Rent a Van or Car for RTR?

[cynanne]

I am considering renting a vehicle for my first RTR. I have seen the video from last year with Kat from Lake Placid. I currently live in southern California and would have only about a four hour drive to the RTR. I was thinking of renting an SUV like a Ford Escape or Jeep Cherokee and I could fold the seats down and sleep in the back. I am taking time off from work and thinking about coming for a week. Does anyone have any idea if this type of car would work well in the off road areas where the attendees stay? Would a van be better and less likely to be damaged "off road"?  Is the area generally rough on cars? With a rental I would be more careful. I'd love to know if anyone else is doing this as I would love to brainstorm a bit. It might be better to rent a van from Uhaul than an SUV from Hertz. I will not be buying the insurance as I have collision on my credit card and my liability follows me with my regular car insurance. Any suggestions?

 

[travelaround]

I thought about renting a van, briefly, but decided to use my car and a tent instead, to save money. I have to admit, I'm not enthusiastic about sleeping in my car. I've done it before and it was okay for a few days but after that my hips started to hurt no matter which way I turned. This time I'm going to try to put down the back seat and get a regular camping mattress to sleep on.

 

[maki2]

If you rent a vehicle from Uhaul just be aware that they have a standard policy that does not permit renters to sleep in their rentals.  So keep your intended use of it as a temporary RV to yourself. You might even buy or bring along a small pup tent to prove your innocence should that subject ever come up. When could it come up? If the van broke down at the RTR and you needed them to come out to the camping area and fix or tow it. It is going to be very obvious what is going on in that location but if you have a tent on hand then you can protest your innocence more convincingly.

 

[wagoneer]

If I were in your position I would put the money into a very comfortable sleeping platform a great tent dont cheap out good stuff costs money and has resale value junk is always junk. Portable propane stove folding table/platform and what sounds like a one day drive just go for it, do not fret the little stuff this can all be gotten in Quartzsite cheap. If I were a bit closer I would offer a ride perhaps others in "your" area will pitch in.

 

[becida]

There were a number of people who rented vehicles at the last  RTR, there might even be something written down about in this forum.

 

[camping bum]

thinking of doing the same thing, fly in from Orlando, rent a uhaul
i really want to go but time /travel will not a low me to haul my cargo
so fly / u hual works for me
BTW what are the dates and is anyone from Central Florida going?

 

[Watch_Cowspiracy]

I would absolutely go the uhaul route. $20 a day and no mileage since you're parked in one spot. Another idea is to buy a beater van, use it for 14 days and then sell it again when you're done. If you can haggle and know how to inspect a vehicle, the whole trip might not cost you a penny.

 

[MrNoodly]

Does anyone have any idea if this type of car would work well in the off road areas where the attendees stay?

Most of the RTR area is covered in hard packed dirt and gravel and tightly packed stones called "desert pavement." And the area of the new location is flat. Some people come to RTR in ordinary cars. 

<a href="https://imgbb.com/"><img src="https://image.ibb.co/jKJJ1V/download.jpg" alt="download" border="0" /></a>

Here's a photo of part of the location for RTR this year. See how you drive right off the highway onto desert pavement.

<a href="https://imgbb.com/"><img src="https://image.ibb.co/n84paq/nq1w.jpg" alt="nq1w" border="0" /></a>

<a href="https://imgbb.com/"><img src="https://image.ibb.co/d9ihvq/nq2w.jpg" alt="nq2w" border="0" /></a>

The desert basin around Quartzsite is like a huge parking lot.  That's one of the reasons RVers flock here.

 

[cynanne]

Thanks for the pics- big help for me. It looks like a rental SUV from Hertz or Enterprise might work just fine. I would bring a simple tent but I would likely sleep in the car.

 

[Beeps and eats]

Why not a minivan, I rented one in Alaska and spent three weeks in it.

Sent from my Z981 using Tapatalk

 

[grandpa pete]

I drove a rented Penske sprinter to the van build last year ;work trip;...….tires and off road towing are your responsibility....The van build is 1oo feet off the paved road....the RTR is a LOT farther off pavement.

 

[Campor99]

No need for a truck like U-haul, I ve been to 2 RTR's once in my Astro Van the other a Suburban
never needed any thing other than a Mini Van. That would be your best choice for cheap!

 

[sephson]

One of my neighbors at the last RTR came in Budget rental van. He wanted to see if van life was something he might enjoy before spending the money to buy a van and convert it. Now, several months later, he's in the process of converting a Sprinter van and planning to hit the road by the beginning of 2019.

 

[becida]

The rtr is on hard pack, getting stuck isn't impossible, if anyone trys hard enough anything is possible but your have to work at it.
There were several rentals there last year..

 

[MrNoodly]

The rtr is on hard pack, getting stuck isn't impossible...

Except for a knucklehead who drove into a wash one year.

 

[MrNoodly]

...the RTR is a LOT farther off pavement.

Perhaps not the case with the new location.

 

[highdesertranger]

the guy that drove into the wash was last year. Jimindenver, Otis and I got him out. speaking of Otis(TMG51) has anybody heard from him. he hasn't been on the forum since May, I am a little concerned. highdesertranger

 

[Groovy2]

Renting van is a good idea -
talked to several people that did it last year -

spend $60 for
air bed
ice chest
some bottled water
flash light and a small Solar light
a bucket
and your Doing the Van Life ish -

reserve van now so rental company will order more -