Kayaks, bikes, coolers, tents, the dog. Summer adventure generates a mountain of gear — here's the vehicle that swallows it whole.
Western Wisconsin is built for summer adventure. The Black River for paddling, the bluff country for biking, state parks and campgrounds in every direction, the Mississippi a short drive west. The problem is never finding somewhere to go — it's fitting all the gear in the vehicle to get there.
If your everyday car can't swallow the kayaks, the bikes, the cooler, the tent, and the people all at once, a rental from Riverside Auto Rental in Black River Falls bridges the gap. Here's how to pick the right one and pack it smart.
| Trip | Best Pick | Hauls |
|---|---|---|
| Couple, weekend camp | Full-Size Car or Minivan | Tent, 2 bags, cooler, 2 bikes (seats down) |
| Family of 4–5 | 7-Passenger Minivan | Camp kit, cooler, bikes, kayak (inside or roof) |
| Multi-family / big group | 15-Passenger Van | The whole expedition — people and a wall of gear |
7-passenger minivan, third row folded. This is the camping sweet spot for most families. Seats five, and the folded third row opens up a deep cargo well. Realistic load: tent, sleeping bags for the family, a big cooler, a tote of camp kitchen gear, and two bikes with front wheels off. Shorter kayaks and inflatables slide in too.
15-passenger van, rear rows configured for cargo. Now you're hauling an expedition. Drop the back two rows and you've got room for several bikes standing up, multiple coolers, a full camp setup, and gear for a group — while still seating the front rows. This is the multi-family-cabin-trip vehicle.
The roof question. Long hard-shell kayaks and canoes usually want a roof rack. If that's your situation, call before you reserve — we'll talk through what works with the vehicle so you're not improvising in the parking lot.
Save your own vehicle the wear. Hauling sandy, wet, muddy gear is hard on a personal car. A rental takes the abuse and goes back when you're done.
Right-size for the trip. You don't own a van, but you need one for this weekend. Renting gives you the big hauler for exactly the days you need it.
Mileage handled. Camping trips rack up miles to trailheads and put-ins. Our van weekly rate includes unlimited mileage; for cars, the unlimited tier covers you. See the weekly rate guide.
Camping gets things dirty — that's expected and totally fine. We just ask you return the vehicle reasonably clean: shake out the worst of the dirt, pull the trash, wipe up any big spills. A few minutes at the end of the trip keeps everything simple and avoids cleaning fees. The tarp trick above makes this easy.
"The van was a perfect fit for our needs. It had plenty of room for the girls, their stuff, and everything we had packed. It drove smoothly, was comfortable and clean. We had an excellent family trip thanks to reliable transportation from Riverside."
"The minivan was spotless, clean, and in perfect working order — ready to go with no issues at all. Tas was extremely helpful and answered all of our questions right away."
Tell us what you're hauling and where you're headed, and we'll line up the right vehicle — and flag anything about kayaks or roof loads before you arrive. Call 715-396-1466.
Shorter kayaks and inflatables fit inside with the rear rows folded. Longer hard-shells usually need a roof rack — tell us what you're hauling when you reserve and we'll confirm the right setup.
A 7-passenger minivan with the third row folded for a couple or small family; a 15-passenger van with rear rows down for a larger or gear-heavy group.
Yes — minivan fits 2–3 bikes with front wheels removed; a 15-passenger van fits several standing up. Hitch or roof rack? Mention it when reserving and we'll confirm.
Normal camping use is exactly what these vehicles are for. Just return it reasonably clean — shake out the dirt, pull the trash, wipe big spills. A tarp on the cargo floor makes cleanup easy.
Matching the rental to the trip across western Wisconsin's destinations.
Cargo space, folding seats, and why it's the go-to for gear-heavy trips.
Lead times and how far ahead to book for the busy summer season.
Tell us what you're hauling and we'll set you up with the right vehicle.
Call 715-396-1466