Help! Need to rent one-way Cargo Van or Truck

[Soul Stream]

I'm flying to NYC in a couple of weeks to pick up an a Hammond B3 and Leslie. I'd planned on renting a van or truck and hauling it back to Texas. However, now that I've got my cheap airline ticket...I've searched and found Vans and Trucks going one-way are freakin' outrageously priced. Even the smallest U=Haul trailer (without even a car!) is over a grand one-way.

Anyway....any ideas? I have planned on a few hundred dollars to rent something for 3 days for the drive back. I'm trying to avoid driving my own car and trailer all the way there and back...that's a long haul round trip and I don't have that many days to spare even if I wanted to....

Help.

[Jim Alfredson]

Yeah, we found the same thing when looking into renting a cargo van for our trip out east last October. Luckily, a buddy of mine "loaned" us his van for a measly $400 for the week, which, compared to what it would cost to rent one, was a bargin.

At $1000, it would be cheaper to have it crated and shipped to you.

[Soul Stream]

Yeah, we found the same thing when looking into renting a cargo van for our trip out east last October. Luckily, a buddy of mine "loaned" us his van for a measly $400 for the week, which, compared to what it would cost to rent one, was a bargin.

At $1000, it would be cheaper to have it crated and shipped to you.

Yeah, you're right about that. Can't really afford a grand for this. Of Course, what's the gas and 4 nights hotels gonna add up to if I drive up and back myself (plus, throw in the 130 bucks I spent on a one way airline ticket already). Anyway, I've got to figure there's gotta be a way that's cheaper.... maybe I'm dreaming.

[Chuck Nessa]

Buy a clunker in the east and sell it when you get home.

[Soul Stream]

Buy a clunker in the east and sell it when you get home.

Great idea Chuck! Spoken like a true man who knows how to get things done. I've already checked Craigslist and found a few ripe choices...

[catesta]

Buy a clunker in the east and sell it when you get home.

This is good advice.

Otherwise check with trucking or moving companies to see who has available space.

[Peter Johnson]

The one-way rentals can be insane. It's all supply & demand, fed into some weird proprietary moving company software. When we moved from Seattle to Philadelphia in 2001, all of the one-way rentals from Seattle east were $1500. When I checked about renting from Portland (OR), the rates were all $750! Go figure.

I know this doesn't help, but commiseration is good, no?

Certainly check with the major moving companies to see if there's room on a load that's coming your way.