• From: Van Nuys, CA
  • Registered: 2011-02-11
  • Posts: 2,609

Re: Best rental trailer?

RogueLeader wrote:
Parkwod60 wrote:

Have any of you tried to make online reservations with their web site?  Their database goes WAY back.  According to their site I can tow any of their trailers with my drum braked 1960 Chevy Parkwood wagon.  I have never had an issue. It seems their web site is smarter than their employees, though the site seems to think my Chevy Colorado 2wd has a lower tow rating than a 4wd, everything else being equal.  As far as I know none of the other chains will rent you a car hauler trailer to hitch to your truck, only to theirs.

The Uhaul web site only allowed me to reserve a trailer for a 24 rental, but it was no problem telling the guy behind the counter that I would have it for 3 or 4 days, depending on when I got back.  They also rent on a 24 hour day, so pick up Friday morning, drop off Monday morning is only 3 days.

That was my issue as well (website, which used to let you do it, now not anymore) so I called them and that was what they told me their policy was.  They did say that maybe I could get the local manager to give me an exception.  I tried to call him 6 times, never answered the phone, no call back.

I ended up borrowing a trailer.

Must be a Tri-state area thing. We just did it for Sears Pointless 2 weeks ago out here in California. Maybe they had a bunch of trailers stolen? or implicated in some other sort of theft?

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  • From: Freeport, NY
  • Registered: 2009-05-13
  • Posts: 1,505

Re: Best rental trailer?

Parkwod60 wrote:

Must be a Tri-state area thing. We just did it for Sears Pointless 2 weeks ago out here in California. Maybe they had a bunch of trailers stolen? or implicated in some other sort of theft?

Yeah they told me it was a "regional" decision, so I implied it to mean tri-state. 

I doubt they were stolen... who would steal them they are junk trailers.

And besides if I wanted to steal it, getting into their lot at night and taking off with it would be easier than renting it and never bringing it back

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28 Reply by LTDScott (edited by LTDScott 2012-04-08 06:24 PM)

  • From: San Diego, CA
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
  • Posts: 1,492

Re: Best rental trailer?

Huh, I've always had fine service from Uhaul. Used them 3 or 4 times now. I guess my local store has their shit together, because they allow multi day rentals with return in the same location. Yeah, $200-ish, but they were decent quality trailers and loaded up fairly easily.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/156697_1600361822505_1639847359_1378746_3692212_n.jpg

Compared to that, the other two tows were where I placed an ad on CL asking if anyone would rent their trailer, and this crackhead dude in escondido "rented" his to me for cheap. About 20 miles outside of town, one of the trailer tires blew on I5 north in Carlsbad. That tire being low caused the tire behind it to bulge out and rub the inner sidewall against the trailer, so it trashed 2 tires. Pulled off, disconnected trailer, took off tires and then replaced (at like $300), then got back on the freeway and 5 mins later get fucking rear ended by a Jeep in traffic.

http://www.porcubimmer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/img_2098-large.JPG
http://www.porcubimmer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/img_2100-large.JPG

Actually tweaked the frame of the car and broke a tie down point. Got insurance money for it, lol... and then on a second trip, fucking tire blew again in downtown sacramento on the freeway. Somehow I made it through all of LA and central valley and it blew right there. Again, had to pull off and disconnect with the help of another LeMons dude who raced an orange Fiat Spider, fix tire, and get into town way late after like $150.

Shit, I'm rambling, sorry.. moral of the story is that uhaul don't seem too bad after that. Woo, that's maybe one too many IPAs

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  • From: Doin' Crime in 21229
  • Registered: 2009-05-01
  • Posts: 2,153

Re: Best rental trailer?

Was the jeep's front tire low on air before he smacked the trailer, I wonder...

Trailer tires blow a lot.  I tend to replace at least one a year.

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  • From: Northern Kentucky
  • Registered: 2009-05-02
  • Posts: 1,134

Re: Best rental trailer?

mechimike wrote:

Was the jeep's front tire low on air before he smacked the trailer, I wonder...

Trailer tires blow a lot.  I tend to replace at least one a year.

Really? I never blew one in 20 years... heck, I never even replaced them.... had the same trailer for most of that...

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  • From: San Diego, CA
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
  • Posts: 1,492

Re: Best rental trailer?

mechimike wrote:

Was the jeep's front tire low on air before he smacked the trailer, I wonder...

Trailer tires blow a lot.  I tend to replace at least one a year.

No, the Jeep's tire went flat after driving up on the trailer.

And yeah, so I've heard that the tires blow often... this is why renting isn't always so bad.

Prickstine: The killer '58 Mopar EFury30.

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  • From: San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
  • Registered: 2012-01-05
  • Posts: 206

Re: Best rental trailer?

mechimike wrote:

Was the jeep's front tire low on air before he smacked the trailer, I wonder...

Trailer tires blow a lot.  I tend to replace at least one a year.

