U Haul Trailer Rental

[70cudafan]

I will be renting a U Haul Trailer this weekend to take the Cuda up to Lakeland from South Florida. I will be using my sons Dodge Ram 1500 to pull the trailer.  This will be my first trip pulling a trailer with the Cuda.  Any tips I need to know from others who trailer their cars would be greatly appreciated. I will be taking the Florida Turnpike to Yeehaw Junction and then west to Lakeland.  The web site for the car show is www.LakeMirrorClassic.com.  There should be over 500 cars attending. My family and I went last year ( without the Cuda ) and had a great time.  My favorite car last year was a 70 lemon twist Superbird which looked like it just came off the production line.

[ToxicWolf]

I didn't know about that one. Looks interesting. I'm guessing the trailer is covered.

[Road_Runner]

I've never towed a car myself, but I've towed some large 23-25' boats and I can tell you to go slow especially at first.  If you haven't towed trailers much take special care with tight right hand turns especially in town.  If possible cheat over to the left making the arc around the corner as wide as possible.  Its super easy to go over the curb with the trailer especially if you can't swing wide on the street you're turning onto.  The other thing is allow extra time & room for stopping again especially at first while you learn how good the truck & trailer's brake are in combination.  I want to get a bigger truck myself so I can start towing mine to repair shops, shows, race track, etc.   Stay safe.

Later, Jim

[72cudamaan]

Make sure you have good tongue weight. Otherwise you'll start fishtailing.

[Got JOB]

Don't tow in overdrive. Use the tow selector if your truck has one. I usually stay in the right lane and pick a comfortable speed and leave a good space cushion because you can't stop on a dime even with trailer brakes. Leave on your trip with plenty of time to get there, it will be a more pleasant drive. If you do pass, remember you have extra length when you merge back in to your lane. Make sure all lights and signals are working. Towing at night is no fun if you don't have running lights and can't see where your trailer is at. As said before, watch your turns. Don't open your door when backing off trailer because bottom of door might not clear trailer fenders.

[tommyg29]

Awesome, have a great time.
Make sure you balance the trailer well. If the load is 4000 pounds, the tongue weight should not exceed 400 lbs.
I towed a 4000 lb stealth a few years ago from washington DC area to Miami behind my truck with a U haul trailer, and I think I had too much weight on the tongue (I just guessed at it) but made it ok.
That stretch after yeehaw on 60 is very desolate. And believe it or not, that stretch of the turnpike before yeehaw, is the longest highway stretch in the country without an exit or gas station, so yeehaw will be your oasis.

[ChallengerHK]

I used to work for U-Haul. Two things are important here:

The trailer is very heavy itself, more than 2000 pounds. Make sure that the towing vehicle is capable of pulling the combined weight of the car and the trailer.

Just as important, U-Haul has a bad habit of booking equipment and then trying to scrounge for it somewhere to try to fulfill the booking. It's probably more expensive, but if you can go with Ryder, you'll have a much better chance of actually getting the trailer when you need it.

[Super Blue 72]

I trailered my car from northern New Hampshire to Boston and I agree with the others.  Leave lots of room around you, watch the turns.  Get a real good feeling for the braking with the trailer.

Take a dry run in the pick up with the trailer attached without the car just to get the feel of it, or I guess you could with the car on as well..  Once the car is on there make sure you know how it stops with the extra weight.

Know the route you will be taking.  I don't think you'll have the issue I had.  In New Hampshire there were a lot of steep hills that got me a little nervous going down hills.  Make sure all the brake lights work, test them.

Have a great time!

[moparman82]

My chally driver door wouldn't open without hitting the wheel humps on the open uhaul car hauler when I was in it.  Opened fine without me, I weigh 200 so something to keep in mind.  It towed great for me and I have a ram 1500 also

[4Cruizn]

Alot of good info here but the one thing that comes to mind with me is the stabilization system for the trailer.  I have towed the cudas many times and without that . . . . you are in for trouble IMO!  I bought my own system and have used it with trailers that I borrowed . . . . works great!  No fishtailing!  Would not trailer a car without it!   

 

[pink panther]

before we bought our car hualer we towed the chally on a U-hual trailer, I also have a Ram 1500 as my tow vehicle, no problems. The one thing I didn't like was the car's back end almost sat off the back of the trailer as it overhung. I made sure when I bought one it was plenty long enough. The u haul trailer will have braking system with the movement of the tongue so it won't be that bad to stop, I wouldn't tow a car without brakes on the trailer.

[crocha617]

I've towed several Cudas & Challengers with the Uhaul trailers over the years and have never had any problems. Most of them were with a F150 super crew and more recently the Dodge 2500. U shouldn't need anything besides the trailer itself just take it slow around corners & down hills if you're not used to pulling trailers.

[ToxicWolf]

I'm thinking about taking a run up there just for fun. I'll look for your car.

[Super Blue 72]

My chally driver door wouldn't open without hitting the wheel humps on the open uhaul car hauler when I was in it.  Opened fine without me, I weigh 200 so something to keep in mind.  It towed great for me and I have a ram 1500 also

I had the same problem.

I did find out after I bumped the door several times and then unloaded the Challenger that the fenders fold down so you don't bump the doors. 

[Chryco Psycho]

Alot of good info here but the one thing that comes to mind with me is the stabilization system for the trailer.  I have towed the cudas many times and without that . . . . you are in for trouble IMO!  I bought my own system and have used it with trailers that I borrowed . . . . works great!  No fishtailing!  Would not trailer a car without it!   

 

  simply dangerous to tow without it . I hate U haul trailers , I will nto tow without electric brakes so you can operate them individually without the truck brakes , the surge brake system on a U haul is dangerous at best , as me how I know