UHaul flatbed towing a C5?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 43
From: Longview Texas
Good luck with what you're doing!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 7,215
Likes: 1
From: Orlando FL
not sure if it will clear. I used Uhaul for a C3 but that is way higher off the ground.
call uhaul and see what they say. If it will go up the ramps you are golden.
If the car is lowered you are done
call uhaul and see what they say. If it will go up the ramps you are golden.
If the car is lowered you are done
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,412
Likes: 15
From: Richardson TX
Yes it will work. By flatbed, I'm assuming you mean the car hauler trailer.
You'll need some wood to extend the ramps or the nose of the corvette will scrape when you're loading it. I used 6' pieces of 2X8s. 2X12s would work better. The Uhaul trailers are nice, because the driver side wheel well flips down, so you can actually open the door when you're on the trailer.
I loaded it backwards, but you can just as easily load it forwards. You can see the flipped down fender in the picture.
Also, bring 2 heavy duty tie down straps. The trailer comes with straps that tie down the wheels on the hitch side of the trailer, but you'll want to tie down the ramp side of the car also.
You'll need some wood to extend the ramps or the nose of the corvette will scrape when you're loading it. I used 6' pieces of 2X8s. 2X12s would work better. The Uhaul trailers are nice, because the driver side wheel well flips down, so you can actually open the door when you're on the trailer.
I loaded it backwards, but you can just as easily load it forwards. You can see the flipped down fender in the picture.
Also, bring 2 heavy duty tie down straps. The trailer comes with straps that tie down the wheels on the hitch side of the trailer, but you'll want to tie down the ramp side of the car also.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 43
From: Longview Texas
Yes it will work. By flatbed, I'm assuming you mean the car hauler trailer.
You'll need some wood to extend the ramps or the nose of the corvette will scrape when you're loading it. I used 6' pieces of 2X8s. 2X12s would work better. The Uhaul trailers are nice, because the driver side wheel well flips down, so you can actually open the door when you're on the trailer.
I loaded it backwards, but you can just as easily load it forwards. You can see the flipped down fender in the picture.
Also, bring 2 heavy duty tie down straps. The trailer comes with straps that tie down the wheels on the hitch side of the trailer, but you'll want to tie down the ramp side of the car also.
You'll need some wood to extend the ramps or the nose of the corvette will scrape when you're loading it. I used 6' pieces of 2X8s. 2X12s would work better. The Uhaul trailers are nice, because the driver side wheel well flips down, so you can actually open the door when you're on the trailer.
I loaded it backwards, but you can just as easily load it forwards. You can see the flipped down fender in the picture.
Also, bring 2 heavy duty tie down straps. The trailer comes with straps that tie down the wheels on the hitch side of the trailer, but you'll want to tie down the ramp side of the car also.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 223
Likes: 6
From: Tampa FL
We towed a car backwards once (don't remember why) and almost lost the whole rig; the truck, trailer and car we were towing. Since the two largest masses are opposite each other (the engine in the truck and the engine in the car) it created some type of physics motion and caused severe sway. Like a long wave if you will ... I've never been so scared towing in my life and luckily letting off the gas and allowing it to coast to a stop got us out of it. I personally will never tow that way again.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
We towed a car backwards once (don't remember why) and almost lost the whole rig; the truck, trailer and car we were towing. Since the two largest masses are opposite each other (the engine in the truck and the engine in the car) it created some type of physics motion and caused severe sway. Like a long wave if you will ... I've never been so scared towing in my life and luckily letting off the gas and allowing it to coast to a stop got us out of it. I personally will never tow that way again.
Never haul backwards , especially if you are getting on any interstates. The whole rig can become a viscious snake on the highway at speeds over 40 mph. Once it starts to go out of control , it's hard to bring it back. There are videos of the viscious snake syndrome on youtube and it's not pretty.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
The front is probably still heavier with the engine and suspension as compared to trans and differential and suspension and the car would still be more aerodynamic going forward. Do you want to take the chance ? I wouldn't !
