Mike,
I assume when you say renew an IFR rating you mean an IR rating? When you mention an aircraft type, is it one on which you are type rated and hold IR privileges? The IR renewal is type specific and is conducted as part of the annual Licence Proficiency Check (LPC) for the type. So, you are not renewing general IR privileges for other types. The test itself is conducted under actual IFR (or, certainly elements of the flight will be) regardless of the weather conditions, and so the aircraft will need to be equipped to meet the requirements for the class(es) of airspace the test is conducted in.