Transport in Rental Van?

Great forum here, thanks.

I am buying a 2000 VFR from a friend who lives about 2000 miles away. I was considering just having it shipped, but then we hatched the plan of going for a ride for a few days first. I would like to fly out there, ride it, then put it in a vehicle and drive it home. [I know, I know, I should just ride it home, but I am not comfortable making that plan on a bike I have never ridden before,etc.]

So.. does anyone have any experience trying to shoehorn one of these into a minivan, SUV, etc that the friendly people at Hertz will let me use?

 

Why not get a $19 a day uhaul pickup truck.

 

Good suggestion - unfortunately, they don't do one way rentals. Their smallest box truck is $1k for the rental!

 

What about renting a vehicle with a trailer hitch from Hertz (is that possible?) and then just a trailer from UHAUL?

 

I think you are blowing a perfect and not often found excuse for an epic ride.

 

Amen +1 take the ride.

 

Wow! 2000 miles? This must be a great friend or the VFR of all VFRs! I love my bike, but I realize that Honda made a lot of them and there are many devoted fans to keeping them in good shape. I don't see a cheap way to haul this home. I went 200 miles to get mine, but I used my Jeep Grand Cherokee and a one way trailer to get it and it still was more expensive than it should be. I think your rental will be at least $500 for the trip depending on starting and ending point.

 

Of course it may depend upon where your path would be; but I'm with the other guys here - if you're going to go there anyway, just plan on riding the bike back. You'll know after a day or two of riding if there are any issues you'll have to worry about. Take a simple toolkit, a tire plug kit and compressor, your LD gear, and either take appropriate soft luggage or plan on getting it there.

Oh yeah, don't forget your camera.

2000 miles would be a piece of cake on a VFR, just give yourself a week to enjoy it.

 

I can see buying one that you know the history of. Most of the time Hertz or Enterprise puts something in the hitch so you cannot tow. Still, a full size cargo van from enterprise could do it. I think they both rent pickups as well. Depends on how big of a rental place is there, plus if you make reservations....but it won't be cheap. Enterprise/Hertz would be cheaper, but ask them about the mileage plus the one way charge...

 

Ride it man!
I did 2000 miles last May on a completely unknown bike with a stock seat in three days. It rained and hailed along the way just so I wouldn't for get the adventure. As it turned out, that was my only good run on her last year.

Do It Do It Do It!

 

Only Harleys and dogs belong in the back of a pickup or trailer!!

p.s mini van to short in height. Could take off fairing and maybe bars. Leave them hang.

 

You don't need a Van or truck.

[video=youtube;hRp3Roz6grk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRp3Roz6grk&feature=player_embedded[/video]

Rollin

 

enterprise rents pickups for 90 a day but I don't think you can take a rental car across the mississippi river for some odd reason

 

I vote for buying a plane ticket out to ride it back.

DO IT!