First Person: Renting a Trailer from a U-Haul Dealership

Renting a trailer is a little different than renting a truck from a U-Haul dealership. Having rented trailers from this brand many times, I am well aware of the preparation you as a consumer will need to take when renting one of their trailers. Take a moment and review the following suggestions for renting U-Haul trailers.

Vehicle Capability

When you are looking to reserve a travel trailer, you need to first be certain that your towing vehicle is capable of handling not only the weight of the trailer itself but of the additional weight of the load that will be inside it. If you book a reservation through the U-Haul website, you will be required to input the information on the vehicle you will be towing the trailer with. The website will then assist you with the trailers to choose from that are suitable for your vehicle. One thing the site cannot check for you is if you have an installed hitch and ball that will fit the travel trailer and be able to bear the load. This you will have to check yourself or bring to a local dealer for them to check for you.

Box Trailers

These commonly rented trailers are a cost effective way to move. There are typically three sizes of open trailers available across the country and in some cases you will be able to location a couple open trailers for larger items you need to move. When loading these trailers be sure to keep at least 60% of the gross weight of the load at the front of the trailer (closest to the towing vehicle) to stabilize the trailer. If the load is not balanced evenly, the trailers can flip very easily at high speeds.

Car Trailers

U-Haul has a few very special car haulers that can be towed behind a vehicle just like their standard trailers. The two types of car trailers are the tow dolly which simply grabs the front tires and drags the vehicle on its rear wheels during the move and the Hauler that acts more like a flatbed and takes the vehicle completely off the ground during the move. These trailers do have make, model and size limitation that will be explained during the reservation process. Across the country there are also a handful of bike trailers that are designed to haul motorcycles cross country. When one if these is not available, you could use an open trailer and strap the bike to the rails to secure it.

Remember that you should also consider the SafeMove insurance when renting U-Haul trailers as you are still immediately liable for any damage done to these devices just as you would be renting a moving truck. On a file note the trailers all have posted speed limits on the wheel wells. Please be sure to stay within those speeds to avoid losing control of the trailer and risking a serious accident when moving your belongings.