One Way Tow Vehicle Rental - Sumas to New Hampshire

[djronh1]

Hi All,

We currently have a May 2022 completion date for our 21C.

We initially planned to have it delivered to the Springfield, MA depot,
but given the recent increases in delivery cost; we're now considering flying out to Sumas, WA area and getting a one way tow vehicle rental & drive it home ourselves.

This will be a cross country trip, ending in Nashua, NH (Southern NH).

Has anyone on forum done something similar before?

If yes, any suggestion/recommendation?

What rental agency did you use?

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by djronh1

Hi All,

We currently have a May 2022 completion date for our 21C.

We initially planned to have it delivered to the Springfield, MA depot,
but given the recent increases in delivery cost; we're now considering flying out to Sumas, WA area and getting a one way tow vehicle rental & drive it home ourselves.

This will be a cross country trip, ending in Nashua, NH (Southern NH).

Has anyone on forum done something similar before?

If yes, any suggestion/recommendation?

What rental agency did you use?

I'd suggest you make a couple of inquires to rental companies before spending too much effort on this idea.

From my experience one way rentals are much more expensive.

For example, last week it was cheaper for me to rent a Uhaul trailer in N. Van., pay $6.75 a foot for it, empty, on the ferry to Vancouver Island, and return it to N. Van. than a one way from Vancouver Island.

But do a little legwork first. You might get lucky and find some one ways are priced because it's a direction that they want vehicles to go.

Ron

[djronh1]

John,

Thanks for the info, not sure how rates in US compare to CA.

BTW - Current quoted rate from ETI is $4,599 USD

Ron

[sofmerc]

Originally Posted by djronh1

John,

Thanks for the info, not sure how rates in US compare to CA.

BTW - Current quoted rate from ETI is $4,599 USD

Ron

I got surprised and gut punched by the new transportation costs to..Florida

[Sean2a]

I recently did some research on this, given the price increases. Most of the big auto rentals don’t allow you to tow your own rig. I believe enterprise does but not one way, except under special circumstances. uhual was the only company that allowed one way towing of personal trailers but not for their passenger trucks, which they only allow for local trips. You’d need a nice 12 mpg box truck and last I checked it was about 3k from sumas to VA, so probably similar for you in MA. Interestingly it was less than half going the opposite direction, illustrating a real shortage of trucks on the west coast. Anyway obviously at that price, with a flight and gas it basically evens out to ETI’s price

Next best solution might be trying to find an alternative logistics company. If you were planning on driving it anyway, could probably pay someone to do it for you for on its own wheels for less than ETI’s price. But if it’s on it’s own wheels, don’t you want to be the one hauling? If you can stomach the drive it might be quite an epic road trip. If you do though, bring an extra driver or two because there’s gonna be quite a few 12+ hour days. Good luck!��

[HABBERDABBER]

In it, Harry Dean Stanton has a line that burned into my brain.
"The more you drive, the less intelligent you become".
I don't live by that line, but those long, long, long drives have become more of a thing of the past for me.
Some folks love doing it. Some tolerate it. Others dislike it.
YMMV.

[Rossue]

None if the rental companies allow this- period. This topic has been a recurring one over the years.

One potential might be a Drive Away, i.e. driving someone's truck. Had this experience years ago with a repo company from FLA to CA, and there are other reasons why private parties are looking for people to drive their vehicles coast to coast. Good luck!

[Iowa Dave]

Regarding long days in the saddle.
We used to figure about 550 miles per day and run a lot of Interstates.
Then it became 450 per day with some Interstate and some state and US highways.
Lately it’s become 350, mostly state roads except coming across big states where we have seen the sights and just want to get home. Then we hit Iowa, realize our outing is about over and decide to stay out one more night. A couple years ago we did this 35 miles from home and stayed three nights.

A kid who lived next door when we grew up died this week. He was 84. Nothing lives forever.
Iowa Dave

[Rossue]

All about some people I guess.

[7Gentex]

Buy a new truck in Washington, fly out and drive home?

I seriously considered this but the timing didn't work (would have had to order a truck - 4 months or so - depending)

For a May 2022 delivery, or a bit later (store at ETI) it might work.

[Doug2000]

UHaul used to allow towing but either it was with one of their larger moving trucks or the F250 pickup. Considering the cost I would just drive out there and get it. I know, it didn't work out for me, I had to pony up and have it delivered, COVID.....

Considering the cost and the price of gas, your only going to save a bit by going to get it. I paid $5000 for delivery to London and I figured by the time I drove there and towed back I was over $3000 with food and staying in hotels going out. But I was afraid of Covid in May of 2020 so delivery it was.

[JeffreyG]

What if you load the U Haul with empty pop cans, and return them all for $0.10 each in Michigan as you pass through?

[Rossue]

Originally Posted by 7Gentex

Buy a new truck in Washington, fly out and drive home?

I seriously considered this but the timing didn't work (would have had to order a truck - 4 months or so - depending)

For a May 2022 delivery, or a bit later (store at ETI) it might work.

Owners manual for Ford says to drive 1000 miles before towing.

[HABBERDABBER]

Originally Posted by JeffreyG

What if you load the U Haul with empty pop cans, and return them all for $0.10 each in Michigan as you pass through?

Cosmo Kramer in the Seinfeld sit-com tried that and found the numbers don't work.

"Newman learns that bottles and cans can be refunded for 10 cents in Michigan (as opposed to 5 cents in many other states), but Kramer tells him it's impossible to gain a profit from depositing the bottles in Michigan due to the total gas, tollbooth and truck rental fees that would compile during the trip, noting he had tried it before but "couldn't crunch the numbers." Newman becomes obsessed with finding a way to make such a scheme work."

from: https://seinfeld.fandom.com/wiki/The_Bottle_Deposit

[7Gentex]

Originally Posted by Rossue

Owners manual for Ford says to drive 1000 miles before towing.

That it does.


So, move the truck purchase to 1,000 miles from Sumas

[Gasguy]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...KCMoiLGL78HL2F

Give these folks a call. Can’t hurt, co worker had a boat & trailer delivered from South Florida to Washington State using them.

[Rockhead]

Originally Posted by 7Gentex

That it does.


So, move the truck purchase to 1,000 miles from Sumas

Any vehicle should be allowed a break in miles before doing trips or towing I’ve alway done at least 5000/ first oil change before a trip or towing. But that just me every one has their own way of breaking in their new vehicle

[Jake930]

Even in 2016 when we got our 21 , after figuring out the basics for going out and picking it up ( gas, food, motels going out, CG’s coming back) and than comparing to the delivery charge, it wasn’t that much of a difference. So we made an adventure of it. Drove out to get it and took 5 weeks coming home. I expect it will be the same for you.
If you got the time, I say go and pick it up, take your time coming home, life is short. Have an adventure. Good Luck

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Jake930

If you got the time, I say go and pick it up, take your time coming home, life is short. Have an adventure. Good Luck

Yep! As is said, you may never pass this way again

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by JeffreyG

What if you load the U Haul with empty pop cans, and return them all for $0.10 each in Michigan as you pass through?

Your new handle could be “Kramer” or Newman.
I have cashed a lot of nickel cans over the years. I cash in the cans at The Can Shed. They pay you with fresh $2 bills for every 40 cans.
Then I spend the money on bait.
Iowa Dave