owning vs. renting

[rmk8000]

I have come to the sad realization that I can't ride as much as I would like and probably will only be able to make 1 or 2 weekend trips a year and where I live only gets good snow about 1 in 3 or 4 years so I have started to think I could sell my new sled and just rent a sled whenever I want to go to the mountains. It seems it would save me alot of money. Has anyone else done this?

 

[Mafesto]

Needs to be a group decision, as if you are still pulling a trailer with your buddies sleds, there goes the savings.

Would be limited to riding only where you can rent sleds.

Riding a rental just isn't the same comfort level as your own sled set up the same way every time.

But wow!, the traveling would actually be fun w/o a trailer in tow!

 

[rmk8000]

I only have 2 friends that still ride and only one of them has a mountain sled so as long as I could rent where I ride I would only have to haul one sled. Are there any major headaches with renting?

 

[Himark]

I think you are on the right track. I have thought about this before when I was not going as much and I think if you only go 1 trip rent. 2 ?? I would keep my own sled.
THis just because the whole hassle of picking the rental sled up..waiting till THEY open, putting up with "better have it back here tonight"...even if you are going to pay for a 2 day rental, or this scratch was not here!!!blah blah. Plus the holding you over a barrel if you actually do crack it up. Heck most wrecks a bit of zip strips, some new A arms and you are riding. That same wreck with a rental and you would be paying thousands.(one bill like this and you would be wishing you had your own sled)
It seems when we had one guy in our group renting our riding was always delayed till mid morning.
Plus the comfort level as stated above is tough to beat plus if you mod your sled at all it has a personal touch.

I do not ride as much as I used to and still will own 2 sleds... I have thought this was dumb to but one wipe out and yah got a spare. But back to topic if you are considering renting its not a bad thing if just one trip out a year is my opinion.

 

[newmy1]

You can't financially justify owning any toy if you don't use it a lot. You own in this case to ride what/when you want.


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[diggerdown]

So 4 days of riding a year equates into $900 to $1000 in rental fees. No insurance so be carefull and do not push the limits. A simple roll down the hill can cost big $$$. Up side is you don't have to store or haul a sled and you can always ride the current model year. Of course you still won't ride it real good because you are not familiar with it and it will be set up like a rental....poorly!

 

[rmscustom]

1-2 weekends a year definitely rent. You'll always be on the latest newest model with no depreciation and no maintenance. Look around and find a good place to rent from where you can pick it up when you get there and drop it off when you leave.

 

[rmk8000]

You can't financially justify owning any toy if you don't use it a lot. You own in this case to ride what/when you want.


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Thats true. I guess if i rent a sled by the time I pick it up and pay and do paperwork I would probably have wasted half a day and like Himark said if I wreck anything they will charge me a bunch to fix it whereas with my own sled I would only have to pay the deductable.

 

[Sledbrain2]

I am in the same boat only ride 1 or 2 times a year in the mountains. I just buy 3 or 4 year old sleds so I do not have too much money tied up in them. I can set them up the way I like and not worry about rolling them. Human nature you are not going to ride a rental like your own. The difference in hauling or just driving say 1600 miles round trip is roughly 2 to 300 more pulling vs just driving out, you still need a 4X4 so mpg will be 17 and 10 difference.

 

[Mafesto]

Here is another option that we have done.
If you go to the same place multiple time per year, we have left the trailer & sleds there & traveled w/empty vehicle.

 

[rmk8000]

I looked up rental policies of a few places and I don't know if I like the idea so much anymore. $2500 deposit and pre and post rental inspection that I have to be present for. If I damage a rental it is only insured if the damage is over $2500 that sounds kind of risky since I have a bit of a problem with rolling sleds.

 

[xc6rider]

Too risky to rent anymore, i feel. Alot of places dont even offer insurance anymore. Wreck it, and youll end up owning a sled you dont want, that is wrecked and not insured!

Couple years ago, a buddy of mine rented a sled. Another sled that was also a rental, bucked its rider. Sled t-boned my buddies that was parked at base of hill. They bought two sleds that day! Probably still payin for it, hasnt ridden since.

 

[AZ800]

Yeah, unless its a 1 time deal where you dont have a machine or it makes more sense to fly and rent, renting is not advantageous even if you only ride a few times a year.
If you cant afford yor current sled, downgrade to something relaible you can afford, still money ahead compared to renting and none of that includes the bill you get when a oops happens. Beauty of the used sleds now is there are tons of $3-5k machines that are still in great shape and just as capable as the new ones. Not as flashy but if youre into bling youre not riding a rental anyway.
Buddy up here rented a RZR for the day, stuck it in the silt, burned the belt and popped a half shaft. $1800 later he settled up for the $300 worth of parts.
Last sled a buddy rented when he came out west, I rode it for a day and had to go home and swap parts off of mine onto the rental before returning it.
Took the sled back and bought about $400 worth of front end parts for "my" sled from the same dealer he rented it from. Would have probably been a $2k bill.

