Car Hauler Trailers Question

[Norm's Coupe]

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Edited September 17, 2009 by Norm's Coupe

[Reg Evans]

How about a tow dolly? Weighs much less and takes up less room.

[greg g]

I rented a U haul to pick up my studebaker pieces it was 49 plus tax for the day. The U hauls are good trailers but they do have surge brakes. Pro trailer brakes are good. con, if you don;t find out how to disable the surge brake you can not back up hill even with the empty trailer.

You could probably two your car on a dolly with your van for short level trips. I towed the s baker with my 6 cyl Cherokee with out problems.

Do you have a riding mower? You could move the dolly around your property with a hitch or even a bar with a bolt in it with a rider.

[Dennis Hemingway]

Norm, I think you would have to call your local rental place as rental charges are different in different areas. Also check what size truck they will require you to have. The local U-Haul would not rent a trailer to a buddy of mine to haul his stock 50 Jeepster, they said that his Furd F150 was too small to tow.

So he went to the U-Haul 30 miles away and they rented a trailer with no problem and it was $1. less a day it was $49.00 a day.

You can go to U-Haul web site and check out the charge in your area.

Dennis

[Reg Evans]

I move my tow dolly up and down hills here with my golf cart with ease so if you have a riding mower like Greg suggested that might be the ticket.

The last time I rented a tow dolly one way it cost around $200 so when an acquaintance want to give me one you know I snapped it up.

I also have an old style clamp on front bumper style tow hitch that works very well but I haven't used it since I got the tow dolly.

Here's Lisa loading the cart in the back of my truck for the first and last time. She's brave. Long story .....but I took over and almost ripped my left arm off.

[BobT-47P15]

The guy who purchased my 54 Plymouth recently rented a U-Haul trailer

to take the car home. He was pulling it with an average pickup. He said

they would NOT rent the trailer if it was to be pulled by a Ford Explorer.

I wouldn't mind having a trailer, but not sure my 6 cylinder Caravan would

be a good tow car.

[Johnny S]

I've rented a U-Haul here in Colorado twice to haul a P18. Cost was about $125 with taxes and such for one day with a lesser amount for the next day if needed. They did play the "20 questions" game the first time when it came to such things as "what was I pulling" and "what I was pulling it with". We had to get vehicle weight, wheel base and vehicle width on the P18 first and then they asked what was I pulling it with. Turns out that they considered a 1999 Suburban with a 5.7 and a factory tow package as a marginal tow vehicle for a 3200 lb car. But, they did finally agree to it and it towed absolutely fine. Mine was just a 70 mile tow. Ran 65 - 70 on I-25 with ease. The second time was easier since they sort of "knew" me by then. However, the entire experience almost made me want to buy my own trailer and "red-neck" up the neighborhood a little more. However, the lower cost and not having to store it the rest of the time pretty much trumps my anxiety over doing it. I'd probably do it again if/when I need to. That is if I don't find a friend with a trailer.

[JerseyHarold]

What about a tow bar? You could have towing tabs fabricated to fit the Plymouth and the bar would be very easy to store.

[Reg Evans]

"However, the entire experience almost made me want to buy my own trailer and "red-neck" up the neighborhood a little more. "

Shoot Johnny, I solved the Red Neck thing by just camouflaging it with my yard couch.

[Johnny S]

Probably with flora bouquet fabric to boot! I had one of those too. They look best right after the rain (or snow!).

[55 Fargo]

Probably with flora bouquet fabric to boot! I had one of those too. They look best right after the rain (or snow!).

Yall better have an old toilet bowl flower pot:p to go with that couch, heck this old red neck place down the road from me, has the couch,toilet, claw foot bathtub, and a stationary cowboy sitting on the couch:D

[55 Fargo]

I know several of you don't drive your cars long distances to shows' date=' you haul them even though the car is a driver. Think Dennis Hemmingway made that statement not long ago for one.

I've thought about trading my van once in awhile for a pickup that would pull a car hauler with the coupe. But..........problem with that has always been, I have no room to park the trailer at the house. I know they rent them. Does anyone know what the approximate cost of rental is on those trailers? That would be another solution if I was to buy something big enough to pull it.[/quote']

Got a better idea Norm, just hook up with a few others, and go to these events convoy style, a group of guys can have one of the wives following with truck and rented trailer, you say have 3 or 4 old car guys, split the cost, but drive your own vehicle, or take turns have 1 of the cars towed, then you always have the back up plan, if you break down.

Okay, you don't like my idea, how about living a bit drive the car, take some tools, a few spare parts, and live like the 40s, how far are you planning to go on cruises?

Some of the suggestions on trailer rental, are not bad ideas, as long as you got the beef to pull it, cost a few bucks for gas or diesel, on a nice truck pulling the old girl around the country............Fred ps we have the usual here Uhaul, or we also have a small independent place that rents trailers, and good trailers on top opf it, $75 for 24 hours, or $225.00 per week, can't go wrong on that price

[BobT-47P15]

I have a tow bar, purchased in the 1970s from a bank who decided to

stop repossessing their own cars. Think it cost me maybe $15.

It has the bumper clamps to attach to the car being towed. At the time,

i was driving a full size Ford and had a welding shop build me a nice strong

hitch attached to the frame. Pulled several cars with that rig, including

taking a 50 Wayfarer convertible from Missouri to Lancaster, Penn. I had

rigged up brake light/turn signal bar to attach to the rear of the Dodge.

After an inspection, they let me onto the Pennsylvania Turnpike with it.

Had no real problems with the arrangement.

In fact, that's how I brought the convertible home from Springfield, MO....about

75 miles.

[greg g]

Here you can't rent a dolly unless you rent a truck. Goes for U haul, Penske, Budget, Ryder etc.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Lots of rental places place that restriction so that the truck renters can haul their vehicles behind them and save on fuels etc. Plus there is no jockeying around of the dollies due to one way rentals etc. etc. I see their point but the business would be better served with an adequate inventory for hire...

[wayfarer]

In the 'old' days (before I went Diesel) I drove ½t trucks and towed and hauled alot of various stuff. Now, with the newer ½t trucks, you get great interiors, seating for 5, good braking systems and the all have the capacity to drag a trailer and some get decent mileage empty. If you are looking to buy a truck this appears to be a good time. I have several late 90's Dodge quad cabs advertised for as little as $5k. Although the mini vans get great fuel mileage it makes only marginal difference unless you do alot of driving. Consider that for a small penalty in the cost of fuel you get a bit more steel around you and you can tow/haul your coupe. Added bonus is if you need or could just use 4wd in the winter. My $0.02.

[Captain Neon]

Here you can't rent a dolly unless you rent a truck. Goes for U haul, Penske, Budget, Ryder etc.

My father ran into this same situation when he bought a '66 Ford P/U when I lived in Arkansas. They had gobs of unused dollies, but they wouldn't rent him one to tow his Neon w/ the P/U back to Minnesota.

[55 Fargo]

The best Mopar I ever owned in the 90s was a 1997 Neon Sport Coupe, gave me a 130000 miles of trouble free driving with the exception of the head gasket, an inherent problem with these cars. I sold it to the neighbours kid, he smashed it up in a month.

I currently have a 2005 Dodge Caravan, it's olay, but does have a few minor electrical problems,so far just the usual maintenance things, with the exception of the front swaybar bushings. I have 55000 miles on it now.....Fred

[Don Jordan]

I have a Toyota Tacoma 4 wheel drive. U-Haul would not rent a tow dolly because they said the Plymouth was too heavy. I thought it was sort of ironic because her book didn't list 47 Plymouths so she didn't know how much it weighed. You can't argue with these people.