Renting a Diesel truck, or fractional ownership?

[Vallgrlx2]

We recently bought a 28ft travel trailer approximately 5702 dry, payload 1898, GVWR 7600, hitch weight 687 pounds. We will be traveling to mountains, approximately 8700 ft (Colorado and Wyoming)

It appears we will need a 3/4 ton diesel truck. Wanting to avoid having the truck near the house (smell), we thought we could park it near the trailer and use it only for towing TT. Does anyone else do this? Phase two cars at home, than another JUST for towing TT?

Is it possible to rent a diesel truck for use with TT?

Vallgrl2
28 foot Coachmen Catalina 243 RBS

[jevanb]

diesel truck do not smell..or current (new) do not . and why do you assume you need a diesel?

[ryand]

I know a few folks who have a dedicated TV....my parents being one of them. Just depends on what your situation is. I would imagine you could rent a Diesel truck (People gladly take money these days for anyhitng) but i would be shocked to see that from the typical car rental companies like Hertz or Avis. They also have a no towing clause typically on the trucks they rent.

You might be able to find a corporate fleet rental type company that would rent you a truck but it may be cost prohibitive. I have a catalina similar to yours but a little less weight. It's heavy for sure for the size. I pull it with a 1/2 ton Ram. Although we are within the specified weights, it just has never felt rock solid. Next truck will be 3/4 for sure. With the price of gas and the premium of diesel and the added cost for the power train, the new 6.4 Hemi looks more and more like a good option.

[Kaadk]

How often are you looking to move your trailer? If we're talking a seasonal site, where it might only be moved once every few years as new sites open up, then I'd consider renting, but if you need to move it every time you want to go camping I think you might find renting to be a chore.

Is your particular dislike of the diesel because of the smell only? I don't have first hand experience as I don't own a diesel myself, but being around other diesel owners I don't notice any smell from the diesel pickups. At least not any worst than a gas engine. Your other option could be to just get a 3/4 ton gas engine truck. As long as you get the right the tow package spec in whatever brand you're looking at you should be able to find something that can tow your TT. For that matter I'm towing about the same weight as you with a 1/2 ton gasser without any problems. (But don't follow my lead, I'm overweight and really need to upgrade my truck when I can afford it.)

But, back to the question at hand. Whether or not you can rent a diesel. All the regular car rental places I've ever seen (US/Canada based at least) only ever rent gas engines. Too many problems with people putting gas in diesel engines because they don't pay attention from what I hear from the rental company employees. The only place I've gotten diesel as a rental is a diesel U-Haul truck. And that was almost 15 years ago. Every U-Haul I've rented since then has been gas.

So, I can't say for sure a diesel rental doesn't exist, but I feel fairly confident that they're going to be much harder to find then gas rentals.

[MeepMeep]

Originally Posted by jevanb

diesel truck do not smell..or current (new) do not . and why do you assume you need a diesel?

My comment and question, verbatim...

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by Vallgrlx2

We recently bought a 28ft travel trailer approximately 5702 dry, payload 1898, GVWR 7600, hitch weight 687 pounds. We will be traveling to mountains, approximately 8700 ft (Colorado and Wyoming)

It appears we will need a 3/4 ton diesel truck. Wanting to avoid having the truck near the house (smell), we thought we could park it near the trailer and use it only for towing TT. Does anyone else do this? Phase two cars at home, than another JUST for towing TT?

Is it possible to rent a diesel truck for use with TT?

Vallgrl2
28 foot Coachmen Catalina 243 RBSAttachment 67588

You don't NEED a diesel. You will be towing at high elevations, so I WOULD recommend something with forced induction. You should heavily consider a Ford F150 Ecoboost with the Max Tow option. It will pull that trailer with ease and function great as a daily driver. I would also recommend getting a good hitch- minimum Equalizer 4 point. Ideal ProPride 3P.

[MtnGuy]

You will be needing/wanting to use a WDH with that size of trailer. If you use a different truck every time you tow, you would have to setup the WDH to match that particular truck every time you tow........that just doesn't seem practical.

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by MtnGuy

You will be needing/wanting to use a WDH with that size of trailer. If you use a different truck every time you tow, you would have to setup the WDH to match that particular truck every time you tow........that just doesn't seem practical.

Good point.

[Vallgrlx2]

What is a WDH? You all are amazing! Lots of helpful info here

[dustman_stx]

Equal-i-zer® Hitch - The “American Original� with 4-Point Sway Control™ and Weight Distribution

[CAT-RN]

I park my diesel truck in same garage beside the wife's car. Garage is part of the house.

Not sure why a diesel would smell?? Been driving them for many years. Park it in garage and step into the house. No diesel smell in my garage ??

Russell

[dustman_stx]

Many people refer to any WDH as an "Equalizer" hitch. That is NOT the case. Also be aware that rv dealers often attempt to sell the Fastway E2 hitch because it looks very similar to the 4 point Equalizer, but it is not the same thing.

[dcheatwood]

Definitely do not "need" 3/4 ton or diesel. There are plenty of 1/2 ton pickups on the market that can handle that TT. But if you "want" diesel, there are plenty on those also.

[dustman_stx]

Here is a link to the ProPride hitch. It is expensive, but you will have NO sway with it. I drug my feet kicking around getting one for a while. Wish now I would have just bought it in the beginning.


Trailer Sway Elimination | Sway Control | Truck RV Trailer Hitch Accessories | ProPride, Inc.

[Max Windjammer]

Nothing beats the towing experience a diesel offers. If you can afford one buy one. You need a good hitch no matter what.

[Evo2700]

I have a 1/2 ton gas engine and it handles my 6800+ pound trailer just fine. For what you have, I don't think you need the extra expense of a diesel.

[mattb]

I have an 03 GMC 1500HD 4X4 use it to tow/haul mostly, sometimes I just drive it because. Wife and I each have a little more economical daily drivers. Good used trucks have to be abundant everywhere, as always the web is the place for info.

Trailer Towing Guides | Trailer Life Magazine

[iceblaze580]

I have a 2013 Dodge Ram diesel there's no smell or black soot to it at all

[elind]

I did a remote start on my Duramax one morning in the garage and thought it would stink the high heaven. Just the opposite, I couldn't tell it was running by the smell.

[rockfordroo]

If you're still set on renting, there are companies that rent equipment to contractors. See this site, for example.

Rental Systems

You just need to do some Googling.