rent a 3/4 ton pickup?

[Megunticook]

Thanks for the tip on the Saco Toyota dealership, I'll look into that. I tried a couple dealers around here, they didn't rent trucks.

I can check and repack bearings if needed, I can even wire up some lights if I have to, but I sure can't install brakes on this rig.

I know what it's like to drive a heavy vehicle that needs a good amount of stopping distance (I drive fire trucks loaded with 2000 gallons of water), and feel I could do it safely by driving very conservatively and keeping a generous distance from vehicles in front of me. But I don't like the idea of hauling an illegal load all that way.

[Markst95]

Smallest Uhaul with a hitch is a 10 footer. It will cost just under $400 to rent for the trip you describe.

[Steve Bryant]

If it's not to late in the deal, negotiate the delivery with the seller. Ask him drive it to you and offer to pay him for the truck rental and round trip fuel cost that you are going to spend anyway. Then take him to lunch and buy him a beer for his good will.

[Megunticook]

Found a 2012 F250 that Home Depot will let me use for $69 as long as I get it back the next day. Can't beat that with a stick.

Need to get a pintle hitch but that should be doable on my way down (Messer in Portland would be a good bet).

Talked with a Trailer Shop just down the road from the seller's house, will stop there and have everything checked out. Seller was not interested in delivering the boat.

Still a little uneasy about it but I'll see what the experts at the trailer shop say. Worst case scenario I leave the boat there and let them install brakes. Could also just go as far as Kittery and leave the boat at my brother-in-law's house (you didn't need that driveway, did you?)

[Jim Davis]

One other thought to keep Murphy's Law out of the way. Make sure both the truck and trailer have the same size hitch. There are three ball sizes and from ten feet they are hard to distinguish.

[Megunticook]

Got her home yesterday, long slow trip with frequent stops to make sure the trailer was OK, but everything went fine and she's parked safely at home. Phew!

Thanks for the all the tips and advice.

Hats off to "The Trailer Shop" in Danvers, MA by the way, who went out of their way to help me out before I headed north.

[bill2]

Good to hear that you made it OK .

A few years back ( maybe a decade ? ) I needed to tow a cd22 and triad trailer ( I got it slightly oversized - two axles and all with brakes so it would be more than enough for trailer sailing if need be ) from nearby NE to eastern PA.

Turned out one of the local Ford dealers - while not cheap ( even charged a fee per mile ) - rented new-ish Ford pickups - 3/4 ton as I recall - and had no problems with me towing - as long as I obeyed all laws in any state I'd be in .

Worked fine - well except for paying for it all - but once in awhile it was worth it .