MacGregorSailors.com

Sold my Explorer and assumed that I would be able to rent a truck the few times I need to trailer the boat. I quickly learned none of the regulars will rent if it is to tow. Even U-Haul and Budget Trucks will not permit boats to be towed behind their trucks.

Anyone have any suggestions where I might find a rental. Needed a week to/from NJ / Lake George.

Thanks
Dennis

Try going to a car rental place that rents SUV's...(enterprise, etc) Don't tell them you are going to tow a boat.... look for one on their lot that has the Hitch receiver already installed... (probably will not have a ball on it) Some of the newer SUV's come from the factory with hitch receivers installed. Then rent it and get a hitch and wiring adaptor from your local auto parts store. Worked for me once.

I rented one-ton pickup from Enterprise to tow mine to San Diego with no problems. I told them I needed a vehicle to tow a 4000-pound boat and they gave me the pickup. Give them a call.

Good luck, Tim

I understand there are rental companies which will rent you a vehicle specifically to tow a boat. I can confirm as of about two years ago that U-Haul, Hertz, Avis, Budget and Ryder are not among them; in fact, I was told the only thing you may tow with any of their vehicles, including the big box trucks, is a trailer or tow dolly which you have also rented from them.

I'm not a lawyer, but you might want to consult one before going to a rental company and "forgetting" to tell them you intend to tow a boat, regardless of how the vehicle you rent is equipped, unless you take the hour or so to read and understand the fine print in the rental contract. Otherwise, you're liable to find out the hard way you're not insured in any fashion. You're taking a chance they won't be able to tell you were towing with the vehicle when you return it, and you're even opening yourself up to claims of fraud.

Great advice. Defraud the rental company.

Kory wrote:There is no way that the rental company would pursue damages to an undamaged vehicle. That would be pointless.

Why not? Why do you think they put these things in the contract? Ever been to a used vehicle auction? I have, and the guys who do this for a living know what they're doing. Even absent any actual damage, evidence a vehicle was used for towing will knock several $K off the price they're willing to bid. The rental companies know this. Violation of the contract might be in itself reason enough to go after you, and it would sure be an easy win for them.

Kory wrote:Why do you think my agent hinted that it would be ok "as long as you dont screw it up"?

You think the rental agent is going to admit that he encouraged you to violate the agreement contract if there's a problem?

I don't work for a rental company, but if it was evident you were using the vehicle in violation of the contract, you'd never rent another vehicle from me again. As well, I wouldn't be surprised if the rental agencies talk to each other about "high risk" drivers.

Kory wrote:It certainly is not Fraud!

Lying to the rental company about how you intend to use the vehicle is fraud.

Kory wrote:Again the worst case scenario here is that you damage the vehicle when towing and you pay to get it fixed.

With an Explorer running in excees of $30K, an Expedition $40K, that's quite a hit.

But your worst case scenario is a little short on the "worst case" part. If you're found to be at fault in an accident, damage to the vehicle you're driving is usually the least of your worries. Your liability could easily exceed $1M. Your own insurance policy might cover it, but if I were your insurance company, I'd say: "Wait a minute, this guy is not paying for insurance on an SUV which can tow a boat, he's paying for insurance on a medium sized economy car (or whatever). Sorry, not covered."

Welcome to bankruptcy court.

As always, the choice is yours. You'd probably be OK the majority of the time, but stuff happens. Just don't be fooling yourself as to the risk you're taking.