Truck rentals for trailer?

[Jim_in_PA]

[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 would urge you not to do this again. Not having trailer brakes on something with that kind of weight is not only unsafe, it’s generally illegal in most jurisdictions. I’m not saying this to slap you; rather, I’d hate to read about an accident caused or made worse by the lack of proper braking.

[CindyCRNA]

[QUOTE=Jim_in_PA;8668977]
I would urge you not to do this again. Not having trailer brakes on something with that kind of weight is not only unsafe, it’s generally illegal in most jurisdictions. I’m not saying this to slap you; rather, I’d hate to read about an accident caused or made worse by the lack of proper braking.[/QUOTE]

I can’t tell but isn’t that a 1/2 ton? I know a lot of people pull with a 1/2 ton. My 3/4 ton Suburban has a trailer brake that came with the tow package. If you hit the tow button, when you hit a certain mount of brake, it down shifts so maybe that is the “engine braking” she is referring to. Not that that is sufficient for braking.

[enjoytheride]

[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]

Its not a Jake brake, but an exhaust or tranny brake where the engine shifts to better handle weight going down hill. You can hear the engine noise engaging and it does so on its own. I’ve heard it on the very beefy 1/2 ton Tundra which is designed to tow and on bigger 3/4 ton trucks but it isn’t a substitute for trailer brakes.

[Jim_in_PA]

[QUOTE=enjoytheride;8669472]
… an exhaust or tranny brake… but it isn’t a substitute for trailer brakes.[/QUOTE]

This is an extremely important statement!!!

[cnvh]

If a rentable truck claims to have a “tow package” with a brake controller installed, I would insist on knowing if it’s a proportional or a time-delay controller. Time-delay (TD) controllers are cheaper; my truck came with one installed, and I sold a trailer to a buyer who had a TD controller installed as well. But they are AWFUL when it comes to braking, particularly with a horse trailer, and I would refuse to put my horse in a trailer if a TD controller was part of the deal.

[joiedevie99]

If by chance you are able to find a rental with the appropriate tow capacity for your rig, a tow package, and a brake controller, make sure you bring different size drop hitches so you are able to get the trailer riding level.

Also, don’t take anyone’s word on the tow capacity. I’ve found that more often than not it is a made up number - often times you will be quoted the “up to X if properly equipped” number on a vehicle that is not equipped.

[crystalyoung1]

I don’t ever plan on using it again. It was an emergency situation. As soon as I can sell my Jeep Wrangler I plan to purchase a used pickup set up to haul. Thanks for all the advice!

[LSMarnell]

[QUOTE=crystalyoung1;8671257]
I don’t ever plan on using it again. It was an emergency situation. As soon as I can sell my Jeep Wrangler I plan to purchase a used pickup set up to haul. Thanks for all the advice![/QUOTE]

You had to get to a show in an emergency?

@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. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1222021344483350&set=pcb.1222021371150014&type=3

[Texarkana]

[QUOTE=crystalyoung1;8671257]
I don’t ever plan on using it again. It was an emergency situation. As soon as I can sell my Jeep Wrangler I plan to purchase a used pickup set up to haul. Thanks for all the advice![/QUOTE]

Instead of picking you apart like the vultures love to do, I wanted to say thanks for staying classy! :yes:

[BeHooved]

Thank-you everyone for your insight and advice, wow it is so much more than I knew! Thanks also to crystal for posting her UHaul set-up - despite criticism - I wanted to also say thanks for staying classy and sharing your experience! I have a bit more to look into than I anticipated, whew!

[Texarkana]

For those who rent trucks and/or use multiple or borrowed tow vehicles (raises hand- the joy of having a 21 year old truck that runs when it feels like it), I just discovered a really interesting product:

http://www.tekonsha.com/products/brake-controllers/proportional-controllers/prodigy-rf/TzaIxkVx1cI5XOy!osRB508pViEKmVBf

The brake controller is plug and play and works with a wireless remote plugged into your vehicle’s 12V cigarette lighter. Nothing is hard-wired to the vehicle and the unit stays mounted to the trailer. The only critical reviews seem to be from folks using luxury European vehicles with complicated computer/electrical systems (trailer braking seems to be a problem all the way around for them).

Personally, I’d prefer hard-wired any day. But if the alternative is to go without, then this seems to be a good way to ensure your trailer brakes work, albeit a bit costly. It is about twice the price of a quality, hard-wired unit before installation costs.

[connemarafan]

Just resurrecting this as I’m looking for a truck for a longer trip, 4hrs on the highway, pulling 2h Shadow BP with dressing room, I believe the weight is 2800lbs, plus one horse and gear for a one night stay away show.

I am looking at this… https://www.enterprise.com/en/car-rental/vehicles/us/trucks/large-pickup.html

The trailer has electric brakes also.

[Jim_in_PA]

You need a vehicle with a brake controller in it so that your trailer’s electric brakes will be functional…the truck you link to should be able to handle what your tow load is, but it would be unusual for a rental to have a brake controller. Without it, you can’t use it to haul legally and practically.

[soloudinhere]

My local ford dealer rents heavy duty pickups that are equipped with controllers and tow packages. It’s about $80 a day to rent one.

I rented one for the purpose of driving my bigger trailer to the trailer dealer to trade it in on a smaller one. All was fine and safely equipped.