Does anyone ever rent a truck for the day to use with their trailer? If so, how does it work with the lighting, are there rental trucks that are already wired for the lights on horse trailers? Thanks for sharing your experiences on this, I’ve always had my own truck but am recently without and thinking about some short-term options.
I don’t know of any rental company that offers or permits this. From a liability standpoint it seems like a real “non-starter.” Anyone know of any company that does this?
G.
Renting a truck for towing isn’t common or easy…it’s not just about lights, but finding a rental truck with a brake controller may be pretty much impossible. You might be able to “rent” a tow vehicle from a private party, however, but that might also be a tough row to hoe…
I don’t know of any company that does it, either.
The lights will not be an issue. Almost 100% of full size trucks come with the standard 7-pin.
The issue will be the brake controller. Most rental trucks are set up to safely haul things like little cargo trailers or car trailers, none of which need the brake controller. Horse trailers, unless you have something like a Brenderup or one that’s really old, all will have electric brakes that require the brake controller.
I rented a really nice truck from Enterprise with a towing package. They don’t really advertise that they do this but if you call a local office, they can set it up for you just fine. Just be clear about what size truck you want (1/2 ton, 3/4 ton) and that you need a towing package installed.
Ah ok so the towing package includes the brake controller? Hmm thanks Foxglove, I will look into this!!
[QUOTE=BeHooved;8667020]
Ah ok so the towing package includes the brake controller? Hmm thanks Foxglove, I will look into this!![/QUOTE]
Do not assume that a towing package includes a brake controller…you should to specifically ask about that, even with Enterprise. It’s good to know that FG was able to rent one configured that way, however.
I specifically told them I was towing a horse trailer and I needed a break control and a hook up for the lights. I got exactly what I needed. The break control was built into the truck and not an aftermarket add-on. But the Enterprise near you might be different. Always good to tell them exactly what you want to do and they should be able to assist with that.
Uhaul rents pickup trucks equipped for towing. Call and talk to your local office. The one caveat that you need to discuss with them is a brake controller and electrical hook up-- many places just have pickups with a 4 pin electric with no brakes, which is why you need to actually talk to a human in advance.
Personally, I omit that I’m hauling live animals, though. Places get weird when they hear that part and I figure it’s better to plead ignorance.
Almost all UHaul trailers have internal/surge brakes and don’t require a brake controllers, so trucks on their lot may not be up to the job for hauling horses. Additionally, if a truck only has the four pin connector, it likely doesn’t have “factory tow” provisions and may not be suitable for the requirements that a horse trailer…even a lightweight one…requires to haul a live load. One has to be really careful here, including relative to liability if something goes wrong.
[QUOTE=Jim_in_PA;8667331]
Almost all UHaul trailers have internal/surge brakes and don’t require a brake controllers, so trucks on their lot may not be up to the job for hauling horses. Additionally, if a truck only has the four pin connector, it likely doesn’t have “factory tow” provisions and may not be suitable for the requirements that a horse trailer…even a lightweight one…requires to haul a live load. One has to be really careful here, including relative to liability if something goes wrong.[/QUOTE]
Which is why I specifically said you need to talk to a human and specify your needs. 
If you say you need a 7 blade plug and a brake box, they can accommodate you most places, you just need to tell them in advance.
A lot of newer trucks with a HD tow package have a break controller built in. It never even occurred to me that you could rent one though! Don’t tell my husband…he hates my truck with the “big mirrors.”
U Haul does
I rented one a few weeks ago as our truck was in the shop and we needed to go to a show. GMC 1/2 ton pick up bare bones. It had a engine brake but no trailer brake controller. I was pulling a 2 horse with dressing room about 90 minutes from home not on the freeway. It came with the standard U-Haul connector we purchased a converter to the 7 blade plug which worked just fine. only issue was a bit of embarrassment on our part showing up in it! https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1222021344483350&set=pcb.1222021371150014&type=3
[QUOTE=crystalyoung1;8668588]
I rented one a few weeks ago as our truck was in the shop and we needed to go to a show. GMC 1/2 ton pick up bare bones. It had a engine brake but no trailer brake controller. I was pulling a 2 horse with dressing room about 90 minutes from home not on the freeway. It came with the standard U-Haul connector we purchased a converter to the 7 blade plug which worked just fine. only issue was a bit of embarrassment on our part showing up in it! https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1222021344483350&set=pcb.1222021371150014&type=3[/QUOTE]
I feel your pain there! The staff at a one of the big Kentucky breeding farms has given me the nickname, “UHaul.” :lol:
My truck is 21 years old and I just don’t feel comfortable taking it on long runs anymore. Until I can invest in a new one, I guess I’m stuck with the nickname!
[QUOTE=crystalyoung1;8668588]
I rented one a few weeks ago as our truck was in the shop and we needed to go to a show. GMC 1/2 ton pick up bare bones. It had a engine brake but no trailer brake controller. I was pulling a 2 horse with dressing room about 90 minutes from home not on the freeway. It came with the standard U-Haul connector we purchased a converter to the 7 blade plug which worked just fine. only issue was a bit of embarrassment on our part showing up in it! https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1222021344483350&set=pcb.1222021371150014&type=3[/QUOTE]
This is not safe at all. You can’t rely on your rented truck brakes or having an “engine brake” to stop a loaded trailer of that size. An engine brake (really an exhaust brake) is supplemental and is meant to take some of the load off your truck brakes when going down steep hills and not meant to be a replacement for brakes on your trailer.
I noticed people on your page even asked if it had a brake controller.
[QUOTE=enjoytheride;8668741]
This is not safe at all. You can’t rely on your rented truck brakes or having an “engine brake” to stop a loaded trailer of that size. An engine brake (really an exhaust brake) is supplemental and is meant to take some of the load off your truck brakes when going down steep hills and not meant to be a replacement for brakes on your trailer.
I noticed people on your page even asked if it had a brake controller.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, that’s pretty terrifying. The tow rating on the small fleet trucks that UHaul gets is only about 6000lbs.
The guy in the comments ranting about F150s with 11k tow ratings and “gmc products” doesn’t know what he’s talking about. There are 1500s that are capable of 12k with the proper specs and when properly equipped. (Towing packages, engine, rear axle gearing, etc.) The trucks UHaul buys in are the cheapest of the cheap and truly not safe vehicles for towing a 2-horse trailer of the size pictured, particularly without a brake controller or sway bars. Just really, really dangerous. I’d probably risk it in an emergency, but not just to get to a horse show…
And I don’t know that I’ve ever really seen a light duty pickup with a jake brake (aka engine brake).
[QUOTE=Where’sMyWhite;8668792]
And I don’t know that I’ve ever really seen a light duty pickup with a jake brake (aka engine brake).[/QUOTE]
That’s what I was thinking, too… My '09 Duramax has a transmission brake, which often gets incorrectly called an “engine brake”.
I don’t know what a 1/2 ton gas engine would have that could be described as an “engine brake”.
My question would be if rental truck has a suitable hitch to manage the horse trailer weight you want moved, empty or loaded? I find it a bit questionable that the rental folks have frame hitches on pickup trucks, ready to use for 5000 pounds, let alone 10,000 loaded pounds or more, waiting to be rented.
Just piping in to thank all the insightful posts on this. I am not the OP, but need to haul a 2-horse x-country (empty) as my 3500 will be towing my big 4-horse LQ. Now I know all the questions to ask!
