Rental Yards here now require 3/4 ton truck or better when towing.

[sd455dan]

Interesting thread. I had a tussle with U-haul a few years back renting a 12' aluminum trailer to pick up a JD garden tractor up in MA. Back then I had my Tacoma V6 with the 4.10 rear end. It was rated to tow 5,000 lbs max. I think the trailer and tractor might have totaled 2500 lbs. The guy kept saying that I had to have a full size truck but finally rented me the trailer. I sure hope the next time I need to rent a trailer or piece of equipment that's within my tow ratings of my 2010 F-150 that they don't tell me I now need a 3/4 ton truck. If that happens, I'm wondering how I can "prove" what my vehicle's tow rating is? Took a look at the ratings on the door placard and it only shows the GVWR in total and for each axle. Doesn't show the tow rating or GCVWR. Why don't mfg's put that info on the door placard? Can they look up your ratings by VIN? If not, how would they know the rating without knowing what axle ratio I have or even engine displacement?

I think you hit the nail on the head , they aren't going to care- they very likely may actually say (come back with a F250 or F350) or,you are welcome to leave your truck here, while you're renting one of ours! Oh and you will also need to pay this $$$ fee for the mandatory insurance , can you wait while we check your driving history, accidents, credit score, ...

 

[ultrarunner]

My 1985 3/4 ton van has a 12,000 pound step bumper platform hitch installed by the dealer...

It may be rated for that and the tow capacity might be somewhere close...

The fact is with the tool boxes and racks built in... there is no way I would ever make the mile climb up the road to my home since it is first gear all the way up without any trailer in tow...

However, it would meet the rental yard requirements.

My 1500 Silverado Pickup was set up to tow and has the power, trailer brakes, load distributing hitch, extra heavy core radiator with auxiliary trans cooler and comes up my my hill in second pulling my 7,000 lb closed trailer...

 

[firemanmike69]

This has been my thinking for a while now. I hear a lot of people on here talking about how much better the newer 1/2 ton trucks are compared to the old ones, how they are nearing the older 3/4 ton trucks of a few years ago. Everyone will agree that many of the older trucks were rated very conservatively, and I have a feeling that manufacturers are now just rating their trucks higher.

I have done my share of work on 1/2 ton as well as 3/4 ton trucks and there is just a huge difference in how much heavier the stuff is built. Admittedly, I don't do a lot of work on newer trucks, so I kind of keep this to myself usually because I can't confirm it. I don't think they are putting dana 60/70/80 full float rear-ends into the 1/2 tons yet, not the much beefier yokes and u-joints that I see in older 3/4 tons. The tranny's might be a little better (not sure), but I don't think the transfer cases are any different. They also still use 5 lug wheels (some 6). Also, do they have the larger radiators, steering boxes (actually I know that many have gone to rack and pinion), power steering oil coolers, larger alternators that came from the factory on many 3/4 tons? Again, I don't know because I don't have a new truck, but find a lot of the hype about how much better the newer 1/2 tons are a little exaggerated. It would be hard to convince me that they are "about as good or better than the old 3/4 ton trucks". More powerful with better trans... yes, but I doubt that they are just as heavy duty- just rated higher.

I am sure I will get flamed for this, and maybe I am way off... so go ahead and educate me, maybe I need it.

Guy at work just bought one of those ecoboost trucks that are supposedly towing monsters, it doesn't even have LT tires there're P rated

 

[Diamondpilot]

Guy at work just bought one of those ecoboost trucks that are supposedly towing monsters, it doesn't even have LT tires there're P rated

That's his fault and his dealers. Ours came with LT tires along with all but 2 of the nearly 20 F150's me, my father, and BIL have owned.

Only two with P tires were the only 2 wheel drive Lightning's we had.

Chris

 

[firemanmike69]

That's his fault and his dealers. Ours came with LT tires along with all but 2 of the nearly 20 F150's me, my father, and BIL have owned.

Only two with P tires were the only 2 wheel drive Lightning's we had.

Chris

Might be a new 150 thing because a few customers have come in with the P tires on the ecoboost trucks

 

[crashz]

I've had three new or nearly new 1/2 tons with factory tires (two F150's and one GMC) that came from the factory with P tires. Most of the trucks around here are like that

Back to the topic, I think the rental yards are doing this because of the huge difference in towing capacities on any vehicle below a 1/2 ton. For instance an F150 like my 1997 is rated at 3500 lbs (V6, 5 speed) and a new F150 can tow up to 11,300 lbs. That's a huge range. How is the clerk going to be able to check each rating with enough authority to hold up in court? And would the rental company put that on the clerk's shoulders? So the risk is much lower by throwing a blanket requirement into the rental agreement. It's all about minimizing risk.

 

[sd455dan]

I've had three new or nearly new 1/2 tons with factory tires (two F150's and one GMC) that came from the factory with P tires. Most of the trucks around here are like that

Back to the topic, I think the rental yards are doing this because of the huge difference in towing capacities on any vehicle below a 1/2 ton. For instance an F150 like my 1997 is rated at 3500 lbs (V6, 5 speed) and a new F150 can tow up to 11,300 lbs. That's a huge range. How is the clerk going to be able to check each rating with enough authority to hold up in court? And would the rental company put that on the clerk's shoulders? So the risk is much lower by throwing a blanket requirement into the rental agreement. It's all about minimizing risk.

Have to agree that is the problem- and the reason the rentals have done this.
There are just to many variables to check and a blanket policy is about the only easy way to protect themselves from a law suit.
My guess is, there all ready has been someone who bought a newer 1/2 ton, assumed after seeing all the advertising about the towing capacity of the new trucks (most of which is probably in small print about being properly optioned) rented something, way to heavy for their truck -crashed or had an accident.
Got a lawyer and went after the rental outfit... I also agree with diamond pilot about it being the responsibility when renting equipment, to check their rig out and make sure, but the ads on TV sure make it sound like / Buy this new 1/2 ton truck and you are ready to tow over 10,000 lbs as soon as you drive it off the lot...

 

[Code54]

I guess I am old schools but I really think if you want to get in that 10,000 lbs+ range you should be buying at least a 3/4 ton. The weight of the truck gives you an advantage let alone the additional strength of the major components. Sure a 1/2 can do it now and then but I agree with others that if you want to do it often move to a HD truck.

 

[ultrarunner]

I seldom rent... last time I rented anything with a trailer was 5 years ago...

The weight fees in California for a truck can be steep... still over $200 a year on my 1985 van.

If I ever decided to buy a dedicated tow vehicle it most likely would be something like an Excursion for 3/4 Suburban... no weight fees because they have seats...

Keeping a heavy duty truck around for occasional use would not be cost effective...

Never towed any rented equipment more that a mile or two to the job and never at highway speeds... the freeway at the bottom of the road has a ban of all trucks over 9,000 lbs too... although, I have never seen a pick-up pulled over... I have seen plenty of U-hauls and big rigs...

Oakland 580 truck ban....

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/trucks/routes/restrict-hist-580.htm

 

[Rford]

If a rental outfit, or anyone else, knows that somebody is getting themselves into a dangerous towing situation, I'd hope they'd prevent it. And if they don't, when they could, and some guy runs over me or my loved ones, I'm suing everyone involved. And that's only right.