| Author |
Message |
Adam Socks
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 29, 2005 - 10:04 pm: | |
Can anyone tell me what kind of tow dolley I have. It is dark blue and gray.
The tail lights are in the fender.
Thanks for your help. |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 29, 2005 - 10:22 pm: | |
Wazzis, spam? Anxiety attack?
"What kinda' bus do I have? It's got 8 wheels and seats?" |
James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 30, 2005 - 12:52 am: | |
Maybe a former U-haul, never returned and painted to cammo it. |
Doug R
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 30, 2005 - 8:18 am: | |
If it is a former U-Haul, it will have a narrow, less than 72 inch wide tilting and turning platform that locks downward toward the front on the "tongue". It will have a plate in the middle that says "Not property of U-haul" welded onto it plus some numeric confirmation numbers that U-Haul can enter into its system to verify the sale.
The other type U-Haul used to employ but still does on occasion, does not use a turn-tablestyle platform. This is a much older, abit conventional design that used chains to hold the tires in place. It can be modified to use ratchet straps, but the method escapes me at the moment.
Most specific parts are no longer produced for either tow-dolly. In other words: Fenders, platforms, and frames are no longer available. A fender can be "molded" from the existing one using sheetmetal with the wheel cut-out on the appropriate side. Fenders are attached via brakets on either end, and lights can be attached via bracketing as well. I would simply rewire using trailer specific lighting systems with included brackets. Yes, U-Haul does sell such an item, but then again, so do most automobile-electric supliers (not necessarily auto-parts stores). Just make sure the tires cannot rub against the inside of the finder to prevent wear or possible blow-out.
Hope this helped.
Doug |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 31, 2005 - 7:48 pm: | |
It is my understanding that U-Haul never sells any trailers. Only trucks. You should take it to the nearest U-Haul dealer so they can determine if it is an actual U-Haul unit and if it is stolen property or not.
I know that U-Haul has no limits on the time they look for stolen property and that it they pick someone up with a stolen unit they prosecute to the full extent of the law. They also offer a requrd for anyone turning in a unit or providing the location of a potential stolen unit.
I recommend you do not take any chances as they are very unforgiving.
Richard
U-Haul Dealer 01341
P.S. There are still some of the old type with chain binders in the fleet. I currently have one on my lot. |
niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 31, 2005 - 11:36 pm: | |
Richard is correct - although U-Haul (Americo) did sell them many many years ago - they now destroy them all - I have some personaly experienced this (bought from a Police Officer/ family friend) - they also take whatever is on/in it - its amazing how long they keep records - Niles |
Doug R
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 01, 2005 - 12:08 pm: | |
Niles and Richard;
U-Haul did sell off all the older style narrow tow dollys that I described above. The new standard is 72 inches, which they were not. You are correct that we do not sell trailers, which are considered different than tow dollies. We generally dissasemble trailers and rebuild them with new welds, bearings, brakes, etc when they come in for repair. It's a lot easier, faster, and economical than buying new materials and building from scratch, even on an assembly line. A good tech can complete repairs/overhauls on 2-3 trailers a day; at least from from what I've seen at two of our major repair facilities.
I expect that the remaining tilting platform dollys will be sold next, but there are no plans for that at the moment. I beleive it is because they seem to work as well as the ramp style. The tilting may cause interference/clearance issues toward the middle of the vehicle vs the front when using ramp style. Both have their plusses and minuses. My Acura actually fits better on the tilt style than ramp style. Overall though, I'd take a trailer style (all four wheels off the ground) over a tow-dolly on any day.
Now if anyone is interested in a truck...thats a different story. Suffice to say, many of them are for sale to make room for the latest model GMCs coming off the line at a very rapid pace.
Doug Roote
Management and Fleet Sales
U-Haul International of Northern VA
Center/Operations #s 795000/795039 |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 01, 2005 - 12:46 pm: | |
Doug, thanks for the information. It is certainly good to get information directly from the horses mouth.
The current trailer I have in inventory is 3999TD74XX. It this one of the old type that were sold? The numbering system is completely different than the current units.
Also, the new GMC's are really sweet vehicles. The JH's will easily maintain 70-75 mph here in the hills of WV. I am surprised that U-Haul does not have some type of electronic governor on them. LOL
Richard |
DougR
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 01, 2005 - 11:07 pm: | |
Richard,
I called Pheonix about the tilting platform type, and the response was that after a certain numeric number, they were built to the standard 72 inch width and are not to be sold. We have many of the all metal non-swiviling type dollies our there for local use only. Probably because they are bullet proof. But then again, I could be wrong, it's just a logical guess. I only use them out of necessity to transfer equipment using my own car as a "bus".
An incidental sidenote about the JH's (26/27 foot trucks, 35 foot total length to the fellow nuts out there.)Yes, they are wonderful to drive, especially if you like sailing on 95 unloaded in a sidewind. (I brought one fresh from the assembly plant in PA several weeks ago). Same engine and tranny quarks with new equipment; IE same break in period where they may burn a little oil and tranny fluid till things get settled, usually no more than 5000 miles. Other than that, looks like a good model to consider for our friends who are toying with truck conversion ideas. They are VERY professionally laid out and comfortable in addition to powerful for an automatic. ME??.. Nahh. I love busses.
Doug |
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