 

[papafinger1]

So I have been doing just this for the past 4 years. I do have a sled but it's an 02 rmk 700 mod. I enjoy it but want to ride the newest and best so I rent 1 week a year. So far I have been lucky and have yet to damage anything but if you rent it is bound to happen. I used to ride a lot different on the rental fearing the cost of damage. Now not so much. Gotta pay to play kind of mentality. I don't drive 1000 miles to sit on the sidelines and watch my buddies tear up the mnt. To remedy this I carry full coverage on my old sled that we use as a spare and I blanket my rental under the same policy. $250 deductible and it's go time. I just call my agent in the morning with the vin number and all is good. To keep thing moving swiftly I reserve my rental in advance so they know coming. I also try to be the first one to walk in the door in the morning. Tough to have speedy service when there are 50 people in the store. When you check your rental over in the morning go over everything with a fine tooth comb pointing out and documenting absolutely every flaw. May save you in the long run. Also makeup remove is great for removing any scuffs or surface blemishes that may occur. It's not cheap to rent but $1000 for 1 week a year is better than $10 g's and out dated iron. Make sure to choose a quality rental service. If it is a local place with ties to the community and other business in town is always a plus. Seems to keep them more honest. Their reputation as a vendor may depend on it. Be smart about It, cross your i's dot your T's and cover your own azz. It will save you money in the long run.

 

[diggerdown]

So I have been doing just this for the past 4 years. I do have a sled but it's an 02 rmk 700 mod. I enjoy it but want to ride the newest and best so I rent 1 week a year. So far I have been lucky and have yet to damage anything but if you rent it is bound to happen. I used to ride a lot different on the rental fearing the cost of damage. Now not so much. Gotta pay to play kind of mentality. I don't drive 1000 miles to sit on the sidelines and watch my buddies tear up the mnt. To remedy this I carry full coverage on my old sled that we use as a spare and I blanket my rental under the same policy. $250 deductible and it's go time. I just call my agent in the morning with the vin number and all is good. To keep thing moving swiftly I reserve my rental in advance so they know coming. I also try to be the first one to walk in the door in the morning. Tough to have speedy service when there are 50 people in the store. When you check your rental over in the morning go over everything with a fine tooth comb pointing out and documenting absolutely every flaw. May save you in the long run. Also makeup remove is great for removing any scuffs or surface blemishes that may occur. It's not cheap to rent but $1000 for 1 week a year is better than $10 g's and out dated iron. Make sure to choose a quality rental service. If it is a local place with ties to the community and other business in town is always a plus. Seems to keep them more honest. Their reputation as a vendor may depend on it. Be smart about It, cross your i's dot your T's and cover your own azz. It will save you money in the long run.

So what happens if you do put one into the trees and do a couple thousand in damage? I've never seen an insurance co. that covered a rental sled, who is your carrier? I've asked several and they all said they could not cover one.

 

[rmk8000]

So what happens if you do put one into the trees and do a couple thousand in damage? I've never seen an insurance co. that covered a rental sled, who is your carrier? I've asked several and they all said they could not cover one.

I know I wouldnt be able to do that I went to the SGI office to insure my new ski doo and had to sit there for half an hour while the lady walked around asking people if they insured sleds and nobody knew so she had to phone the boss lol

 

[papafinger1]

I have American family and insure all of our stuff through them. If something would happen it would be a $250 deductible and my agent would take care of the rest. I am sure it would be a headache but she has reassured me that the sled is covered for the day. In my experience it is a completely different story in accrued cost when an insurance company becomes involved. Prior to working with my current agent I worked with an agent out of Arizona who specialized in custom build vehicles. He insured my sled for $14000 replacement value no questions asked. You threaten to pull your entire policy including homes, vehicles, motorcycles, boats, sleds, and farm if they refuse to cover a rental for 4 days and if they are a decent agent they will find a way. Ours has been great. Similar to a sled dealer that goes out of their way to take care of you. It may cost you a bit more up front but worth while for quality customer service, personalization, and the ability to customize coverage to your needs. They can all do it. Just whether or not they want to!

 

[brantd]

if you only go once,twice a year and are mild calm safe rider I spose renting is a good option,quite a few years ago a guy in our group rented a powder special 600,it ended up rolling its way down a mountain,he hauled home a totaled out sled and paid top price for it,i broke a steering post on a sled,wasnt able to get a replacement and was not able to round up enough scrap to cobble it together,so I chose to support the local bars that next day!ive never rented,i get out often enough to justify owning one, I don't like stock,I don't trust myself to take it easy and be extra careful.i really enjoy having my own to make my own with mods n what not.

do they charge you for the scratches that will buff out,chipped skis,belly pan,ect ect?normal everyday riding mild battle scars per say

 

[papafinger1]

I have been lucky enough never to have been charged. I have established a relationship with the rental company and they may give me a little more leeway because of it. Not sure on that one though. I still ride em hard but probably not as hard as if I owned it. I really want a new sled in my stable but year after year I don't purchase and end up renting again. Maybe I'm too cheap. Maybe a purchase this year. Lol!

 

[Jaynelson]

I think renting makes total sense if you only ride a couple times a year. It is a lot of depreciation and screwing around with trailers/transport/storage to ride that little. I honestly don't think it's THAT hard not to smash up a sled whether it's your's or a rental either.....just don't ride above your head unless you're willing to spend the cheese. But only you know your riding style, so you would need to make that call.