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,310
Likes: 99
From: Arlington Texas
I used a Uhaul flatbed this last March. The best thing I did when loading and unloading was find a driveway or parking lot with a hill in it. The ramps went almost straight out with no angle to them. With the incline from the hill it made it almost completely flat and easy to drive on or off the trailer.
The other thing I did to make it easier to get in and out of the car was to put 2x8 boards on the trailer and the wheels stopped on top of them. It gave just a little extra height for the door to clear the trailer fender. My car is slightly lowered.
The last issue I had was the air dam. You have to pull the tires all the way forward against the trailer to get the tie down straps over the front tires. The air dam will get pushed up on as you get the tires into positition. I did not notice any new damage to my air dam but it is 12 years old.
The other thing I did to make it easier to get in and out of the car was to put 2x8 boards on the trailer and the wheels stopped on top of them. It gave just a little extra height for the door to clear the trailer fender. My car is slightly lowered.
The last issue I had was the air dam. You have to pull the tires all the way forward against the trailer to get the tie down straps over the front tires. The air dam will get pushed up on as you get the tires into positition. I did not notice any new damage to my air dam but it is 12 years old.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,301
Likes: 6
From: LAND OF OZ Kansas
We towed a car backwards once (don't remember why) and almost lost the whole rig; the truck, trailer and car we were towing. Since the two largest masses are opposite each other (the engine in the truck and the engine in the car) it created some type of physics motion and caused severe sway. Like a long wave if you will ... I've never been so scared towing in my life and luckily letting off the gas and allowing it to coast to a stop got us out of it. I personally will never tow that way again.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,301
Likes: 6
From: LAND OF OZ Kansas
Yes I know, an air diffuser will help on this case haha.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 126
Likes: 50
From: Texas
I was looking into this when I got mine back in November. There's a thread on the forum somewhere that I saw that gave a good summary of the exactly what you'll need to get the job done, including ramps to get on the trailer, blocks to elevate the air dam, and tie strap hooks from Northern Tools. Sorry I don't have the link, but it was a great tutorial. I wound up finding someone to help me transport, so I drove it home.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,820
Likes: 34
From: Ravensdale WA
Never haul backwards , especially if you are getting on any interstates. The whole rig can become a viscious snake on the highway at speeds over 40 mph. Once it starts to go out of control , it's hard to bring it back. There are videos of the viscious snake syndrome on youtube and it's not pretty.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,412
Likes: 15
From: Richardson TX
Yeah the jeep was not good at towing the Vette. Its only rated to tow 5,000 lbs and the Vette + Trailer are about 5600 lbs. There was plenty of weight on the hitch, the rear suspension is about 3/4 compressed, and I only went 55 the whole way due to the weight issue. Since the Vette had near 50/50 weight distribution, I didn't worry about not having enough tongue weight. But yes, most normal front engine cars I would certainly load forwards.
I loaded it backwards because I thought it would make it easier to clear the ramps, and to clear the tire stops at the front of the trailer. You can see on their website they advise putting boards under the front wheels when loaded to make sure low cars clear. I didn't think of doing that, but its a better idea than loading it backwards.
http://www.uhaul.com/Articles/Tips/1...ound-clearance
Also, since I loaded it backwards, the folding out fender on the trailer was on the passenger door, so I had to crawl in and out of the passenger door to get in/out of the car.
I loaded it backwards because I thought it would make it easier to clear the ramps, and to clear the tire stops at the front of the trailer. You can see on their website they advise putting boards under the front wheels when loaded to make sure low cars clear. I didn't think of doing that, but its a better idea than loading it backwards.
http://www.uhaul.com/Articles/Tips/1...ound-clearance
Also, since I loaded it backwards, the folding out fender on the trailer was on the passenger door, so I had to crawl in and out of the passenger door to get in/out of the car.
Last edited by PhysicsDude55; Apr 17, 2013 at 01:35 AM.