Moving an Imperial on a Uhaul trailer

slantflat

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Hi everyone.

Has anyone ever used a Uhaul auto transporter to tow an Imperial, and would you do it again? I'm going to have to have a 62 moved about a thousand miles and I'd be willing to fly out and rent a Uhaul truck and trailer. Uhaul's website says I shouldn't put an Imperial on a trailer, but in choosing a car that is bigger and heavier in every way the website says it's fine.

What I'm trying to avoid is driving my truck and trailer the thousand miles and then turning around and driving back. I've done the buy a truck/rent a trailer deal out of town before to get home, and that didn't work out too well. Not sure I'd do that again.

Now, if I could find some old Newport with a 440 close to where this car is...

Thanks everyone.
 
I rented a U Haul to take my Hurst to a show. The trailer sway was so bad, I turned around, lost deposit on hotel, missed a show at Edsel Ford Estate. Uhaul still charged me. Just my experience.
 
I just tried to rent a truck from Uhaul to tow MY car trailer and uhual told that could not tow my trailer. I had to rent a trailer from them also. They asked what kind of car I was towing and when I said 73 Cadillac they told me they could not rent to me?
 
Not long ago I was looking for a 75-76 Eldorado. Put all the info into their homepage and it comes back good to go. Went to pick up the trailer and the guy at the counter says it won't work. I said the website says it's okay what's the discrepancy? He couldn't tell me.

Another time I rented a Uhaul transport to move an 87 Dodge Maxivan. The website said it would be okay. Sure it fit, but talk about sway. That was one of those times that just because you could do something, you really shouldn't.

I'd like to avoid that with this Imperial. My standard go-to when renting a Uhaul is a 2003 Cavalier. They never have a problem with that. But a thousand miles is a long way to be having problems.
 
I tried to rent from u haul fir a 67’ Imperial. By the time we were done with all the calculations they have demanded I was up to a three ton truck needed to pull a front wheel pull trailer. It was an exasperating experience with a young fellow either following rules or didn’t know what he was doing. Never again.
 
How much to rent a truck?
How much to rent a trailer?
How much is YOUR time worth....?

Have it shipped....
The overall cost is less.. Both financially and mentally ....:thumbsup:
 
My truck has a wheel base of 143".
I measured uhauls tow trailer and half my rear tire would be hanging off when loaded.
What's the wheel base of the car you want to tow?
 
Rental of a 15' truck and auto transport for 1000 miles is right around 2k. It would be an enormous help to fly one way and only have to drive one way. Oh did I mention the car doesn't run? That's always fun explaining to the shipping company.

I'll probably end up driving both ways. I have a Silverado 2500HD and a tilt bed trailer with a 9k pound payload. I've got some time to figure it out.
 
How much to rent a truck?
How much to rent a trailer?
How much is YOUR time worth....?

Have it shipped....
The overall cost is less.. Both financially and mentally ....:thumbsup:
Sometimes it ain't about the money. I love getting my cars from wherever they come from. If I can get it for a similar price as a shipper, I will.
 
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And there we have it. Cuda Hunter you got me to thinking. That Dodge B van I hauled had a 127 inch wheelbase, with almost zero front overhang, and the rear wheel was right at the edge of the deck. This Imperial is 129 inch wheelbase, and the front end has more of an overhang which possibly means the front tire can't go as far forward. The car is too long for the trailer.

Damn. That answers it. Maybe I could con a co-driver into going with me.
 
Thanks guys for weighing in here. It really helped. The mental part is, Xenon, that I couldn't sleep and would be a bundle of nerves while the car was in transit. Too many horror stories. It would be better for me to go get it, that way I know what's happening every step of the way.
 
How much to rent a truck?
How much to rent a trailer?
How much is YOUR time worth....?

Have it shipped....
The overall cost is less.. Both financially and mentally ....:thumbsup:
Might be worth your while to at least check pricing on 3rd party transport. I’ve shipped a 65 polara and a 70 cuda from Phoenix to Bremerton Washington and Los Angeles. Both times piggybacking on a hauler with room was cheaper and avoided all the towing hassles including dead heading the dam trailer because one way is $$$$$$. A good broker will be your best friend.

And don’t forget 55 mph while towing. It’s a pretty big ticket if you get popped.
 
Rental of a 15' truck and auto transport for 1000 miles is right around 2k. It would be an enormous help to fly one way and only have to drive one way. Oh did I mention the car doesn't run? That's always fun explaining to the shipping company.

I'll probably end up driving both ways. I have a Silverado 2500HD and a tilt bed trailer with a 9k pound payload. I've got some time to figure it out.

Your ******* with us.... right?
 
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Do this.
 
Or this. No way I could’ve gotten these to my place for even half what it cost me to have someone else do it.
7493CACE-9900-4BD1-9637-5030AB54E375.jpeg
 
Thanks guys for weighing in here. It really helped. The mental part is, Xenon, that I couldn't sleep and would be a bundle of nerves while the car was in transit. Too many horror stories. It would be better for me to go get it, that way I know what's happening every step of the way.

We have all heard the horror stories. However, MANY of us on this forum can recommend transport companies that we have used that take care of our cars as if they were their own. There are a lot of good car transport folks out their. Search the forum, there are a few threads on this.

My 2 cents on the U-Haul trailer is that for a trip that long I would never want to tow anything on a trailer that only has surge brakes. Too high of a probability of getting in a bad situation where not being able to apply just the trailer brakes saves your butt.
 
To me as many people have mentioned the uhaul trailer is not a good fit for the job. 50 miles you could white knuckle it not 1000. I agree with a transport company. I would take the advice and find a company the guys here have used.

If you are concerned then fly out to set you eyes on the car. I personally would what to do this unless it was just a parts car. Then you can supervise the pick up too.
 
There's nothing I'd like more than to pay someone to move this car for me. I haven't hired a transport company in eons, and I have a couple reservations.

First off the car doesn't run. I have never, ever heard anyone say oh that's not a problem. Second the guy who has the car now has tried to hire transport companies and they won't move it because his driveway is tight and winding and they can't get the truck up to the garage.(Now, I asked if we could push the car down to the cul de sac and he said yes that wouldn't be a problem, so why couldn't he do that for the trucking company?) The guy is in Florida and tells me he wants to coordinate going back up there to when I'm going to be there. If the transporter can't give me a firm time for pickup or doesn't make it at that time, we're all screwed.

So no, I'm not ******* with you. By me driving up there, winching the car onto my flatbed, and driving home, I know I have some control over the situation. If I could overcome the above issues I'd hire someone in a heartbeat.
 
Picking up a car is always an adventure. I do it every other year it seems.
Those uhaul trailers pull fine at 75. I've been pulled over and never questioned by the officers about uhauls 55mph stickers. didn't get a ticket either for speeding.
Sounds like you have quite the situation going on. Good luck! take pics!
 
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