"You know, you got a great deal on this van," the staff member commented while checking out our reservation.
"Yeah."
"You can't get a reservation at all for a cargo van, truck, or minivan. We're booked solid until next August, a year from now!"
This matches up with what I was seeing online. I couldn't seem to make any future reservations for a cargo van, at any time, in any city.
We rented the van in two 28-day rental periods. While we were standing at the counter checking out the van the second time, I kid you not, the other staff member was cancelling someone's reservation for a cargo van on the phone because their vehicle was not available.
We got so lucky. $860 for 28 days, unlimited miles. The rental place called to confirm if we even wanted the cargo van (as they would be happy to give us a sedan car for the same price). Of course, I said I wanted the van. And somehow, miraculously, we got the van.
It's not likely that we'll do a rental van trip again soon, based on the logistics. Maybe the next trip will be car camping, or maybe one of these years I'll finally buy a vehicle that I can sleep in comfortably. I'd consider a Ram Promaster 2500 (what we are renting now). It's working very well for us.
It's luck, willingness to jump on a deal, and feels like a glitch in the Matrix that we have an affordable rental van for eight weeks. Maybe this is the first step to buying a more permanent vehicle. Or maybe this is just a one time opportunity to savor and explore.
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