Currently stay in Dublin, but a move back to Edinburgh means we are looking at removal of a Luton van sized amount of kit back to the UK. Wanting to rent a Luton van in the UK, drive over and back via ferry. Anyone recommend any hire companies for this?
Cheers in advance!
Luton vans can be quite an unknown in terms of size - as the bodies are custom built the actual amount of volume you're getting for your money is something you'll have to ask about. If you are hiring in Scotland the biggest lutons are Arnold Clarks ones, which are about 4.2m long, close second would be Mitchell Self Drive, Ryder would be worth a look too and with them there's half a chance you could get a one way hire. Smallest I've encountered are AMK who have luton bodies so small they look like someone built them for a joke. Aside from being the biggest Arnold Clarke's vans are (generally) the best, cleanest, least neglected, most functional, I only hire from other co's if they're out of stock and its always a disappointment. Away from the bigger names there really are some rotten nasty vans out there if its markedly cheaper than the rest its too good to be true- Boulavard's vans some of the most dangerous I've encountered -in such dependably poor condition that they don't condition check them they just hand over the keys laughing and saying "well..... its a boulevard van". Leslie Commercials have some garbage as well - they offered me a van with three brakes that didn't work and one that wouldn't disengage - adamant that it had "passed its mot yesterday" and the brake pedal travelling all the way to the floor would "get better" as it was a symptom of the brakes being brand new.
Be wary with a house move with a Luton... they don't carry very much weight, and the bigger they are the less weight they can carry. Hire co's will state they'll carry 1000kg but the reality is more like 800kg (roughly the same payload as you can carry in a berlingo). You and two burly mates, and tank of fuel will knock 300kg off that. And you will get weighed on the ferry.
Transit Jumbos don't carry quite as much volume but will genuinely manage 1500kg, and the fuel will be a lot cheaper too
With any hire co make sure they're aware that you are taking the van on the ferry. Some won't allow it. Arnold Clark have let me do it, but they need to have agreed to it otherwise you might not be insured.
I always use enterprise. Cheapest I've found anywhere.
cheers chaps- good advice. I'll have a closer look at this.
have you actually had movers around to quote? with all the pissing around, it might turn out cheaper.
Just for the cost of paying for an empty van on a ferry its probably cheaper to get a pro to do it, as they'll be able to get a paying load going the other way. Cost me £340 for a ticket alone the last time I took a luton from Belfast to Stranraer.