'71 too light to rent car dolly=frustrated!!

[Scott Webster]

I've only used a dolly once and didn't like it. Every other time we've used a trailer and it wasn't much more. Never had any problems renting either kind, always towing with a half ton.

[LOW DOUGH]

I forgot..... I GOT PICS. WOO WOO

This is my 69.









Yeah, I know it is loaded wrong. It took us 4 tries to push the truck onto the trailer. You can see I forgot to pull the straps that go over the front wheels out and parked right on them. I wasn't going to push it back off to try 4 more times. We had some of our own straps. Worked fine (kinda). I know I should have pushed it back off. I will do that next time I forget. Cause the front strap came OFF. We noticed it when we stopped for a bight to eat. VERY DANGEROUS.. Strap it up right.

[texanidiot25]

Good to see it got home!

UHaul said my truck can't tow a 4 door Accord... Heh, right. I pulled a suburban out of flooded roads last night with no effort, an Accord has nothing on me.

[lyrikz]

HAHAH, this is funny... We were giving Uhaul a hard time about not renting out trailers because of specifications and you go and do EXACTLY what they didnt want you to do... Not only did you not have the correct vehicle but it wasnt even strapped down correctly.

Glad you made it home safe.. Good lookin truck too.. Plans on the truck?? Build thread link please.

[LOW DOUGH]

Well, That is the parts truck... .I know, It looks to good to be. After I tore it apart I found a very bad cab. So, lets see. Build thread... There isn't much to it but here you go. It is the link in my sig that say LOW DOUGH Progress thread. LOW DOUGH is the name for it cause of the low cash flow. So it is very slow build.

[chadio72]

funny, uhaul in merced has NEVER given me any problems. i've shown upo there with a 65 1/2 ton for a hauler, toyota celica for utility, 97 hyundai accent (lol!) for utility, got sum strange looks, but they rented all to me as long as the vevicle is set up- lights,correct ball,etc.

[69GMCLonghorn]

A few years ago, I rented a car hauler from them with a '95 Chevy 1/2 ton V-6. I towed a '73 Rivvie that weighed over 5K lbs! The trailer weighed 2K. That little V-6 pulled it pretty dang well. The trailer was maxed out, width and length-wise. When we rolled the car up on the trailer, it pulled my rear wheels off the ground momentarily, causing the truck to start CRUISIN' down the hill until the weight transferred back on to the tongue. MR. TOAD'S WILD RIDE, let me tell you!!!

[LOW DOUGH]

just my opinion....

when loading a car the puller should have the E-brake on so the truck is not being forceed on the parking gear... So, the truck dosn't move back and forth... Do I even make sense..... Just my $.02

[vintagesteel]

Originally Posted by lyrikz

HAHAH, this is funny... We were giving Uhaul a hard time about not renting out trailers because of specifications and you go and do EXACTLY what they didnt want you to do... Not only did you not have the correct vehicle but it wasnt even strapped down correctly.

I agree.

Originally Posted by 69GMCLonghorn

A few years ago, I rented a car hauler from them with a '95 Chevy 1/2 ton V-6. I towed a '73 Rivvie that weighed over 5K lbs! The trailer weighed 2K. That little V-6 pulled it pretty dang well. The trailer was maxed out, width and length-wise. When we rolled the car up on the trailer, it pulled my rear wheels off the ground momentarily, causing the truck to start CRUISIN' down the hill until the weight transferred back on to the tongue. MR. TOAD'S WILD RIDE, let me tell you!!!

Pulling usually isn't the problem. It's STOPPING. Thats where people get killed. You had 7000lbs PUSHING you. If someone would have pulled out in front of you, that would have been the end.

[LOW DOUGH]

Originally Posted by vintagesteel

Pulling usually isn't the problem. It's STOPPING. Thats where people get killed. You had 7000lbs PUSHING you. If someone would have pulled out in front of you, that would have been the end.

YEP....

be cautious.. drive slow

[69GMCLonghorn]

Yeah, I hear ya. It actually stopped pretty well. The trailer had surge brakes, and as you said, I drove slow and kept more than safe following distances. It all worked out well.

[LOW DOUGH]

right.. who cares how long it takes to get there... just get there in one peice.

[Wasted Income]

In the past I've been in the same position many times...trying to beg, borrow, or steal a trailer to avoid dealing with Uhaul at all costs.

Sure is nice having the right tools for the job nowadays
...

Originally Posted by vintagesteel

Pulling usually isn't the problem. It's STOPPING. Thats where people get killed. You had 7000lbs PUSHING you. If someone would have pulled out in front of you, that would have been the end.

I agree 100%. I hope you people that are lying to Uhaul have paid up your insurance premiums, and have sufficient coverage...

[LOW DOUGH]

^^^Looks good. I'd love to get a trailer like that. Is that a 16' or 18'?

[Wasted Income]

Originally Posted by LOW DOUGH

^^^Looks good. I'd love to get a trailer like that. Is that a 16' or 18'?

18' dovetail, steel floor, 3500# axles with electric brakes on all 4 wheels.

Best $1400 I ever spent!!

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by Wasted Income

18' dovetail, steel floor, 3500# axles with electric brakes on all 4 wheels.

Best $1400 I ever spent!!

Thats used 1400? Or built it yourself 1400???

[LOW DOUGH]

Originally Posted by Wasted Income

18' dovetail, steel floor, 3500# axles with electric brakes on all 4 wheels.

Best $1400 I ever spent!!

Did you get it new or used for that price?

you beat me to it lyrikz

[Wasted Income]

Originally Posted by lyrikz

Thats used 1400? Or built it yourself 1400???

It was used. Roughly 6 years old at the time. The good deals are out there if you get lucky.

If you have a place to put it, and a need for it, you can't go wrong buying your own.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Wasted Income

If you have a place to put it, and a need for it, you can't go wrong buying your own.

x2.

[mr48chev]

You might consider checking the local craigslist or little nickle for a tow dolly for sale. I see them on around here for 5/600.

You could find one, buy it, use it and resell it on the other end for what you had in it.

[Irishpilot]

So I just got a price-quote from Uhaul for a tow-dolly from Utah to Arizona and it came out to $500!! What a rip-off! I could drive both vehicles for well under that price plus not have to worry about the liability of not being covered due to Uhaul's restrictive renting policy. Man, what a pain in the rear.

I think I will check out the craigslist and see...

[Beelzeburb]

Great minds think alike I suppose, because my experience is the same as that of many others here. I once needed a U-haul dolly to tow a 2350 lb project car with my 2900 lb Jeep. I just told them I would be towing a 2000 lb '92 Civic and they didn't bat an eye.
They guy behind the counter even gave me $15 off for returning the dolly only 1-1/2 hours later because he had other people breathing down his neck to use it.
I'm with Wasted Income now, got a nice flatbed double axle, so no more worries about haggling with behind the counter types and finding a way around their systems.