Author Topic: Anyone ever rented a uhaul pickup to tow a car to races? (Read 1706 times)

Handy Man · « **on:** January 13, 2012, 03:41:12 PM »

Has anyone considered renting a pickup from Uhaul to tow with? @ $20/day + $0.49/mile, it would cost me between $110 and $230 a weekend... which isn't too bad. I'm thinking it beats spending $5-10k (+insurance, registration, & maintenance) on a truck that I will use, at most, 9 times a year.

fastbackss · « **Reply #1 on:** January 13, 2012, 03:46:50 PM »

I have done the "opposite" of that, having rented a trailer from U-Haul a few times in a given year to tow the car.

I would do it again. The only significant obstacles we faced were:

- finding a location open when we needed (some have particularly crazy hours on Saturday, so you have to hustle to get there before they close)
- the stress of knowing whether or not they would have it. U-Haul is notorious for renting out a particular piece of equipment and trying to substitute something similar (see the time I had to take a 20' truck when I wanted a 10'.) It got to the point we would call multiple times the week of to confirm...

968crazy · « **Reply #2 on:** January 13, 2012, 04:00:23 PM »

My guess is if u have a truck u will use it alot more than 9 times a year. I rarely needed a truck until I had one then I used it all the time

Handy Man · « **Reply #3 on:** January 13, 2012, 04:50:40 PM »

I have a truck and I use it every day... I just can't use it to tow (it's a company truck)

Hunter · « **Reply #4 on:** January 13, 2012, 06:40:26 PM »

Quote from: Handy Man on January 13, 2012, 03:41:12 PM

Has anyone considered renting a pickup from Uhaul to tow with? @ $20/day + $0.49/mile, it would cost me between $110 and $230 a weekend... which isn't too bad. I'm thinking it beats spending $5-10k (+insurance, registration, & maintenance) on a truck that I will use, at most, 9 times a year.

It's going to cost you over $350 for Reading 554 miles from here there and back + 4 days rental Are you renting the trailer as well?

marka · « **Reply #5 on:** January 13, 2012, 06:45:21 PM »

Howdy,

Do UHaul rental trucks have brake controllers?

Mark

ninetyfourintegra · « **Reply #6 on:** January 13, 2012, 07:19:03 PM »

Box trucks and their trailers have surge brakes. Pretty sure the pickup trucks I thought were prohibited from being used to tow with???

a.moore · « **Reply #7 on:** January 13, 2012, 08:25:13 PM »

I got a U-Haul a few years ago to tow the Locost to the inspection place. I had to drag it around with an empty 14' or 17' (can't remember) truck - it was the smallest they would rent for the car trailer. It was over $200 per day for the truck, trailer, and a few miles.

Too bad they won't let you tow with the pickup. Their F150s do sweet burnouts when they are empty....

ninetyfourintegra · « **Reply #8 on:** January 13, 2012, 09:01:49 PM »

Oh and 75 in a 50 in WV in a box truck while towing is enough for a free trip to jail and an immediate loss of of your license...

HillclimberGlenn · « **Reply #9 on:** January 14, 2012, 12:32:18 AM »

I will rent you mine if it is still in good shape to tow.

KeithO · « **Reply #10 on:** January 14, 2012, 06:35:32 AM »

Quite a few years ago, I checked into renting a tow vehicle for race vehicles instead of having to own one. I checked with U-Haul, Penske, Enterprise, Lowes and Home Depot if I remember correctly.

What I found was that no one would rent me a vehicle that would be used to tow my own trailer, but they would rent me the vehicle and the trailer. The cost for both was a deal-breaker and I have owned my own tow vehicle ever since. YMMV

Handy Man · « **Reply #11 on:** January 14, 2012, 12:36:13 PM »

Thanks for the input. Hunter, your right about the price, I had a brain fart and was only calculating the mileage one way.

The website says I could use one of their pickups to tow the Miata, but your probably right that they would make me use one of their trailers... and that adds another $150-$200 a weekend.

hmmm...

jimbob_racing · « **Reply #12 on:** January 14, 2012, 04:35:19 PM »

I knew a guy that bought a trailer hitch and bolted it on to a Uhaul in his driveway and then towed his own trailer. Before he took the truck back he unbolted the hitch. The plug and play trailer wiring came out too. Pretty easy.

Handy Man · « **Reply #13 on:** January 14, 2012, 06:28:46 PM »

Yea, I could do that... but the whole point of using the Uhaul was to be totally legal (after all, I could use the work truck... but if something happens, i'd be screwed)

Maybe I'll just trade in the 370z for a silverado.

Hunter · « **Reply #14 on:** January 14, 2012, 07:06:17 PM »

Quote from: Handy Man on January 14, 2012, 06:28:46 PM

Maybe I'll just trade in the 370z

Can't get enough of those hill climb hookers and blow. huh?

marka · « **Reply #15 on:** January 14, 2012, 08:39:07 PM »

Howdy,

Quote from: Handy Man on January 14, 2012, 06:28:46 PM

Yea, I could do that... but the whole point of using the Uhaul was to be totally legal (after all, I could use the work truck... but if something happens, i'd be screwed)

Maybe I'll just trade in the 370z for a silverado.

Would work do something regarding the truck? Like if you rent it from them to tow with, or get reimbursed for using your own truck?

Mark

stealthx32 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 14, 2012, 09:20:49 PM »

Uhaul only puts little balls on them (1.5"? I forget exactly) so you can only use small, open trailers.

HillclimberGlenn · « **Reply #17 on:** January 15, 2012, 01:16:56 AM »

Quote from: marka on January 14, 2012, 08:39:07 PM

Howdy,

Would work do something regarding the truck? Like if you rent it from them to tow with, or get reimbursed for using your own truck?

Mark

I think he might of heard the story from Mike A. of me borrowing the company truck blowing it up between I-80 and Kittanning on 28 driving back from a hillclimb.

I was never allowed to use the truck again.

jerdeitzel · « **Reply #18 on:** January 16, 2012, 10:25:41 PM »

I just brought home my new tow vehicle. Its not your super heavy duty tow vehicle but it will be plenty for what i need it for. Its a new Jeep Grand Cherokee with a 5.7L V-8. (never had a V-8 before. lol). It has the hightest in class tow rating of 7400lb. I'm pretty excited to finally be able to tow my car. Now for the trailer. I've been looking at Aluminum ones but, they sure are alot more expensive then steel ones. Is it worth it?

marka · « **Reply #19 on:** January 16, 2012, 10:34:31 PM »

Howdy,

Quote from: jerdeitzel on January 16, 2012, 10:25:41 PM

I've been looking at Aluminum ones but, they sure are alot more expensive then steel ones. Is it worth it?

No.

Mark

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Author Topic: Anyone ever rented a uhaul pickup to tow a car to races? (Read 1706 times)