Anybody have experience with uhaul?

[elite0259]

Hey guys, since college semesters are coming to an end I've been volentold (volunteered/told) I get to go to PA to pick up my stepsister... The trip is about 250 MI one way, and I'm not sure I trust anybody out there to know if I'll need a trailer or not. The trailer costs $15 for the day to take it from here to there and back, but $60 to pick it up there and drop it off here.

Has anybody towed one of these things with no weight in it for that long? I used to be a tow truck driver, and I've towed 30' boats so I'm not new to the towing game. I have also towed plenty of Uhaul trailers to Maine but they were loaded both ways... Are these trailers easy to keep under control when they're empty in a cross breeze?

[galliher_nc]

I towed a tandem axle U-Haul box trailer unloaded for about 60 miles with my old '09 5.3. I had no problems keeping the truck and trailer under control doing about 60-65 on the highway.

[MikeNH]

Not 250 miles but at least on mine (driven loaded for 900 miles) the surge brakes were well calibrated and when picking up and dropping off the trailer seemed well behaved.

[elite0259]

Thanks for the input. I'm just concerned about extra sway because it'll be so light.

[SouthernSilveradoGuy85]

I towed a tandem axle Uhaul trailer for maybe 25 or so miles empty in the country with plenty of curves with my old 98 Silverado and had no problem. Most of that was at 60 mph.

[MikeNH]

Thanks for the input. I'm just concerned about extra sway because it'll be so light.

UHaul trailers seem heavy for their sized honestly so that helps. And I forgot to mention that while it was loaded I did pull it through some major winds (the kind that later that night made the hotel sound haunted ) with zero issue beyond me being paranoid about it.

[Shutter]

I hauled a single axle with a ram 1/2 ton 500 kms empty, then 500 kms loaded with no issues what so ever

[00Silverado4x4]

Depending on the size of the trailer, the bigger ones haul very nicely empty, however the shorter one don't really sway but they do tend to be a bit bouncy on the tongue. What I've done when I've hauled empty trailers is take my spare tire or something similar and lay it in the front of the trailer. It give just enough weight on the tongue to keep it from being bouncy on the drive.

[elite0259]

Okay cool thanks for the posts. My truck is my baby and I'd rather be told that people have done it and be paranoid then agree to do something that nobody does because it's a horrible plan all over $40... It sounds like it should be okay though so I won't worry as much so long as I attach everything correctly.

[Shutter]

I agree on the bouncy part when unloaded

[SouthernSilveradoGuy85]

As for the bouncy part while unloaded, That's really a characteristic of just about any trailer big or small because the suspension (if any) is designed for weight. An unloaded trailer will also seem to move around some, not as bad as swaying in high wind really, but it will just be more sensitive. It's nothing that's so bad that it can't be controlled. The only situation that can be hard to control is if the towing vehicle isn't really made for towing the weight you're pulling or to have the trailer overloaded heavier than it's designed for. I cringe anytime I see a car towing something that should need a truck.

[Brandons72vette]

I have hauled all of their trailers. Honestly, if you get their tandem axle boxed trailer, (their biggest one) it isn't that bad. IMO, the only trailer of theirs to be concerned about is their car dolly. That little thing bounces around like popcorn in the microwave when empty.

 

The full car trailer is a lot better to deal with.

 

I know these are not of the boxed trailer, but thought they were fitting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes the '72 Corvette was wrecked, but it is fixed now.

[Zebrafive]

I can only add; reserve the trailer you want in advance. We decided to rent a truck to move my daughter and all the small ones were taken. I had to get one two sizes bigger than planned, but that was still cheaper both time and fuel wise verses going the 40 miles to the next U-haul dealer that had a smaller truck.

[elite0259]

I can only add; reserve the trailer you want in advance. We decided to rent a truck to move my daughter and all the small ones were taken. I had to get one two sizes bigger than planned, but that was still cheaper both time and fuel wise verses going the 40 miles to the next U-haul dealer that had a smaller truck.

 

Turns out we didn't try to reserve it early enough... they won't do one way rentals from her school and my parents don't think it's worth it to get one up here and drag it there... so I guess whatever fits under the cover comes home, whatever doesn't stays in storage lol