TRANS Need to rent Small Cargo Van

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GenErik

Veteran Member
I'm trying to find the best price on a rental cargo van to get a few items from Cols. Oh to my home in SE TN.
I'm not certain a pick up truck would be a good idea only because of the possibility of rain.

Some of you may my brother passed away from lung cancer last May. I was up there taking care of him (and his disabled wife). They are going to be selling the house soon and there are a few items I'd like to get : a Grandfather clock, a large, antique Oriental rug and possibly a large wooden cable spool (the kind that can be used as a side table).

I'm hoping to get up to Cols. a month from now, only plan to be there a couple days.

I've checked with Enterprise, U-haul, Avis, Budget. Are there any others I've missed ?
Thanks, Genny
 
phloydius

phloydius

Veteran Member
The ones you listed would be the ones I would have posted.

Be aware, because cost may be a big factor, the price for the rental will vary greatly based on the day/location you reserve for the pickup & drop off. As an example, selecting a date near the first of the month will be pretty expensive. Depending on how flexible you can be with your dates, a little trial and error to see what days are the best price may be beneficial.
 
packyderms_wife

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
Cols? Is that Columbus, Ohio??? How many hours are you away? Is the truck your truck? If so what about purchasing an inexpensive aluminum shell topper, it would be cheaper than renting a Uhaul truck. Or if. the items in question won't stick up above the top of the bed of the truck then a nice heavy duty tarp, which we've done in the past.

Do you know how to take the thing out of the clock so that you can travel with it w/o damaging it? If not watch videos on YT on how to move a grandfather clock across state.
 
phloydius

phloydius

Veteran Member
GenErik said:
I'd be going up empty as well (except for Erik, my dh). It will most likely be our last trip to OH. It's hard on me with my RA and Erik is not doing well healthwise.
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One other thing to look at when pricing: There is a per-mile fee at most places for the round trip. It may be cheaper to rent a regular car going one way, and then rent the van going back. It is something else worth looking into cost wise.
 
G

GenErik

Veteran Member
packyderms_wife said:
Cols? Is that Columbus, Ohio??? How many hours are you away? Is the truck your truck? If so what about purchasing an inexpensive aluminum shell topper, it would be cheaper than renting a Uhaul truck. Or if. the items in question won't stick up above the top of the bed of the truck then a nice heavy duty tarp, which we've done in the past.

Do you know how to take the thing out of the clock so that you can travel with it w/o damaging it? If not watch videos on YT on how to move a grandfather clock across state.
Click to expand...
Yes, Columbus, Ohio, we're approx 7 1/2 hours away. No, it would be a rental.

Yes, the weights, chains and pendulum would need to be removed before moving it. I think the Grandfather Clock could be laid flat in the bed and the Oriental Rug would be curved around in the bed (it's too long to lay off the tailgate). Of course there would be padding around the clock and a tarp around the rug, but I still am concerned about the weather, that's why I'm thinking a cargo van.
 
G

GenErik

Veteran Member
Publius said:
Don't park that van and leave it unattended seems a new trend is to steal moving vans. I have no idea why anyone would want to do this other than sell the contents.
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I think I could park it in the garage of my brothers house for the time we'd be there. I usually only make 1 stop about halfway (Lexington) for gas, food, and a restroom break. One of us would stay with the vehicle at all times.
 
D

dvo

Veteran Member
Yeah…we didn’t want a box truck. They are drivable, but the cargo van was much more like our old Suburban in terms of size. We did park the van at the hotel in Canal Winchester several nights without problem. We got a deal on the rental in TN…sort of. They gave us a flat rate over 5-6 days with 750 miles free. We went over by about 40 miles. Total charges under $400, not including fuel. Hated to do it, but the cargo was heavy and commercial movers wouldn’t haul it. Couldn’t leave it behind in our move either. So you do what you gots to do.
 
packyderms_wife

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
GenErik said:
Our pick up won't make the trip. We'd be renting a truck or a cargo van.
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I'd look for a cargo van that doesn't have Uhaul, etc., written on the side of it, or a suburban. Friends kid got married and they moved to someplace considered safe in Cali and while they were in the post office changing their address everything in the Uhaul truck was stolen, and in less than ten minutes.
 
G

GenErik

Veteran Member
packyderms_wife said:
I'd look for a cargo van that doesn't have Uhaul, etc., written on the side of it, or a suburban. Friends kid got married and they moved to someplace considered safe in Cali and while they were in the post office changing their address everything in the Uhaul truck was stolen, and in less than ten minutes.
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I'm pretty sure we'll be able to load it in my brothers garage and leave for TN the next day. Hopefully only making 1 stop for gas/food/restroom (one of us at a time) it won't be out of sight. Once we do get home, I can back it all the way up against the house with my car parked directly in front of it, until I can get the neighbors over to help unload.
 
