UHaul Trailers? Tow Capacity?

[SurfXJSnow]

The wife and i decided were going to save some money on the move back and have been looking into the Uhaul trailers. Looks like were going to need either a 6x10 or 6x12 to fit all our crap.

my question is, what should we expect from towing it behind my girls 01 XJ? 4.0l, 4dr, automatic. Good tires and all. and were going to be loading this thing up...

is it safe to haul a trailer that big behind such a little jeep? the only mountain driving were going to be doing is through a small part of west va... other than that its straight across the mid west with no real hills or anything... we could also bypass the west va mountains if need be.

also, about a hitch and receiver... what rating should we get? i tried getting into from the Uhaul site and didnt find much. any help would be appreciated.

 

[bcmaxx]

Get an xj specific class 3 hitch, Fit is better and stronger. General rule of thumb up here is 1/2 the weight of your rig before you need trailer brakes but that varies. A good transmission cooler is a very good idea as well

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Before you go wasting any time/energy trying to figure out if the XJ can tow the trailer, ultimately, you're gonna be at the mercy (guidelines/rules) that U-haul has established as to if they'll even rent the trailer to you - based upon the vehicle you're gonna use to tow with.

Here's the vehicle requirements for a 6x12 trailer from the U-haul website:

Advisements
Your towing vehicle:
•Must be equipped with a hard top if it is an SUV. U-Haul does not allow any type of sport-utility vehicle not equipped with a hard top to tow U-Haul equipment.
•Must weigh at least 3,500 lbs. (curb weight)
•Must have Class 2 tow hitch (3,500 lb. minimum weight-carrying rating)
•Must have 1-7/8", 2" or 2-1/8" hitch ball (3,500 lbs. minimum)
•Must not exceed maximum allowable hitch ball height 25"
•Must have external mirrors on both sides
•Must have fully operational lighting
•Trailer lighting must be operational at all times, day and night
•Maximum recommended speed is 45 MPH

http://www.uhaul.com/guide/index.aspx?equipment=trailer-6x12

 

[kujito]

6x12 trailer info

Capacity

• Volume: up to 396 cu. ft.
• Max load: 2,480 lbs.
• Gross vehicle weight: 4,400 lbs. max
• Empty weight: 1,920 lbs.

On the uhaul site, you've gotta go thru the 'rates and reservations' link to find the chart for trailers/vehicles.

Here's a clip of the chart for an '01 "Cherokee Downsized". It's the same for 4dr or 2dr 4wd The prices are for DC to the springs on 3/1/2010.

 

[SurfXJSnow]

what i dont understand is the "weight requirements not met" part... does that have to do with the vehicle towing it? because ive found pictures of Jeep Libertys towing 6x12 Uhaul trailers.... i thought the rating was due to the hitch. curb weight for a 01 xj is around 3200lbs... well shit.

 

[kujito]

That would be if your trailer hitch were rated at 1,000 lbs.

A class III receiver hitch would put you into the 4th (5,000 lbs. +) rating column on that chart.

The 'Weight requirements not met" will not apply.

 

[DutchVDub]

Expect about 5mpg and a very unstable ride with that big of a trailer behind a little XJ.

 

[RTicUL8]

I rented a 6X12 trailer and helped move my sister's stuff from Texas to Colorado. Pulled it with my '00(stock suspension) with no problems. It has an auto transmission with the trans cooler in the radiator. I have a class-3 hitch. I had to tap into the lights behind the spare tire - the Uhaul place I went to supplied the cable and did it for me.

They come with the sticker on them for suggested 45 mph limit. However, I ran about 70 the whole way. The dual axle trailer provided a stable ride. However, it did pull a little in Kansas when it got windy.

 

[robert2008]

Expect about 5mpg and a very unstable ride with that big of a trailer behind a little XJ.

From someone that's actually rented a 6'x12' from U-Haul you're wrong. I averaged around ~13 MPG and had no problem with the stability. The key is getting 60% of the weight towards the front of the trailer and with the daul axles this is a bit of a challange. My trailer was 1800 pounds with 2200 pounds of cargo capacity giving it a 4000 pound GVW, and I had no problems towing it at all.

 

[YELLAHEEP]

From someone that's actually rented a 6'x12' from U-Haul you're wrong. I averaged around ~13 MPG and had no problem with the stability. The key is getting 60% of the weight towards the front of the trailer and with the daul axles this is a bit of a challange. My trailer was 1800 pounds with 2200 pounds of cargo capacity giving it a 4000 pound GVW, and I had no problems towing it at all.

Indeed, loading the trailer is crucial. You don't want all the heavy stuff over the tongue. Allowing the tandem axles to bear the majority of the weight keeps things balanced.

MPG is gonna be very dependant on the environment you're towing in. If you're moving across Kansas in the summer - not much in the way of hills or wind that's gonna affect your MPG. But those Fall/Winter headwinds can be a total MPG killer.

If you're moving across Colorado anytime of the year, you're contending with tons of retarded drivers, hills and mountains, and crappy road surfaces.

