Anyone used a U-haul on their car?

[spyderman]

I'm moving from TX to MN in 2 weeks, and I will be moving the car with me. I'd love to drive it up there, (not enough drivers) but I'm going to use a Uhaul and flatbed trailer it. Anyone done this before? Any thing to look out for or any suggestions? My thought is to pull the trailer behind the moving truck, and wrap the car in packing plastic. That way it will be protected from rock chips and the like.

[mackskibum]

Works OK. Rock chips are the biggest issue- you definitely need to cover the car somehow- including the sides. Most people tend to drive a large vehicle further to the right (in the gravel) than a normal vehicle.

[JB36]

I used a Uhaul trailer when I bought my car. The biggest challenge is getting in and out of the car when it's on the trailer. The doors will align with the wheel wells of the trailer. Have a smaller person with you.

[davisriley]

I used a penske trailer. Should be the same thing. You have to tell them that it is a different car, as they will not rent it to you for a 911, They say it is too small. Front tie down was easy, rear was a little more interesting but I got it to work. It was fairly close on clearence getting up on it, found a small driveway to let it down off of the trailer. I have never seen the car so filthy in all my life as when we got to Indiana though. It rained most of the way, and the combo of exhaust and rain turned the car black. 3 washes, clay bar and a lot of elbow grease, car was back to normal. Good luck.

[defcon65]

Dollies are much easier to pull than trailers, not sure if this is advised with a 911 drivetrain, but I'm sure someone knows.

[rfn026]

Don't cover the car. The cover will flap around in the wind and abrade the paint. You'll cause more damage with a car cover on it then any chance you might have with rock chips.

Richard

[gestalt1]

i pulled a u-haul car trailer with my toyota tacoma from memphis to chicago this winter. i had just the body shell from a 68 912 on it and it towed fine. the trailers are about twice as heavy as they need to be so don't expect to be able to move it around by hand at all. using the u-haul truck should work better because of the greater weight, my little taco way jerked around quite a bit by that heavy trailer. they also really rip you off for the one way use, i think its $50 for 3 days same pick up/drop off and around $200 for dropping off at a different location. of course this is still far cheaper than hiring a car transport service.

[porsche4me]

Put in on back-wards - remember where the motor is - I have done it a bunch.

[aj88cab]

You could use this spray-on film for the trip. It's on sale at Griot's. I'd guess 2 or 3 cans would cover most the car. I've never used the stuff, but thought it might be a option.

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/garage+sale/spray-on+protection+bra.do

[berettafan]

Nothing to add here other than to say i hate that company.

It's like Christmas when you reserve a truck and it's ACTUALLY THERE!

[JP911]

+1 on "put it on backwards" for two reasons.

1. As stated, it's better for weight distribution

2. Depending on the type of trailer and how low the cars is, the height of the front spoiler/valence will prevent you from getting the car far enough forward on the trailer to properly secure it

[davisriley]

I actually put it on forward, and didn't have any issue. Honestly forgot about the weight until I got here, and someone mentioned it. The trailer looked like it was forged from cast iron, so I figured that the car was the light part. Pulled fine, and I had a lot of cross winds. YRMV.

[spyderman]

I'm pulling it with the moving truck, so don't have to worry about the trailer being too heavy. The spray on Bra is interesting, anyone ever use something like this, and can you get it at like Lowes, not sure I have time to wait for it to come in the mail. As for putting it on backwards, would never have thought of that...thanks.

So you guys think that wrapping it in plastic wrap is a bad idea? Figured it would be worlds better than putting a car cover on it.

[175K911]

Second on the weight of the trailer (1900 lbs) which is double the weight of my aluminum full deck car hauler. But the UHaul trailer has so much tongue weight that putting the car on forward still leaves enought ongue weight to tow just fine. How do I know? Broke a trans at a track event that I'd driven to and needed to rent a truck and trailer to get it home.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Charles Kieffer, an active PP member, knows a lot about towing, though he'll hyperventilate when the subject is mentioned especially if he thinks you're suggesting towing _with_ a 911. But you might want to do a search for him--he's on all the time--and ask what he suggests. It'll be amusing if nothing else...

[David]

Originally Posted by berettafan

Nothing to add here other than to say i hate that company.

It's like Christmas when you reserve a truck and it's ACTUALLY THERE!

I'll second that. Go Penske if you can.

[EarlyPorsche]

I have used a UHAUL many times. You just have to make sure you get the one with the removable fenders so that you don't open your doors into the trailer fender. Rock chips have never been a problem for so far. The strap system they used was what I liked, makes it pretty easy to tie down. If you haven't done this before consider just paying a towing company to do this who has experience. Car movers aren't too expensive. Before I forget, if your car is lowered or pretty low it may scrap going up onto the trailer. I would assume you would have to be pretty lowered for this to happen as most of my stock height cars have been ok. There are solutions around the hitting problem when loading though.

[CMDR Perry]

Moving to Minnesota, hmmm. We are getting 6 inches of snow today in the Twin Cities. Spyderman give us shout when you get settled, we can always use more Pelicans and SC's on the local scene.

