Ute hire advice!!

[Nigel]

Hi all, I’m in need of some urgent advice!

My housemate has just bought a Datsun 1200 ute… on ebay… in Melbourne!

It’s currently engine-less so we are planning on hiring a one-tonne ute/trailer and going on a road trip. The problem we are having is that it’s a 1500km round trip and you either pay through the nose for extra km’s, or, you aren’t allowed to tow with it at all (wtf?).

Can anyone recommend me a car hire place that won’t be such a PITA? I’m sure I’m not the first person on this forum to face this dilemma!

Thanks in advance!

[smee]

Avis do it.

Commercial outlets have different rates, so try Budget or AVIS in Fyshwick.

Dyno Matt hired a V8 cruiser from AVIS (commercial) on Port road and towed back to Canberra.

Mind you, he drove back to Adelaide to drop it off and pick up his repaired car.

Do not know cost though

[cwbyup]

Get a private tow bloke to do it.

Melbourne to canberra approx $600-

You email them the ebay link he prints out photos and when he gets there checks the car over to make sure there isn't any major differance ( basically so your not getting ripped off ) and then loads and drops it off at your house / business.
Having a car show up at weird hours is a pain but hey its easier than doing it yourself.

Nick

[Spac]

FWIW,
I've sold a car to a bloke in Melbourne and he was happy to pay a reasonable amount for it to be delivered - might be a way to offset your costs, at least? Of course, he only rang me three days after I'd driven down there with an empty trailer...
With the family situation as it is, it will be many months before I could wrangle a trip down there myself.

Gimme a call if you think we could make something work?
Nathan 04000 23847

And to answer your original question, I think the solution possibly lies in finding a hire vehicle that has a cable speedo?

If you paid the rego on our ute, you'd be welcome to take it (subject to Wife's approval, seeing as it is her's) - but the only advantage it has over the hire option is cost... And you'd be killed if anything happened to it.

[jyj003]

What ever you decide, please give me a pm before you leave. I have some ford 4 cyl engines and bits that I need bought down from Canberra to Melbourne. I will be more than happy to tip for a tank of fuel. Cheers Ted

[Nigel]

Thanks for all the replies guys, I think I’m sorted.

Turns out a mate is travelling to Melbourne the same weekend… with his Prado (planets align!). He needs to take a Honda civic down with him so we are towing the civic down, dropping it off, picking up the datto and driving back!

Many thanks for the offer Spac but we’ll have a full trailer both ways. Ted – check your PM’s.

The cable speedo option is a GREAT idea… I will have to use it sometime! Spac, you are not the first rally person to suggest that option (dodgy rally b#stards )

Thanks all!

[smee]

Originally Posted by Nigel

Thanks for all the replies guys, I think I’m sorted.
The cable speedo option is a GREAT idea… I will have to use it sometime! Spac, you are not the first rally person to suggest that option (dodgy rally b#stards )

Thanks all!

You just need to determine the speed linked to the revs (trucks/utes usually have a tacho) so you won't get pinged after you have disconnected the cable.

[damian]

too late i know, and wrong state, but complete hire in adelaide is who i have used several times, and they loan out to mining companies, and don't care hoiw many kms you do (altho they do charge x cents after y kms) or how much weight you tow. turbo diesal v8 landcruisers. $110 a day for ute, $140 a day i think for wagon

Complete Ute, Van & 4WD Hire

just booked one for a track day out at mallala next month

to tow with, not to track!

[BradG]

Find a place that has older utes.. IE cable speedos..

Then hire for a few days. It used to be 100k free a day with hire..

Do a few k's in it.. Then the speedo wire falls out..

Then it starts working when you go to drop it back off..

Amazing how they do that..

My old man had 15 trucks and a few ute many years ago..

The funniest one we had was a guy out across the ferry at wisemans. He was moving and had hired it for the week.
We would see it come across the ferry a few times aday... They burnt the clutch out after they bogged it. We got the "its only done 30ks since I picked it up and its been here all week getting loaded".. Funny that.. It more than 30ks to here from the place you got it from..

Off course if something happen you'd be stuffed but hey . Cheap transport.

[legend]

just borrow one.

[pvda]

Originally Posted by smee

You just need to determine the speed linked to the revs (trucks/utes usually have a tacho) so you won't get pinged after you have disconnected the cable.

SatNav (GPS) is your friend.