 

[DutchVDub]

I was exaggerating to say the least. And as Yella said it depends a lot on where you're towing.

Definately load it carefully and keep the heavier objects centered over the axles of the trailer with a slight tounge bias.

Find a good speed that the Jeep can maintain while staying in 3rd gear and OD and just set the cruise there. If you hit a big hill and it goes down into 2nd and starts reving out real high just ease on the brake and only give it enough gas to keep moving and in 3rd gear. No need to redline your engine just to get up one hill. I've never towed with an Automatic equipped XJ before, but my truck is a 4spd automtaic and if I let it it'll bring itself up to redline just to get up a hill at where the cruis is set. Thats where I take over and allow the loss of speed on the hill.

How many vehicles will you have going back? If its just the one for now why not rent a U-haul for all of your stuff and either have the wife and kid drive the XJ or throw it on a trailer? Might not be any cheaper, but it would at least keep the wear and tear off of your XJ. Thats a long drive to make towing a heavy trailer.

 

[DutchVDub]

Ok, nevermind on that.

You'd be looking at 1800$ for a 17' truck and a full car trailer for the XJ.

 

[JJacobs]

Just pulled 2200 lbs over the weekend through some hills. Not the fastest ride, averaged about 12 mpg but I have a cranky O2 sensor. Brakes were ok, any more weight and I'd like trailer brakes for sure.

 

[SurfXJSnow]

I was exaggerating to say the least. And as Yella said it depends a lot on where you're towing.

Definately load it carefully and keep the heavier objects centered over the axles of the trailer with a slight tounge bias.

Find a good speed that the Jeep can maintain while staying in 3rd gear and OD and just set the cruise there. If you hit a big hill and it goes down into 2nd and starts reving out real high just ease on the brake and only give it enough gas to keep moving and in 3rd gear. No need to redline your engine just to get up one hill. I've never towed with an Automatic equipped XJ before, but my truck is a 4spd automtaic and if I let it it'll bring itself up to redline just to get up a hill at where the cruis is set. Thats where I take over and allow the loss of speed on the hill.

How many vehicles will you have going back? If its just the one for now why not rent a U-haul for all of your stuff and either have the wife and kid drive the XJ or throw it on a trailer? Might not be any cheaper, but it would at least keep the wear and tear off of your XJ. Thats a long drive to make towing a heavy trailer.

budget quoted me over 1000 for a weeks rental on a dinky little 10 foot moving truck, uhaul charges you by the mile and was redic. plus, pulling the Budget 16' truck we moved out here with, towing my TJ, i spent over 400 on gas. The three of us in the XJ (me, wife, baby), and a 6x12 will be around 900 including gas, milage, and trailer rental. much better than paying gas on 2 vehicles, 1000 for the actual rental truck, plus the 400 for the gas in the truck.

ive decided im selling my TJ here, then picking up an XJ when we get back to Colorado. I dont want to have to worry about registering it here, only to register it back in Colorado. Plus, the rust issue out here worries me.

 

[XJNOOB93]

I knew you missed me Johnathan...

 

[SurfXJSnow]

just talked to Uhaul, they said its OK for us to tow a 6x12 behind the XJ... SWEEEEEEET! thats going to save us about 1000 dollars on this move!

 

[GSequoia]

For the record I just pulled a smaller 4 x 8 U-Haul trailer from Charleston, WV to Los Angeles through I-70 and my trip averaged 12 mpg (varied from 15 - 8). This was with a '96 XJ with about 2" lift on 30s with 3.55s and an AW4. I'd expect to take a larger fuel economy hit with the 6 x 12 as it is taller (the 4 x 8 was just as tall as the Jeep).

Be aware that the U-Haul trailers have a RIDICULOUSLY long tongue so you'll really get a big aerodynamic drag as the air bubble from the Jeep dips back down behind your hatch.

Other than that the 6 x 12 should have surge brakes so just load it well and you should be set. IF the trailer has a tendency to fishtail you don't have enough weight forward of the axles.

 

[YELLAHEEP]

For the record GSequoia in an asshat......

There...... fixed. :moon:

Be aware that the U-Haul trailers have a RIDICULOUSLY long tongue so you'll really get a big aerodynamic drag as the air bubble from the Jeep dips back down behind your hatch.

I suppose a person could make themselves a fairly inexpensive roof mounted air deflector mounted to the roof rack rails. Something that extends back a foot or so beyond the rear of the XJ to help that air flow......... :dunno:

 

[GSequoia]

I suppose a person could make themselves a fairly inexpensive roof mounted air deflector mounted to the roof rack rails. Something that extends back a foot or so beyond the rear of the XJ to help that air flow......... :dunno:

That would do a lot of good. I'd have done that if I had the time.

 

[SurfXJSnow]

looking to get a tow hitch on the XJ... but cannot find any on CL. anyone know if a older grand cherokee or newer commander tow hitch will fit an XJ or are they a specific fit for each vehicle? the reason i ask is I noticed some hitches are universal and fit a variety of vehicles. i dont want to spend 200 bux on a hitch a uhaul if i can avoid it.