For those in a situation you may want to consider renting a truck from Uhaul or similar. They’re only open during business hours and will be way more expensive but a vehicle is a vehicle.
I can’t say I recommend then offering to shove everyone else in the back.
This has been one of the reasons I heavily lean toward direct flights now - that way if stranded im either at home or my destination.
There used to be a website where you could post that you were driving from A to B and other people could opt in to go with you and hitch a seat. That would be great for stuff like this.
Friend of mine used something like this to get from LA to the bay area.
The car had 2 girls in it who hotboxed the car the entire 6 hour drive, then missed his exit near San Jose and got pulled over for an unrelated reason.
Says if he wasn't married now he would do it again in a heartbeat.
I used something like this to get from Berlin to Amsterdam. I wasn't hotboxed but did get to spend the ride chatting with an attractive fashion student. It was cool because I'm not involved in fashion at all but my uni was using that industry for a lot of examples in lessons.
My local uhaul charges a day rate and $1/mile, and gas is on you. Still you can get lucky if they need to move a truck your way. They'll practically give it to you.
I can’t say I recommend then offering to shove everyone else in the back.
This has been one of the reasons I heavily lean toward direct flights now - that way if stranded im either at home or my destination.