Cross Country Trip - Uhaul Trailer Question

[911SCcdn]

FYI....

Getting ready to drive across country to Seattle to pickup my 70T. I have used a uHaul car trailer (with my V8 cherokee)before with my SC and I am a little concerned that I may have some problems with the 70T because it has been lowered for track/DE purposes.

Anyone have any tips? I was thinking about bringing a few 2X6 planks to help ease it on the trailer if it happens to be two low to drive it on with the standard ramps.

Planning on leaving in a couple of weeks ..2600miles each way...it will be a crazy trip but looking forwrd to getting the car back home.

Andy
81 911SC
70 911T

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by 911SCcdn


Anyone have any tips? I was thinking about bringing a few 2X6 planks to help ease it on the trailer if it happens to be two low to drive it on with the standard ramps.

I need Two 2x4 stacked crosswise & flat to mount routine auto wrecker ramps. I would think a Single 2x6 would work. My car is only "euro" height.

[vash]

my job is next to a uhaul yard. those car trailers look a bit lower than usual. i remember backing my 4x4 off the back of one without the ramps when i moved here to cali. i would check, if i were you.

[ZCAT3]

You can also use the trailer jack to raise the front end up in order to lower the approach angle for the car. That, combined with some strategically placed pieces of wood, should get you up on the trailer o.k.

[chrisp]

Crank up the front end if need be. Since it's an easily accessible adjustment you can dial in whatever you need to get it on the trailer.

On my personal trailer I have ramp extensions. They are built from 2x10. Two pieces per ramp. First piece is about 3" long and the second is 2'. They aren't simply on top of each other, the 2' piece is set back about 3" so the ramp can sit on the bottom piece and there's a smooth transition to the ramp.

Use ZCAT3's idea too. That's what I do. I jack the front end of the trailer (and truck) up about 6-8".

[Zeke]

How much is this UHaul gonna cost you for that amount of time? If I were doing this, I would buy a used trailer, put new bearings on the wheels and take off. Upon return, I would sell the thing. Open trailers go for a low of 500 to 1000 for steel.

Unless that UHaul is less than 300 for the duration, I would give this some thought. And Uhauls are heavy unless you can score one of their alum ones.

[vash]

milt is genius. i wish he was around to tell me the same thing. moving from tex to cali, i paid $700 rental fee. my friend just bought one for $600. i am not smart.

[rdane]

Be happy to drive it out to you Andy

It is just sitting there minutes away from me!

[911SCcdn]

thanks guys....I am weighing the option of buying a used trailer....and renting one from uhaul. they quoted me a one way rental of (I think) $475 USD from Seattle to Ottawa...

I am thinking about buying one because I would like a trailer for project and track purposes in the future.

Keep the comments/suggestions coming. Thanks all.

Andy

[SC-targa]

I rented s U-haul trailer this summer to haul a Mustang from Denver to DFW. I had two trailer tires fail in 1000 miles or so. The U-haul folks told me the goodyear tires are all suspect and they are failing miserably. Each time they blow, you're stuck for a couple of hours waiting on a replacement.

Jerry

[LakeCleElum]

If you get to Seattle and need an extra hand, floor jack, etc - be glad to help out. Gimme a call at 425-432-8169 and day or two in advance...Good luck....Bob S.

[thabaer]

Check your trailer weight vs towing capacity, I saw a Cherokee engine fire work its way back to 4000 lbs worth of MasterCraft while sitting at a stop sign.

Assuming cross-country means you aren't coming from BC ? You'll want trailer brakes for crossing the Rockies.

[fintstone]

I used a uhaul trailer to haul my '74 (euroheight) from Albuquerque to LA and back without problem. It cost me $350. The cheapest trailer I could find at the time was well over $1000. which was my max. The biggest problem is that the standard Uhaul car carrier trailer is so heavy duty, it is heavier than your 911. Most trailers are much lighter.

[vash]

oh, uhaul is the only company that will rent just the trailer. all others expect you to tow with only something they also rent you. like a bigasstruck.

funny, my uhaul experience had a flat too. it left my in southcentral LA. figuroa and something. i was scared, and i dont really scare that easy. i had to sleep overnight on that damn corner. effing uhaul.

My experience with uhaul was when i drove my car to the place that painted it. It cost me 50.00 for the day. The trailers do have some kind of brake system built in. I think it works under heavy braking. As far as the ride hieght, I just raised the tortions under the car in the front. You can also raise the front of the trailer by removing the hookup and raising it as far as it will go. Make sure that you chuck the wheels well because i did not and it rolled. BTW, when i went to PU the car I was feeling confident with the way the uhaul guy installed the hookup and did not notice that a chain was not secure and was free to dangle along the highway. As a resullt, the chain bounced up and hit my newly painted ducktail and scratched the paint. Because its a race car, I concidered it its first nosebleed...

My 2 cents!

[911SCcdn]

Thanks guys.....

Bob...I may take you up on the offer to lend a hand ...The car has been sitting in a friend's underground parking at work for about 4 weeks. I have asked him to start it for me this week to make sure everything is OK. I picked it up at the end of the July and drove it for 70miles and parked it to make arrangements for shipping. The car is in the Mercer/Westlake/Lake Union area.

Again, guys...thanks for the input.

Andy
81 911SC
70 911T

[vntgspd]

I would be very careful about the uhaul trailer. Loading is not the issue. They usually have very deep channels for the car's tires. The edges of these will chew up the bottom of a lowered car if you are not careful. They are very heavy too.

I would buy a used trailer and go that route instead. You may even be able to find one local to the car you are picking up so you don't have to tow an empty trailer 1300 miles (that sucks, I've done it). Trailers have excellent resale value.

Also, by the time you drive 2600 miles and factor in your time and expenses, it might be best to have a transport company do the job. Unless of course you are into the road trip.

Good luck!