Looking for a car hauler trailer....

[BBR]

Gotta get the Mustang to Topeka somehow!

Anyway, what is the general opinion of u-haul car haulers? A local shop has 2 for sale and they are pretty reasonably priced. I have read they are well built and are kinda on the heavy side.

Comments?

[STINEY]

They are well-built and generally on teh heavy side, but that's understandable since everyone and his brother has their way with them, they have to be tough!

Might check out some factory trailers, the prices have been really low for a while now, at least around here. Seems everyone wants an enclosed job and that drove the price of open stuff way down.

I'd be sure to get 3500# axles and if I had the option I'd opt for brakes on both axles, they sure stop nice with that setup.

What for $ are the U-hauls? Might be the best bet...

[Orange65]

The only time I have ever pulled a U haul car trailer was about 18 years ago- aluminum trailer, hydraulic brakes, good looking trailer. Was the worst pulling trailer I have ever had the displeasure of pulling. It was like dragging a 4 ton brick behind the truck... Maybe the ones you are looking are different.

[squirrel]

How much does it cost to just rent the uhaul one-way? Might be worth spending a few extra bucks to not have to haul the trailer back with you.

[A/Fuel]

The only time I have ever pulled a U haul car trailer was about 18 years ago- aluminum trailer, hydraulic brakes, good looking trailer. Was the worst pulling trailer I have ever had the displeasure of pulling. It was like dragging a 4 ton brick behind the truck... Maybe the ones you are looking are different.

Maybe thats why they have a 45mph max sticker on them? Probably all you can do!

[BBR]

A new 18', single brake, wood deck, 3500 axles around here are in the $2500+ range. Used ones (when you can find them) are $2000 or so.

The shop (a local rental place) is asking $1500/ea for the uhauls. He can probably be negotiated with. I like the flip down fender feature and the surge brakes. I may run by and look at them today.

I don't want to rent because I want and need a trailer all the time, not just for hauling the car.

[SuperBuickGuy]

don't get the uhaul - they have hydraulic brakes.... which is probably why Orange had a problem towing his... you can't back uphill if the trailer is loaded; they leak then don't work (and you won't notice until you can do nothing about it); and they're tough to get parts for..... oh yeah, and with electric brakes you can temper the stopping power or use the trailer to stop the car... not so with hydraulic.

(deep breath) and the trailers are useless for hauling anything that doesn't have wheels because they don't have a deck. However, do find a trailer about the size of a uhaul trailer. I have a 14' equipment trailer that can haul anything up to and including short-bed extended cab trucks.... easy to back up, easy to store (25' is awesome until you try to find a place to put the trailer) and lots lighter so towing mileage isn't as bad as it could be.

[squirrel]

oh yeah....Topeka...you gotta get back home from Topeka. I was just gonna drive the car there, but I guess a lot of guys haul them.

Anyways, I have a 16ft flat tandem axle trailer, kinda lightweight cheezy made of steel angle with 2x10 planks. It's a POS but it's great. I got a gonga deal on mine, and I've had to upgrade and fix it over the years. If the open deck uhaul is all you can find for a reasonable price, then it will probably work. A flatbed with electric brakes would be more useful, if you're looking at it as buying a tool.

[A/Fuel]

Mine has electric brakes and a 18' diamond plate deck. I use it for everything, hauling snowmobiles/4-wheelers, brush from the yard, trips to home depot, everything.
I had one that had an open deck and while it was a little lighter, I was really only using it to haul a car around.

[Grumpy]

I agree with all of the above, 3500# axles and electric brakes on both axles, full deck and dove tails are nice, 4 ft. tongue is important also. I've had a "bunch" of trailers over the years clear up to a 34' 5th wheel Chapparal but the best one I've ever towed was a borrowed POS with a 6 ft. tongue.

[200kss]

Never pulled a u-haul trailer, but I'm not impressed with the look of them. If buying new, spring for a full floor and electric brakes on both axles, and watch the ramps you get if your vehicle sits low. The used trailer market is tough, both open and enclosed, seems used trailers go for almost as much as new ones.

[TheSilverBuick]

I've towed a few cars with full open trailers and with simple one axle car dolly's, both borrowed and rented. One thing that is nice about an open car trailer is the utilitarian function of a full floored trailer. The dove tails are definately nice too. It's probably like buying a garage, try and buy as much as you can to be as verstal as possible. I've never used a trailer with trailer brakes, though my new truck now has a trailer brake controller on it

I plan on just breaking my car somewhere between Kansas and Texas, flying home, driving the truck out and renting a u-haul car dolly one way to pull it home For space reasons I'm thinking of getting a single axle car dolly for emergency or such use. I wonder if I could mount a portable winch in the bed of the truck to pull cars up onto one???

[SuperBuickGuy]

I'm not a fan of dovetails.... it's just another hump you have to get your car over. I do like tilt trailers (my dad has one) but they are terribly heavy because they really are two trailers in one....

the one thing I'd pay extra for is the lowest trailer you can get. it's so nice having a trailer that a 4x4 can drive up on without the ramps.... the only downside, the longer the trailer, the more likely you'll drag on everything.

[A/Fuel]

I had a trailer that was really low once and it was nice not having ramps, it sucked having to climb out the window because the door wouldn't open because of the fender though. Even if I would have put a hinge or made the fender removeable, the tires would have kept me from opening the door.

[TheSilverBuick]

I'm not a fan of dovetails.... it's just another hump you have to get your car over.

My experience has been they are easier to push cars up on because they are effectively longer shallower angle ramps. Of course it helps if the car's brakes or parking gear are functional for when you get the car up there