anyone pull a car on a uhaul auto transport?

I have a tendency to overthink things.

I've spent hours reading the towing bible post and all about everyone pulling travel trailers but my situation is just a little different.

I have a stock 2020 OR AC and I'm pulling a 2015 mini cooper on a uhaul auto transport because I prefer all 4 wheels off the ground. We're going from Phx to Sea for work and this is the first time so I'm not adding leaf springs or air bags to the truck although I realize that if this becomes a regular thing, those modifications will help. Right now I need to order my trailer hitch ball mount and have read all about the calculations for drop but I haven't seen anything that addresses suspension compression in keeping the trailer level and this is where i'm stuck.

My receiver is at 18.5" and uhaul says their trailers are at 18" (and change) so I need no rise or drop, but: as soon as I put a trailer on the hitch, its going to compress the suspension and I'm out of level. In a perfect world, I would be able to distribute load around a trailer to make it balanced but in this specific instance, the car is supposed to be as far forward on the trailer as possible, putting most of the weight in front of the trailer axles and towards the truck. The uhaul website even states that you know you've loaded a trailer pretty well if the suspension on your tow vehicle compresses about an inch so does that mean I should get a hitch with a 1 inch rise so the weight of the trailer makes it level for the tow? does it really matter all that much? I haven't even factored in the compression of the cargo that I'll have in the bed because there will be some. We are going to live there for 13 weeks so we'll need some things. Anyone with any experience with pulling a car on a uhaul auto transport?

 

I bought the cheap $80 maxxhaul adjustable tow hitch off Amazon and for $80 is pretty damn good. I towed that same I haul trailer with a heavier car than a mini. (I towed it with a different vehicle since my truck was tied up elsewhere)


Edit: typically for towing you want the trailer to be level or close to it without having the weight of the trailer push the rear down too much

 

Typically you can flip the ball to the other side...
That is end up with a 2 inch drop or a 1 inch rise.

We had to flip it for the Subaru because when we hooked up the little camper it set too low.
By flipping it up it was a perfect even fit.

ie:





Now... beware... if the item you are towing has a crank on it... ( not the scientific term lol )...
You need to be sure that you can open the tailgate and not crash into it.

The

$32 Curt 45260 Class 3 Trailer Hitch Ball Mount, Fits 2" Receiver, 7500 lbs, 1" Hole, 2-In Drop, 3/4" Rise

Curt 45260 has a 11 1/8" space between the pin-hole and the ball, and should give ample room
to drop the tailgate if needed. Standard sizes are 8.5 inches and will NOT provide enough space to open
the tailgate... keep that in mind.

 

Also - the Uhaul dudes are pretty into their thing, and can advise and fit you out for the trip.

Heck I had a Uhaul dude find and fix a brake-light issue on my tear-drop and wouldn't take
a penny for his trouble - I had to literally shove $ into his shirt pocket. We were on our maiden
voyage with the tear-drop and noticed the damn lights didn't work.... dude saved my marriage.

 

Another vote for getting a longer ball-mount is it will make the trailer (marginally) easier to maneuver into tight spaces. At my house I have to maneuver both of my trailers into a very tight spot next to my house and find that I have an easier time doing it with the longer of my two ball mount's. That may be an issue for the OP if he has to get in or out of a tight gas station or Hotel parking lot during his move.

On a side-note I used to own a car trailer with a long tongue which actually allowed the trailer to jack-knife and pass under the rear bumper of my Silverado. It was a neat party trick which got me out of more than one tight spot with that truck and trailer. The first time I tried the same thing with my Taco, I tweaked the exhaust pipe LOL!

Good luck with your move!

 

Is this Phoenix,AZ to Seattle,WA? If so I feel bad for your taco. That’s the wrong truck for that type of towing.

 

If you read the towing bible I assume you calculated your total weights car/trailer/payload(in the truck with #people, stuff inside and in the bed) and it does not exceed the total (like 6500) if its rated as such with the towing package. Trailer is 2210 and car 2800 range so at 5000 minimum back there. Make sure the hitch and 2" ball are rated for the weight as balls run 3500/5000/6000/7500 (class IV) /and 10000 lbs. Mileage will drop to 8-12 range towing. That setup will wag around in wind or semis passing and watch your stopping distance as greatly increased. Take it easy and enjoy.

