Uhaul car trailer, good or bad idea?

Hi,

My brother in law is relocating from Denver to Emonton (1400 miles)

We will be renting a 26' uhaul and possibly a uhaul car hauler. It will be the 4 wheel off type.

The problem is that we will be hauling a 56 belair ht that is in very nice condition. Will this trip kick the heck out of the paint job. We are travelling at the end of Dec. winter roads. At some point there will be sand/gravel spread on these roads.

Have any one of you had to move your prized autos like this.? How did it work out?

 

If I had to do it, I would build a plywood fairing (rock/sand deflector) Big RV's also use a brush type of deflector mounted under the rear bumper to keep the crap down.

 

I've done it.

Obviously an enclosed trailer (or inside the truck) is best, but you can do it on an open trailer and be fine. Whatever you do, don't use a car cover. Even if you tie it down it will beat the crap out of your paint at highway speeds. Give the car a good wax and leave the wax on (Make sure you use the kind that comes off easy after being left on for a week. Some modern wax is OK to be applied in the sun. You want that kind of thing). Make sure the mud flaps on the truck are well attached and in good shape and go all the way to the ground. Lengthen them with extra rubber if you have to. Fashion some form of fairing at the front of the trailer, if you can do it securely. Shaped properly, this will help divert debris away from the load.

 

The stuff off the back of the truck will beat the tar out of a nice car. I'd build a super wide mudflap that bolts to the hitch. My brother built one for towing his boat. It's made of 2" square tubing and it a little wider than his pickup. It has two u-bolts to clamp it onto the reciever hitch. Then he took rubber belting and cut it so it's just about an inch off the ground. Even added the little chrome weights for some flash and to keep the rubber from lifting up and flapping.

 

Here's a link to a thread I started on a different site a long time ago....
http://www.riverdavesplace.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25373&highlight=flaps

 

Wrap that sucker with that clear sticky stuff the body shops use!!!

 

At this years NSRA Nats a vendor was selling a clear plastic film that wraps around the front of the vehicle. Wish I could remember the name of the stuff.

 

x3 for the clear sticky stuff but the full width mudflaps work great too. We use to install them on almost every tow rig that came in the RV shop and people swore by them.

 

I would recommend making the front fairing like stated above. This will keep not only your tow truck from throwing debris but also vehicles passing you.

 

I'd take a good hard look at how much it would cost to ship in an enclosed trailer with a bonded carrier.

By the time you add up the one-way trailer rental, all the extra fuel it will cost to pull it from Colorado to Edmonton, plus any possible damage expected from the trip I would be surprised if your savings makes it worth while to tow it yourself.

How much does he like his car?

 

I used a U-haul trailer when I moved.

I had to modify it as my wheelbase was longer than the trailer.

Wish I had some pics.

Used the loading ramps as trailer extension. I put a 1/2" bolt through the holes in the ramps and then through the trailer. Used ratchet straps to keep everything where it was supposed to be.

Went 700 miles without a problem.

 

At the cost of a one way rental on the trailer you may not be too far off on hiring a shipper for the car. Especially once you figure in the possible damage it may incur. I dont suggest plastic or tarps on cars that are exposed to the elements on a moving trailer

 

You can spray a heavy coat of this stuff over the areas that may take on damage. It is temporary and believe it or not it works.

http://www.kpg-industrial.com/products/shield_temporary_sprayon_bra_protection/

 

Look to a boat yard that does transport. Have them throw a layer of that white shrink stuff on there. It's pretty bulletproof.

 

I moved my 56 wagon from New Hampshire to Florida last April by InterCity Carriers. Door to door it was a little over 1300 miles and the cost was $1500.00. For the piece of mind it was worth every penny that I spent. InterCity is just one of the many enclosed carriers, I would advise that you call a few and get quotes before you lock yourself into an open trailer. Heck I even considered buying a used closed trailer with the idea that I could sell it and maybe make a small profit or break even....good luck in what ever you do.

 

Thanks for all of the replies so far everyone.

We have thoght about buying a 20' closed car hauler but the uhaul doesn't have electric brake hook ups. The ball size is for the trailer is too big for the truck as well. The biggest ball the come with is 2".