Macgyver

Macgyver

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Ryder and Penske are 2 other rental companies.

They charge way less if you bring it back to where you got it.
I know uhaul doesn't change my the mile.
Might be cheaper to drive it both ways and bring it back to the same place.
 
crossbowboy

crossbowboy

Certifiable
I've already been in trouble for mentioning some of the many things you can use an unnoticeable rental van for, so I'll just say nothing else at this time.


Good luck with the move!
 
Kathy in FL

Kathy in FL

Administrator
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GenErik said:
I'm trying to find the best price on a rental cargo van to get a few items from Cols. Oh to my home in SE TN.
I'm not certain a pick up truck would be a good idea only because of the possibility of rain.

Some of you may my brother passed away from lung cancer last May. I was up there taking care of him (and his disabled wife). They are going to be selling the house soon and there are a few items I'd like to get : a Grandfather clock, a large, antique Oriental rug and possibly a large wooden cable spool (the kind that can be used as a side table).

I'm hoping to get up to Cols. a month from now, only plan to be there a couple days.

I've checked with Enterprise, U-haul, Avis, Budget. Are there any others I've missed ?
Thanks, Genny
Click to expand...

I think Home Depot has them as well.
 
Tristan

Tristan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
GenErik said:
I'd be going up empty as well (except for Erik, my dh). It will most likely be our last trip to OH. It's hard on me with my RA and Erik is not doing well healthwise.
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear that.

A bed topper is an interesting 'thinking outside the box' idea. Sometimes I see them used on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace for pretty cheap.

Otherwise, the only times I've rented a box truck it was either U-Haul or Penske. Worked out OK both times, just a bit expensive.

Best to you and Erik!
 
Macgyver

Macgyver

Has No Life - Lives on TB
If you don't have anything big besides a clock and a rug how about a rental mini van?
You can fold the seats flat stuff in the clock and rug and fill in the gaps with little stuff.
 
G

GenErik

Veteran Member
Tristan said:
Sorry to hear that.

A bed topper is an interesting 'thinking outside the box' idea. Sometimes I see them used on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace for pretty cheap.

Otherwise, the only times I've rented a box truck it was either U-Haul or Penske. Worked out OK both times, just a bit expensive.

Best to you and Erik!
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IF Erik's p/u would make it there and back we could try to do that, but at this point we're babying our vehicles. They're 18 and 20 years old, with no possibility of buying new (or used) so we're trying to make them last.

Thank you for your kindness, I'm losing Erik a little at a time and it's really hard to see.
 
medic38572

medic38572

TB Fanatic
GenErik said:
I'm trying to find the best price on a rental cargo van to get a few items from Cols. Oh to my home in SE TN.
I'm not certain a pick up truck would be a good idea only because of the possibility of rain.

Some of you may my brother passed away from lung cancer last May. I was up there taking care of him (and his disabled wife). They are going to be selling the house soon and there are a few items I'd like to get : a Grandfather clock, a large, antique Oriental rug and possibly a large wooden cable spool (the kind that can be used as a side table).

I'm hoping to get up to Cols. a month from now, only plan to be there a couple days.

I've checked with Enterprise, U-haul, Avis, Budget. Are there any others I've missed ?
Thanks, Genny
Click to expand...
Can you rent a U haul van 19.95 a day?
 
G

GenErik

Veteran Member
medic38572 said:
Can you rent a U haul van 19.95 a day?
Click to expand...
I could, but you also have to add $.69 a mile. It's approx 450 miles one way, but it's quite a bit more expensive to rent a car to go up, turn it in in Cols. then pay to rent a van to come back to TN.
Rental companies prefer round trips, not one way.
 
G

GenErik

Veteran Member
After getting more measurements from family members on the items I'll be picking up and measuring the stow and go van at the rental company, I believe it will work for my needs.

I just hope the weather is good for my trip next month.

Thank you all for your input and advice.
Genny
 
D

dvo

Veteran Member
Good luck with your journey. We have made the trip numerous times since last summer. And, having family and a rental property in Columbus, we will be traveling there with some frequency.
 
G

GenErik

Veteran Member
dvo said:
Good luck with your journey. We have made the trip numerous times since last summer. And, having family and a rental property in Columbus, we will be traveling there with some frequency.
Click to expand...
Are you originally from Cols?
I used to go up several times a year to visit family.
 
Illini Warrior

Illini Warrior

Illini Warrior
know enough about grandfather type clocks to be dangerous >>> be as gentle as you want - and - you're still going to need a tech to get that f___king sucker working right again - just scooting them across the same room floor is bad enough - you always add that tech cost into buying a used one ....

you call your local car dealerships about a rental? - some are into that biz - you might be surprised at the $$$$
 
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