Can you move a CUT in a rental truck?

Rick_CT · Feb 13, 2008

Question, can you move a CUT, about 26hp inside of a rental 22' truck? I might have to move a tractor, and it would be convienent to use a straight job truck, i.e Penske rental or similar. Wondering if anyone has ever done this, and is it safe and legal to do. Overall trip would be about 350 miles. Not interested taking chances, so your feedback is appreciated.

RobS · Feb 13, 2008

Tractor should fit, but are there tiedowns? Does the rental company allow it? Got ramps at each end for load/unload? At work we have a 26ft straight truck for delivery. It is equipped with tiedowns and a side door for hauling cars but the drivers hate doing it. Tractor would be much easier getting in/out than a car.

powerstroke444e · Feb 13, 2008

This would work fine as most CUT weigh less than 5k, just make sure the truck will handle that much wieght, most will. if it has e-track to hold it down it would help. I have hauled them on the back of one ton pickups before with out an issue. Just strap it down.

Racer71 · Feb 13, 2008

You may consider a U-haul type car trailer. It will be much easier to load and unload.

RobS · Feb 13, 2008

Racer71 said:
You may consider a U-haul type car trailer. It will be much easier to load and unload.

A lot of the U-haul car trailers don't have a full width floor, only trays where the car tires go. Most CUTs aren't as wide as even a narrow car, so they may not fit on the tire trays. Something to look into anyway.

Stimw · Feb 14, 2008

I would think that by the time you pay for the rental, fuel and mileage you would have almost payed enough to buy a trailer. While I haven't seen rental rates in a while, they never were inexpensive!

Rick_CT · Feb 14, 2008

Thanks for all the feedback. Concerning the cost to rent, a Penske 22' or 24' truck is $269 with unlimited mileage. I would have to travel about 350 miles at maybe 7mpg, and use $3.50 gallon diesel. Total is $444, put something in for tax, and other, lets say $550. total. Since I don't own a truck that will tow a trailer of the size needed, I was thinking that this was not too costly. If I contract the job out to haul it, I believe that it is going to be higher than $550 for the trip. I don't think the cost is a show stopper, I'm more concerned with doing it safely. Loading and unloading should not be a problem at either end.

I guess I will have to go look at one of their trucks. I'm concerned with the floor strength and if there are any substantial tie downs in such a truck, I'm guessing there might not be.

tommu56 · Feb 14, 2008

Rick_CT

The floor will not be a problem we use to move brigport mill machines betwween our plants Fall river, Mass. to Cliften, NJ and to Linonville, Pa.
I never had a problem with the floor. It was our truck I would drill through machine and floor and bolt it down with a 6x6 steel plate on the under side of the floor. Then when done I would hammer a oak dowel in the hole and sand it smoothe on top.

If you have a place at each end with a loading dock with a dockplate it would be easier to load just drive it in no ramps needed.

I'm sure you can figure how I would tie it down just plug the holes when done.

tom

powerstroke444e · Feb 14, 2008

I wouldn't worry about floor strength as lots of these trucks have small forklifts or pallet jacks that move pallets that are heavier than your tractor.