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dja4260

dja4260

Joined
May 16, 2011
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Greenville, SC
Our cross country move is almost upon us. Back story can be found HERE

Sold Chicago house. Bought SC home for almost cash
grin.gif
. Wife and daughter living with in-laws, I'm living with a friend and our 2 dogs.

Chicago, IL to Greenville, SC.

I rented a 26ft Penske Truck with a tow dolly for my vehicle.

-Anyone have any experience with my above set up?
-Does the truck has cruise control?
-Is other rental company better? Uhaul was cheaper, but trucks were gas and my rentals have always been beat to [censored]?

I plan on driving until I get to the smokies. Sleeping in the cab with my two dogs. Finishing up the 4 hour drive in the morning on the following day.
 
I've rented all manner of trucks. My favorite was from Enterprise, although they didn't have tow dollies available.

None of them have ever had cruise control. I don't think I'd use it with a truck that big while towing anyhow. I'm not a regular truck driver though, so there's always a bit of uneasiness when driving the 26' and 28' ones.

Safe travels.
 
Check the tire straps on your tow dolley after 2 miles, after an hour, and at every stop.

If you go 55 or 60 vs 70 you'll save enough in fuel to pay yourself a living wage.

Run the parking lights on your towed car after dark. It won't kill the battery < 4 hours.
 
Originally Posted By: dja4260
Sleeping in the cab with my two dogs. Finishing up the 4 hour drive in the morning on the following day.


I'd probably stop a little sooner and get a room at a Motel 6 or similar to really relax and get some sleep. NO way I'd be sleeping in the cab with the dogs. It will be better for them as well. That way you can be at your best while driving the second interval. The last thing you want is to risk an accident during this time. Treat yourself well. You made out on the sale of the old home, might as well make the best of it.
 
Penske trucks are better for cross country moves - no doubt.

I'd grab a hotel and make sure I'm well rested. You'll be tired enough from driving something much bigger than usual. Just plan on the overall drive taking longer than you'd expect.
 
A long time ago I drove a 26' IH Uhaul equipped with 7.3 IDI and 5 speed manual, from Oregon to Texas, towing an S15 Jimmy on a car trailer on the back. The 7.3 had like 130HP in IH applications and I kept it pedal to the metal at all times. Averaged 10MPG anyway. Added 2 quarts of 15w40 along the way. Happy that it didn't overheat, it was 118 passing through Phoenix.

The speed I was doing was whatever the truck would do, at the slightest incline 45mph was tops. Up passes 25mph in 2nd gear, usually on the shoulder. Top sustained speed was 70 MPH on I-10 in the Calfornia desert, had a very strong tailwind. Top downhill speed was 85MPH near Kerrville, Texas on a steep downhill.

I would recommend 60-65 as a reasonable speed in modern equipment. 55, you're risking an accident nowadays, IMO.

The tow vehicle will bounce around more than you would think, I don't recommend filling it with additional household items as I did. A few items were broken.

Go to a service station or truck stop with lots of room for maneuvering, I got kind of stuck at one point at a small service station as I was not familiar with backing up a trailer. Someone who was used to towing a ski boat helped me unstuck the truck and trailer.
 
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26 footer should have cruise control, per Penske's site:

https://www.pensketruckrental.com/moving-trucks/#chart

Governor will probably be set below 70 anyway. I would recommend just going to truck stops or pull thru stations as another poster.

Check the tires and if you are picking up from a corporate location ask for a newer truck. Decide if you are buying the insurance from Penske before hand since you will get asked that day. If you don't have AAA, sign up and you should get another 12% off.

I'd also check the additional cost for their car carrier option - take a drive past and see if they have a lot of carriers sitting in which case you may be able to get a better deal even though it is an "upgrade". Check and double check the tow dolly, sometimes those don't have the best pm done. Often it's easiest to pack the truck and come back to the lot and pick up the tow equipment later, like as you are hitting the road.
 
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I just completed a move from New Orleans to Brunswick, NJ in April. Rented a Penske 26' diesel, auto trans, that did have cruise control. The CC was great since keeping ones foot on the pedal would have been torture. The truck seemed to want to run best between 55 and 65 mph. Getting to 70 wasn't easy and keeping it there was nearly impossible! Even the smallest incline pulled the speed down about 10 mph and even more on steeper interstate highway grades. The fuel gage over about 65 mph would drop a lot. In Penske's online information stated that average MPG was about 10 and much less if you keep it floored! Prices for diesel fuel were all over the place and just about always significantly higher than gasoline! I spent a ton of green on diesel, but didn't total it up because I really didn't want to know!! I'd guess a gasoline fueled truck wouldn't be any better, cost wise.

Be careful not to get into a position where you have to back-up, since the rear view is limited and difficult to judge clearances. Don't expect any courtesies from other trucks or cars either. My wife and I nicknamed the truck "Teddy Roosevelt" since it was one rough riding s-o-b. It will also be very, very helpful if you don't have "old bones" or orthopedic issues!! ***Best of luck!***
 
Manhattan to a nearby town----70mi.
Hackensack, NJ to Brevard, NC-841mi.
Bristol, CT to Madawaska, ME--841mi. Yes, both trips were 841 miles.
All in Penske 26' straight jobs.