Everytime I hook up a trailer I check tire pressures. The last two rentals had one of tires at 20psi.
You can never assume the trailer is just ready to go.

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  • From: Elburn, IL
  • Registered: 2010-12-16
  • Posts: 2,404

Re: Best rental trailer?

I've had one true "blow-out" with my trailer tires.  And at that time decided to replace a couple others that had some sort of "dent" areas on the sidewall.  During the off-season I replaced the other two (5th one was the spare.) 

I bought the trailer in 2003 and had the blowout in 2010.  I'm told 7 years is about all you can expect out of 'em.  So if you're running around with 7+ year old tires on your trailer, you may have more blowouts.

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  • From: Choctaw, Oklahoma
  • Registered: 2009-11-12
  • Posts: 1,867

Re: Best rental trailer?

I had a tire blow out on the way back from MAM. Moral of the story? Don't buy used passenger car tires for your trailer. I still have to replace one of my fender lights.

  • From: Northern Kentucky
  • Registered: 2009-05-02
  • Posts: 1,134

Re: Best rental trailer?

scottyd wrote:
mechimike wrote:

Was the jeep's front tire low on air before he smacked the trailer, I wonder...

Trailer tires blow a lot.  I tend to replace at least one a year.

Everytime I hook up a trailer I check tire pressures. The last two rentals had one of tires at 20psi.
You can never assume the trailer is just ready to go.

Good advice.. I thought that was a gimmie until I read some of the other posts! I got 20 years out of my tires, but they were good quality to start with, not used much (dry rotted pretty good though) and properly inflated... never did wear them out or get a flat.... 900lb trailer weight helped too I'm sure...

Looks like I may try to bum  a trailer.

I'm worried that my lowered lex won't fit a u-haul - anybody have any problems with that?

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  • From: Elburn, IL
  • Registered: 2010-12-16
  • Posts: 2,404

Re: Best rental trailer?

Spinnetti wrote:
scottyd wrote:
mechimike wrote:

Was the jeep's front tire low on air before he smacked the trailer, I wonder...

Trailer tires blow a lot.  I tend to replace at least one a year.

Everytime I hook up a trailer I check tire pressures. The last two rentals had one of tires at 20psi.
You can never assume the trailer is just ready to go.

Good advice.. I thought that was a gimmie until I read some of the other posts! I got 20 years out of my tires, but they were good quality to start with, not used much (dry rotted pretty good though) and properly inflated... never did wear them out or get a flat.... 900lb trailer weight helped too I'm sure...

Looks like I may try to bum  a trailer.

I'm worried that my lowered lex won't fit a u-haul - anybody have any problems with that?

Yeah, I'm towing 10,000 lbs. on load rating "E" tires.

For your Lexus, biggest thing I can think of is you might drag a little across the transition from ramp to trailer floor.  If so, some well placed boards can help elevate the front tires till the back tires get high enough that the floor of the car will clear the dovetail/transition.  I know cause my dirt car's bodywork drags when I unload it.  I carry a stack of three 2X6's of different lengths and make a small pyramid for the left tire to go over.

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37 Reply by Bonedriver (edited by Bonedriver 2012-04-11 11:59 PM)

  • From: Charleston, SC
  • Registered: 2009-08-08
  • Posts: 455

Re: Best rental trailer?

We rented a Uhaul dolly for CMP and towed the Lancia with it. the lowered suspension rubbed the straps and one snapped as we got to the track. Chains for the WIN!

Fixed it at the track with some redneckery science and made it home with no problems.

As long as you pick up the trailer/dolly with what they approve of, you can damn near tow anything you want, but if you damage the trailer you're toast. They didn't pick up on our "repair" and never charged us...

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  • From: San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
  • Registered: 2012-01-05
  • Posts: 206

Re: Best rental trailer?

Spinnetti wrote:
scottyd wrote:
mechimike wrote:

Was the jeep's front tire low on air before he smacked the trailer, I wonder...

Trailer tires blow a lot.  I tend to replace at least one a year.

Everytime I hook up a trailer I check tire pressures. The last two rentals had one of tires at 20psi.
You can never assume the trailer is just ready to go.

Good advice.. I thought that was a gimmie until I read some of the other posts! I got 20 years out of my tires, but they were good quality to start with, not used much (dry rotted pretty good though) and properly inflated... never did wear them out or get a flat.... 900lb trailer weight helped too I'm sure...

Looks like I may try to bum  a trailer.

I'm worried that my lowered lex won't fit a u-haul - anybody have any problems with that?

The biggest thing that helps is your transition angle. You can use some rhino ramps, place them behind the rear wheels and back the truck onto those. If you still need some more help, use some wooden planks.

The DD: '95 Volvo 850 T5R - ButterCup Yellow
The Tow Vehicle: '97 GMC Suburban K2500 6.5TD - Poo Brown
My Racer: '84 Volvo 245GLT - <strike>Jew</strike> CheapAss Black
The iFixit.com Lemon Racer: '92 Volvo 245DL - Svedish White