U-Haul

"CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever" (carsoffortlangley) 01/18/2020 at 11:50 • Filed to: None

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I’ve never rented nor driven a U-Haul before. I have to say, I am super impressed with their self check in once you return it. I’m glad they exist as a company and will probably rent a pick up from them tomorrow.

Just Jeepin' > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 01/18/2020 at 12:15

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I rented a U-Haul when I was moving between apartments in Boston a couple of decades ago. It was a death trap, quite worrisome to drive; when I returned it, the guy laughed. “You should be grateful it was available.”

I’m pretty sure they were the subject of a class-action lawsuit over unsafe trucks around the same time, but my memory fails me and there are so many other hits for searches about U-Haul and lawsuits that I don’t see it off-hand.

Anyway, my point being: I’m glad their service is good, I hope they’re doing a better job not causing harm as well.

jminer > Just Jeepin' 01/18/2020 at 12:24

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I second you - they used to be super-shitty. Last time I rented from them was a decade ago and the quality varied wildly as around here at least they’re most all independent places that also rent uhauls.  Mine had a battery die on it and I had to pay for the tow truck to jump it and it was terrifying to drive as it was in sorry shape.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 01/18/2020 at 12:31

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I’ve rented from UHaul many times before.  Though I try to avoid getting the vans with the gas V10

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Just Jeepin' 01/18/2020 at 12:33

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Some UHaul locations are way better than others.  The larger ones that also do storage and hitch installs usually have better equipment 

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Just Jeepin' 01/18/2020 at 12:37

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Of late, U-haul has really upped their maintenance game and invested in lowering the age of their fleet. 10 years ago they really hit or miss. More recently, even the older trucks or equipment I’ve gotten has been in decent shape.

Also, their new trucks are always put in the one-way fleet. Once they hit a certain age or mileage they’re retired to stores for local rentals.

Penske is probably the gold standard for new trucks and maintenance efforts.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 01/18/2020 at 12:45

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i like the local version we have

they do moving trucks and well pretty much anything you might want to rent too

but its the cars i like.... cheaper than taking a train pretty much anywhere

or at least...would be if i had a creditcard... as i dont they want the safety deposit up front wich makes it a lil less handy for permanently cash strapped me

Kiltedpadre > Just Jeepin' 01/18/2020 at 12:52

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I rented from them last spring from a local place where there primary business was play structure sales. It was definitely a run-down store, and given past experiences I was very concerned about what sort of massive death trap I was about to be handed the keys to. I was pleasantly surprised by how well maintained it seemed to be.

My last two dealings with them had been driving two uhauls rented by my work. One had the breaks fail on a downhill exit ramp just outside downtown Columbus, Ohio. I blew through the light at the end of the ramp and up the hill for the opposite on-ramp and had to find a pay phone to call Uhaul and my work. Uhaul sent a replacement truck, but I made work send someone else to drive it.

Prior to that I got one of the old trucks that was built on a Toyota chassis that wouldn’t shift out of first gear. I left it on the side of the road and walked back about a mile to tell them they would need to go get it. The shop was on a very busy, multi lane road with a 55mph speed limit. There was no way in hell I was risking my life limping that thing back.

I don’t know if it happened due to lawsuits or the fact that new options popped up to compete with them, but it seems like their fleet is light years ahead of where it was.

Slant6 > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 01/18/2020 at 12:52

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I rented a truck and an auto dolly from them this past summer moving from Raleigh to Atlanta. I think the truck had like 400 miles on it and ran really great. I’d rent from them again.

smobgirl > Just Jeepin' 01/18/2020 at 12:59

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The LA Times wrote a huge expose of their maintenance and rental practices in 2007. I think they’ve cleaned up their act  a bit since. I’m not fond of them, but when I had to rent trucks for the band kids they were the only company with locations near enough to the school to make it work. I’m not sure I’d rent anything towable from them even now though.

smobgirl > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 01/18/2020 at 13:02

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Penske standards for everything are insanely high . Apparently Roger will show up at the dealerships and just go randomly opening janitor closets and stuff to see if everything behind the scenes is up to par.

fintail > Just Jeepin' 01/18/2020 at 13:31

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In the late 80s my family made a long move, and my dad channeled his inner cheap bastard and rented a U-Haul. It was a 1970s era big Ford truck, which seemed ancient even then, fun to ride in as it was maybe just a little scary. I remember the basic vinyl interior and large thin steering wheel. It would appear very unsafe now, but I recall my dad said it was fine, and gave no issues on the ~350 mile drive . He liked old Fords though, so I bet it wouldn’t have been fine for everyone.

When I moved to my current location 15 years ago, I also rented a U-Haul, a small van type box truck like CoFLs rig above, but a Chevy.  It had under 10K miles on it and was fine, although I recall it really swilled fuel, and had a lot of drivetrain whine.   Looking back on what the truck cost me, plus buying dinner and drinks for the friends who helped me move, I am not sure if I saved a fortune by doing it myself.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Just Jeepin' 01/18/2020 at 16:34

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My only memory of a Uhaul is helping my friend load up his Eagle Scout project in the back of it: many many damp planks of wood and concrete pieces to build a tent platform. The front wheels of the truck gained at least 10 degrees of camber. No visible damage after unloading but we thought we were in for a large repair bill.

facw > Just Jeepin' 01/18/2020 at 16:34

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My impression is that point to point fleet is newer and better cared for than their in-town rentals (obviously there’s some overlap, but it seems like the franchise owned is not as good as the shared equipment) .