Avis pickup trucks
 

A while ago the Avis website advertised, "New! Avis now rents pickup trucks in the NY metro area!" It was possible to select a pickup from the online reservation screen.

Now, no more pickup truck option is present online. When I called the locations in my area, they all said they no longer have them. Worse, when I called the 1-800 number, they said they are unable to search for the nearest location with availability.

What's going on here?

I've needed a P/U a few times recently and called my local Avis since the website always shows no availability anywhere near me. When I call, the guy answering (not the desk agents that I'm very friendly with) says that he'll have to "call his district fleet manager" to see what he can do. He always calls me back within 15 minutes telling me that he'll have one for me on X day at X time (just as I requested).

Granted, I usually call 3-4 days beforehand to ensure they have plenty of time (I've called with 1 day's notice for Cadillacs and have been disappointed).

Recently, I've had either Tundras or a V8 Titan. If you have any options, which I doubt you will, get the Tundra... it's so much better!

First I called the two nearby suburban neighborhood locations. One office used to have exactly one pickup allotted to them, but apparently it was taken away. The other office said he heard corporate moved the pickup trucks to large airports, as nonsensical as that seemed to him and me: "People getting off a plane don't want pickups. The suburban locations people who do. But it's ultimately up to the guys in suits."


I called EWR, JFK, LGA, and HPN (the closest airport). Agents at JFK and LGA didn't know what a pickup truck was. (why am I not surprised) The agent at EWR said they sometimes have pickups, and put me on hold so she could speak with a manager. The manager told her they no longer carry pickup trucks, and it is not possible to get any. HPN was "busy," but somehow I doubt they'll come through on this one.

Enterprise has pickups, but I prefer Avis- no negotiating over mileage cap, er, crap.

When I reserved a 4dr4whl drive in SLC for ski trip in Feb it said it could be a Ford F-. 150 or Tundra. The yr before it was a 150, which gave us luggage room galore, traction (4whl drive), and a hell of a lot cheaper than equivalant SUV. However this time when we showed up at the rental counter they said no longer do they offer p-ups ( I had a hunch as I went to check on rate agian week before and Avis didn't show it), and offered us either a H-3 or Toyota Sequoia. We took the Sequoia- the rate on that if we rented it was 600$ more for the week. I think the counter person stated that Avis is no longer offering pickups for rent. And it makes sense to a degree-they are not primarily used for business rentals so they sit there on the lot and Avis is not in a position right now to have a 40K plus sitting on the lot most of the time(let alone any car rental co.).

Rustyr,
Did they make you pay the higher Sequoia rate?

I also see your logic on the p/u trucks. Several coworkers got them as rentals and have had no problems. However, I reminded them that they shouldn't take them in the future because they could have 3/4 people headed back to the airport and they'd all have wet luggage if it rained that day. And if it's not 4x4, they're horrible in the rain/snow because there is no weight over the rear axle.

No, of course not since it was a confirmed rsvrtn-but next year if we want a pup I guess it's Enterprise or maybe Nat'l; I noticed Tundras in SLC and even my hometown a/port.