uhaul experience

[Tim Walsh]

well it looks like next week's big haul is a GO. We'll be driving from G-boro, NC to Mil, WI on sat, picking up an auto transport in Charleston, WV on the way. I'll be posting picks if possible.


Does anyone out there have any experience hauling a 911 on a uhaul trailer? If so are there any tricks that would help on such a long haul? We'll be using a Grand Cherokee to pull the trailer.

[johnco]

Brought mine from Atlanta to SE Louisiana with no problems. The trick was getting Uhaul to rent us the trailer. The attendant said our Explorer wasn't rated for the trailer but rented it anyway. Maybe because I kept bugging him. It was late Saturday afternoon and they were trying to close. We drove the speed limit all the way and had no problems. well... maybe getting to sleep that night with the car sitting ouside on the trailer and me not having driven it yet. Be careful not to rip the valence off loading and unloading as that happened to a friend's 911 last week. find a place where the trailer will be in a lower spot than surrounding ground. I unloaded mine with the trailer halfway down my driveway slope to minimize the ramp angle

[slakjaw]

i dont know what you will be useing to pull it
but uhaul has a book that says what car/truck can pull what trailers. and most will not rent to you if the book says your truck cant pull it

but....
here is a hint
you can tell them its a 99 F-350 and say its at your house and you are gonna put the trailer on it when you get there


but....
then if your tranny goes out
you would be caught in a lie and uhaul would not pay to fix it

[Wayne 962]

Right - I doubt that they would rent you a trailer with a Grand Cherokee. Sounds too small to me. Best bet would be to buy one - they're really not that expensive ($1200 new)...

-Wayne

[johnco]

It's true about the ratings. you can check on the Uhaul website for yourself, but when I was looking, it said my Cherokee wasn't rated for that trailer. I just lucked out and was able to rent the trailer with the Explorer and some pleading and begging. about $250 for two day, one way rental.

[Tim Walsh]

suprisingly they allowed it.. we went down there today to ask about it. He's got a 10,000 pound hitch on it, and the rest of the Cherokee's rated to 5,000. They had no problems renting out a full auto transport trailer with the grand cherokee.

THanks about the front end, I'll try and the lower the trailer when we get up there.

[A Quiet Boom]

Whenever trailering a car make sure it's not in gear and strapped down well with a safety chain in the back. Also some 2x12's will help extend the ramps if you have a low valance, just set up the ramps like normal and put the end of the 2x12 about halfway up the ramp.

[pwd72s]

I'm assuming hooking up the Jeep lights to the trailer lights will be no problem? Still, the whole thing sounds like "too little tractor" to me...you sure you don't have access to a tow rig that is a bit more heavy duty? Like a "dually" 2WD pickemup?

[Tim Walsh]

I wish I did have something a little more beefy but that's all I've got.

THe lights won't be a problem there are lights on the trailer.

[HawgRyder]

I have hauled loads that would make your hair stand on end with the weight of them.
First rule...don't hurry...take your time accellerating and braking.
On hills...take your time..go to a lower gear ...keep to the right...drive like the big trucks..they take the time to get up hills safely.
Above all...slow down BEFORE you get to the top of a down grade....half way down with no brakes left is an "E" ticket ride foe sure.
You can haul very heavy loads with a volkswagon (but I don't reccomend it) if you do it slowly and safely.
Also....don't stop going up a hill....if you are going to have to stop....go real slow before you get to the obstruction...maybe it will clear before you have to stop.
Good luck....and a safe trip.
Bob

[johnco]

you might need air shocks on your Jeep to carry the weight. I had to put some on mine since it would bottom out on every bump carrying my work trailer. And if the trailer starts dancing left and right, you have too much weight on the rear of the trailer and going too fast. you'll take up two lanes and lose control very fast. One time I dropped a skidloader off the back of a trailer at 55 mph coming down a bridge. Very Exciting time! another time I saw a brand new toyota suv lying on it's side along with the trailer and load from too much weight and speed. the trailer starts wagging, slow down and hold on. you're carrying as much weight behind you as the vehicle you're driving. it won't stop easily. slow down long before you need to. I have a crunched front end from pulling a trailer and brakes failing.....