I've looked into a covered hauler that would go door to door along with dealing with the border crossing but so far no one is able to do it short notice.

 

Just PM Marcy... she runs an enclosed trailer!!

 

Done it with a 54 Belair from Texas to Denver. Worked great. Those trailers kick ass.

 

If it is a nice car, I do not think it would be worth the risk as compared to a one way open trailer rental this time of year. Try Reliable Carriers too, I just had them haul my cars from Dallas to Naperville, Illinois. Everything was flawless and on time. Any paint repair that could result would pay for itself going the enclosed route.

 

I'd go with a bonded carrier.... They haul collector and special interest vehicles all the time,...and added fuel costs, etc,...you'll have spent that amount anyway. Possibly less.... Our friends shipped a car from Modesto Ca,. to Indiana, for around $800.

4TTRUK

 

Ps; Some states have reduces speed limits for towing,...More road time there as well.

4TTRUK

 

I moved from Ohio to Denver in 2004. I am still amazed at the amount of rock / gravel here on the roads year around. And in the winter they use a lot of gravel for traction.

In 27 years I had (1) broken windshield in Ohio. I have lived here in Denver 7 years and am on my 3 windshield, and it is busted. Looking around I'd say 50% of vehicles more than 2 years old have busted windshields. Most that aren't busted are pitted badly.

They also use a lot of mag-chloride on the roads in the winter, so much the roads are dark from it, gooey nasty shit. I have found that it pits chrome trim.

My daily driver looks like it has had the nose sandblasted, and the chrome is pitted.

I would recommend against an open trailer.

And this isn't just a winter thing. It's arid out here, rocks are just part of the deal... it's the Wild West.

 

hire your nice car professionally hauled. no arguement.

first off, those Uhaul trailers are too short to allow for the construction of a front fairing. I know, we were a Uhaul rental location.

second, what is going to keep all the slop, sand, salt and slime from blowing up through the open center of that trailer and getting all up under your nice car?

no way, no how should you trailer your nice car on a Uhaul trailer during winter.

 

Several years ago I used an open rental trailer to tow my '41 woodie from central Colorado to eastern Oklahoma in the middle of winter. It was one of the dumber things I've done. I put the beverly hills cover on the car then wrapped it carefully with large tarps.

The wrapping lasted about an hour before it was blown to shreds. Coming across Kansas in ice and snow the car was completely coated with sand and salt that was being used on the road. I was digging sand and gravel out of the undercarriage for years. All of the pretty black oxide fasteners on the chassis turned to fuzzy brown rust. Had to redo a lot of work that I really couldn't afford to do twice.

Take some hard earned advice, if you love your old car check into enclosed transport. They have the equipment and if you pick a reputable carrier they are bonded and insured. Might cost a bit more in the short term but I was out a ton more trying to repair the damage suffered.

 

I would highly recommend an enclosed auto transporter. Give Kathy a call at Certified Auto Shippers 503-985-6161 or go to http://www.certifiedautoshippers.com/ and you can get a quote on line. She moved about 30 cars for me this last year, no issues and great prices.

 

worked good for me back in the day! their dollies suck though for bigger cars, and suck in general.

 

If you use U haul anything check the tires!! The auto transporter I rented had a big chunk of tread missing on the inside shoulder so it was hard to see. Another tire picked up a screw and went flat (not Uhauls fault) that I had to pay to fix out of my pocket. I was told to keep the receipt and u haul would reimburse. The guy I rented from looked at me like I was from outer space. I gave up since it was only 28 bucks. They work good but have a really good look at it when you pick it up. Like any rental they get beat to shit.

 

Use a couple of packing blankets to cover the windshield, and front end of car, to protect from rock/gravel dings, and chips. Then have the shrink wrap treatment done over the blankets, as stated above. The shrink wrap will not move at speed, and you"ll arrive at your destination without a mark. Have done this many times with zero problems.

 

It looks like the enclosed trailer is the way it's going to go. $2800 + brokerage fees + GST = Big bucks. It's just the way it has to be. Hey 20 years from now we're going to have a big laugh about this over a beer.

Thanks for all of the replies. Thanks for the tip Fast57F100

 

That's great, I am glad it worked out.