[charleskieffner]

well here i am hypertyping.................

and since im gonna be enjoying "TRAILER HELL" also this weekend going over to calif. mtr speedway towing a 911, heres some tips. believe me any time you trailer anything it will be hell even on the most perfect day. night time towing is ALWAYS ENJOYABLE!

heres the deal. 911 weighs about 2800# give or take unless you have a uber rare rsr . so yer towing 2800# with a u haul/
penske whomevers. cover the hell out of car(exposed areas) w/ VISQUINE clear plastic, or buy your self a coupla cases 3m blue tape and a case of beer and slap 3m blue tape all over exposed areas. MUD FLAPS ARE A DAMN GOOD IDEA!

on my trailer i just drive on nose first, cinch front tie downs first, then rear tie downs. slap a pair of chocks on each rear wheel front and back. leave tranny in neutral and e-brake on.

cinch all tie downs again and tie off left over material in a knot accepted by either the boy scouts of america, u. s. navy, or u.s. coast guard. if you dont tie an accepted knot you will be there FOREVER trying to remove it once all the bumps ruts fast stops swerves getting airborne all play hell on yer tie downs and tighten the living ******* hell outta them.

do not tow yer 911 on a dolly. unless of course you want to disconnect yer CV's. and then it will be fine. i personnally dont like dollies but hey its yer 911 !

short trailers(a skosh longer than 911 wheelbase) i would fer sure back car on trailer and attempt centering weight. will make for a better ride if yer using some lil piss ant truck ie. toyota mini truck. full size 1/2 ton you should be fine. a 3/4 ton and youll be doing 75mph. a 1 -ton duallie you'll be passing pesky semis and blowing their doors in!

make double triple sure your ramps are secured properly. it always sucks to find one of those on the freeway and worse if you lost it! or worse if i hit it and sue you into stone age!

buy a lock for trailer. lock and leave no valuables in 911. when in the no-tell hotel/motel back 911 right up to your door(ground floor only) and have 12 gauge riot snotgun and flashlight next to bed.

if your in a state w/crappy roads just kind of write off yer windshield. putting cardboard over it is a great idea at home. but when you have 38-50mph crosswinds like we had yesterday..........it aint gonna work. putting a packing blanket over windshield is another good idea at home.......nope see above.

best bet is enclosed trailer with locks on it. dont ferget a spare tire and rim that fits. calling the 1 800 customer service u-haul or penske at 3am out in da middle of BFE is always an exercise in meeting new really wierd people and probably all the cops if there are any to help out there.

bearings are they greased???? ever???? this is more fun than you can stand . especially when the race starts in vegas at 7am and your at stockton hill exit outside of kingman in january and its colder than hell out and a bearing has siezed on single axle trailer and tire and wheel go rolling past us off into the dezert!!!! WTF?????? yep make sure your bearings are greased trust me! or if you purchase trailer get a pair of spare bearings and a jug of grease and lots of old rags and a floor jack and lug wrench and other assorted tools to do the job in the dark.

chains..............there called SAFETY CHAINS FER A REASON! take right side chain and attach to left attachment point on vehicle. take left side chain and attach to attachment point on right side vehicle. make sure they dont drag. a nice hot tumbling chain link could very well place a nice size DIVIT in yer nice 911. keep em off the ground 4"-5".

turn signals...............man what can i say here. make sure they work.

brakes.............ditto above.

trailer ball...........muy importante!!!!! put some wheel bearing grease on it lightly and tighten the hell out of nut on bottom with impact wrench. do NOT BUY trailer ball that is hollow with ID threads. buy trailer ball made out of one piece steel with shaft that has OD threads and lock washer(use this please) and giant ass nut.

tire pressure...........look on sidewall for pressure suggested.

lug nuts..................tighten the hell out of them and make sure you have lug wrench or sockets to fit.

trailering is a GIANT PITA no matter how many times you do it or what you tow. hitting bumps with dirt bike trailers and bikes falling off to name a few along with a coupla above side shows always makes it interesting to say the least. add bad roads weather crappy drivers fatigue etc. it gets just plain nuts.

more people die trailering coming home from races, than at races they just raced at. think about it!

good luck.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by rfn026

Don't cover the car. The cover will flap around in the wind and abrade the paint. You'll cause more damage with a car cover on it then any chance you might have with rock chips.

Richard

Most of the time, yes. Boat owners remove any covers before towing. But, you're only concerned with what comes off the rear tires of your truck in most cases unless there is something going on like some spilled gravel (not uncommon). I would devise a shield for the lower back of the car and pull the car up onto the trailer backwards. That way you don't have to position the car as far forward as you would if forwards for a 10% tongue weight of the total weight. That alone might shield the car a bit. I also think a moving blanket tied very well and securely over the parts of the car vulnerable might work out. There isn't a tremendous amount of turbulence right behind the truck box. To cover the whole car is to invite a lot of flapping as he said. Especially out in the wind stream.