UHAUL auto transport

[riverfever]

Went to pick up the UHAUL this morning and the gal told me she had bad news. No 17 footers in stock. She did offer me a brand new 26 footer for 20 bones less than the 17'. It's a beast to drive with the auto transport on the back.

My question: I didn't read UHAULS directions for attaching the vehicle. Is there anything I should be concerned with? IIRC there is a certain way that those of you that trailer your rigs secure the back axle?

I'm real excited about gas prices spiking up 2 days before my move.

-Chis

 

[old_man]

are you towing with any wheels on the ground. If so, and its an NP231, then you will need to drop the rear driveshaft if the rears are on the ground and the fronts on a tow dolly. Don't know about the NP242.

 

[Darky]

I hate you.

And here's why: I went to U-Haul and reserved a 17' truck and an auto transport for the next week. They call to confirm the reservation and time the evening beforehand but they also had some bad news. They were all out of transports. So they assure me a dolly will work fine, which I know, I just wanted to be extra safe with the vehicle that I depend to get to work and all. The next day, I show up to get my truck and dolly and they inform me they're all out of dollies now too. All they is the one with the non-functioning lights. It'll only be maybe 10 minutes to fix em, so I wait. An hour later my ride has left me at the store, and a guy shows up to return a transport. Hurray, it's my lucky day! They tell me I can take that transport and this other guy who's also there can wait on the dolly. Then they check the schedule and there was another guy who made a reservation later than I did who needs that transport. So I go back to waiting for that damned dolly and finally after another hour or two its done. Bastids.

PS make sure if you're doing a one way move to get a voucher from the store you rented from for one month's free storage. They don't tell you about that unless you read it on the site. They screwed me out of that and the place at your final destination won't do it for you either. When we find our own place and can take everything out of storage, I'm bringin a Budget truck over there with me. And be glad for the upgrade to a 26' truck. My 800 sq ft one bedroom apartment completely filled that 17 footer. We were 2800 lbs over the max gross weight limit.

 

[Darky]

are you towing with any wheels on the ground. If so, and its an NP231, then you will need to drop the rear driveshaft if the rears are on the ground and the fronts on a tow dolly. Don't know about the NP242.

I towed my 96 w/231 on a dolly for 800 miles here with the driveshaft connected. The owners manual just tells you to put the t-case in N and the tranny in P. It actually specifically states not to drop the drive shaft. You'll lose all your t-case fluid.

 

[old_man]

On a dolly you have to drop one of the shafts. The NP231 ties the front and rear shafts together when placed in neutral. It is fine for flat towing but won't work for dolly towing. I tow dolly my trail rig all the time, but I have an SYE.

 

[Darky]

Maybe its a change in the years or something. I've put about 700 miles or so on it since and its still drivin good. When in doubt, I just went by the owner's manual :dunno: Maybe mine is just a fluke...

Although I'd never heard about the driveshafts being tied together in neutral, I'd think it would be more likely in 4wd or something.

 

[riverfever]

Now you'll hate me more:
I got the 26' for $1000. They discounted the transport $70. Also gave me another 1000 miles (who can afford to drive any more though). Offered to help out with gas since the bigger truck will probably be thirstier. She WOULD NOT come over and load the truck though. I'll check on the voucher.

All four wheels will be off the ground. Is this pretty much a no brainer hook-up?

 

[Darky]

Now you'll hate me more:
I got the 26' for $1000. They discounted the transport $70. Also gave me another 1000 miles (who can afford to drive any more though). Offered to help out with gas since the bigger truck will probably be thirstier. She WOULD NOT come over and load the truck though. I'll check on the voucher.

All four wheels will be off the ground. Is this pretty much a no brainer hook-up?

I paid $600 altogether to drive from San Diego area to Tucson AZ. I was allowed 539 miles (on a 419 mile drive) and 3 days. And yes, I do hate you more now...

 

[Rev Den]

On the Transporter.
If you have oversize tires the attached tie downs will not work, pick some up. Cris cross straps front and rear is what I do, hook the chain that is attached to the Transporter around the axle and snap it to itself. That is about it.

Rev

 

[Lawn Cher']

Maybe its a change in the years or something. I've put about 700 miles or so on it since and its still drivin good. When in doubt, I just went by the owner's manual :dunno: Maybe mine is just a fluke...

Although I'd never heard about the driveshafts being tied together in neutral, I'd think it would be more likely in 4wd or something.

Earlier 231's lock the shafts together in Neutral, later ones have a true neutral. I don't remember when the design change took place. Just follow your owner's manual.

 

[Darky]

that's probably where the difference comes in, mine is the last of the old body style and incorporates a few other random changes that the later models did.

