hitch on a civic

jst0ney

Platinum Member
Feb 20, 2003
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I am moving from southern California to Portland OR next week (rossman here I come) and I am looking into differnt ways to move my stuff. I don't have that much and I was wondering if anybody has had any luck with trailer hitches on small/midsize cars. I would like to hual one of thos covered uhaul trailers. It should be enough space. I'm just worred that my already underpowered car wouldn't make it very far.

BTW I have a '01 honda civic 4 door sedan EX
 

Curly01

Senior member
Jul 5, 2002
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That would be to much weight for that little of a car. The tranny alone probably couldn't handle it.
 

KingNothing

Diamond Member
Apr 6, 2002
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If you have a manual and won't be travelling through the mountains and won't be carrying more than a few hundred pounds in the trailer...maybe. I wouldn't do it though.
 

IamElectro

Golden Member
Jul 15, 2003
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I would rent a moving truck and tow the Honda.
Towing with the Honda would probably destroy the tranny or clutch.
 

Freejack2

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2000
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Check your manual or call the Honda dealer. Some subcompacts are capable of towing. I know Saturns are for example but not sure about Civics.
You might be better renting a truck and getting a trailer to tow your car.
 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
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Sell your old big stuff, and buy used stuff when you get there. Shouldn't be that much of a net loss, and you can match things up better to your new abode.
 

Sundog

Lifer
Nov 20, 2000
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Originally posted by: jst0ney

BTW I have a '01 honda civic 4 door sedan EX

We have exactly the same car as you and the only hitch they will allow (I believe) is a Class 1 hitch. We use it to tow the SeaDoo all over.

Those covered U-haul trailers, unless you get the absolute smallest one, can not be towed by your car. If you go to U-Haul they will not even rent you the trailer.

Call U-Haul. They install hitches and will tell you exactly the maximum size trailer that they will rent to you, if any.

And BTW, it DOES NOT matter how much you car physically pull. It is the braking and emergency handling characteristics which matter.
 
Oct 9, 1999
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I have a Class 2 or 3 hitch on my 2000 ford focus. I towed my bike up and down the state (and someone elses bike too). Over all I towed about 1000+ lbs. I am rated for 1000. I have a manual tranny and didnt see any problems towing other than the handling, the suspension on my car is soft and the rear was compressed. Other than that it was fine.

I had a 400+ lbs bike + an Uhaul motorcycle trailer rated at 750lbs (from what i know). They initially said the trailer was 500lbs, but ithink it was more.

Main issue is that you got to set the tounge weight up right, otherwise you might break something. my tounge weight limit is 100lbs, but the hitch is 500 i think. The trailer would set it at 200, so it seemed to work fine for me.


be careful towing, esp in an automatic..

Edit: BTW Uhaul installed my hitch.
 

jst0ney

Platinum Member
Feb 20, 2003
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Thanks for all the replys. Renting a truck is like two thousand dollars but I guess that will be what I have to pay. I talked to some other people today and the more I talked the more it seemed like towing something behind my Honda is a bad idea. Looks like I'll need to pony up some dough.
 

Wahsapa

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2001
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if your going over the grape vine your not making it(if you live in la and are taking the 5), your civic will blow up.

another suggestion, u-hauls about the crappiest company to rent a truck from, my cousins a disctrict manager and i also rented from them last month.

rent from anybody but them, then get a trailer from u-haul on the cheap if whoever else you go to doesnt offer them.
 

Freejack2

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2000
7,751
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Wahsapa has a good point. Many Uhauls are in such bad shape it's questionable if it will make that drive. If it's really $2000 you can probably do it for about $1600 + trailer rental up front and $600 total + trailer rental.

Buy an old truck for say $1300, ideally something reasonably reliable, has a trailer hitch, and can haul a lot. Get your stuff to Portland, return the trailer, fly back to California ($300?), drive your car up. Sell the truck to the first person to give you $1000.