96 Silverado Towing a Uhaul Car Transporter Questions

[EastEnder]

I am looking into buying a 80 Malibu Wagon that is out of state and I am trying to figure out how to get it home. The car is only a 3 hr drive from me, so its not worth hiring a transporter to bring it to me and I'm not afraid to tow it on a trailer using my '96 Silverado 1500, Reg Cab short bed. Its 4wd, has the 5.7l and the z71 package. No whimp, but I'll never mistake her for a duramax dually.

On UHaul's website I put in this combination, and they say that this combination is not recommended. I could not figure out why. I called their customer service, and their answer was the wieght of my truck is less than the weight of the truck and trailer. But looking at the specs, the towing capacity is 7500lbs.... Are they crazy or do they have a point? Any suggestions? Am I crazy to attempt this? Thanks for any help.

[DesertFox]

Uhaul is playing the CYA game.
They want to make sure in a bad downhill out of control situation that the trailer won't push the truck.
I'm sure in no small part that is because these trailers have surge brakes that are almost never serviced and don't work very well when they should ( I've learned this from personal experience). Your tow vehicle needs to be able to take care of itself and the trailer/ load.
The answer is you would most likely be fine, however U haul will most likely not rent to you.

[silvermonte]

Ive had that exact same problem with renting from U-Haul before with the same truck. I also think Valerie's response is right on the money. I have no doubts your truck will be able to pull the trailer and car as long as you use some common sense like slow down before going down a large incline and don't tail-gate people. Ive towed my car from Iowa to the east coast a number of times going over the mountains in Tennessee. One way around them not renting to you is just tell them you are going to pick up a geo metro or some other small car and you should be able to meet their limits.

[Rick Dorion]

I've towed a two-horse trailer loaded with my 97 K1500. It'll work but you need to be alert and vigilant. The truck's brakes aren't great. You need to anticipate but should be OK as long as the trailer is in good shape. The surge brakes really help. You have a brake controller?

[Mach Par]

I think you'll be fine if you have a trailer brake controller. I would really think about maybe loading it backwards if you can to put most of the weight on the trailer's axles. With that short wheel base it's going to put a lot of weight on the trailer hitch.

[grif54]

I just went through this about 6 months ago. I have a 99 Jeep Grand Cherokee that I used to bring my Chevelle home with. Uhaul will ask you your vehicle and the vehicle that you will be towing. They plug this into their computer and tell you if they will rent to you or not based on the total weight of trailer and vehicle on the trailer. I figured out they I just needed to tell them I was going to be hauling an old Mini Cooper, but they couldn't find it so he put in a 62 Beetle I think, and the computer let him rent it to me. Just don't mention anything about what you are really pulling. I was out the door 20 minutes later. The surge brakes actually worked very well on my trailer and I live in PA where there were some good hills that I had to go down. Good luck! Re

[EastEnder]

Thanks for all the tips. I think I have a pretty good idea what I need to do from here. Worse comes to worse, I'll rent their truck as well....

I do not have trailer brake controller. Any idea how much these cost? Or is it not necesisary with surge brakes?

Luckily, its pretty flat where I'm going from and to; I think most incline / decline I have is the off ramp to the bridge.

Any idea how to request the better, newer, lighter uhaul trailer?

[grif54]

There is no need for a brake controller on the Uhaul trailers, surge brakes do not use them.

[71RS/SS396]

Thanks for all the tips. I think I have a pretty good idea what I need to do from here. Worse comes to worse, I'll rent their truck as well....

I do not have trailer brake controller. Any idea how much these cost? Or is it not necesisary with surge brakes?

Luckily, its pretty flat where I'm going from and to; I think most incline / decline I have is the off ramp to the bridge.

Any idea how to request the better, newer, lighter uhaul trailer?

You don't need the brake controller with surge brakes.

[epeterson]

Have had this situation before, using a AWD 2012 Gmc Acadia as a tow vehicle and towing a 1977 Monte Carlo (one boat of a car) and the trailer and car outweighed the tow vehicle. We towed it from Oklahoma/Arkansas border back home to Chicago and had zero problems.

