters see for a typical two-bedroom local move:
Moving truck (26-foot from a chain)
- Truck rental: often $80-140 per day plus mileage
- Mileage fees: $0.99-1.29 per mile on top of the day rate
- Fuel: 8-10 mpg loaded, filled up before return, roughly $40-80 depending on distance
- Insurance add-on: $15-30 per day if you buy it
- Real out-the-door on a local move: $180-260 for one day
6x12 enclosed trailer from Fondy
- Trailer rental: starts at $40 for 4 hours, cheaper daily rate than a moving truck
- Mileage fees: zero — no mileage limits, ever
- Fuel: only the extra fuel your tow vehicle burns pulling the trailer — a fraction of a rental truck
- Insurance: covered by your existing auto policy in most cases (verify with your agent)
- Real out-the-door on a local move: often under $100 for 4-8 hours
The mileage trap is the killer. Moving-truck ads list a "$19.95 a day" hook rate that turns into $180 after mileage, fuel, and insurance. A trailer rental with no mileage limits gives you an honest price you can plan around before you ever pull out of the lot.
Which Fits More? Truck vs Trailer Volume
| Option | Approximate capacity | Comparable to |
|---|---|---|
| 10ft moving truck | About 400 cu ft | Studio or small one-bedroom |
| 15ft moving truck | About 700 cu ft | One to two-bedroom apartment |
| 20ft moving truck | About 1,000 cu ft | Two to three-bedroom home |
| 26ft moving truck | About 1,600 cu ft | Three to four-bedroom home |
| Fondy 6' x 12' enclosed | About 490 cu ft | A 10ft moving truck |
| Fondy 8.5' x 24' enclosed car hauler | About 1,650 cu ft | A 26ft moving truck |
| Fondy 18ft utility | Open deck, no height limit | Tall or awkward loads |
Rental moving trucks
- 10-foot truck: studio / small 1-bedroom, roughly 400 cu ft
- 15-foot truck: 1-2 bedroom apartment, roughly 700 cu ft
- 20-foot truck: 2-3 bedroom home, roughly 1,000 cu ft
- 26-foot truck: 3-4 bedroom home, roughly 1,600 cu ft
Our trailers, by cubic feet
- 6x12 enclosed: roughly 490 cu ft — comparable to a 10-foot moving truck
- 8.5x24 enclosed car hauler: roughly 1,650 cu ft — comparable to a 26-foot moving truck
- 18-foot utility: unlimited height for tall/awkward loads, but open
So yes, one trip in the 8.5x24 enclosed hauls the same volume as a 26-foot U-Haul. And two trips in a 6x12 enclosed cover most 2-bedroom moves.
Driving Comfort: Honest Version
A 26-foot moving truck is a different beast to drive than a car. High seat, huge blind spots, no rearview, weird brakes, and a lot of drivers who have never driven anything bigger than a minivan. A 6x12 enclosed trailer behind your own truck feels normal — you are in your own vehicle, with your mirrors, your seat, your climate, and you just have a trailer behind you.
For most first-time movers, backing a moving truck into a driveway is harder than backing a trailer, because you cannot see anything behind you and there is no pivot point. With a trailer, you at least have mirrors on both sides and a clear feedback loop.
Weather in Wisconsin
An enclosed trailer keeps your stuff dry the same way a moving truck does. That is why the 6x12 enclosed and 8.5x24 enclosed exist — they close the "trailer means wet" objection. In November through March, an enclosed trailer with a padlock on the door is functionally identical to a moving truck for weather protection.
An open utility trailer is fine for the yard-equipment / bare-metal / dry-day version of a move, but do not put a mattress or a couch on one in the rain.
Multi-Trip vs Single Trip
Moving truck people assume the move has to happen in one shot. That is often not true for local moves. If you are going 8 miles across Fond du Lac, or 15 miles from Oshkosh to Neenah, two trips in a 6x12 enclosed can be faster and cheaper than one trip in a 20-foot truck — because you are not paying by the mile and you are not fighting a 20-foot truck in the driveway.
When the Truck Wins
- You do not own or have access to a truck or SUV that can tow a real load
- Move is a one-shot long-distance haul with no realistic option to double back
- Move is a full 3-4 bedroom house where even the 8.5x24 enclosed would need multiple trips
- You are moving with a group who is only free for one specific day and want everything on one truck
When the Trailer Wins
- You already tow, or your family does
- Local, in-town, or same-region move (Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Green Bay, Appleton)
- You want no mileage limits, no fuel surprise, and a real quoted total
- You want to spread the move across two half-day trips instead of one exhausting all-day sprint
- You want to keep your car for the drive and just haul a trailer behind it
The Fondy Version of a Moving Rental
We stock the 6x12 enclosed and 8.5x24 enclosed car hauler specifically because they cover 90% of the residential move scenarios in the area. Fond du Lac pickup, no mileage limits, honest daily and 4-hour rates, and a real person answering the phone. Text Nick at (920) 381-9770 with your move details and he'll tell you exactly which trailer beats the truck — and which move is actually better off in a moving truck instead. He won't sell you the wrong one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to rent a trailer or a moving truck?
A trailer is usually cheaper if you already own something that can tow, because you are not renting an engine and you are not paying per mile. A truck wins when you have no tow vehicle.
Do I need a special licence to tow a trailer?
No. A standard Wisconsin driver's licence covers the trailers we rent. What you do need is a tow vehicle rated for the load and, on some trailers, a brake controller.
What if I am moving out of state one way?
Then a one-way truck from a national chain is the right answer. Our trailers come back to Fond du Lac.
How much can I actually fit in a trailer?
The 7.5' x 16' enclosed trailer takes a typical one-bedroom in a single trip. For a car plus household goods, the 8.5' x 24' enclosed car hauler does both at once.