I need to tow my car on a uhaul trailer long distance. Anyone with experience and anything to watch out for?
Many thanks in advance.
Mike

 

Make sure everything works on the trailer before you take it. DO NOT trust their word. Check tire pressure, lights, etc. I prefer to use my own straps (a little overkill ain't so bad).

 

I needed one in a pinch, boy I was pleasantly surprised. All aluminum low to the ground for easier loading. Check and see you may luck out they are trading out old trailers and equipment for updated ones. Good luck

 

The Uhaul dealer in Greeneville, TN turned the connecting tightener all the way loose instead of tightening. It felt tight when tested because he turned it so far counterclockwise. He insisted on doing the connecting. I should have double checked. I drove the truck/trailer home and when I drove the Corvette on, the trailer jumped off the ball and did $1100 worth of damage to the rear of the truck. UHaul insurance denied payment because the dealer told them that I must have loosened it after I left. The Uhaul insurance manager also told me that insurance does not cover speeds above 45 mph and that is in the contract and painted on the trailer as 45 mph max speed.
As for the trailer itself, I have used them in the past many times and they worked great. Just double check everything at your first stop to make sure the straps and tongue are tight Also lower the fender before you drive on so the door will open. When I loaded my C5 the door BARELY cleared the lowered fender. If your car is lowered you might have to climb out the window.

 

As others have stated: double check everthing before during and after loading the Vette on the trailer. Be especially mindful to chech the straps that go over the front wheels of the Vette regularly, especially if you have been driving over rough roads. Use some boards of other type "filler" to accomodate driving on the trailer if the incline is too steep. I found a slight rise in the driveway from which I was loading and merely backed the trailer up to the incline and, with the ramps in position, had an almost level drive on experience. I did the same when I reached my destination and unloaded. I have hauled my Vettes many times with U-Haul and have been very satisfied with the service, the quality of the trailers and the ease of pick-up and return. I wish you well with the move.

Bronk

 

UHaul sucks. If you have no choice but to use them, take the advice from all those above. CHECK EVERYTHING! Uhaul doesn't take care of their equipment at all. I'm shocked they pay registration on their trucks.

 

Check everything, and more so.

I have had absolutely horrible experiences with U-Haul. I have had occasion to use rental trucks many times over the past 15 years. I used them for the first several times because they were a brand name. One thing or another failed on the vehicle the majority of the time. On longer moves - No A/C in the desert southwest summer. Another move - no cruise control (which sucks when you are just trying to keep the barge in your lane for many hours at a time - being used to driving a sports car), and my personal favorite, a move between Newport Beach, Ca and Laguna Niguel, Ca (25 miles max) where the thing started smokin' so bad from the engine compartment, we had to call a U-Haul to tow it to the destination point.

Yet, this was before the economy hit the fan.

I wanna love U, U-Haul. I really do. Such impressions of Americana attached to U-Haul. Yet, U-Suck.

Fix-it. Darn-it.

I choose Penske and have had no problems. Plus you feel cool driving something with the Penske name...

Budget sucks as well. Don't even ask me about the optional car trailer, of which the brakes locked up.

 

I choose Penske and have had no problems. Plus you feel cool driving something with the Penske name...


I tried Penske but they would not rent a trailer to me.

 

That's because you weren't cool enough...

Oh, I'm just kiddin' and couldn't resist.

 

NC all the way to CA with no problems.

 

Excellent and to be noted.

NC to CA. Are you a military dude. Or buckin' for a section "move to where the economy sucks more?".

??

Just moved my lazy eyes to left and see the Marine avatar....

Firstly - Thanks so much for defending our country.


Secondly - I hope you can do the career thing at Pendleton, because that seems a great place to be stationed. So much geographically better than LeJuene... Or, perhaps the middle east.

I have a friend with a hillside home in Fallbrook. Right at the edge of Pendleton. We used to sit on his deck, and watch Marines doing drills - helicopter landings with troop deployments. Awesome!

Thank you. Truly.

 

I trailered mine from North Carolina to Michigan recently. The car fit just fine on a Penske trailer, but I had to state that I was hauling a 98 Malibu. The car won't make it up the Penske ramps without an incline or helper ramps, so they won't officially rent it to a C5.

Also, I made the horrible mistake of towing my car behind a diesel truck. I would NOT recommend it. 1000 miles of nasty diesel exhaust blowing on my car. I had a cover on it, but not airtight. When I got to my destination, the car was covered in thick black smudges, which I had to get professionally cleaned off.

Be VERY careful towing it behind a diesel and wash the car well right before trailering it and use an airtight, quality cover if possible.

 

Thanks alot!! It was a long but fun drive.

I plan on going back east after this. I like CA but I miss the south. I have a pretty good view from my house here in Fallbrook also.

I might be in touch soon for a set of ramps.

 

I had no issues Nashville to FL but follow the good advice given.

 

Thanks all for the advice.
0331MARINE, thanks for the pics. Now I know what it looks like.
Mike

 

i used uhaul when i went to pick up my '78 in misouri. i watched the guy hook it up to the truck to make sure that everything was right and had no issues pulling it home. it pulled great.