Towing a Shark?
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Re: Towing a Shark? (Vettesic)
:yesnod: :yesnod: Read to the end of the posts here and will add my .02 worth.
I've rented a U-haul flatbed at least 5 times over the last 15 years or so carrying my vette from CO to FL, FL to CA, CA to FL, etc.... and there is no way I'd do anything different in the future. The trailers are heavy, that's true...but they are incredibly stable and securely hold the car in place...and the real benifit is their braking system. They use surge brakes that apply the braking power to their tandem wheels based on the pressure sensed at the hitch...no electric brakes are needed, it's all automatic and nearly brainless (which helps me a lot) to use. I have no idea who makes them for U-Haul, but it would sure be fun to have one of those trailers...they rule! Good luck!
I've rented a U-haul flatbed at least 5 times over the last 15 years or so carrying my vette from CO to FL, FL to CA, CA to FL, etc.... and there is no way I'd do anything different in the future. The trailers are heavy, that's true...but they are incredibly stable and securely hold the car in place...and the real benifit is their braking system. They use surge brakes that apply the braking power to their tandem wheels based on the pressure sensed at the hitch...no electric brakes are needed, it's all automatic and nearly brainless (which helps me a lot) to use. I have no idea who makes them for U-Haul, but it would sure be fun to have one of those trailers...they rule! Good luck!
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 61,413
Likes: 478
From: Here to make friends
St. Jude Donor '11, '16-'17
Re: Towing a Shark? (mark79,80)
The brakes work fine. I had a 5'x10' U-Haul box trailer loaded to the gills with household goods and had to make a sudden stop in Portland interstate traffic. The surge braking system worked flawlessly. I think U-Haul must be pretty confident in the braking system. I would think they would be open to lawsuits if there were a problem.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,478
Likes: 38
From: Long Island NY
Re: Towing a Shark? (mark79,80)
For those that used the U-Haul trailers, how did the brakes work?
If I am correct, they use surge brakes so wonder how they work if you
have to stop suddenly? Concerned about having the trailer jack-knife?
If I am correct, they use surge brakes so wonder how they work if you
have to stop suddenly? Concerned about having the trailer jack-knife?
Racer
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 437
Likes: 2
From: Kingsport TN
Re: Towing a Shark? (Vettesic)
The two wheel hauler I used (a very old u-haul trailer that belongs to a friend) had no braking system, which meant that I had to be prepared to stop with only the towing vehicle brakes. While this could have presented a problem, it didn't. In addition to braking, I had to attach an extra set of lights to the front of the vette, being towed from the rear, for signaling and braking purposes, which wasn't a problem either. The main problem with the two-wheel hauler, the front of the car had enough movement to prevent speeds greater than 50 mph and it was a horrible 10 hours of driving covering only 400 miles. Unless you have a short trip across town, etc., I'd avoid a two wheeler like the plague.
:cool:
