Contributors to this thread:
Part of our hunting party is flying into Alb and renting a 4 X 4 SUV. Of course as we all know they come with street tires without a lot of bite. That will be fine for the area we hunt when dry but the roads are a mess when wet.
What I'm wondering is does anyone know of a tire shop that would swap out the wheels and tires for a week to ten days and then put them back on for a fee? Obviously you don't know til you pick it up what kind of SUV it is, so maybe this is too far fetched.
Another thought I had was buying a set of chains and then selling them. Any other ideas from guys who have rented SUVs before?
Yes, the tires on rental SUV's are junk. One year we got 3 flats in CO; two at the same time!
I have never heard of such a thing - rent out tires & wheels & them swap them back. Buy the cable chains and keep them for another years hunt or ebay them when done.
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Be sure they check with the rental company on taking rentals off road.
Seems like a lot of work. If your worried about getting stuck in a 4x4 diving street tires vs off road tires, you most likely ate driving where you shouldn't. Two vehicles and long tow straps
If the rental company's only new. I take them in places I wouldn't take my own pickup.What do they think you rent a 4x4 for?
If its wet known of the tires will work. Pick up a set of chains and give them to a needed cowboy when done. Might make a good friend and get some good hunting spot information. Make sure the SUV you rent will take chains.
If you've got all 4 of those tires off the ground in the first place, you don't have to worry about them getting stuck in the mud.
Rent a Subaru and go hunt.
I'm not sure about the chains, but I'm sure the rental car company would just love you for it if you use them.
There's a "rent a rim" place here where I live so you never know, LOL!
When I rented one in Reno I had to sign a release saying it wouldn't be taken off paved roads, never mind off-road. I just washed the heck out of the underbody before I brought it back.
Unbelievable. Just drive the dang thing man. If the road is so bad going into your hunting spot that a four wheel drive won't go, camp farther out and walk in. Don't tear it up simply because it isn't yours. Chains are suited for snow, not mud.
I laughed when I read the post above about renting a vehicle to take into places you wouldn't take your own. I hope you have to pay accordingly. God Bless
don't worry about the tires, you should be concerned about the skeeters though, they suck 16oz every hour.
I won't argue if he should put chains on a rental...
Funny about rentals when I do have them I most of the time have to put it some what back together before I bring it back. :) My friends have pix's of me posing with parts from the trucks.
But there is no doubt that chains in mud make the world of difference. I have a geo tracker (great for pulling behind the rv) that I have a set for the front and set for back.. I've pulled full size trucks out of the gumbo with it..
Anyone else like chains in mud?? Ed
Chains in mud or snow. My first job was with the FS planting trees NW of Cuba, NM. Chains, real ones not cables, on all four tires and I could go when nobody else could because of the mud. Pulled the forester out with the winch and the guys I was working with back up on the road. Snow the same thing over by Mt. Taylor during a Jan. Barbary Sheep hunt. Chains on the front by 8 am on all four tires by 10 am, 2 ft. of snow in 24 hours and the Cj was the only thing moving.
Chains are great for mud and snow. Just put em' on before you really need to.
"Chains are suited for snow, not mud." WRONG!
I live in the 'Breaks', we got mud and you damn well better have chains.
I would be concerned about getting flats with factory tires on a truck or SUV, I was in the same predicament curvebow was in when I was hunting hunting in Colorado. I got a flat, got a new tire and ended up getting 2 more flats at the same time,called AAA and got towed.
If the chains mar the tires and/or rims you could be in for an unpleasant surprise when returning it. :)
Rent a wreck rental company.