You're standing in your driveway, staring at a stack of boxes that seemed way smaller when they were empty. Now, you’re second-guessing everything. Is the uhaul 10' truck inside actually big enough for your studio apartment, or are you about to spend four hours playing a high-stakes game of Tetris that you’re destined to lose? Honestly, most people overestimate their packing skills and underestimate how much space a couch actually consumes.
It's the smallest box truck they offer. It’s basically a van with a giant backpack. But don't let that "small" label fool you; it's a specific beast with its own set of rules.
The Reality of the Uhaul 10' Truck Inside Dimensions
Let’s talk raw numbers because guessing is how you end up leaving your favorite dresser on the curb. According to U-Haul’s official specs, the interior floor length is 9'11", the width is 6'4", and the height is 6'2".
Wait. Stop.
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Those are the maximums. If you’ve ever actually crawled into a uhaul 10' truck inside, you know it’s not a perfect rectangle. There are wheel wells. There’s the "Mom’s Attic" area—though on the 10-footer, it’s really just a small shelf over the cab. You’ve got about 402 cubic feet of space to work with. To put that in perspective, that’s roughly the size of a standard walk-in closet. If your life doesn't fit in a walk-in closet, you're going to have a bad time.
One thing people always forget? The door opening. The deck height is about 2'5" off the ground. Since the 10-foot model usually doesn't come with a pull-out ramp (unlike its bigger 15-foot sibling), you’re lifting everything. Your back will remember this move for a week.
What Actually Fits (And What Definitely Doesn't)
I’ve seen people try to cram a two-bedroom house into one of these. It's a disaster.
Typically, the uhaul 10' truck inside is designed for a studio or a small one-bedroom apartment. You can comfortably fit a queen-sized mattress, a loveseat (maybe a full sofa if it’s not a bulky Chesterfield), a coffee table, and about 20 to 30 medium-sized boxes.
If you have a king-sized bed? It fits, but it’s a hog. It’ll take up nearly a third of your floor space if you lay it flat, so you have to stand it up against the wall.
Here’s a breakdown of the "No-Go" list for this truck:
- Sectional sofas. Just don't. You'll spend three hours trying to angle the corner piece and end up crying.
- Dining tables that don't have removable legs.
- More than two large appliances. If you're moving a fridge and a washer/dryer, you have almost zero room left for actual furniture.
The "Mom's Attic" Misconception
On the larger trucks, "Mom's Attic" is a cavernous space above the cab where you put all your fragile stuff. On the uhaul 10' truck inside, it's more like a "Mom's Glovebox." It’s a shallow shelf. It is perfect for your toolbox, a small stack of blankets, or those fragile lampshades you didn't box up properly. Don't plan on putting a microwave up there. It won't happen.
Because this truck lacks a ramp, that shelf becomes even more precious. You want to load the heavy stuff on the floor first, pushing it all the way to the front (the cab wall).
Loading Like a Pro Without a Ramp
Since you’re lifting everything by hand, the way you organize the uhaul 10' truck inside matters more than it does in a bigger rig. Gravity is your enemy here.
- Heavy appliances go against the front wall. This keeps the weight balanced between the axles.
- Use the "wall" method. Build a wall of boxes from floor to ceiling. Don't leave gaps.
- Soft items are filler. Bags of clothes or pillows are great for wedging between furniture legs so things don't slide around when you hit a pothole.
- Tie-downs are non-negotiable. This truck handles more like a van, which means you might take corners a bit faster than you would in a 26-foot monster. If you don't secure your dresser, it will introduce itself to your television.
Gas Mileage and Handling Realities
One reason people love this size is the drivability. It’s got a shorter wheelbase. You can actually park it in a standard parking spot if you’re brave enough. It gets about 12 miles per gallon, which is decent for a brick on wheels. It runs on regular unleaded gas, which saves you the headache of finding a diesel pump.
But honestly? It’s bouncy. When the uhaul 10' truck inside is empty, you’ll feel every pebble. When it’s loaded to the brim, it settles down, but your braking distance increases significantly. Give yourself room.
The Stealth Benefit: Low Clearance
Most moving trucks are terrifying to drive under low bridges or into apartment complex carports. The 10-foot U-Haul has a clearance of about 11 feet. It’s much lower than the 13-foot-plus clearance of the larger trucks. You can usually get this thing into places where a 20-footer would lose its roof.
Always check the decals on the dashboard, though. They print the exact height of that specific unit right there so you don't have to guess while approaching a fast-food drive-thru. (Pro tip: Don't take a box truck through a drive-thru. Just walk inside.)
Why People Choose the 10-Footer Over a Cargo Van
It’s a fair question. The cargo van is easier to drive. But the uhaul 10' truck inside has flat interior walls. A cargo van has curved walls and wheel wells that eat up a massive amount of floor space.
If you’re moving furniture, flat walls are your best friend. You can stack boxes much higher and more securely. You also get the benefit of the rub rails—those wooden or metal slats along the inside walls—which give you plenty of places to hook your bungee cords or ratchet straps.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't forget the wheel wells. They stick out into the floor space. If you're planning to lay a wide piece of furniture flat on the floor, measure the distance between the wheel wells, not the total width of the truck. That distance is closer to 4 feet.
Also, don't ignore the weight limit. The maximum load weight is around 2,800 lbs. That sounds like a lot, but if you’re moving a collection of heavy oak furniture or several hundred books, you’ll hit that limit faster than you think. Overloading the truck messes with the suspension and makes the steering feel "floaty" and dangerous.
Actionable Steps for Your Move
- Measure your largest item first. If your sofa is longer than 9'6", it won't fit straight in.
- Rent or buy a utility dolly. Since there's no ramp, a dolly is the only way to get heavy boxes to the edge of the truck bed without destroying your grip strength.
- Clear the "Attic" for electronics. Keep your PC, monitors, or small TVs on that shelf, wrapped in moving pads, away from the heavy shifting boxes on the floor.
- Use the 3-point contact rule. When climbing into the back of the truck, always have three points of contact. That 2.5-foot drop is just high enough to twist an ankle if you're tired and rushing.
- Check the overhead clearance twice. Apartment carports are notorious for being exactly 10 feet high.
The 10-foot truck is the workhorse of the "DIY" move. It’s perfect for cross-town hops where you can make two trips if necessary, but it’s sturdy enough for a long-haul move if you’ve embraced a minimalist lifestyle. Just remember: it’s a box, not a magic portal. If it looks like it won't fit, it probably won't.