Anything that prevents you from driving the Cr-V to Seattle and flying back? guessing the all in might be cheaper and more relaxing. I drove my daughters CR-V to SLC
Anyone used their LC to tow a vehicle with a U Haul trailer?
- Thread starter Dan Higgins
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I would be cautious about my speed. Speed generates heat and hear is the enemy of tires. Add to it tires which are probably old (in my experience Uhaul equipment isn't very well maintained - or is but is just thoroughly abused) and a bunch of weight and you're asking for a tire to devulcanize on you.
Excuse to visit the PNW aside, put a request up on uship.com and see what comes back. I found haulers willing to do it for under $1/mile if you're a bit flexible on the pickup and delivery date, since they were otherwise coming back empty
Excuse to visit the PNW aside, put a request up on uship.com and see what comes back. I found haulers willing to do it for under $1/mile if you're a bit flexible on the pickup and delivery date, since they were otherwise coming back empty
- Thread starter
- #23
Thanks for the heads up. I’ll be careful. I’ll also check tire pressure. Probably won’t go over 65 at all.
As for uship.com, it is over 1300 miles to Seattle so over $1300. We’re only going to pay ~$420. Partly because we’re going to drop the trailer in Boise then drive the rest of the way.
I haven’t towed one behind my 200, but I did haul a 3300 lb Audi behind my Ram one time. My partcular unit was br@nd spanking new with new tires. It had no issues at all. I was really impressed with the desgn, tho the hinged left fender seemed odd but functional. Maybe they all do that?
OTH I rented a 5x12 Uhaul box trailer for a very short move, and beause it was local I did not bother inspecting it closely. One tire went flat a few miles from the dealer, and when i finally got their roadside assistance there to change it, the guy looked discusted and swapped out two more. I have also had a trailer with worn bearings that ran hot on the highway.
Always, ALWAYS look it over well before signing. If the tread/ sidewall is dry rotted, cracked, or bald (much more common on tandems), ask for another trailer or insist on new tires before departure from the lot. You can’t really check the bearings, but you can violently push the top of each tire sideways with your foot. Look and listen for play. If there are any loud clunks, again, refuse it or insist on a full bearing service before leaving.
This situation is VERY common, most shops don’t inspect them, especially the little gas stations ones. Some of the larger moving centers are more consciensious, but you can’t count on it.
Always check and adjust tire pressure yourself, they will never be right. If one is way lower than the others it has leak. Insist on TWO new ones on that side, since the other one has probably been run while overloaded.
If new and serviced, they are great. If old and abused, watch out and alwas feel the bearings for heat and play at each stop, or every 30 minutes at the start of the trip.
Finally, try not to travel on a Sunday since if you get a tire or bearing failure, all the shops will be closed. BTW it would be much easier to swap trailers with a car hauler than with a bg box trailer stuffed with your furniture.... just saying!
Cross your fingers and enjoy the trip. If you have time, go north from Boise on US95 toward Coeur d’Alene and you will have a much more pleasnt trip, tho it is way slower than the Interstate through Oregone. Stop at the Post Falls Cabelas for a break if you are into shooting. If you do come through the ID Panhandle let me know, and I can offer route advice to the Wet Side of WA that avoids the heavy truck traffic on the busy and boooring freeway.
John Davies
Spokane WA
OTH I rented a 5x12 Uhaul box trailer for a very short move, and beause it was local I did not bother inspecting it closely. One tire went flat a few miles from the dealer, and when i finally got their roadside assistance there to change it, the guy looked discusted and swapped out two more. I have also had a trailer with worn bearings that ran hot on the highway.
Always, ALWAYS look it over well before signing. If the tread/ sidewall is dry rotted, cracked, or bald (much more common on tandems), ask for another trailer or insist on new tires before departure from the lot. You can’t really check the bearings, but you can violently push the top of each tire sideways with your foot. Look and listen for play. If there are any loud clunks, again, refuse it or insist on a full bearing service before leaving.
This situation is VERY common, most shops don’t inspect them, especially the little gas stations ones. Some of the larger moving centers are more consciensious, but you can’t count on it.
Always check and adjust tire pressure yourself, they will never be right. If one is way lower than the others it has leak. Insist on TWO new ones on that side, since the other one has probably been run while overloaded.
If new and serviced, they are great. If old and abused, watch out and alwas feel the bearings for heat and play at each stop, or every 30 minutes at the start of the trip.