 

[riverfever]

I went to put my vehicle on the auto transport and I have a few questions. First, Rev was right, the attached straps are not big enough for the tires. What exactly do I need? Would a wide ratchet strap work for each side? Another thing: I do not have an emergency brake. Would it be a good idea to wedge a 2X4 behind each tire? Any help is appreciated.


-Chris

 

[Lawn Cher']

I had my XJ on 35's on one of those Uhaul transporters once... I wrapped the tire sling straps inboard of the tires around the C portion of the axle and cinched it tight.

Then I used some heavy duty ratchet straps on the rear of the Jeep. You can never be too careful when trailering.

 

[riverfever]

Here's what I'm hoping to do:

I just picked up (4) 27'X2" ratchet straps. I was going to use 2 up front. Hook into a hole in the frame rail and then go to the D-Ring on the trailer. Out back I will use 2 more straps. Not really sure where I'm going to hook to on the vehicle though. I was going to just throw the strap over the axle and then kind of hook it to itself (if that makes sense). Then go to the trailer. My only worry is that the brake lines run right on top of the axle and I'm worried that when I tighten the straps up it will cause a problem with the line. Where else can I hook to back there?

Lawn Cher...good idea. I will use those straps like you said...for added security. I will also use the front and rear chain to wrap around the axle for insurance. I didn't think the e-brake was a big deal b/c race cars get flat bedded all the time with no e-brake.

 

[Eagle]

U-Haul are not my favorite people right now.

I recently bought an MJ with a blown tranny. After several attempts to borrow a friend and his transporter, I gave up and decided to town it on a dolly with my '88 MJ. Called U-Haul a couple of days ago to reserve the dolly, went through the song and dance about if my truck can handle it, yada yada, and make the reservation for 10:00 a.m. Saturday (today).

So at 5 minutes before 10:00 I roll into U-Haul (one of the big company "moving centers," not a franchise), wait through a couple of customers who were ahead of me, get up to the counter and give the guy my name, and he says "Yeah, we have your transporter ready."

Whoa! But ... I reserved a dolly.

"Well we don't have any of those, but we have you down for a transporter."

Well, blast. It was "only" $10 more, and I was almost ready to say okay ... and then I remembered that I was expecting to have to winch this thing only a couple of feet, onto ramps that are essentially at ground level. So I only brought my light-duty come-along, which only has a 10-foot cable and is only rated for 1,000 pounds. I don't have multiple lengths of rope ... and I really didn't look forward to the added weight of a trailer as opposed to a dolly anyway.

So I made the guy get on the phone. Would you believe there wasn't (according to him) a single tow dolly available in the entire state of Connecticut?

I just hope the seller's father doesn't junk the MJ before I can get it towed out of his yard.

 

[ChiXJeff]

<snort> It'll be a COLD f***ing day in the dark warm place before I'll do business with U-Hell. Nearly every experience with them I've had or had directly reported to me has been unpleasant.

My g/f moved out of Madison, WI several years ago. She told me she reserved a truck with U-Haul.......... Oh shit, says I, I hope you get one, let along a decent one. Yup, come to find out on Sunday morning, they don't have a one way truck to Chicago. I found a truck at Ryder that had to be back on the lot by 6:00 AM. At this point, I'd MUCH rather give money to Ryder, I trust their trucks to not have a mechanical failuer on the highway. When we walked back into the U-Haul counter, the pinhead behind the counter recognizes us and says "Nope, none yet." Deb, bless her heart, says in a very loud and proud voice, "That's okay, I have a Ryder. I WANT MY DEPOSIT BACK NOW" to the assembled masses waiting for rigs.

I'd rather have a splenectomy with a rusty hoe over doing business with U-Hell. I have no idea how they get away with breach of contract.

 

[Darky]

Yeah, I'd agree Jeff, they are pretty crappy. They could use some work in organization and customer that's for sure. I don't know how he got away with it, but riverfever's the only good story I've ever heard about them...

 

[riverfever]

Well...I got my Jeep all secured (I think). For the front I used 2 big ratchet straps in an X pattern going from the frame rail to the trailer. I also used the wheel straps on the trailer and put them over the axle. In the back I was nervous about going over the axle b/c of the brake line. I ended up going around the bumper bracket and then again using an X pattern back to the trailer. The suspension was compressed about an inch all around. It seems pretty stout. I'll check it after 100 miles and then again at each gas stop.

This UHAUL is sweet. I'll get pics up after the move. See ya guys later. I'm going to bed now. :wave:

 

[Darky]

good luck on the move. I was wishing for a 26 footer on mine. That 17 footer on an Econoline chassis was not liking the idea of movement...

 

[Lawn Cher']

Good luck Chris!