U HAUL Trailer use

[CountrySquire55]

When I bought my 31 Model A Town Sedan, I rented a U-Haul trailer to tow it home with my 1/2 ton Ford F-150 pickup. Worked out just fine. I did make sure I had straps on all four wheels (I brought along extra straps) and safety chains on both axles (with a towel under the chains to protect the axle paint) and made it home without incident.

[Keith True]

Years ago the U-haul equipment had to be destroyed.I have a trailer that was taken out of service in the early 70's because of a bad axle,it was determined that the trailer had done it's tour of duty and was ready for retirement.My friend in the scrap yard cut it in such a way it satisfied the U-haul guy,but it could also be put back together.It now has a 30's Mopar tube axle under it.It is an open back trailer with those nice rails down the sides to tie off to.I have been to auctions at the big U-haul repair garage in Manchester N.H.I've bought a few one ton trucks there,a wood splitter,rototiller,and once rented a tow bar with instructions to not bring it back.They were no longer renting the tow bars.I still have that but have not used it in 15 or 20 years.

[Skibb]

1400 Miles towing a little U Haul trailer with our 1930 3 window sdn. I worked, but the trailer was so old and rough it gave me heart burn. Nevertheless, it got the job done.

[ronn]

Tiny has it right, their maintenance is deplorable.

Be sure to check thoroughly whatever it is you rent from them.

Penske and Ryder and other companies have better maintained products in my opinion.

[Preacher]

This may explain why when I was by a U-Haul facility, out of curiosity I went in and asked if they ever sell any of their trailers as they replace with new ones... the answer I got was they NEVER sell trailers, other items yes, trailers no. they just keep repairing and replacing parts on them.

[Ted Duke]

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Be careful-

Not to be a pessimist (and I have towed trailers THOUSANDS of miles). Be careful on hookup, tie-downs and towing that trailer. I had a ball come loose (but not OFF fortunately) for NO apparent reason.

In three years of driving an ambulance for a volunteer rescue squad I was on scene of TOO many trailer accidents. Some were caused by excessive speed, some by losing control do to braking hard (imagine crack the whip), some by lack of tongue weight (wobble and roll), and some by STUPIDITY. One guy towing a large enclosed trailer with a Ford F350 (fully restored Mustang in it) lost control going down a hill on I-81 and it flipped the F-350 and the trailer over the guardrail (little damage to guardrail). Totaled F-350, totaled trailer, totaled Mustang, instantly dead driver. His buddy who was following said the dead guy trailed somewhere every week. Probably reason for accident -- excessive speed and improperly secured load.

[1oldtimer]

Tell them it's for a 60's mustang or bug. They need to type something in the computer to see if you can tow it by weight and their computer barely goes into the 60's. They want a 1/2 ton with a class 3 hitch......towed this a few years ago from San Jose to Orange county.

[QGolden]

I have rented them, used one to tow my latest project home. 50 bucks a day is a deal. I recommend you go to the website, http://www.uhaul.com/Reservations/Eq....aspx?model=AT
take the time to put together the package on line first. You can select the vehicle you are towing with and be sure they allow it. As other said, they have some very tight rules regarding the auto transports and will not bend them. That being said, if you do not have a tow vehicle the meets their requirements, you can rent a tow vehicle/trailer combination from them and still save money from a car hauler.

Keith, I have one of those tow bars from Manchester too! I have probably used it/loaned it out more then it was during its rental life!

[Keith True]

Where I am we have been pretty lucky with the condition of U-Haul equipment.One,the big U-Haul shop is in Manchester and they had several mechanics right out straight.Two,they had the road mechanics,I knew two,one of them quite well.He lived here in town until he passed a couple of years ago.He drove an F700 Ford,(one of their old trucks)with a sleeper and a wrecker boom.He went from store to store,and would go through everything one by one until they were fit for use.It was a never ending battle,and most of the trailer problems were brakes and lights.He didn't have the wrecker boom for towing,it was to pick up things to be worked on.He changed dozens of engines in hardware store parking lots over the years.Back when he did it things on their equipment was pretty well standardized so he always had the right bearings,lights,brake parts,truck tune up parts,tires,wiring,etc.The problems were not with the trailers that stayed around here,it was with trailers that came in from across the country and dropped.He said the one way car trailers were notorious for coming in with four skins for tires.Guys would rent a trailer one way to bring a car up from the south and the tires would find their way to another trailer before it got dropped.

[QGolden]

Keith is right on regarding the quality of products that come in from out of the area. One issue is that if you buy the "insurance" for 20 bucks or whatever it is, there is a no questions asked policy on condition of returned equipment. Several years ago I rented a box trailer in KY to bring a motorcycle home, they sent me out to the line to pick it up. It was all beat to hell and the wedge in the ball was broken in half! I went back in to get a different one, and asked him if he wanted to do a "walk around" to document damage. He literally said "nope, you have the insurance, we don't care."

When I dropped it off here in NH, they did not even walk out to look at it. They knew it was a one way from out of state and they just shoved it in the back of the lot, to wait for another one way rental so they could get rid of it.

For the last few years I have been renting from the U-Haul Store in Rochester NH, and have been real happy with the products and the service, you should call them two days before you go in to rent a auto transport though. They tell me that there are not a lot of them available, especially for local rental. If they do not have one they need to bring it in. They told me that the have Auto transports that are dedicated for local use and others dedicated for one way. As in any business, being a regular customer will help you get the best equipment too.

[amdriven2liv]

Originally Posted by jack99

Has anyone rented a u-haul auto transport? If so how did it work out? i woulf like to take my Model A some distance so I thought that a trailer might eliminate some of the Miles.

I was going to rent a u-haul trailer to bring home a coupe. 1000 miles one way. They want $467 dollars. That is open air. I also need to bring some furniture home at the same time. The cost of the little u-haul truck is $550 one way. Now, the time frame on these rentals is five days.

I thought, hmmmmm, wonder if anyone around here rents car hauler trailers?

Found a nice one. 24Ft long. $550 for 11 days! unlimited miles. It needs a pintle hitch which is included in this price. ( I just don't have one of those!!!)

So, the car will go in the middle and the rest of the furniture will go in front and tail!!!!

I have a diesel F350 to do this with. I don't know what you have to pull with, but it might be worth the time to do some surfing!!!

[1931 flamingo]

24 ft car hauler trailer with a pintle hitch?? Please educate me. Do you mean 5th wheel hitch?
I think I know what a pintle hitch is but thought it was for use if with small air compressor on wheels, or a small mortar type mixer on wheels, not a 24 ft trailer.
paul in CT

[luckyal]

You should google " unsafe U Haul vehicles and trailers ". Many articles talk about ageing fleet, unsafe brakes etcetera. Trucks moved from one state to another to avoid stringent safety factors. Not for me anymore !
Al

[amdriven2liv]

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

24 ft car hauler trailer with a pintle hitch?? Please educate me. Do you mean 5th wheel hitch?
I think I know what a pintle hitch is but thought it was for use if with small air compressor on wheels, or a small mortar type mixer on wheels, not a 24 ft trailer.
paul in CT

Pintles are the eye and hook variety. And come as combos and rotating for off road use.

http://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Ball...tle_Hitch.aspx

Since this is a equipment rental place I'm renting from, they probably have most of their equipment set up with pintles. (less likely to be stolen since most folks have ball hitches)

Easier to hook up, are stronger ( at least should be) Higher weight rating (higher than what my truck is rated for any way)

I haven't used a pintle hitch in many years, so it will be an interesting pull!