Rental tow vehicle

[ronacarme]

Anybody used a rental tow vehicle to pull your X? What vehicle? Rented from who and where?

I pull my 2001 X with a 2000 Ford Windstar minivan with 3500# tow pack (boat gear in van to minimize trailer load). One 3200 mile trip to Flamingo FL and back, but mostly 70 mile trip spring and fall between home and slip.

However, gas prices are up, I otherwise need the Windstar for very little else, and being now retired, with a nest egg that does not rise faster than the cost of living index, I look for ways to reduce living cost. One way would be to dump the Windstar, saving $900/yr on insurance and occaisional repairs (today $1200+ for a wiring harness and fuel pump and front axle seal).
Fuel pump failure yesterday left the Windstar inoperative with boat and trailer attached. Luckily, the local Uhaul store was able to provide a 5000# rated pickup truck with 2" ball, which got the boat and trailer to their winter storage yard, while a local tow service took the Windstar to the Ford dealer.

This got me thinking of selling the Windstar and doing the spring/fall tow with a rental truck. One hesitation is that it is hard to find a rental tow vehicle. Any thoughts?

Ron

[Hamin' X]

The only problems that I see with your plan are:

• 1. Does the rental company allow you to tow trailers other than their own?

• 2. Does your insurance cover your boat and trailer when being towed by a rental vehicle?

~Rich

[Paul S]

The only problems that I see with your plan are:

• 1. Does the rental company allow you to tow trailers other than their own?

• 2. Does your insurance cover your boat and trailer when being towed by a rental vehicle?

~Rich

1) some will. ask; check contract

2) if you have no car, there is no insurance. Can you have a trailer registered if you don't have a car?

[Kelly Hanson East]

I brought my home with a one-way Uhaul rental that cost about 100 USD in 2002. No problem towing my own boat with their kit.

You cant tow anything with a Hertz rental or like, without violating the contract.

In NY you can register a trailer without having a car. No insurance required.

Very early in the am in Germany...g'night

[DAVEWVU86]

Back when I bought my M I looked at several options for a rental vehicle to tow the boat from WI to VA including Hertz, Alamo, Penske, U-haul, etc. None of them would allow a trailer other than their own, in fact IRRC, it was generally expressly prohibited in the rental contracts.

Even if the local rental store claims to allow it, I'd double check the contract. It's that document that dictates the terms, not the guy behind the counter unless you have something in writing. However, even with something in writing from the local store, corporate could challenge liability on the basis that the employee was not in position to alter the contract and extend their liability.

This doesn't pertian just to accidents, it also pertains to mechanical failure of their equipment.

Ex. You're driving down the road and their truck breaks down while towing your boat. When they dispatch a tow truck you can be sure they'll notice the boat. They'll be quick to blame any mechanical failure of their vehicle on the load or state that because you breached the contract you're liable for repairs to their truck.

Don't think that their addt'l insurance will cover you either. If the initial contract is breached, you can bet they'll try to claim that the insurance policy sold with the contract was void as well.

[Divecoz]

All Else fails hire a guy to haul it twice a year....Landscaper a construction worker whom ever and at their convenience, your retired your always available or could be.... How long to do the job end to end . 2 hours 3 ?? Offer him $150. . . $200 bucks cash. . .and its done.

[Ron]

My car is a Saturn coupe, so the approximately 4x per year that I need to tow my vehicle I rent a Uhaul pickup truck (Ford 150). It cost about $20 plus $0.60 per mile. The Uhaul rental has the connection for the hitch, but you need to provide the bar and ball, which you can buy from Uhaul.

I keep my boat moored most of the year, I only take it out for hurricanes, or maintenance. I thought about setting up my wife's Honda Odessey minivan for towing, but then I thought for the cost it was easier to rent it.

[Scott]

I posted regarding this 2 or 3 years ago.
I could not find a rental outfit that would rent me a vehicle for towing other than the $19 hr truck thats parked in front of home depot.

Winey B**ches kept harping on insurance and liability!!, Damn lawyers!

Quick, KMC, hand me the lawn darts!, Dive go over and stand next to the hoop, tell me how close I get!

[PollyAnna]

I just went throught the same issue when I purchase my 26x last month. I checked on rental vehicles and even boat moving services. All were either not allowed or astronomically high in cost. My solution, found a buddy that with a me paying for the gas, girlfriend making dinner, and a day of sailing, was more than willing to help me move it 150 miles to its new slip. While not a permament solution, solved my short-term need.

So, maybe you can ask your friends or coworkers to help out for a cruise or something, at least for the short-term.

Good luck,

Gregg

[Irafatsar]

Never thought of renting a truck, but have actually asked several friends with trucks if they would be willing to assist if our preferred tow vehicle a Lexus 2000 RX-300. Actually the only reason he is my friend is due to him having a truck, just kidding.

[tompolak]

Wow Irafatsar, I thought I was the only one "stupid" enough to tow with a Lexus Rx 300. I have a 2002 and it pulls the great. I also love how old threads pop back up.

[Herschel]

Just over five years ago I purchased my 1998 26X, used, near Detroit. I was able to rent a U-Haul truck for the tow home to Florida. At the time I went through the corporate national number and made the arrangments. They were the only rental company at the time that would allow you to tow your own trailer behind one of their trucks. I made the trip from Detroit to Orlando in about 4 days and it cost about $1700. I checked with my insurance company (USAA) and the boat and trailer were covered during the transit. I was very satisfied with the U-Haul company and remain saisfied with USAA. I can't speak to U-Haul's present policy.