Source of excellent used vehicles (trucks, mainly, but other stuff too) Plus the results of our rental moving-truck research, if anyone's interested

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Surfing aimlessly around a u-haul-it type of business website the other day (we're moving, so it was really research, you see) hubby came across a page where they were listing their older models for sale. They were all in seriously good condition (the maintenance on these vehicles is rigorous due to liability concerns) and many were pick-ups and van types. There were also the big trucks, trailers, and similar equipment. I don't recall which company he was checking out, but I do know that he went to U-Haul, Penske, Budget, and Ryder sights, so you could definately check those out. He said the prices were very good, considering the condition. I imagine they are high miles. But with that type of care, it's sometimes a moot point, especially with diesels, of which there were several. Know where I'm going next time.

PS: According to hubby, Penske offers the best service for the price. It costs marginally more, but you get more trip days, no milage restrictions (just the days), and guaranteed availability of truck reservation (the others had warnings about what to do if "your" truck wasn't there!) The guy on the phone said that's why he'd left the other chain he had been working at, because he would constantly have to deal with whole platoons of folks showing up for reserved, but non-existant trucks! OUCHIE! You get discounts for on-line reservations, as well. Just thought I might save someone some research time!

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), February 07, 2002

Answers

Watch out for U-Haul. They definately leave a bit to be desired when it comes to maintenance. Dropped a drive line off of one at a red light. No brakes on another, no reverse in another. Now I use Ryder

-- Laura (lauramleek@yahoo.com), February 07, 2002.

you are right about penske for sale of their older box trucks. my son was checking one with a desiel engine, low milage & a very good warranty for $12,000. penske & ryder have outlets in many large cities. he also found a 2001 buick at an enterprise sales lot. low price, low price. we went across the street to a buick dealer, used the enterprise car as leverage & got a lower mileage car for $5,000 below sticker price. happy hunting, larry

-- larry in OK (Nuts4bees@aol.com), February 07, 2002.

Have you ever rented a truck from any of the major companies? Maintenance is the last thing on their mind. There was even a 60 minutes segment on this issue. Trucks that were not safe, but were still being rented. Also these trucks usually are driven into the ground before they are released from active use. Also dont forget the high miles, the people that are driving them.

I would not consider them a good deal at all.

-- Gary (gws@columbus.rr.com), February 07, 2002.


Another tip on rentals is that most people move at the end of the month, so the companies raise the prices then. If you need to rent a truck, arrainge to do it in the middle of the month, the prices are hundreds of dollars lower on long range moves.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), February 07, 2002.

We hade so many problems with a rental I got ALL of my money {1000.00} back .The truck sucked and was a traveling nightmare.Be very carefull.

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@hotmail.com), February 07, 2002.


U-haul's reservations are worthless. Penske doesn't seem to have the outlets that Ryder does. Ryder's rental rates are better than U-hauls.

Another problem with U-haul is that they have seasonal problems. If it's the begining of the summer season lots of U-haul units get taken to summer vacation areas. At the end of the summer or early fall you'll have a difficult time renting a truck in those areas. Same goes for college area depending on the season.

That means U-haul ends up with lots of trucks in some areas and none in other places depending on the time of the year.

The other thing to be careful of is U-haul and Ryder now put governors on the truck engines. That's not a problem but never pull out to pass several semis on a long steep downgrade when the possibility exists that another semi may catch up to you in the passing lane before you can complete the pass.

Be especially careful on those grades with an emergency truck runoff. Get the point? A truck with no brakes comes up behind you and you can't go any faster.

I'd be careful about buying a used unit. It might be OK with a commercial unit but I'd be suspicious of a moving truck.

-- Darren (df1@infi.net), February 07, 2002.


Budget bought out Ryder about three years ago. So now you're starting to see more diverse and newer trucks sporting both logos.

U-Haul is trying to make a comeback. The problem with them was infighting amongst the relatives.

The problem with Penske is they don't have drop-offs in every city. In my sister's case she drove a Penske truck from GA to WY, only to find out the nearest drop-off location was 425 miles back the other direction (Cheyenne). And, naturally she was over the allotment of mileage and had to pay extra. Had she moved a month later, a new office was opened in MT (only a hundred miles further).

Oh, and if you do rent a truck, make sure of two things: 1) the license tags are current and 2) they have a spare tire. Most do not.

-- al (yr2012@hotmail.com), February 07, 2002.


I used to work for Uhaul. The maintence is a joke. If it aint SERIOUSLY broke, they arent going to fix it. And, the next time you are cruising down I-95 (or whatever) and some idiot driving a rented truck passes you doing 90 plus with a car in tow and a full load, remember that: The renters don't give a rat's nether region about caring for the truck, or if the engine goes K put because they were running the thing at its red line for hours on end. Is it any wonder some of the rentals out there are goverened!? Plus, a person adjusted to driving a honda civic usually cant handle a 26 foot truck, and will abuse the tires, clutch, etc. even if they are trying to be "careful." You would do better buying from a company that either doenst do rentals at all, or, at the least, doesnt rent to the general public.

-- Kevin in NC (Vantravlrs@aol.co), February 07, 2002.

If you want to find lots of used trucks, all sizes, (exc pickups) drop by the local truck stop and pick up a free paper called the Western Truck Paper or visit their website at http://www.truckpaper.com/Default.asp

Also look up dispersal sales like these: http://www.usedtrucks.ryder.com http://www.jimpalmersales.com http://www.findyourinternational.com

Buyer beware. Before buying any used truck, esp Ryder's or UHaul's have your mechanic do an inspection. Do not accept their word for fact. The moving vans have an av 100-200K mi on them.

The big otr's more like 275-500K or more mi on them. I know that JB Hunt was offering thru a dealer most of their over-the-cab units for sale, b/c they were going to conventionals.

-- al (yr2012@hotmail.com), February 07, 2002.


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