First time long distance tour (Knoxville tn- Cincinnati ohio)

[HikeBikeCook]

We had to resort to a U-Haul 10-foot box truck this summer to do the Erie since many car companies have closed many local offices and simply do not have enough cars. We have used Budget and Enterprise (they pick you up) in the past on bike trips but could find no rental agencies at all that would rent a one-way vehicle from Albany to Buffalo this summer.

[staehpj1]

U-Haul? Why?

Without knowing the details, my first and only guess is that there is not a car rental agency that does one-ways where he needs it.  Otherwise, to me, U-Hauls are a last resort due to high cost in mileage fees.

Even then, when I priced truck one way for my move south Uhaul was far and away the most expensive.  When I needed a one way to move three riders, their bikes, and all thier gear Uhaul were again far and away the most expensive.  Same when I needed a van for moving household stuff for a friend one way.

When I needed a big truck one way Penske or Enterprise were pretty good.  For a small van sometimes they were good and sometimes a regular rental car place was better.

For regular car rentals and small vans from car rental companies I I have found that walking up to a rental desk and asking for a oneway rental was a mistake.  The seem to almost always say they have no cars that can go out one way of tack on a huge one way fee.  I have had MUCH better luck working out all the details online through an aggregator like expedia or whatever upfront.  Then when I walk up to the desk I never have a problem, they just hand me the keys.  I usualy avoid the oneway fee or at least it is smaller.  I use the online aggregator even if I am in the terminal.

I don't know if things are any better, but rental car prices were through the roof due to the pandemic.  Apparently the rental companies didn't replenish their fleets.  My wife rented a car for a week earlier in 2021 and paid triple what she paid for the same trip just before the pandemic.  Hopefully things are better than that by now.  If not that could be one reason why a rental truck might be a good idea, but it would also be a reason what a local operator would try to not let any of his fleet go out one way.  I remember many years ago as a teenager I worked at a gas station that was a Uhaul dealer and the owner would do anything to keep from letting certain more desirable vehicles going out.  If some other dealer created a ticket for a one way for one of his he'd lie and say it wasn't available and that someone else had it reserved.

[John Nettles]

Pete, I think you and I are thinking the same thing.  When I say "U-Haul" that encompasses all van truck type rental agencies (Penske, U-Haul, etc.). Sort of like if I say rent a Hertz, that encompasses all regular car rental companies. 

Overall, my preferred method is to rent a small SUV if by myself and a minivan if with others.  That way, no bike disassembly is required, they are usually a little more comfortable for what is typically a multi-day drive home, and the cost is usually not that much more.  Obviously, if the price is $500 for an SUV and $100 for a mid-size, the mid-size wins and I will disassemble the bike as needed.

Tailwinds, John

[staehpj1]

Pete, I think you and I are thinking the same thing.  When I say "U-Haul" that encompasses all van truck type rental agencies (Penske, U-Haul, etc.). Sort of like if I say rent a Hertz, that encompasses all regular car rental companies. 

Maybe, but The specific brand of U-Haul was very overpriced in that category in the cases where I compared Penske, U-Haul, etc. for one way rentals in real world cases where I actually needed a rental.  I could be an error due to a smallish sample size, but it occurred in every case where I needed a one way truck rental.