Penske and U-Haul?

[bmoeller]

Are Penske and U-Haul part of the same company or are the U-Haul trailers that much cheaper to rent?



Went to Florida a couple weeks ago. Saw a bunch of Penske trucks with U-Haul car trailers behind.

 

[Deezul1]

Dont know about that but have heard horror stories of U Hauls lack of maintenance causing breakdowns.

 

[csevers]

I don't believe that Penske has small enclosed trailers U-Haul is the only company that I know that does that you can rent just the enclosed trailer or truck and trailer all the big three rental companys have car trailers or tow dollys. U-Haul usually has older equipment that is the only way they can offer such low rental rates like 19. 95 a day.



Craig

 

[HBarlow]

I don't know if it is still true but several years ago the largest trucks offered by U Haul were powered by dead-slow non-turbocharged International 444 ci V& diesel engines, same ones that formerly powered Fords. When loaded, the U Haul truck engines ignored the go pedal. A couple of the other rental companies offered trucks with a more powerful turbocharged diesel engine and Allison transmission that were more comfortable to drive.



Harvey

 

[bmoeller]

When we went to Florida, we were taking stuff to my grandparents. Had a U-Haul. International truck with a IDI/Na 7. 3 and 5spd. Truck was fairly light and had no problems overall. It rolled over to 200k on the way down. Biggest PITA was that it was geared low, had trouble getting ito 4th. To do 65 you had to sit on the governor. Did have air-ride so that was nice. Took 24hrs. to go down. Had rental car (PT Cruiser) on the way back, did it in 19.



Saw 4 U-Hauls on the shoulder and one Ryder on that trip.

 

[stg2500]

Anyone know why it would cost more than double to go from Connecticut to Florida with a U-Haul trailer than if you were going from Florida to Connecticut? I couldn't believe the difference in price quotes. I guess I will be using my open car hauler instead of the enclosed rental trailer.

 

[Deezul1]

A lot of it depends on where they need the trailers. Its cheaper if you are taking one where the need them.

 

[bmoeller]

stg2500-



If you got one, did you book it early? Grandparents did with the truck( 3 wks. ) and saved about $400 compared to Ryder. Ryder wouldn't give discount for lining it up early. This truck was a one-way rental. Don't know if they still do it, but was told that sometimes if they want the trailer back even though it is a one-way and you are coming back, they will pay you to haul it back for them.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Mid to late nineties, I moved around a lot and also helped move others. Penske always had late model or good running equipment. Ryder was more expensive. U-Haul? Junk often as not. If you rent from U-Haul, never reserve over the phone. You will want to see and look at whatever POS they plan on giving you to use.

 

[Dkevdog]

Penske and U-haul are not related. U-Haul's fleet isn't as poorly maintained as you may have heard. They are the largest, however they are the oldest. The average age of their trucks is late 80's early 90's. They do break down alot. My neighbor has the towing contract for them and is very to have it.



As for varying rates for any rented truck or trailer, it largly depends on where and when you're taking it, and the demand for it in your destination. When everyone was leaving California in the 80's, you would bay four times more to take a truck out of the state then returning one to it. That's because the demand was very high and there was a shortage of trucks. The huge cost is to cover their cost of returning the equipment to where its needed.



Kev

 

[ewcmr2]

When we moved from Pennsylvania to California (summer 2001) we rented Ryders biggest truck (with dt444e) and towed our Eagle Talon behind it. We towed our 36' GN race trailer loaded with our MR2 and all the stuff that didn't fit in the Ryder with our '96 2500. Driving the Ryder was easy... press the throttle pedal to the floor and check the fuel guage occasionally. Whomever was driving the Dodge had all the work... Pay heed to the the speed limit, make sure the spouse hadn't fallen too far behind in the rental, etc. In the western mountains we drove the Dodge up the mountains fast enough to keep the torque converter locked up and waited on the other side for the rental to catch up. At the worst spot the boys and I stopped at a rest area to let the wife catch up, after we used the facility's and walked the dog there was no sign of Mari so I got on the CB and asked truckers if they had seen a pretty young woman in a Ryder truck. The truckers that noticed her said she was still climbing the grade but very slowly. A half hour later when she arrived at the rest area she informed me that 15 mph was as fast as the rental would go up the hill.



Eric

 

[robobx]

Originally posted by stg2500

Anyone know why it would cost more than double to go from Connecticut to Florida with a U-Haul trailer than if you were going from Florida to Connecticut? I couldn't believe the difference in price quotes. I guess I will be using my open car hauler instead of the enclosed rental trailer.

more people are moving south and you're pretty much doing them a favor to bring the truck back up here

cost double to go to NC than it did on the return trip.

 

[bmoeller]

Thanks Dkevdog, that's what I was curious to know.

Originally posted by ewcmr2

A half hour later when she arrived at the rest area she informed me that 15 mph was as fast as the rental would go up the hill.



Eric

I didn't have it that bad. Was still able to go 45 going up a 6 1/2% grade in top gear. Tach never went below 2k. I was pretty light, so that helped alot.

 

[Silver]

I worked for U-Haul for two years in Austin, TX. You guys are correct. Not related to Penske, Rates depend on supply and demand, Most of their trucks are pieces of sh. .



I have horror stories about some of the stuff corporate in San Antonio used to make us do to customers.



I also have some FUNNY stories about the things that used to go on when I worked there... Mechanics playing chicken in the parking lot etc.