Experience a safari type adventure in a cool climate with lush flowering vegitation, the greatest concentration of 14,000ft peaks, spectacular waterfalls, wildlife abundance, western history, and absolutely breathtaking vistas in a vehicle you operate and you will begin to understand why this form of activity is so popular. Though Ouray is the Jeep Capitol of the World (sorry Moab), FJ Cruisers, Hummers, ATV's, dirt bikes, mountain bikes, or even segways are always welcome. Got questions? See below:
How does it work?
Renting a Jeep is not exactly like renting a car but it is similar. First, we will need to see your driver's license, proof of insurance (please make sure you are covered for this type of activity), and a major credit card all in the same name. We will then complete an agreement that makes you (not your insurance company), 100% totally (that is to say completely and absolutely) responsible for the vehicle, yourself, passengers, and personal items. Lastly, we orient you to the trails in the area and the machine. (We take special care during our "trail talks" to match you to the right trails and give you off-road pointers so you can go confidently). Before you leave, we inspect the machine with you and orient you to the controls and operation. Typically, the entire process takes significantly less than an hour depending on the situation. It's about that easy.
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Can anyone rent one?
Well, no. You must be 25 years of age and have a valid US driver's license, proof of insurance, and a major card with you at the time of pickup. We do reserve the right to refuse service to anyone but hey, we want to see you have fun. We can sometimes make arrangements for foreign drivers to rent a Jeep but please try to call before you try. Insurance from Antartica is not generally acceptable.
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Is it dangerous?
Just like driving any vehicle, driving a Jeep on mountain roads can be dangerous and you have to be thoughtful. At the Riverside, we want our guests to enjoy their adventures and vacations so we take care to orient you to the machine and the trails. We will not allow you to take a Jeep if we do not feel comfortable about your safety and we will always look out for you.
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Will you tell us where to go?
There are hundreds of miles of old mining trails and county roads in the area that go over high mountain peaks, through mud-bogged valleys, and under waterfalls/overhangs. We know most of them and we love them all. We do not consequently have "recommendations." Instead, what we do is explain the trail system, give you a sense of what is in-store for you and then help you decide what makes the most sense given your situation.
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Can I take the Jeep over Black Bear?
Many Jeepers that frequent the area know about Black Bear pass. It offers unparalleled beauty but intolerable risk. The trail is not particularly technical from an off-roading perspective but it is "in the clouds" as far as shoulder drop-off is concerned. There is no room for error. Therefore, we strongly recommend against this trail to anyone - even in their own machines. Fortunately for those who wish to see it and traverse its sharp switchbacks to Telluride (thousands of feet below), there are a number of professional tour companies in the area that take this trip almost daily.
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Why should I rent from you?
We offer competitively priced, late model Farabee Jeeps. These are 2009/2010 Wranglers with 2.5" lift, 3-ply 33" ATR's. We also offer comprehensive "trail talks" that orient you to the area trails, and offer all kinds of Jeep training and rental "value adds." Little things like free ice and cooler, overall convenience, better equipment, knowledgeable & friendly staff, and the most trusted name in the business, all add up.
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Is my reservation guaranteed?
We promise to do our level best to provide you with the Jeep you requested when you get here. This is difficult to accomplish considering we have limited inventory and occassional mishaps. If, we do lose a Jeep from inventory and it happens to be the one we reserved for you, we will go to great lengths to find one for you that meets your needs.
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How many people can fit in each Jeep?
Five. There are five seat belts in most of our two door Jeeps and all of our four door Jeeps.
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What is an angle of departure?
The angle between where the rear tire touches the ground and the bumper (or hitch) and the direction of travel.
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What is articulation?
This generally describes a wheel's ability to move independently of the other wheels allowing rotational force to be applied to the surface it is in contact with.
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What happens if the Jeep gets damaged?
We complete an incident report and advise you if the damage is something we can resolve easily or not. Often, we can repair the damage with very little cost to you and send you on your way quickly. It helps us to know exactly what happened so that we can either prevent it from happening or limit its impact to another guest.
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Do you take reservations?
We prefer you make reservations and it only takes a second. It helps us to manage our inventory more proactively. You can call or book online (the online method is new so don't get your hopes up). Your Jeep will be ready for you anytime after 6:00pm the day before you need it. This gives you more time to gain confidence with the machine before you tackle a longer journey. You must return the Jeep before 5:00pm on the day you are scheduled to return it.
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Do you rent Jeeps by the hour?
