Anyone Tow a Car with U-Haul Auto Transport Trailer???

[swathdiver]

My wife asked me today if we could tow our daughter's car instead of having her drive it when we take her to college.

U-Haul says they do not use nor recommend a WD hitch because of the design of trailer they use and say that the Weight Carrying Hitch rating must be 5000 pounds minimum.

Well, as you know, that's our maximum for these 1500 SUVs without the WD hitch. My WD hitch rating is 7900. Hitch capacities are 600/1000 respectively.

The car and trailer would put me just under 5200 pounds and that's before she loads up the kitchen sink to decorate and outfit her dorm room.

What say you guys? Should I rent a dolly instead and buy magnet mount lights?

 

[gooffeyguy]

I have an 18' dual axle car trailer with 7k lbs capacity. It's not aluminum, but steel with wood floor planks and weighs about 1200 lbs. I've towed my 3300 lbs mustang many times with my 2001 without a weight distributing hitch, just a ball mount.

The furthest I've gone was from St. Louis to Indianapolis and The 01 Yukon with the 5.3 was filled with luggage and a cooler. The front of the trailer had a pretty heavy duty pop up canopy and weights strapped to the front a couple feet in front of the mustang. It pulled it fine (have a brake controller also). I think these 900's have a greater tow rating than my 800 did.

2001 Yukon SLT
2012 Yukon Denali XL
2011 Yukon Denali RIP 5/20/18

 

[Derick]

So first, uhaul can f@*k themselves. They dont support or suggest anything because they dont understand, well, anything.

These are the same yackoffs that didnt allow explorers to rent trailers because of the tire issues they had. I had non-oem Cooper tires, and they refused to let me rent a small motorcycle trailer. Completely ridiculous. I would rent it, leave, put on your WDH, and go on your way. Those ********* dont know their ass from a hole in the ground.

 

[gooffeyguy]

I believe the U-haul trailers are equipped with surge brakes, not electric. With this setup on the trailer tongue, you may not be able to use a weight distribution hitch.

What kind of vehicle do you want to haul with it?

I used one of their dollies one time years before I had my own trailer to tow an ****** that had broken down to my home about 15 miles away. It did fine also.

2001 Yukon SLT
2012 Yukon Denali XL
2011 Yukon Denali RIP 5/20/18

 

[Big Mama]

I rented one a few times James. Both times to get my daughters Volvo which is rwd so no dolly. The trailer is very well balanced though at first it feels tongue heavy. Once loaded it balanced well with no problems on a 350 mile one way trip.

 

[avalonandl]

U haul will work but check the tires and brake resevoir first.....

 

[swathdiver]

They dont support or suggest anything because they dont understand, well, anything...

So tell us how you really feel Derick! Yes, some of those folks are mighty ignorant.

I believe the U-haul trailers are equipped with surge brakes, not electric. With this setup on the trailer tongue, you may not be able to use a weight distribution hitch.

What kind of vehicle do you want to haul with it?

Yes, the ones I've seen have surge brakes and 4 pin connector.

A Kia Spectra, just shy of 3,000 pounds before luggage. About 550 miles one way.

I rented one a few times James. Both times to get my daughters Volvo which is rwd so no dolly. The trailer is very well balanced though at first it feels tongue heavy. Once loaded it balanced well with no problems on a 350 mile one way trip.

Did you pull it with your Yukon?

U haul will work but check the tires and brake resevoir first.....

Yes! There's no spare trailer tire so they have to be checked thoroughly.

 

[Derick]

Yes, the ones I've seen have surge brakes and 4 pin connector.

Yeah, after I posted, I remembered that most of their trailers are surge brakes, which would be no bueno on a WDH. But everything else I said, still stands.

 

[Kee Fuller]

Glad you brought this up. I moving put east next year and i wanted to tow one of those trailers behind my truck

 

[Kee Fuller]

Also, does anybody know if our tahoes will fit on one of those auto transports? Id love to tow my truck vs driving it across the country

 

[swathdiver]

Also, does anybody know if our tahoes will fit on one of those auto transports? Id love to tow my truck vs driving it across the country

Don't think so. The maximum cargo weight is 5,290 pounds with a GVW of 7,500 pounds. Most Tahoes are heavier than that.

 

[09Tahoe4Now]

I actually used three of the u-haul auto transports and the information received from the rental agents was not accurate at all. I actually went onto the lots, gathered all the information myself, a little online research, called some reputable trailer places and finally rented them. We had a Yukon towing a Mitsubishi 3000 GT SL, Expedition towing a Mustang and a U-haul truck towing a Chrysler 300C. We had ZERO issues that they claimed we’d run into. Although we did add the insurance just in case. If I had time I would have purchased three auto transports and sold two at the end of the trip—would have broke even or made a small profit with the market we relocated to.

@Kee Fuller if you have the time, consider purchasing a dual tandem 5200lb auto hauler prior to the move with the intent to sell. It may be an option but as Swathdiver stated the u-haul auto transports won’t work. I’d consider a WDH if trailering an SUV sitting that high. Good luck.

 

[intheburbs]

550 miles? That will be a lot more abuse on your truck than her car. Why not just drive it? It would be a good experience for her, and a perfect way to do it if you're shadowing her.

My daughter is entering her senior year of college 600 miles away. She takes the Denali. First two years we went out with her in a separate vehicle, last year my wife rode with her and then flew back. Long road trips will give newer drivers some great experience driving on the interstates.

 

[Kee Fuller]

Don't think so. The maximum cargo weight is 5,290 pounds with a GVW of 7,500 pounds. Most Tahoes are heavier than that.

Thats what i figured. Thanks man

 

[swathdiver]

550 miles? That will be a lot more abuse on your truck than her car. Why not just drive it? It would be a good experience for her, and a perfect way to do it if you're shadowing her.

My daughter is entering her senior year of college 600 miles away. She takes the Denali. First two years we went out with her in a separate vehicle, last year my wife rode with her and then flew back. Long road trips will give newer drivers some great experience driving on the interstates.

That's exactly what I was thinking and planning until I started getting the sob stories about not spending time together. They can ride together! LOL

It certainly doesn't make sense from a financial standpoint either. Thanks again Bill.

 

[Big Mama]

Yes Sir with my Yukon

 

[Derick]

Too bad you arent closer....I've got a 18' 12k flatbed just sitting collecting dust, I try to pimp it out all I can so at least she gets some use.

 

[Ilikemtb999]

I’d hunt around for a non chain rental place. There are some nice alloy trailers out there and probably won’t cost much more than the uhaul (and have electric brakes)

 

[gpracer1]

When my 99 developed a crack in the torque converter hub and puked trans fluid all over, I rented a Uhaul. Can’t use a WDH with surge but my 7.3 PSD towed it no problem.....of course it’s overkill but my current 13 Tahoe could have handled it in the AZ mountains with some sweat. It fit with a few inches to spare, and that was with 20” wheels that stuck out a little.

 

[Kee Fuller]

When my 99 developed a crack in the torque converter hub and puked trans fluid all over, I rented a Uhaul. Can’t use a WDH with surge but my 7.3 PSD towed it no problem.....of course it’s overkill but my current 13 Tahoe could have handled it in the AZ mountains with some sweat. It fit with a few inches to spare, and that was with 20” wheels that stuck out a little.

The nnbs must be heavier. This is excatly what i want to do with a uhaul box truck towing my rig