They drive like cars. Be thoughtful and you'll be OK. If you're a numb driver consider not endangering your fellow man.
My pal just slammed the gas pedal down. He reached 54mpg and got 5mpg. I finessed the gas by backing off going downhill and being smooth.
I was told by Penske people that by doing that I didn't engage the governor. I glided near 65 and got over 6mpg.
We'd switch after emptying the twin gas tanks so the mileage data is OK.

Never towed a car dolly.
 
Don't let your son(s) drive. They'll know how to get around the 70mph limiter, and if anything happens... not their stuff.

Not that I have an experience with that.

The 26' Budget that I drove could smell a hill from a mile away. It was pretty much pedal down the whole time on the highway, as it'd drop speed on any incline. And top out at 70. Otherwise it took a bit of time to remember: it's a bit longer and wider than anything I'd ever driven. It may be wise to use a spotter in parking lots if you start feeling anxious--and I'd definitely use one if backing up (sans dolly). But other than switch to my left foot on long inclines (right foot would get tired of mashing the pedal) it was pretty much like driving any poorly powered automatic transmission car.

oh, and the one I had only had an FM radio. Got real boring scanning stations. May be value in loading up the mp3 player.
 
Originally Posted By: Brons2
A long time ago I drove a 26' IH Uhaul equipped with 7.3 IDI and 5 speed manual, from Oregon to Texas, towing an S15 Jimmy on a car trailer on the back. The 7.3 had like 130HP in IH applications and I kept it pedal to the metal at all times. Averaged 10MPG anyway. Added 2 quarts of 15w40 along the way. Happy that it didn't overheat, it was 118 passing through Phoenix.

The speed I was doing was whatever the truck would do, at the slightest incline 45mph was tops. Up passes 25mph in 2nd gear, usually on the shoulder. Top sustained speed was 70 MPH on I-10 in the Calfornia desert, had a very strong tailwind. Top downhill speed was 85MPH near Kerrville, Texas on a steep downhill.

I would recommend 60-65 as a reasonable speed in modern equipment. 55, you're risking an accident nowadays, IMO.

The tow vehicle will bounce around more than you would think, I don't recommend filling it with additional household items as I did. A few items were broken.

Go to a service station or truck stop with lots of room for maneuvering, I got kind of stuck at one point at a small service station as I was not familiar with backing up a trailer. Someone who was used to towing a ski boat helped me unstuck the truck and trailer.
158hp! And my owners manual says 1 qt in 750 miles is to be expected! Gotta run big ring gaps incase the egt's get out of control
 
One more tip: Remember NOT to set the parking brake on the vehicle on the dolly. A friend didn't think of that and towed her car from Richmond to Columbia with the brake on. That burnt up the rear wheel cylinders (thereby dumping all the brake fluid), as well as linings.
 
It was quite a while ago, but we rented a truck from UHaul and it was a used up piece of garbage.
I drove it from Northern Wisconsin to the Schaumburg IL area and it bounced horribly the whole way.
Only data point I can offer.
 
I lease a 26' Flatbed from Penske. It will have cruise and be governed at 70mph. They have the best trucks out of all the major rental companies. I have tried them all.
 
The closest I've driven to your setup is the 24' Budget mentioned above, dolly towing a Saturn. I also made two moves with 17-20' Uhauls and the Saturn.

It sounds like the Penske is a better truck--good thing, since my Budget had a hard time on the hills across PA moving from Michigan to Virginia. It had some kind of Chevy diesel.

In general, and I know I'm repeating what some have said already:

--Check the truck thoroughly when you pick it up, especially the tires.

--The trip will probably take longer than you think, especially since you'll be crossing the Smokies.

--Check the dolly straps, hitch, and tires (and the car's tires) regularly. I had a dolly tire start showing cords on one trip, and on another, a rear tire on the towed car went flat.

--When you get off the highway, make sure there's room to turn around before you pull into any driveway. Truckstops and the truck side of rest areas are your best bets. Never try to back up with the tow dolly, unless maybe you're a professional. A real driver saved me once in a motel parking lot, and that was with the shorter Uhaul. It was worse than trying to back up the single-axle honeywagon with a Farmall tractor when I was a kid.

--Lane changes are not going to be easy, given the speed differential, the length of your rig, and the fact that nobody else is concerned about you getting where you need to go. It might help to have someone follow you.

Be careful, take it slow, and enjoy the adventure!
 
Boston to San Francisco in a U-haul towing a a two-axle trailer. Might as well of epoxyed the gas pedal to the floor board a la "Blues Brothers".
I think the quality of vehicle depends on your local rental office and what they have available. Are they 2 small dogs? You will need to have the windows open at least a little when you sleep and some truck stops can have characters with not the best of intentions for you.
Good luck
 
Of all the rental places Penske is tops. Their 26 footers are great, always new or near new. Exact opposite of U-haul.
 
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