[BMB]

Seriously consider renting a truck to haul the trailer. Your truck does not have the balls for all that weight. You will not stop. The rear of the trailer will be passing you. END RESULT-you will have to buy u-haul a new trailer. Your insurance will not cover it.Nor will it cover anything you hit (remember you lied on rental agreement). Your vehicle will not be covered (you lied and were negligent). You will also be out one porsche(it will be the one that passed you coming down the hill on a car trailer). Don't worry, it won't go far. Just bring a winch to get it out of 1) front of innocent persons car;2) front of someones yard-hope the kids are in school;3) someones living room-happens more than you think---list could go on forever. Hell, just rent a 24ft. truck and put it in there.

[Tim Walsh]

I haven't lied to uhaul at all. Take a look at their site. This is what I get when I say I'm hauling a 1978 911 (they don't have any older 911's listed)

"Our records indicate this is a recommended towing setup; however, all towing is subject to inspection. We suggest you have your vehicle inspected free of charge at any U-Haul Moving Center prior to the date of your move.



Advisements for the vehicle being towed:
Use of this equipment will cause damage to this vehicle.

Your vehicle is not compatible with this equipment because the spoiler will interfere when loading and unloading.
"
It takes 1 full day of driving to get up there. We're planning on 2 days driving time to get back.

Air shocks?

[dad911]

What about brakes? Does the trailer have brakes, and does the grand cherokee have a controller to use them?

A friend used to use a grand cherokee to tow his trailer & 944. Heavier car than your 911, so you should be ok. Use lower gear going down long hills, save from overcooking brakes.

[89911]

I used U-Haul trailers for a year before I bought a Trailex, (weights 800 rather then 2000lbs). Therein lies the difference. Your trailer and car weight are going to be over 4000lbs ,close to your cars towing capacity. Does your car have a 6 or 8 cylinders? A V8 should be enough. The U-Hauls we rented had surge brakes, so the stoping issue is taken care of. If your car is capable of towing over this with the proper hitch, it may not be recommended, but sufficient. What you are really doing is taxing the driveline and engine of you car. That is why I leased my 2002 Envoy. I don't want if after towing a car for 3 years over the hills of Western PA.

[Tim Walsh]

It's not the best setup in the world but it's what I've got to work with.
Uhaul does have the surge brakes which will help and we've planned for double time on the way back to take it really slow.

[Lucky]

I don't think you'll have any problem... if:

1) the uhaul trailer is dual axle and has surge brakes on (at least) the front axle,

2) trailer tires are properly inflated (at about 60 psi), and

3) you properly balance the trailer w/ loaded car so that about 500lb is pressing down on the tongue -- this is critical to overall stability.

Good luck, and take it easy.

BTW, I tow 6000 lbs of boat and trailer behind my Explorer V8 regularly with no problems. I just look way ahead, take it easy, and allow double the normal stopping/following distance. Do the same and you'll be OK.

[ted]

This is kind of basic...

When you load a rear engine car be sure that the weight is distributed properly on the trailer. I've heard that the trailer tongue weight should equal 10% of the sum of the trailer/car weight.

This depends a lot on the trailer axle location. Most car trailers are designed for front engine cars so the axle placement can be too far forward for a rear engine car. In rare cases it may necessary to back your 911 on the trailer to ensure proper tongue weight. Make sure the 911 doors are closed tight when towing backwards!

If you do not have enough tongue weight the trailer will swing side to side on the freeway.


If your front valance does not clear when loading try, the 2x12 wood ramp extensions and/or take your heavy duty floor jack and raise the back of the truck/trailer hitch.

Although it is safest to load your trailer while on a flat surface if.. you must park on an incline be sure the truck is pointed up hill. This will avoid high centering your 911 when it is halfway on the trailer and half on the ramp. Be sure the 911 handbrake is set on the trailer.

Here’s a quick tip for backing up your truck with trailer. Hold your steering wheel at the 6 o’clock position. Now as you are moving backwards simply move the wheel from the 6 position to the direction you want the trailer to go. You move the wheel right and the back of the trailer is going to go right.

Do you have suitable side mirrors on both sides?
Spare trailer tire?
4 heavy duty ratcheting tie downs?
Have you figured out your tie down hook up points on the 911?

[atlporsche]

I've moved my 912 three times like this, IL to PA, PA to IN, IN to MI...the first was towing with a cherokee...

Balance is critical. For my car it was essential to push it ALL THE WAY to the front of the trailer...911's would be the same I suspect.

tire pressure is critcal to the friendliness of the trailer...underinflation causes more sway.

sjd

[Tim Walsh]

I wouldn't have thought of that, backing the car on.. that the rear engine wouldn't put the weight right..