 

Towed a Mini from FL to VA no issues with a tow dolly.

 

I’ve pulled a Miata on one of those U-Haul ramp-style car trailers. Pulled fine, hardly noticed it. I now use a double axle flat trailer to haul my cars, still no problems. My trips are usually around 300 miles, so not too far.

Trailer + Miata was around 4,600lbs (trailer weighed more). Never bothered to measure anything else at that weight.

You will absolutely need a trailer brake controller.

 

Unless Uhaul has changed the weight limits no way will the allow a Tacoma to pull a Car Trailer .

double check they will rent you the trailer before going Gung ho making plans.

 

UHaul has an index of the vehicle weights and capabilities and the Tacoma is capable. This post is simply wrong.

OP has the V6 with the higher tow rating. I believe the 4 cylinder it rated at 3500 lbs.

 

I'm pretty sure the U Haul has surge brakes not electric.

 

Things do change seems a third gen is heavy enough to make the grade.

I would rather be safe then sorry Then would not let me pull a car trailer with a Celica with a 2005 F150 this might have been 12 years ago.

 

My bad, you are correct. I have my own trailer now, so it's been a while. This is what I used:


Per U-Haul's Website:
Towing Vehicle Requirements:
1. Must have wiring harness for lights.
2. Must weigh at least 3,500lbs (curb weight).
3. Must equal or exceed 80% of the combined weight of the trailer and vehicle being towed.
4. Must be rated for 5,000lbs tow capacity.

OP's Tow Vehicle/Trailer:
- Tacoma: 4,200lbs?
- 80% of Trailer + Mini Cooper = 4,168lbs
(Mini Cooper: 3,000lbs + Trailer: 2,210lbs) * 80%

Should be good to go.

 

I pulled my car on a uhaul car hauler. The kind that attaches to the front wheels - from Fort Lauderdale to Houston. It $$-destroyed-$$ the front springs on my car. I will never again use one. Just use a flat trailer, or have someone drive the thing, and use a proper rig if towing. It's not worth the aggravation.

 

Not to mention the damage/wear that occurs in cars that are improperly hooked up. It's always better to have all of the tires lifted. I make the trip from Houston to Fort Myers often; I bet your springs went somewhere in Louisiana

 

My Tacoma pulled a large uhaul trailer with 4 seat Polaris Razr recently very easily. No issues. I pulled my 1970 Ford Mach 1 on a Big Tex car trailer many times when I had a 2003 Ford Ranger 3.0L V-6. I drove paying attention to my rpm range. I did brake early for safety. As far as tongue weight, when you load the car watch the rear of the truck. You can move the car forward/backward to gain proper tongue weight. To far back and the front of the Truck will be more squirrely, to far forward and the trailer will move around more. Bottom line for me ( for once in a great while tows) is drive slower, work the gears, and brake early.

 

Isn't that backwards.

Too far forward will lighten the front of the truck making for squirrely steering.
Too far back will lighten the tongue weight making for trailer sway.

 

Those uhaul trailers are pretty heavy. Used one to pull a small Acura from OH to FL, but with a uhaul truck pulling it. I would not use my taco to do that unless the combined weight of the trailer and mini was < 4,000 lbs total.

 

I bought this truck to pull this car around the country as we travel for work. The reason a didn’t get a bigger truck was because I have to use it once we get to where we’re going and where we’re going will be mostly dense urban areas with little space for parking. The taco barely fits in my double garage so it feels ridiculous to call it a small truck, but when I park it next to an f150 or a silverado or ram, it’s small... for a truck. I know the whole setup is at the limits but it’s all by design. The first time I ever moved cross-country I had a uhaul truck with my bitchin ‘88 camaro (yeah, of course it was red ) on an auto transport trailer and on the way I passed 3 other uhaul trucks that were stopped on the side of the road, all pulling cars on car dollys and all changing tires on the car being towed. It was then that I decided that when I tow a car, it’ll be up off the ground.