My cross country move with a trailer hitched to my car U Haul

Does UHAUL rent caravans? Im moving from CA to OH and need to move some things too much to fit in an suv and too small to rent a moving truck. I was looking at the ca...

Avoid U Haul for any long distance trips U Haul I recently decided to choice U-Haul to move cross-country from Savannah to LA. Their prices were less than the competition, so I thought I h...

My husband %26 I are getting a divorce, so we agreed that I would come back to LA (Louisiana, not *THE* “LA”)with our daughter, to live, since all of my family is here, %26 I have no close ties in WA state.

I researched the cheapest ways of getting things back to LA, %26 the best bet was getting a trailer. I only had to bring the major items on this trip (our clothes, personal items with meaning, %26 some toys), %26 leave the rest of the things at the house with my husband until the house is sold, so he can continue to use them. He’s moving to Australia very soon, so he can’t bring the electronics with him, %26 doesn’t want the furniture.

I drive a KIA Sportage, %26 U-Haul was very helpful in helping me decide which size trailer my car could manage, as well as what type of hitch to get. The hitch was purchased, %26 installed for around $200. That came with the electronic connections for the blinkers %26 brake, as well as the ball. It took a very short time to actually install the hitch - maybe 2 hours max. However, they had to special order it for me, %26 it took almost 2 weeks to come in. They wouldn’t actually rent me the trailer until they knew for sure that they could get the hitch installed in time for my trip. I had to go to a different U-Haul franchise than the one I was attempting to rent the trailer from, because not

every U-Haul franchise installs hitches.

The cost of the trailer for 10 days was roughly $250. I had to pay a $20 deposit, but I got it back as soon as I returned the trailer in LA, %26 presented my receipt.

I found the customer service to be excellent. They gave me a free video to watch w/ %26 moving tips - VERY helpful! The time frame they gave for the return of the trailer was more than generous. They allowed 10 days. I’d made the road trip from WA to LA, %26 back again, so I knew how long it took. The last time I made the trip, it was roughly 5 or 6 days. In reality, it took me 8 days to actually return the trailer. I encountered bad weather along the way, %26 driving w/ a trailer does slow you down substantially.

I experienced no difficulty with the equipment. It functioned well, %26 was easier to drive with a trailer than I anticipated. However, driving in reverse with a trailer hitched to the back of your car is extremely difficult - if not impossible! I had 8 days to try to figure it out, %26 never could do it. I would strongly suggest not driving into any parking lot that you can’t just go straight through when you leave. That’s what I did, and you know what? I found that almost every business off of the interstate/freeway has special parking for just that reason. :o) Every motel I stayed at (either Motel 6 or Super 8, because I had 2 pets with me) had special parking. Most fast food places also provide truck or trailer parking.

You do end up driving MUCH slower, but I found that I was able to safely drive a little faster than the maximum 45 mph that U-Haul recommends. I was able to get up to between 50-60 mph on flat roads (actual speed limit was 70 - 75 mph). I went to the KIA dealership before I left, so that I could get some advice particular to my car. They said not to worry too much about weight limitations because the trailer wouldn’t be able to fit any more than it was capable of carrying - unless I was towing bricks or something! KIA told me to ignore the 45 mph advice

unless I wanted to get run off the road, or constantly tail gated %26 honked at. The KIA service rep I spoke with said that he frequently towed large boats, %26 had towed in the past, %26 it was perfectly safe to go between 50 - 60 mph with caution. He also gave me safety tips.

I went back to U-Haul %26 told them what KIA said, %26 the man smiled, %26 said he could get in trouble for telling me that himself, but that it wasn’t against the rules to agree with the advice someone else gave me. He gave me advice for getting over the mountain passes safely, what to look out for that would indicate the trailer was about to force the car out of control, %26 how to reverse. He claimed it was easy to do. HA!!! :P

I ended up leaving earlier than I was scheduled to. I had a family emergency, %26 had to leave 2 weeks earlier than I’d scheduled with U-Haul. It was no problem. He said as long as he had other , to fill the other reservations, he could do it for me.

Tips:

~Try to book your trailer as early as you possibly can, %26 don’t procrastinate on ! Try to get all of your done at least a few days to a week before you leave, so that you won’t be exhausted come moving day. Unfortunately, I didn’t get that opportunity, %26 had to stay up until 4 am , pick the trailer up at 9 am, pack it all day until about 3 pm, %26 then hit the road. I was pooped!

~Try to get a friend to help you load your trailer. It’s a back wrenching chore! My trailer didn’t have a ramp, so I assume they all don’t. Once again, I didn’t have this luxury. I had to do it all by myself, so I’m speaking from bitter experience here. I’m certain that had I had someone to help me, I could’ve fit more in the trailer.

~Drive your trailer around the block a few times while it’s empty, so that you can get a feel for what is normal before you load it.

~Once you load it, it should feel roughly the same, but heavier. If it feels unstable, that means you have it packed improperly. It’s not safe for the road like that, so don’t even think about it!

~Try to load the heavier things towards the part of the trailer that sits closest to your car, %26 keep the weight as evenly distributed from side to side as possible.

~Don’t just take off fast. Give your car a chance to get used to towing if it’s never towed anything before. This will break it in gently.

~If you smell a burning smell - like burned rubber, STOP!!!!! It could be your burning up if you’ve been using them a lot on hills, but it’s also a warning sign for engine trouble. Stop, %26 give your engine time to rest %26 cool off.

~When you first take off, roll down your windows, %26 take a good sniff periodically. Try to remember what that smell is like, because that’s your barometer of what a normal smell is. If it gets stronger, or changes in any way, stop, %26 let your car rest. Your car will smell different when towing a heavy trailer, compared to usual use.

~If you feel your car being pulled off the road, or forced side to side by the trailer, DO NOT BRAKE! Just slow down by using your gears or taking your foot off the accelerator. Once your car is under your control again, you can slowly pick up speed.

~If the road conditions are too wet, you may want to pull over. Although U-Haul claims the are water proof, in my experience they aren’t. I drove through some very bad rain, %26 although it never leaked from the top of the trailer, it did splash into the bottom of the trailer near the wheels. I’m not sure how, but the boxes that were on the bottom, were wet on the bottom.

~If you’re going to have to drive up a very steep hill or mountain, please use your lower gears while going up. Keep a steady pace, %26 do not go into a higher gear when you normally would. This will ensure that you will stay at a reasonably slow speed going downhill, %26 therefore you shouldn’t have to use your as much. I never used mine going downhill at all. You have to remember that the weight of the trailer is going to push you down the hill with a much greater force than just your car alone!

~If you’re driving an automatic, %26 have to go up a steep mountain, stop half way up to give your a chance to cool, %26 then again half way down. On the way down you are giving your as well as your a rest.

Good luck, %26 have a safe journey!

~

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Tags: brakes, packing, trailers, transmission

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