Uhaul Trailer Experience?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
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From: El Paso Texas
And remember, the closer you get to the limit, the less comfortable towing is. Out here we have roads that go from 4000' to 9000' in 16 miles. If your tow rig is marginal for the job, you will know it real quick.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
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From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
I edited my post some. but you are correct. if you go max, you'll know it.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
In 2005, I bought a Fiero and trailered it back from Colorado Springs. I used the wife's F150 because it gets better mileage than my old F250. Never again. It was marginal, and the climbing in Colorado was no fun.
I towed this same car up to Socorro, NM this last weekend in my F250. I didn't even know the trailer was back there. It's a 1989 F250 XLT Lariat with 460 EFI auto and towing package, and 46K original miles. GCWR is 16,500. Discount 10% for living in the mountains, and you have 14850. The truck loaded weighs about 5400, which leaves me 9450 I can pull. The car on the hauler weighed half that. As I said, the truck didn't even break a sweat. Gas mileage sucked though.
I see people with overloaded trailers all the time. Too much trailer and too little truck....a disaster looking for a place to happen.
I towed this same car up to Socorro, NM this last weekend in my F250. I didn't even know the trailer was back there. It's a 1989 F250 XLT Lariat with 460 EFI auto and towing package, and 46K original miles. GCWR is 16,500. Discount 10% for living in the mountains, and you have 14850. The truck loaded weighs about 5400, which leaves me 9450 I can pull. The car on the hauler weighed half that. As I said, the truck didn't even break a sweat. Gas mileage sucked though.
I see people with overloaded trailers all the time. Too much trailer and too little truck....a disaster looking for a place to happen.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
OK...so if the gross combined of the truck is 7900 lbs, and the loaded trailer is 5200, your truck would need to weigh less than 2700 lbs with occupants, luggage, and fuel or you will be overloaded. And even if it did, you'd be marginal in this example. Bigger truck or smaller trailer would be advisable.
What did max out was the Class III hitch rating on the truck; it showed 6000 lbs rating but 12K with a WDH.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
Sorry, meant to say the max towing weight was 7900 for the specific '99 truck configuration (extended cab, 4WD, Z71, 5.3L motor and 4.10 gears). That came out to a GCWR of around 14K lbs.
What did max out was the Class III hitch rating on the truck; it showed 6000 lbs rating but 12K with a WDH.
What did max out was the Class III hitch rating on the truck; it showed 6000 lbs rating but 12K with a WDH.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Sorry, meant to say the max towing weight was 7900 for the specific '99 truck configuration (extended cab, 4WD, Z71, 5.3L motor and 4.10 gears). That came out to a GCWR of around 14K lbs.
What did max out was the Class III hitch rating on the truck; it showed 6000 lbs rating but 12K with a WDH.
What did max out was the Class III hitch rating on the truck; it showed 6000 lbs rating but 12K with a WDH.
IMHO when you're getting close to 10K lbs, it's time to go with a gooseneck or fifth wheel setup. Even with a WDH that's a lot of poundage on the tail of the truck.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 761
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From: Plymouth MA
2015 C4 of the Year Finalist
I appreciate all the comments, I pulled a C2 with my 2009 Silverado (5.3 Motor and Z71 package) extended cab without any problem...didn't know anything was behind me. I would prefer to fly out and just drive the car back but when you purchase a flight 10 days before to get a good price on airfare you have no idea about how the weather will be. I would like to get the car and not wait until Spring as I am near there on business the end on March...but waiting really sucks. I feel like my son waiting for his Ipad this past Christmas
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
I appreciate all the comments, I pulled a C2 with my 2009 Silverado (5.3 Motor and Z71 package) extended cab without any problem...didn't know anything was behind me. I would prefer to fly out and just drive the car back but when you purchase a flight 10 days before to get a good price on airfare you have no idea about how the weather will be. I would like to get the car and not wait until Spring as I am near there on business the end on March...but waiting really sucks. I feel like my son waiting for his Ipad this past Christmas
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St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17
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Burning Brakes
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From: Plymouth MA
2015 C4 of the Year Finalist
I'm fortunate that he's a great, respectful young man and student. He turns 17 next month and grandpa has a 04 Spiral Grey vert and a 68 coupe. I'm giving him my automatic 93 Ruby and the new addition 96 CE LT4 is mine so we can go to cruise nights and shows. He cannot take the vette whenever he wants or without us but he's hooked...he too has grown up with them. Some people think I'm crazy but it's great spending time together and the cars are part of that.
Le Mans Master
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From: Hellinois
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Those people either need some lessons in parenting or have kids they aren't proud of. You are a cool Dad, my oldest son already holds the title to my '85 and does occasionally get to take it out for a ride but he knows he can't actually claim it until I am done with it. He and I have spent some great time together in that car.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
Fathers, Sons, and cars, can't get much better than that. I wish my Dad would have been a car guy and I had a son to spend time with that was a car guy. Step son likes cars but his love stops at filling it up with gas and the 1200 stereos.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 476
Likes: 4
In 2005, I bought a Fiero and trailered it back from Colorado Springs. I used the wife's F150 because it gets better mileage than my old F250. Never again. It was marginal, and the climbing in Colorado was no fun.
I towed this same car up to Socorro, NM this last weekend in my F250. I didn't even know the trailer was back there. It's a 1989 F250 XLT Lariat with 460 EFI auto and towing package, and 46K original miles. GCWR is 16,500. Discount 10% for living in the mountains, and you have 14850. The truck loaded weighs about 5400, which leaves me 9450 I can pull. The car on the hauler weighed half that. As I said, the truck didn't even break a sweat. Gas mileage sucked though.
