uHaul won't let me tow a MAZDA with a Dolly???

Your sig. Can't. Stop. Looking.

 

It's the eyes right?..................

 

dat lollipop

 

Honestly I think it has more to do with the dolly than anything.
The auto transporter trailer they rent says my ac sport will pull a mazda.
Same stopping weight, if not more.

 

I think that will be a problem regardless of whether UHaul "lets" you tow it or not. 2800 lb in my opinion is too much to tow without trailer brakes on the highway.

 

Recently rented the same dolly from u haul. Was towing a 99 camry with a 2011 dclb, no problem from u haul and no problem with the tow.

 

his truck is not wired for trailer brakes, by the factory, anyways.

 

I towed a 2002 Honda Civic back to Indiana from Rapid City SD. With my 2008 5 lug Access with the 2.7 I got 19 mpg and I hardly knew the thing was behind me. Pulled It with out a problem and Uhaul never guestioned it.

 

Well, that 67 Beetle could weigh more than the Mazda!

But regardless, if you say one thing, sign the contract, then do another and have an accident, you hold the liability. That's what you have to consider. Odds are you'd be fine, but if you don't have towing experience and you're suddenly off across the country, there's risk there. The longest I've towed was about 1000 miles, but that was pulling a car on a trailer with brakes with a bigger truck.

If they say no, ask for the numbers and do the math and see where the problem is. Maybe they're wrong and you can prove it. I'm sure they'd love to make a rental, but if it's outside their limits, they can't do it.

 

I see no issues. I've pulled numerOus loads that were in excess of a ton. Maybe closer to 2 with a trailer full of roofing supplies. And that was with my '08 2.7. Tell em it's a civic hatchback.

 

a 67 Beetle only weighs about 1900lbs!
The OP's truck is a '96 and is relatively light compared to the heavier 2nd-gens..like 3800lbs to 4100 or so-that could be a factor-ALSO they could be going by Toyota manufacturer conservative est. bone dry weights that put his truck at around 3480 lbs, which only gives him a paltry 1000 lbs counterweight to load. Just my conjecture on this

 

First of all thanks for all the input, this forum is huge. As of writing this, the poll I made says 22 ppl are OK with towing this vehicle and 2 are against.

Regarding Liability: This isn't my concern, I'm allright taking a financial risk. I'm only concerned with the safety of it.

Regarding Braking: This is my main concern. The dolly weighs 750lbs. The Mazda weighs around 2800 and my Truck weighs around 3800. The dolly doesn't have trailer brakes nor is my truck equipped for this. I AM installing Wheeler brake lines up front, new shoes in back and changing to DOT 4 or 5 fluid just because of deferred maintence for what its worth. I have relatively new pads and disks up front. If I go slow (55-65 on flat ground, slower in the hills) I might be ok. Again, no experience towing.

Other Details about my truck/load: I should also add that I will probably be loading my truck with another 300 lbs of stuff and the mazda with another 200 lbs. I've got a 3" lift all around, 33x12.5 Mud Terrains, a tool box with another probably 175lbs in it (jack, jack stands, tools, etc).

Regarding Why They Said No: I didn't ask. But I'm positive it has to do with the GVWR relationship between the two OR something to do with braking. THIS is a Link to the calculator that determines what I can tow. If you put in my vehicle (96 4x4 V6 Ext Cab Manual Class3 Hitch/Ball) and the 2001 Mazda 626, I get denied on the dolly. If I change my vehicle to an F350, its approved. If I change the towed vehicle to an old VW Bug, it gets approved. So the issue is not the Dolly itself as a couple have suggested.

Vehicles That Get Approved: This is what is going to tip the scales for me personally and I'm going to do it. They will approve a 2001 MR2, Celica, Echo and Corolla with my Truck. That tells me that the weight difference between these cars and the Mazda is probably pretty marginal. UHaul is undoubtedly conservative on towing because of liability concerns. I'm going to take the calculated risk and tow it.

My Route to Florida: Kinda a random question but as I said, Ill be going from San Diego to Tampa Bay. Im pretty familiar with the terrain from SD to Phoenix but know virtually nothing about it from Phoenix to Florida. I had a thought last night that I should take 15 north to the 10 east from San Diego to avoid the relatively "mountainous" terrain just east of San Diego on the 8. Any other easy Detours people know of to avoid hilly terrain between here and Florida? San Diego-->Phoenix-->El Paso-->Austin-->Beaumont-->New Orleans-->Tallahasse-->Tampa Bay is my itinerary.

