| Author |
Message |
Andy Wright (Wrightwy)
Registered Member
Username: Wrightwy
Post Number: 11
Registered: 6-2007
Posted From: 70.212.143.207
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 06, 2007 - 2:33 pm: | |
Hey guys Going to be useing a car dolly from U Haul when we head to Montana in a couple weeks . I have towed my truck 4 down but never a dolly . Any words of wisdom from you old salts lol Thanks Andy |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Registered Member
Username: Drivingmisslazy
Post Number: 1959
Registered: 1-2001
Posted From: 75.108.78.233
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 06, 2007 - 4:53 pm: | |
Be sure to check with U-haul early on. Not all pickups can be towed on their equipment. Especially full size trucks.
Richard
Revision: They have Tow Dollies that the front wheels only go on, and auto transports (two axle) that the whole vehicle goes on. Even the auto transport will not handle a full size pickup.
(Message edited by DrivingMissLazy on August 06, 2007) |
Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member
Username: Gusc
Post Number: 421
Registered: 11-2005
Posted From: 63.97.117.16
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 06, 2007 - 5:43 pm: | |
If it is a two-wheel dolly always remember that you cannot back up and that it is always out of sight except on curves.
A look at the front wheel mounting plates will show you why.
I towed a very small car on one with my 4104 and had to constantly remind myself not to get boxed in. I couldn't tell it was back there as far as bus power was concerned. |
James Stacy (Jimstacy)
Registered Member
Username: Jimstacy
Post Number: 87
Registered: 1-2001
Posted From: 75.41.0.216
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 06, 2007 - 10:01 pm: | |
Neither U-Haul nor any dolly mfg will allow backing a car on the dolly. They are all very clear that the vehicle shall face forward and travel in the direction the mfg intended.
I am not saying that many people (including me) have not done this without any apparent problem. I am saying that no U-Haul employee should allow a vehicle loaded facing the rear per company policy.
BTW some vehicles can be towed 4 down but not rear wheels only down, per mfg. Doesn't make a lot of sense to me either, but I personally read it in the owners manual.
If you really want to know about a particular vehicle's towability you must contact the mfg, not the personnel at the dealership. It's rare to find a salesperson (or mechanic, for that matter) who really knows the facts. See it in writing, do not accept hearsay. BTDT. HTH.
Jim Stacy |
John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member
Username: John_mc9
Post Number: 469
Registered: 7-2006
Posted From: 66.217.103.119
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 07, 2007 - 12:00 am: | |
You didn't say what you were going to put on that dolly,
but you're probably gonna' wish you used a tow bar.
My old pal (gone now), told me when I bought my first RV:
"Never use a dolly if you can tow 4 down".
He hated his dolly, and his was a deluxe model. The first time
I mistakenly pulled into a dead-end street, in the rain.... at night...
I understood the benefits of not having to unfasten/unload the
car, unhook the dolly and push it aside, and maneuver it all...
and have to hook it all up again.
If you can tow 4 down, do it. If not... and a dolly is your only
option, bring lotsa' booze. |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Registered Member
Username: Drivingmisslazy
Post Number: 1960
Registered: 1-2001
Posted From: 75.108.78.233
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 07, 2007 - 9:31 am: | |
The current U-Haul software will not permit you to even rent either a tow dolly or an auto transport if the manufacturer does not permit towing it on a tow dolly or if it is too heavy or too long or too large, per manufacturers specifications. As a former U-Haul rental agency I had to turn several people away.
However, this did not stop some people from coming back and providing information on a smaller vehicle and then taking the rental unit home and using it for the larger vehicle. If there had been an accident, they would have been totally responsible.
Richard |
Andy Wright (Wrightwy)
Registered Member
Username: Wrightwy
Post Number: 12
Registered: 6-2007
Posted From: 75.210.182.119
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 09, 2007 - 12:19 pm: | |
Hey thanks . Iam pulling my wifes niesen maxama Front wheel drive . And I have already talk to the Uhaul dealer. Was just wondering if they handle any different. |
Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member
Username: Gusc
Post Number: 429
Registered: 11-2005
Posted From: 63.97.117.48
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 09, 2007 - 10:31 pm: | |
Front wheel drive makes things easy. Just remember not to leave the Maxima parking brake on!! |
Jim Wilke (Pd41044039)
Registered Member
Username: Pd41044039
Post Number: 165
Registered: 2-2001
Posted From: 68.187.183.190
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 10:08 pm: | |
I can second Gus's remark to be sure the brake is OFF on the towed vehicle once it is on the dolly. We chased an RV for about 2 miles once trying to tell him that the back "toad" wheels were not turning. He wouldn't stop maybe thinking we wanted to mug him. AND we dragged our Jetta once about 20 feet towing 4 down 'cause the parking brake was on after connecting the hitch. It's very easy to do things like this if you are stressed, running late, unfamiliar with the rig or someone interrupts you while you are hooking up. After you run with a rig for a while, you get a kind of mental checklist. |