Having a fifth-wheel truck rental can make things easier for a construction company. It provides ease when transporting important equipment without the cost of additional trucks sharing the load. The cost of transportation is significantly reduced when you have a fifth-wheel truck rental.
Before you can set out on the road with the equipment, you need to know the logistics—the truck you will be using to tow the equipment matters. You could go for a top-of-the-line 1-ton truck that has a huge bed and a powerful diesel engine. There is no stopping that beast and it will definitely get the job done properly.
The issue is that as powerful as that truck might be, there is no ‘one solution fits all’ scenario here. You need to consider several other factors before you can decide which vehicle will be the best for the fifth-wheel truck rental. You will have to consider the cab size, your comfort while driving, and of course the fuel economy and upfront costs.
There are plenty of options when it comes to the trucks that you can use. In fact, there are so many it can become an overwhelming decision to make. Luckily for you, we have prepared this guide to answer your fifth-wheel truck rental questions.
Choosing the Perfect 5th Wheel Truck Rental
There are several things that you need to consider before you choose the truck that you will be renting out for the fifth-wheel towing. Here are the most important ones for you so that you can make the best possible decision.
Short vs. Long Beds for 5th Wheel Truck Rentals
The bed size of the vehicle is one of the most important things to think about. There is an increasing number of Mega Cabs and SuperCrew Cabs in the industry now. This has led to a decrease in the length of truck beds—now less than 8 feet, which was once an industry standard. When renting a truck, you need to realize that the length of the bed truck is crucial. It will determine how much setting up the hitch will cost you and how simple it will be to tow once you get moving. Having a long bed provides the easiest and most convenient towing abilities.
Pros of Long Beds (8 feet)
- They are the most convenient for towing.
- There is less sway and better traction.
- Setting it up is cost-effective.
- You get good clearance while making turns.
Cons of Long Beds (8 feet)
- Not ideal for daily driving.
Trucks with less than 8 feet of bed length are easier to maneuver when they are not towing. They make for a good driving experience and they also have a larger cab. The problem is that they have reduced turning clearance, less traction, and setting up the hitch is expensive.
Gas vs Diesel – Which is the Better Fuel for a 5th Wheel Truck Rental?
Anyone who has driven any vehicle will know the simple fact of the matter – gas costs less than diesel. There is no denying the fact that gasoline has been the most economical fuel to consider because of a number of reasons. The upfront cost of gasoline is lower than diesel, gasoline-powered engines are much cheaper to come by and the maintenance costs for those engines are also low.
The situation where you are getting a 5th wheel truck rental is quite different from day-to-day use. Over long distances, the fuel economy for diesel engines actually happens to be far superior when compared to gasoline engines. This means that diesel engines will save you plenty of money over the long haul. Diesel engines are also more expensive because they are more powerful. That means a diesel engine will increase the capacity to tow heavier equipment—something that construction companies need consistency in their work.
An added bonus is the fact that diesel engines last much longer before they need maintenance work or replacement. We would recommend getting diesel engine trucks for your fifth-wheel towing needs. When you rent a vehicle you only need to worry about the upfront fuel costs. Maintenance and purchasing costs are not your problems to deal with, which is a great benefit of renting.
What is the Payload Capacity?
While researching fifth-wheel truck rentals, you might have come across categories about the weights. Unfortunately, the sources you use may not explain the weight categories and what type of hauling is most suitable for each. In several cases, we would recommend going for ¾-ton or full 1-ton trucks. In construction, you need to move a fair amount of equipment, so these are the most reliable for the job. Heavy duty trucks like the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 or the Ford F-250 which you can rent from us are excellent options when it comes to the 3/4 ton trucks.
The larger vehicles put less strain on the suspension, and the drive train components are also able to bear more weight. You can tow heavy payloads with a lighter truck like the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 but you cannot get the most efficient service from a small 5th-wheel truck rental.
Final Thoughts
Getting the perfect 5th-wheel truck rental depends on these factors, which you need to consider carefully before you decide on which truck to rent.
Summit Fleet can provide you with a varying range of the latest trucks from a majority of the weight categories. We have top-of-the-line trucks to assure a job well done. You simply need to decide which truck will be best suited for your needs. Contact us to learn more about truck rentals and get your rate today. We’d be more than happy to help you out!
Sources:
https://www.etrailer.com/faq-fifth-wheel-truck.aspx
https://www.etrailer.com/question-53105.html