No. We can do 1/2 day rentals but this is on an "as available" basis - that is, we do not take 1/2 day reservations.
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What discounts do you offer?
We usually don't offer discounts on Jeep rentals. We offer a "Jeep & Sleep" discount which equates to a discount on a room if you stay with us. The obvious advantage of renting a Jeep from the hotel you are staying with is convenience. Having fuel, car wash, and a convenience store onsite works out rather conveniently too!
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What is so great about your Jeeps?
See above. Plus they float over bumps quite smoothly!
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What happens if I reserve a Jeep but don't show up?
It depends. If we had someone who wanted a Jeep and we told them we couldn't let them rent yours because we were saving it for you, and you don't show up, we are out some money. So, we will probably have to charge you. If you can't make it to pick up your Jeep, please notify us immediately.
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What other costs are involved in renting a Jeep?
Gas, carwash, insurance and damage if there are any. Our Jeeps get pretty good mileage and typically you will not use more than a 1/2 tank of gas per day. Because we have tough equipment, you are less likely to damage the vehicle but... because they are more durable, it costs more when they do break so you might want to get optional tire&glass insurance, (it's $25 which is cheap compared to a $300 tire or $250 windshield.
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When do the trails open/close?
This mostly depends on weather. Typically, trails start to open in late May and by July 4, everything that can be open, is. In the fall, if there are heavy snows early, the trails will close early. Usually we rent Jeeps well into October but the number of trails open are less.
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What happens if I have a flat?
Our Jeeps come with jacks and tools to change tires. Change the tire and put it back on the carrier we'll get it taken care of for you. Off-road enthusiasts are usually very kind and will stop and offer to help so we ask that you do the same if you see someone having trouble. These folks eventually wind up renting a Farabee Jeep the next time.
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How many people can go?
Most of our two door Jeeps have five seat belts. It can be a little crowded if you are in the backseat of a Jeep for a day on bumpy roads with linebackers so you might want to consider getting two Jeeps. We offer loaner radios so you can stay in touch with your friends.
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Where are you located?
We are about 1/2 mile north of the Ouray Hot Springs Pool. You will see the Conoco station out front. Here's a link to Google Maps..
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Are pets allowed?
Pets are allowed in the Jeeps but please clean up after them or we will have to charge you.
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What is "Concierge" Service?
We ask that you return your rental in the same condition we loaned it to you in. This usually involves cleaning the Jeep and filling it up with gas. Since not everyone wants to do this, we offer an added service where we take care of it for you. You return the Jeep and we fill it up and wash it for you. We do charge for this service and it presently is only available to our hotel guests.
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Can I pickup my Jeep at the airport?
No. Our Jeep rentals are for pickup and drop off in Ouray.
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Can I rent a Jeep in Moab and return it in Ouray?
Depends on availability etc... We always try to help you find the most suitable arrangements in all of your accommodations but many times we do not have a way to accomplish this without charging a substantial fee.
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How can I avoid delays when I pick up my Jeep?
To avoid delays please come prepared. Be sure to bring your insurance, credit card, and ID. Our rental experts are very patient and happy to explain everything you need to know but if you forget something, they may have to send you to the back of the line. If you need more information on trails or how to operate the Jeep, please be courteous and let other renters go before you.
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What are travel times on key Jeep trails?
Use the list below only as a guide (trail conditions vary):
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Yankee Boy Basin (round-trip) - 4 hours
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Imogene Pass to Telluride - 4 hours
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Ophir Pass to Telluride - 4 hours
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Engineer (Mineral Creek) to Animas Forks - 3 hours
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Corkscrew to Animas Forks - 3 hours
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Ouray to Lake City via Engineer or Cinnamon - 5 hours
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Lake City (round-trip) - 10 hours
These times are of course proportional to how many times you stop. Keep in mind the fastest way back is almost always on improved roads and highways. Shortcuts in the mountains don't usually work out so good.
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What are the late return fees?
We warn everyone about our $300/hr late fee. If you have the Jeep someone else reserved, it may force them to rent a Jeep from someone else. (We like the other guys, they have cute Jeeps etc, but we have to feed our families too). This causes us to lose a sale and the causes the affected guest a potential vacation nightmare. We found the best way to prevent this situation is to impose this fee. As an alternative, you can go to the top of Corkscrew, apologize 100 times, close your eyes and walk backwards for 100 ft.(OK, that's a joke).
Can we book online?
Not yet but we are working on it... (Long live the 9600 baud modem)!.
