YACT: What do I need to make my car ready to tow?

[Zenmervolt]

I towed my 914 to Ohio on a flatbed U-Haul trailer. The stiker said 45 mph. I hit 75 for long stretches. It towed fine. Those speed ratings are just for people who don't know how to tow.

ZV

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Those speed ratings are just for people who don't know how to tow.

ZV

Unfortunately that would be me.



I picked up a couple heavy duty U-Haul boxes (TV/Microwave boxes, double walled), a few of these & I should be set.

Viper GTS

 

[Black88GTA]

Originally posted by: TubStain
I'm in a similar dilemma, moving from michigan to indiana (5 hours). I'm wondering which of the options to consider:

1) Rent a Uhaul with a hitch and tow my car at the back (I can rent the car hitch right?)

2) Rent a truck (as mentioned above) and town my car.. I'm doubting if I'll be able to fit all my stuff in the truck though

3) Drive my car there, rent a truck/Uhaul from indiana and go to michigan and back. Might cost me a bit in miles though.

What do you guys advise? (my car is a 2002 Mazda protege)

Heh, I just moved from Michigan to Evansville, IN. I shopped around, and Penske had the best rates by far. I got a 15' truck for 3 days with unlimited mileage for $315 or so after AAA and online discounts. I rented it to drive from MI to IN and leave it in Indiana. Uhaul was the most expensive, and Budget fell somewhere in between.

My dad helped me move. He drove the truck, I drove my own car. We moved everything into my apartment. Then he caught a Greyhound back to MI. The time we left Michigan to the time my dad's Greyhound departed Indiana was about 24 hours.

We were originally going to rent a truck, and drive it there and back. That would have come to a LOT of money though with the mileage - all the rental places charge mileage when you pick up/drop off at the same location. Penske was the only one with unlimited mileage for the drive away.

 

[The Stigenator]

Viper,

I would refrain towing with your 88 accord unless you konw what your doing. It does put stress on teh car, not sure how your car is.. but towing does put stress. I have a manual, and you got to use engine braking and be prepared and think your moves ahead.. its doable.. but not sure how much you can tow.

I have a class 2 hitch on my car, and it is rated to tow 3500lbs with a 300-500 tounge weight, but my car can tow 1000lbs and 200lbs tounge weight. Needless to say take it slow.

I have been towing as of recently with my 2000 Ford Focus, i will tell you its no small feat. I suggest renting a truck, load yoru stuff and tow the honda on a car trailer.. lesser hassels..

I had a 250+ odd pound trailer and a 400 odd pound motorcycle on back.

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/The_good_guy/focus-towing.jpg

Above is the pic of the first time i towed.. that was an empty trailer.

my towing thread::

here

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: The_good_guy
Viper,

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/The_good_guy/focus-towing.jpg

I am sorry TGG, but that pics just begs for Photochop

 

DONE: focus-towing.jpg

 

[The Stigenator]

Originally posted by: jumpr
DONE: focus-towing.jpg

lol..

 

[Mookow]

Originally posted by: andylawcc

Originally posted by: The_good_guy
Viper,

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/The_good_guy/focus-towing.jpg

I am sorry TGG, but that pics just begs for Photochop

You mean it wasnt already?

 

[Calin]

You will pay alot for the installation of the tow package (if your car doesn't already have it). Plus, the towed weight is smaller for passive trailers (with no breaking systems) and refitting your car for such braking system is a costly idea.
Imagine that your car can tow half its weight, or its (empty) weight for a trailer wth breaks.
You might use some on-roof storage (my mother likes to call them coffins). However, you will be limited with the total (maximum) weight for the car.
Oh, and by the way, some mechanical troubles related to overweight/... on the way can increase the total cost of moving with a steep amount

Calin

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Actually, any vehicle towing has a 55MPH speed limit. As far as doing 75 toying a UHaul trailer goes, I've seen a Uhaul trailer blow a tire coming over the grapevine out of LA, twist the small truck that was towing it onto it's driver's side, and watched it slide across 5 lanes of traffic and into the center median. The driver was okay, his wife had a large gash on her arm, and thier kid died. You might want to keep it slow.