Uhaul Experience?

[architect]

I figured it was worth a post...

Anyone have good / bad experience with Uhaul trailer + Fiat? A few car shows are popping up in Texas and I’m interested (never car towed before).

[howelljd]

I used a U-Haul car hauler to pick up a Spider body several years ago. Got the trailer near the seller and turned it in near my house. Very easy. No issues. Worked out great.

Cheers,
Jonathan

[architect]

I used a U-Haul car hauler to pick up a Spider body several years ago. Got the trailer near the seller and turned it in near my house. Very easy. No issues. Worked out great.

Cheers,
Jonathan

Good to know! I’m a little concerned with my stance. I lowered the car about 2-3 inches, have AR’s oil pan guard and lower valance...

I have seen videos of people making wood ramp “extensions” too.

I’m assuming you have to drive the car up the ramp and not pull with a cable / winch?

[geospider]

similar issue with a uhaul trailer.
when i picked up mine, the ramps were not long enough for clearance. we just raised the front of the trailer, tipping it, and drove it up. Of course we had a fork lift at our disposal.
something like that would work.

somehow as teenagers, we would figure out something not so safe; it would work; and we would not have thought anything was wrong.

Geo

[brian]

My wife and I used a U-Haul trailer to move our Spider just two weeks ago. We had a real hassle using this trailer. Since the Fiat was not running we had to position the trailer just right for me to use a come along to winch it up the ramps. We were in a position where we could not turn the Fiat around, so we had to winch it up backwards. This took a really long time because the U-Haul's ramps were so far apart that the Spider just barley fit. Any movement to the right or left while winching would threaten to drop the car. I had to make many corrections to the winch tension and tie ups to get the car up those ramps. After we got it on the trailer we had to worry if the trailer would "whip" while driving at speed since we had loaded the car backwards, but the Fiat was so light that the trailer did no sway or "whip" at all.

We finally got to where we were going and unloaded the car. This was a pain also because the car was not on the trailer in the exact center. As I pushed and my wife steered the Fiat moved very close to going off the ramps.

I was surprised that we had so many problems with the U-Haul, we have used them in the past at least three times with other cars with no problem. I think that the key was that the Fiat didn't run, so we couldn't drive it perfectly straight up the ramps. Also the trailer ramps are too wide for the Fiat in my opinion. If your car is lower than stock I would look for another solution, or try to increase the height of the ramps to keep the car from scraping bottom when it gets over the top of the ramps.

[tonym]

My FWD Honda Pilot wasn't tow rated for the Uhaul flatbed so I rented the two wheel dolly. Two people can easily push it up the ramps and into position. Only catch is you MUST disconnect/remove the drive shaft so your not spinning the transmission. It's a bit of a PITA to crawl under and unbolt from the diff and guibo but I got good at it and made several trips between Orlando and Tampa with no issues.

[SteinOnkel]

Uhaul sucks.

I have an E350 Super Duty w/ a 7.3 and Duallies. It will tow my house if I ask it to. Everytime I reserve a trailer to tow an 1800lbs car or whatever I get a call ten minutes later to confirm, because "Your vehicle is older than 15 years and towing places more stress on the drivetrain blablabla". **** you.

The trailer itself is also junk. The edges on the inside are WAY too high and will scratch any and all undercarriages.

[RRoller123]

I brought my Spider home from Western MA to Eastern MA about 8 years ago on a U-Haul trailer, no real problems, although it was running, so I was able to negotiate the width issues that others have mentioned. Tim and I brought his Spider from NJ to MA on one too, about 2 years ago, and other than being an idiot and going through Manhattan near rush hour (which is anytime) with it, it went well. His was also running, so no problem negotiating the trailer width issues. Silverado 2500 HD 6.0 Vortec, 4WD for both trips.

[TX82FIAT]

In 2011 I took the family with me to Fiat Freak out in Nashville. We all piled into the suburban in San Antonio, watched movies in the AC and towed the Fiat behind us. The trailer was form U Haul. The one we rented had very long ramps and you could put the platform on a slight angle to reduce any real incline. Had no issues at all. Only draw back was you had to think and remember not to open the door to get in or out as the rails were right there. I had to use some tie down straps (bring your own) and you will need your own electrical plug for the trailer. Buy it at Walmart before you go to Uhaul as they charge for the convenience of those who forgot. The first trailers they gave me was old with bald tires, lights that were not functioning. After some discussion, they gave me a newer trailer with better braking. Get a trailer that has lights and good braking.

My car is not a trailer queen as I drive her often and hard. However, on this trip it was hot. I watched as many fiat friends endured the heat over a two day drive. In hindsight, miraculous that no car or person overheated. On the way back one of the cars had a fuel or bearing issue (I cant remember) issue about 10 hours from home. We swapped out vehicles on the trailer. It's not if you can make it work for the move..... It is how are you going to make this work for the move. The cost for the Uhaul was very inexpensive and I saved a few thousand miles going on the Spider.

[rridge]

An easier and cheaper way to haul a Spider is a tow dolly. With a rear wheel drive and manual transmission you can leave the car in neutral. The differential and driveshaft just free wheel. The rear wheels stay on the ground. The weight distribution and tongue weight are not issues. It's a very stable tow that minimizes stress on the tow vehicle. And did I mention it's cheaper.

[Jon124]

With a rear wheel drive and manual transmission you can leave the car in neutral.

Do not do this! Manual transmissions are lubricated via splash oil from the rotating countershaft. The countershaft is driven by the input shaft only. Towing in neutral will spin the output shaft with no lubrication supplied to the bearing surfaces between the shaft and the gears which will be stationary.