Moving a kid to college means hauling furniture, boxes, clothes, and all the random stuff they insist they need. Most families rent a moving van for this. But if you're already thinking about buying a truck, the 2026 Silverado 1500 can handle college moves and everything else that comes after.
Firelands Chevrolet of Norwalk works with families around northern Ohio who need trucks that actually get used, not just sit in the driveway looking nice. You can check their used inventory too if you want to save some money upfront.
Bed Space That Handles Dorm Room Essentials
The Silverado 1500 comes with different bed lengths. The standard bed is about 6.5 feet, and the long bed stretches to 8 feet. For college moves, either size works fine. You're not moving an entire house, just one room worth of stuff.
A typical dorm haul includes a twin XL mattress, mini fridge, microwave, desk chair, plastic storage bins, bedding, and clothes. The Silverado bed fits all of this with room left over. Stack the boxes along the sides, lay the mattress flat on top, and you're good to go. No playing Tetris trying to make everything fit.
Moving vans have more interior space, that's true. But they're also empty boxes that you fill from floor to ceiling. With a truck bed, you can see everything and access it easily. When you realize you packed the extension cords at the bottom, you don't have to unload half the van to get to them.
What It Actually Costs You
Renting a moving van for a weekend runs about $150 to $300 depending on the size and how far you're going. Add insurance and gas and you're closer to $400. Do this twice a year for four years of college and you've spent over $3,000 just on rentals.
The Silverado obviously costs more upfront. But you're buying a vehicle you'll use year round, not just for moving day. Between college moves, you've got a truck for Home Depot runs, hauling yard waste, helping friends move, or whatever else comes up. The cost spreads out over actual utility instead of being a one time expense that you repeat endlessly.
Some rental places charge you for every mile over their limit. Others ding you for bringing it back dirty or with less gas than when you picked it up. With your own truck, none of that matters. Drive as far as you need. Bring it home however you want.
Using It After Move In Day
Most college kids accumulate more stuff as the year goes on. Winter clothes that didn't fit in August. A new TV they bought with birthday money. Random furniture from roommates who graduated. Having a truck means you can make trips throughout the year to swap things out or bring stuff home.
Parents weekend becomes easier when you can haul a group to dinner without coordinating multiple cars. Tailgating before football games means you can bring chairs, coolers, and a grill. The Silverado turns into the utility vehicle that makes college life more convenient for everyone involved.
And when it's time to move out at the end of semester, you're not scrambling to reserve a rental van during the busiest moving weekend of the year. You just show up with your truck and load everything up while other families are waiting for their rental that got double booked.
Loading Without a Loading Dock
Moving vans are designed to back up to loading docks at warehouses. That's great if you're at a warehouse. College dorms don't have those. You're usually parked in a lot or on a street, loading through a regular door.
The Silverado bed sits lower than a van interior. This makes lifting heavy items easier. A mini fridge going into a van means lifting it up to chest height or higher. Going into a truck bed, you're lifting it to waist height. That difference matters when you're making multiple trips.
The tailgate lowers completely flat, giving you a platform to stage items before pushing them forward into the bed. You can sit on it to take a break. You can use it as a work surface when you need to reorganize stuff. Rental vans don't give you that flexibility.
Protecting Everything from Weather
Ohio weather in August can be unpredictable. Same with May when you're moving out. Rain happens. Having a tonneau cover for your truck bed keeps everything dry. These covers are relatively cheap and install easy.
Even without a cover, you can throw a tarp over the load and strap it down. It's not perfect, but it works. With expensive electronics like laptops, TVs, and gaming systems, you probably want them in the cab anyway. The Silverado crew cab has back seats with decent space for the valuable stuff.
Rental vans are enclosed, which seems better for weather protection. But they leak sometimes. The doors don't always seal perfectly. And if it's hot out, the inside of that van turns into an oven. At least with a truck, air circulates and things don't get as hot.
Skipping the Rental Counter Drama
Have you ever picked up a rental van? You show up at the scheduled time and they don't have the size you reserved. Or they try to upsell you on insurance you don't need. Or the van smells like the previous renter used it to haul fish. The whole process eats up an hour before you even start loading.
Then you have to return it by a specific time or pay extra fees. If you hit traffic or the move takes longer than expected, you're stressing about getting the van back on time. None of that happens when you own the truck. You work on your schedule, not theirs.
Rental companies also put holds on your credit card that can take days to clear. They inspect for damage that might not even be your fault. The Silverado is yours, so any dings or scratches are your problem but at least there's no surprise charges showing up later.
Towing When You Need Extra Space
Some college moves require more than just the truck bed. Maybe your kid is bringing a car to school. Or they have so much stuff that it won't all fit in one load. The Silverado 1500 can tow up to 13,300 pounds depending on the engine and configuration.
Rent a small utility trailer for $50 and you've doubled your capacity. The truck has built in trailer brake controllers and towing packages available. You're not modifying anything or hoping the hitch is compatible. It just works.
This towing ability also means the truck stays useful after college. Boat trips, camper trailers, or hauling equipment for work all become possible. A rental van can't do any of that. The Silverado gives you options that extend well beyond moving day.
Maintenance You Can Plan For
Rental vans get beat up. Previous renters don't care about them because they're not keeping them. You might get a van with bad brakes, worn tires, or an engine that sounds rough. And you're stuck with it for the weekend because switching takes more time than you have.
The Silverado maintenance schedule is predictable. Oil changes every 7,500 miles or so. Tire rotations. Brake inspections. You know what's coming and can plan for it. The truck is reliable because you're the one taking care of it, not a parade of random renters who drive it hard.
If something does go wrong, the collision center at the dealership can handle repairs. You're not dealing with rental company claims departments or arguing about who caused what damage. Your truck, your insurance, your choice of where to fix it.
Real Life College Moving Experience
Let's be honest about what college move in day looks like. You're tired. Your kid is stressed. There's always something that doesn't fit quite right or that you forgot to pack. Having your own truck means you can handle these problems without worrying about rental fees or return times.
If you forgot something at home, you can drive back and get it without extending a rental period. If your kid's roommate needs help moving too, you can make multiple trips. The flexibility matters more than having maximum cargo space.
And four years later when they graduate and need to move everything to their first apartment, you're doing it all over again. The Silverado that helped with freshman move in is still there for graduation. That's value you can't get from renting.
Disclaimer: Please note that features are dependent on trim levels and all features are not available on all trims. Please contact us to discuss your specific needs.