kinda dumb question - can you rent a tow vehicle?

[Gillian]

We are struggling with both the decision of what kind of truck/suv to buy and where to get the money to buy it. Our first trip with our pop up is scheduled for mid-April.

DH is asking if we can just rent something to use for the drive down. I thought when I researched this previously (renting a popup + TV) that you couldn't. But I didn't know much back then and I really don't remember what I was told.

There are 4 of us, and we're travelling from NJ. Our plans could be rearranged, I believe, but we'd really rather camp.

Any advice? Thank you! We're pretty sad about the whole thing.

 

[Gillian]

ok, the trailer brake controller will be a problem.

Anyone have opinions on asking family to lend us their car? Two family members have towed this same pop up with their current SUVs, so they are all set.

Tent camping in april is not appealing, but it is a possibility.

 

[auntie]

I'm sure others would know the answer to this..but do you need a brake when towing a pop up. We have a travel trailer, and our vehicle is equiped with the brake..but not sure if you need that for trailering a pop up.

What about Cruise America and renting a motor home? Maybe that would be a better option that renting the tow vehicle..which likely would cost you as much. Or for that matter renting something once you are down in Fla...if you don't want to drive it from NJ. Perhaps there are spots that would rent a trailer and place it on site for you in FW.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Whether you need a trailer brake depends on the state and the weight of the trailer. On our old pop up, we didn't need brakes, but it weighed under 1700 lbs. It is definitely safer, even if brakes aren't required, to have them. Not sure how many rental companies would have a vehicle equipped to tow, or would want you to if it was equipped that way. I guess the best thing would be to get out the yellow pages and call rental companies and tell them what you have planned.

 

[Gillian]

We're looking into smaller, local places for a rental.

And after talking it over again with DH, we're going to start looking for a used SUV as well. It may be a pinch, but since most of the driving will be done for my business (and something newer would be more desirable for that anyway), we think it will be okay. We keep forgetting also that we can sell one of our current cars and use that toward a different one!

It's funny, but staying elsewhere in Disney wouldn't cost that much more. It's really the first week of our trip that I'm worried about. It's the week after Easter in Sarasota and everything (hotels, condos) are going for top price.

Renting a motorhome is very expensive. Getting one in Florida would be the way to go, but again, it's Easter week so no price break.