| How to Save Money on Motorcycle Trailer Rentals Sep 29th 2012, 22:00 Whether you're going on a trip to the desert or moving across country, you may need to rent a motorcycle trailer to tow your bike to your desired location. But without the right tips, you could end up spending much more than you need to. This article will explain how you can to save a bit of money when looking to rent a motorcycle trailer. - Pick the right dates. Choosing to rent the trailer over weekdays rather than weekends will usually save you money, since weekends tend to have the high-volume rental requests. Also, if you select to tow your motorcycle in the off-season, winter, you will be able to get extra special deals from rental companies.
- Find out whether there are lowered costs for longer-term rentals, which might be important if you need to transport the motorcycle for a week or more.
- Look for specials. Most companies will run specials to get their rental requests up. Look for special deals to ensure that you're getting the best value. This includes checking both online and in stores (look at their websites, in catalogs or call in). Usually companies will run separate offers on and offline, so it's a good idea to call ahead and check online before deciding on the best deal available to rent your trailer.
- You might be surprised at the low rate offered for trailer rental even without specials––some hire companies will have good deals for their everyday prices even. However, the lower the price, the longer the wait, so you'll need to book well in advance.
- Consider an alternative to renting a motorcycle trailer. Renting trailers isn't the only way to get your motorcycle from point A to point B. Instead, consider other options that may be more fiscally sound, such as:
- Some companies will deliver your bike for you. Give the dates and locations to certain delivery companies and they can move your bike across country for reasonable price. Given the money you will save on gas (including the excess gas required to pull the trailer), you might actually be better off flying to your destination and having your bike delivered. This will also save you money on the wear and tear of your car and save you time by allowing you to fly to your destination.
- This is better for cross-country trips or for long term trips.
- Buy your own trailer. A week's worth of rental costs plus tax equals about the price of a used trailer on Craigslist or eBay. Used trailers can go for about $500 but be sure that whoever is selling it is reliable and is prepared for you to do a full check of it before handing over the money. If your rental prices will exceed that price tag, it might just be a smarter idea to buy a trailer. The buying option tends to be better if you need to transport your motorcycle several times each year (such as for competitive events or for vacation rides.)
- Get community minded about rentals. You don't have to own or hire everything. If you can tap into a community or friendship resource, you might be able to get your bike trailer for next-to-nothing.
- Is it possible to split the cost? In some cases, you can save yourself money by sharing a rental with a friend or family member also going on a trip or moving. There are even tandem bike trailers available for hire in some places, which can save quite a bit. You can both share fuel costs and keep one another company during the ride.
- Check whether you can borrow a trailer from a friend or someone in your community. Place an advertisement on Craigslist or local community sites, or ask around friends who own motorcycle trailers. Someone might be willing to loan the trailer to you for a low cost or even for free, depending what arrangement you come to.
- Be sure to get your own wheel chock. The trailer is generally not enough protection for a motorcycle sitting on it but will need to be made extra secure through the use of a wheel chock. To save money, look for good condition used ones on eBay, Craiglist or perhaps even free ones through sites like Freecycle. A wheel chock is especially important if you're modding an existing non-purpose built trailer that you own––do so at your own risk though!
- Knowing well in advance that you're going to need a motorcycle trailer is the key to saving money––this gives you longer to find the cheap or shared choices.
Edit Warnings - Trailers add considerable weight to your vehicle, and as such, use up more fuel. Factor in the added fuel costs in mind when totaling up the costs.
- Be sure to get insurance coverage, whether you're hiring or borrowing from a mate––the last thing you need is expensive replacement costs in the event of an accident.
Edit Things You'll Need - Online access
- Details of rental facilities
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