 

well since I used to belt out over 100,000 miles a year I can give you some things to think about.

1. AVOID HOUSTON TEXAS AT ALL COST. not that I have anything against Houston, but the traffic is just god offal and thats on a good day. I know its the shortest way, but plan around Houston, do not try during rush hour. I took some trailers to corpus cristi once and it took from 11am to 830 to get all the way through Houston. now its summer and don't know if you understand the thunderstorms that can come up off the gulf of mexico, sometimes these storms can flood the highway before you blink, and everyone will hydro plan. since you dont have brakes, if it looks bad, just pull over. yes its going to be hot, make sure and I believe you will, that your truck is 100% serviced. good to new tires. and I would run synthetic oil and gear oil for extra protection. about new orleans, (lived there) now don't stay in the city, you have no real way to protect things and things can and will get gone. also keep some cleaner and towel handy in-case you run into "love bugs" in LA. they swarm at night. half way through texas you will lose hills and it will be flat all the way. when you are approaching Lake Charles LA. tune the radio and look for some good Cajun music. and make sure you have a good tire gauge and check your tires every day. and your oil and coolant, I always did this when i drove.

as far as towing. just take it easy. easy take-offs, let the truck build up speed, the harder and higher you rev her the more stress is applied. and since you dont have trailer brakes, (dont feel bad I towed a 20ton air to Niagara falls state park once no brakes) but keep yourself fresh, plan your stops, and be alert. bull over and take breaks, walk around and stretch.
and for the future, if you drive on highway 301 in Florida, DON'T SPEED!! LOTS OF SPEED TRAPS.
and stay away from LOT LIZARDS!

 

AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A GOOD SPOT ON YOUR TRUCK FOR THE SAFETY CHAINS, YOU DONT WANT IT TOO TIGHT OR SO LOOSE THAT THEY ARE DRAGGING.
I USED TO HOOK THE CHAINS UP, AND USE SOME CHEAP BUNGY CORDS TO KEEP THEM FROM DRAGGING.
AND PUT A LITTLE GREASE ON THE BALL IT WILL HELP IT WEAR BETTER.

 

Make sure the chains are crossed when you hook them to your truck. If the tongue would happen to come off te ball, it makes a cradle for the tongue to fall into and sit on

 

^^^^^
GOOD ONE, I forgot about that.

 

Total towed weight will be 3550 lb, while the truck weighs 3800? Handling will feel like tail wagging the dog, esp. without trailer brakes.

If you decide to go ahead with tow anyway, use engine braking extensively.

 

all very, very good points, man sometimes its slow coming back to me.. and that reminds me of one more thing.

one problem you will have is that going down steep hills, or long declines is without trailer brakes, and that heavy load, and your truck is going to have her ass down some, when you tap your brakes, you slow down the truck, but not the trailer that fast. when it has more forward push, it will just do that! and it could start to fish-tail, that is what is dangerous, if it ever starts to fish tail, the best way to regain control is to speed up alittle getting the truck more control of the load. that is why you need to watch your distance in front of you and always look out for a emergency escape route either to your left or right in case someone just stops right in front of you.
and to tell you how shitty people are and why we should just cut the hands and arms off of theives..
years ago I heard a story from Hudson Bros (they were about 3 hours from us) they had 2 large semi flatbeds for large loads of trailers and they had a new driver and he stopped somewhere in Conn. to sleep, (and he did not stay at the place they had suggested) and the next morning when he went out to the truck people had stolen ALL the chains, binders, and ratchets from the truck and load... it cost the hell out of him, but they did not fire him, but he was in one hell of a mess and had to go back and tie down the whole load by himself.

 

This is why I voted no on the poll. I had a co-worker being transferred across country some years back. He, his girlfriend and his dog all headed out with a U-haul trailer behind his Nissan PU. After getting tired, he switched with the GF and he went to sleep. Somewhere along the line, she started to lose it, then over-corrected sending the whole rig flying off into space. When a passerby noticed the dog raising hell on the side of the road (hours after the crash), they stopped to see what was up as nothing else was visible from the highway. Found the GF more or less okay still belted inside the truck. Found him tossed off into the weeds as the seatbelt was impeding his naptime. Now he drives a chair around the house due to his snapped spine.

Heavy load + long drive + weak experience = disaster in my book.

 

I saw a 2nd Gen access cab towing a mazda miata yesterday with a car dolly so you should be fine