Renting a 4w Vehicle to Get to a TH

[ColoNativeGal]

Hello Again,

Has anyone ever rented a 4w vehicle to get to a TH? If so, what company did you use, and was there any specific language about not taking it off road? Lol, I know this seems dumb, but I wouldn't put it past some rental car companies to have in the fine print somewhere that the damage waiver becomes voided if you actually take the vehicle off roading. This is what I'm trying to find out before actually renting something. In Iceland, if we drove into a river, it would void the damage waiver.

Thanks for the info!

[skyrme17]

I have rented 4WD vehicles on multiple occasions from Avis, and drove them to various trailheads including some that are more challenging to get to, e.g. South Colony 4WD TH. I did not check the fine print, and just assumed that if the company rents out vehicles like Jeep Wrangler, or similar, it is for the purpose of driving on a road that requires 4WD.

[denvermikey]

Pretty much across the board rental companies specifically say that they do not allow off road driving. Of course, they also prohibit smoking and it seems like 90% of the ones I end up with have definitely been smoked in. Do what you will with that.
Depending on where you are planning on going, there are companies that do specifically rent vehicles for off roading. Lake City & Ouray come to mind.

[mtree]

Pretty much across the board rental companies specifically say that they do not allow off road driving. Of course, they also prohibit smoking and it seems like 90% of the ones I end up with have definitely been smoked in. Do what you will with that.
Depending on where you are planning on going, there are companies that do specifically rent vehicles for off roading. Lake City & Ouray come to mind.

That's spot on.

A friend of mine took a rental up Antero road. He did some damage, but nothing ever came of it. Unless you wreck it how would they know???

[supranihilest]

Pretty much across the board rental companies specifically say that they do not allow off road driving. Of course, they also prohibit smoking and it seems like 90% of the ones I end up with have definitely been smoked in. Do what you will with that.
Depending on where you are planning on going, there are companies that do specifically rent vehicles for off roading. Lake City & Ouray come to mind.

That's spot on.

A friend of mine took a rental up Antero road. He did some damage, but nothing ever came of it. Unless you wreck it how would they know???

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/09/trav ... hertz.html
https://www.thedrive.com/news/this-is-w ... our-rental
etc.

[rijaca]

From the rental agreement I got from Enterprise today...

"4. What You May and May Not do With the Vehicle.

(1) Use the Vehicle for any illegal purpose or in any illegal, fraudulent, or reckless manner, such as ... (viii) except in an emergency, on anything other than a paved public highway or suitable graded private or public road or driveway or over bridges posted for a maximum of 3 tons (2,721.55 kilograms) or less"

They video the car before it leaves the lot. If you damage the vehicle, they're going to know.

[sfreytag]

Assuming you are trying to get to LKB (based on your previous post), check out Glenwood Springs Jeep Rentals. They rent Jeeps out specifically for people to take off road. They will be way more expensive than a Jeep rental from Enterprise, Avis, Hertz, Turo, etc since they are pricing in extra wear and tear and damage. I bet it would cost around $200-$300/day. But at least you won't violate a contract doing it this way.

[JohnKLovesMtnGoats]

Just over a month ago I was in New Orleans to see my family and decided to put my car in the shop due to some body damage.
As usual it was not ready two weeks later when I had planned to go back to Colorado to do Belford-Oxford and The Decalibron, as well as Ellingwood Point in the Sangres.
I rented a Toyota Camry from Avis, as that is what I normally drive, but on the day of pick up they gave me a 4-runner.
I used it to get to Bel-Ox and Kite Lake Trailheads and was grateful I had that vehicle. I was careful and no damage.
When I went to Lake Como Road, I got quite nervous. I only went to 8000', a full 200 feet higher than usual. That road scares me; even if I had an ATV I don't think I would go past 8800'.
At any rate it was cheap, and the Avis people did not complain when I returned it or thereafter.

[Ryan P]

The only time I've rented a Jeep was unintentional; my truck was in the shop because I got T-boned, and they "upgraded" me to a Jeep. I asked about the policy, assuming they wouldn't allow it. The manager just told me, "Go ahead. It's a Jeep, that's what they're for." Anecdotal for sure, especially given other commentary in this thread. But YMMV.

[SkaredShtles]

<snip> I did not check the fine print, and just assumed

This combination of things can be REALLY expensive.

[JSFromKY]

When I went to Lake Como Road, I got quite nervous. I only went to 8000', a full 200 feet higher than usual. That road scares me; even if I had an ATV I don't think I would go past 8800'.

- A stock Jeep Wrangler vs a stock Ford Bronco on Lake Como Road, all the way to the lakes. Yes, it can be done as shown here, but they had to help each other out a lot. I think I'd rather hike it or take a mountain bike (and walk the bike over the worst parts).

[nyker]

That's a great video and really captures the road and scene up there well especially the aerial views higher up. I felt like I were there again.