Finally, try not to travel on a Sunday since if you get a tire or bearing failure, all the shops will be closed. BTW it would be much easier to swap trailers with a car hauler than with a bg box trailer stuffed with your furniture.... just saying!
Cross your fingers and enjoy the trip. If you have time, go north from Boise on US95 toward Coeur d’Alene and you will have a much more pleasnt trip, tho it is way slower than the Interstate through Oregone. Stop at the Post Falls Cabelas for a break if you are into shooting. If you do come through the ID Panhandle let me know, and I can offer route advice to the Wet Side of WA that avoids the heavy truck traffic on the busy and boooring freeway.
John Davies
Spokane WA
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Yup, they all have folding driver side fenders. For the lowered or slammed sports cars to clear the car door. Doesn't help when I have to park backwards!! Then it's crawl over to passenger side so I can get out that door.
I towed my 40 home from Yuma, AZ ~2700 miles .. no issues other than shiiity gas mileage
- Thread starter
- #27
Hey, John, thanks for this great advice! As things turned out, our kids and my wife talked me in to letting the kids have it shipped. We are, after all, giving them a car worth $12K for free. Also, as we kept watching prices the difference got lower and lower - to about $500. So the hassle of towing became less worth it.
We’re still planning to head out to the PNW but may do it a week later or so and will likely use a southerly route so we can camp along the way and maybe just stay in Oregon with my dad. Our son in Seattle is doing a PICU rotation at Seattle Childrens in April (he’s doing a fellowship in Pediatric Emergency Room stuff) so he really doesn’t have time for a visit. But in August/September we plan to be back out and will very likely be looking at northerly routes. We were in Coeur d’Alene years ago for our 25th wedding anniversary. Lovely area. Played golf on the course there. Then went up to Banff for a few days. Looking forward to getting back up that way.
I just towed my wife's 100 series from Anchorage, AK to Blairsville, GA - 4200 miles. I didn't use a U-Haul, just bought a cheap car hauler for 3k instead of paying 1500 to rent a U-Haul. Now I have a car hauler I can use whenever I want which is really handy since I don't own a pickup. 200 towed great, I was able to do 75 on the interstate most of the time, slower up hills and in the mountains. I averaged 8mpg most of the trip, got up to 10mpg at one point with a tail wind.
I had one blowout in Atlanta less than 100 miles from my destination. I used a set of these to monitor the trailer tire pressure, they work great https://www.amazon.com/TireMinder-T...F8&qid=1522288664&sr=8-9&keywords=tire+minder. I also added a brake controller and used a 5" drop hitch (need a 6" but couldn't find one before I left). I towed through some gnarley mountains on the snow in Canada and a bit of everything else. Even with my lift and ARB 2724 (Constant 880lb load) the rear of the cruiser was squatted about 2" below the front. It was a fun trip and now I'm back home in GA.
Hope this helps someone else planning to tow something.
Pictures: 200 tow
I had one blowout in Atlanta less than 100 miles from my destination. I used a set of these to monitor the trailer tire pressure, they work great https://www.amazon.com/TireMinder-T...F8&qid=1522288664&sr=8-9&keywords=tire+minder. I also added a brake controller and used a 5" drop hitch (need a 6" but couldn't find one before I left). I towed through some gnarley mountains on the snow in Canada and a bit of everything else. Even with my lift and ARB 2724 (Constant 880lb load) the rear of the cruiser was squatted about 2" below the front. It was a fun trip and now I'm back home in GA.
Hope this helps someone else planning to tow something.
Pictures: 200 tow
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Wow, that is a long drive in the winter down the ALCAN. How much extra fuel did you carry with you through Canada? A lot of places are closed in the winter vs in the summer.
I carried 20 gallons extra. Only had to use 10, once in Canada and once in Oregon/Idaho. When I moved up I also carried 20 gallons and did it in November, I used 10 gallons that time too.
I have done the drive in the summer, but never in the winter. I remember doing that trip as a kid in the mid 80's with my grandma, mom and brothers and sisters in a chevy conversion van! The road is way nicer today then it was in the 80's.
I have used uhaul to tow a 64 Nova 500 miles using a Tacoma, and used my 200 to tow my FJ40 from Seattle to Spokane. As John said, inspect the trailer well. I have refused trailers and driven to different locations to get an acceptable trailer. Set your mirrors and drive slow.