I see people with overloaded trailers all the time. Too much trailer and too little truck....a disaster looking for a place to happen.
I towed this same car up to Socorro, NM this last weekend in my F250. I didn't even know the trailer was back there. It's a 1989 F250 XLT Lariat with 460 EFI auto and towing package, and 46K original miles. GCWR is 16,500. Discount 10% for living in the mountains, and you have 14850. The truck loaded weighs about 5400, which leaves me 9450 I can pull. The car on the hauler weighed half that. As I said, the truck didn't even break a sweat. Gas mileage sucked though.
I see people with overloaded trailers all the time. Too much trailer and too little truck....a disaster looking for a place to happen.
Boy are you correct Frizlefrak! Some realy scarry folks out there towing some nice cars!
I have been towing cars for a number of years. I have a 2002 GMC Sierra 2500HD with the Duramax/Allison. I have a 20' Haulmark enclosed trailer. We've been all over the midwest and as far as Florida. Like Friz, I was heavy into Fiero's too. When I had my 84' Pace car in the trailer the GMC didn't know it was back there! Granted, I've "tweeked" the Duramax, but the bottom line is you shouldn't risk towing with a light duty SUV or 1/2 ton pick up. It's just not worth it. I also agree that although U-Haul is generaly a good company, they're maintenance these days might not be all that great.
If you want to wait, drop me a line and I'd be gald to store the car for you until March. I'm about 40 miles SW of Chicago if that would help.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
i'm not buying into the don't tow with a 1/2 ton truck. I've had trucks and been driving trucks both on and off the farm since I could reach the gas pedal and i've trailered and hauled tons of stuff with a 1/2 ton with zero problems.
Knowing your limitations is key to anything. But trailering a car across country in a 1/2 ton is certainly not on my bucket list either.
Knowing your limitations is key to anything. But trailering a car across country in a 1/2 ton is certainly not on my bucket list either.
Last edited by RetiredSFC 97; Jan 11, 2011 at 01:32 PM.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 476
Likes: 4
i'm not buying into the don't tow with a 1/2 ton truck. I've had trucks and been driving trucks both on and off the farm since I could reach the gas pedal and i've trailered and hauled tons of stuff with a 1/2 ton with zero problems.
Knowing your limitations is key to anything. But trailering a car across country in a 1/2 ton is certainly not on my bucket list either.
Knowing your limitations is key to anything. But trailering a car across country in a 1/2 ton is certainly not on my bucket list either.
and not saying it CAN'T be done, just saying it isn't a great idea.
I thought it about myself. But then I thought better!
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
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From: El Paso Texas
In most cases, it's not an issue of power. Modern half ton pickups have plenty of pulling torque. It comes down to braking, cooling, charging, steering / suspension....but most importantly, sway control.
I saw a guy a few years back with a Toyota Pre-Runner pulling a good sized boat up to Elephant Butte on I-25. He caught a nasty wind shear and the trailer started to sway....badly. He gathered it up not through skill, but blind luck. The trailer was visibly yanking the truck all over God's little acre. The tail was seriously wagging the dog (can't believe I used that metaphor ) I'm guessing he needed a change of underwear afterward. I was expecting major carnage, but he got it stopped. Next time he might not have been so lucky.
The larger trucks are purpose built and much more comfortable towing. The smaller ones may do the job, but the bigger ones do it with ease. And if, heaven forbid, you lose your trailer brakes, you'll appreciate a bigger tow rig.
Here's why I love my old F250 HD (Rambo is his nickname)......Cloudcroft is my favorite place to take my fiver....
Here's "Rambo".....loaded for bear.
I saw a guy a few years back with a Toyota Pre-Runner pulling a good sized boat up to Elephant Butte on I-25. He caught a nasty wind shear and the trailer started to sway....badly. He gathered it up not through skill, but blind luck. The trailer was visibly yanking the truck all over God's little acre. The tail was seriously wagging the dog (can't believe I used that metaphor
) I'm guessing he needed a change of underwear afterward. I was expecting major carnage, but he got it stopped. Next time he might not have been so lucky.The larger trucks are purpose built and much more comfortable towing. The smaller ones may do the job, but the bigger ones do it with ease. And if, heaven forbid, you lose your trailer brakes, you'll appreciate a bigger tow rig.
Here's why I love my old F250 HD (Rambo is his nickname)......Cloudcroft is my favorite place to take my fiver....
Here's "Rambo".....loaded for bear.
Last edited by Frizlefrak; Jan 11, 2011 at 09:32 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Schaller Iowa
astepup said that
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: El Paso Texas
I love this old truck. I bought it in 2003 from the original owner's widow. Had 36K miles and still smelled new. The paint is getting faded now, so it's going in for a facelift this summer. The 460's torque is incredible for a gas engine. In 7 years I've replaced a thermostat, a power window motor, and a master cylinder. Truck is dead on reliable. I'd drive it anywhere.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 761
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From: Plymouth MA
2015 C4 of the Year Finalist
Guys thanks for all the great comments. I'm very proud of my son and enjoy spending time with him and my dad and the cars. Frank that F250 looks great for the year, hard to find them like that. HD Fire I appreciate the offer on the garage, March is not all that far away. I would too prefer to just take a week off from work and drive her home. I do not think many people are buying vettes right now but thats the chance you take. We currently have 5 inches of the white stuff on the ground and another 4 on the way overnight...Spring cannot get here soon enough.