[SRD art]

I got the same run around with U haul when I rented a a tow dolly to haul my Nova across the country. On the phone they said a Nova was too big to put on a tow dolly behind my Cutlass wagon. I ended up reserving it online and telling them I was hauling a Chevette with a Full Size Olds Custom Cruiser wagon. I figured they wouldn't know the difference between a full size and my G Body Olds when I showed up to pick up the dolly.

My jam packed lowered wagon towed this Nova with it's interior jam packed, 2500 miles over 4 days between 70 and 85 mph just fine. I'm pretty sure your half ton truck can tow a trailer with a G body on it for just a few hours easy enough. ;)

Make sure you post up picks, and check out g-bodyforum.com, they have a thread area just for wagons. Lots of great specific G Body info over there.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/05/trip009_zps219bda04-1.jpg

[TheJDMan]

The issue it not pulling a trailer, hell just about any truck can get a trailer moving. The real issue is stopping the trailer once it is rolling. The trailer surge brakes will help but leave yourself lots of stopping distance!!!!

[rod cole]

DO NOT LOAD BACKWARDS. The tongue wieght keeps the trailer from whipping 30-45 mph. If it does not have a engine I would bring ballast to prevent whipping. The short u-haul trailers are bad about it. That is why they say 45mph max on them.

[tommycomfort]

You will have no problem once you get the trailer if you keep your head about you. I see you have a regular cab short bed which is about as short of a wheelbase available in a full size truck. It's been my experience that a longer wheelbase makes hauling easier/more predictable so just be aware.
Tom

[David Pozzi]

Rule of thumb is: 10% of trailer weight should be on the hitch. Too light & the trailer will whip side to side. The longer the trailer from hitch to axles, the more stable it is. An equalizer load carrying hitch really helps when tongue weight gets high.

[EastEnder]

Thanks again for the help! I'm a pretty new person here, but it seems like a really strong community. My main reason for posting, was to see if I was crazy or if uhaul was.

I'll be sure to start a build up thread once my project starts. Thanks again.

[nekkidhillbilly]

tell uhaul your towing a prius............dont load it backward unless you want to dog wag and die. pulled many car with a half ton it will do fine.

[eupp]

I would not recommend lying to UHaul. If an accident happens, it goes to court, it will your problem no one else's.

[vintageracer]

I would not recommend lying to UHaul. If an accident happens, it goes to court, it will your problem no one else's.

That's why you always buy $2MM-$5MM "personal" umbrella liability insurance policy with your homeowner's insurance for just such an occasion where you do something REALLY stupid with a vehicle and cause injury or property damage to others!

[nekkidhillbilly]

I would not recommend lying to UHaul. If an accident happens, it goes to court, it will your problem no one else's.

your liable anyway. your the one pulling the trailer and loading it. you car insurance covers pulling trailers. no different than if i pulled my own trailer.

[chevnut55]

I pulled my trailer with lots of muscle and race cars without a problem, I even lost the trucks brakes from a rotted line and the trailers brakes and down shifting got me 100 miles home.
I upgraded to a 2010 2wd Silverado 5.7 and want to upgrade to a enclosed trailer but do not know how it will pull stop.
U haul stuff in some locations seem to be junk and dangerous, they are worried about what your towing? rent a van from them too to put parts in.

[MonzaRacer]

HUH guess my old 61 F100 292 granny low long bed was WAY under matched to hauling a car trailer and 3000lb car, all with NO trailer brakes operable(old single trailer axle stock car trailer). Now have my dads old Sikestone double with trailer brakes on both axles and pulled stuff with my 78 C10 long bed with a measly 350!
It is now wired up with brake controller but trailer needs de scotch-loked in the wiring harness. and probably new tires as it hasnt seen new ones since dad put new ones on and he passed away in 01.
And i need to either build long ramps or short ramps and a fold up dove tail.
Just make sure your Chevy hasnt got any rust rings on rotors , they are notorious for that. Actually pull calipers and inspect, if brakes look sketchy, rep,lace them and used good severe duty brake parts. Rusty rotors need trashed not refinished.