Quote:
Originally Posted by TimAZ
I rented a 26 - foot Penske truck for a 1000 mile move and I’d never do it again. First was the bait and switch on the day of the move. The nicely equipped IH truck they showed me a week before was “unavailable” and instead I got a decrepit pile-o-crap with uncomfortable seats and a loud engine. It was a take it or leave it moment, and they won because I had no choice - we had to move that day.
On the highway the truck's governed diesel screamed and topped out at every downshift and the automatic transmission pretty much killed any fuel advantage over a similar gasoline engine. I averaged less than 10 MPG. The high stance and center of gravity made driving a white-knuckle experience as semis blew by me poking along at the top speed of 65 MPH. On one stretch of I-10 in NM the damned truck nearly rolled over when my front right wheel hit a low area where they were paving the shoulder. I could feel the whole truck leaning right and knew if I corrected the wheel to the left it was all over. Fortunately the paving leveled out and I was able to ease it back into the lane.
At the other end the Penske rep asked me to describe my trip and I told him it was easily one of the most stressful experiences of my life. In contrast, a few months later I rented a 24-foot UHaul and not only was it more powerful, the lower center of gravity made driving that beast much easier and far less stressful.
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sounds like some of that was personal issues with driving something that big. Penskes 26' straight truck is 13'2" same hieght as a rigs box trailer, it takes more than you think to roll one over, they drive and handle just fine, which brings me to the low area; the duals on the rear of any truck are wider than the front track width, so if your front wheel dropped off, your dual was already half off. You just sound like you're afraid to drive something that big. They usually go 70, it just takes it Int'l a bit longer to get to it, than a Frieghtliner. A similar size gas engine would be a bigger fuel hog. I took a Penske from here in Louisville Ky to Blacksburg Va, was near ¼ when we were headed back, filled up and got back with a ¾tank.
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