Could this be UHaul's plan for a bigger vehicle hauling trailer in 2025?

[mrsilv04]

Full solid deck, drive over fenders, and three ramps. Can't wait to see one.

https://jalopnik.com/new-big-u-haul-car-trailer-just-dropped-1851695770

 

[fantastic]

Sweet! That would help certain types of loads for U-Haul customers.

 

[c502cid]

5000 lbs axles!

 

[Sequoiasoon]

I tried to rent a car trailer to bring daughters CRV home when cat was stolen but because my Pilot is only rated for 5000lbs they denied it. I tried other smaller lighter cars instead and all were declined.

Unless you have a larger rated tow vehicle it will be an issue.

 

[SevenBizzos]

The people of IL will be very excited. Exodus is our thing!

 

[Vercingetorix]

I’m sure all U-Haul garbage had to be nice at one time.

 

[GON]

5000 lbs axles!

I have seen many times over the years full sized pickups be hauled by uhaul auto transporters that I am sure exceed the 3500 lbs axles.

One work around I have seen is to use uhaul tow dollies with 1 ton trucks being towed.

 

[mrsilv04]

I tried to rent a car trailer to bring daughters CRV home when cat was stolen but because my Pilot is only rated for 5000lbs they denied it. I tried other smaller lighter cars instead and all were declined.

Unless you have a larger rated tow vehicle it will be an issue.

The current U-Haul car hauler trailer is 2200+ pounds empty. The 2020 Honda CR-V has a curb weight ranging from 3,337 to 3,576 lbs, depending on trim. So yeah... 5000 pounds isn't enough, and they were correct to say "no".

Seems like this only became an issue once we go to the point where Explorers would blow a Firestone tire and flip/roll over and kill someone. Then everyone became skittish about letting any vehicle that looked like an Explorer to do too much.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I've seen a lot of sketchy things with uhaul trailers when it comes to longer vehicles. I'm sure this is a result of people doing that. And pickups becoming more and more popular.

My vehicle trailer can't handle a truck , but if this did I could see myself renting one for projects.

 

[D60]

Is that an aluminum bump rail all the way around? If so, NO WAY that holds up. People will drive over it, drop stuff on it and worse.

And everyone is going to try to secure their straps to it, but I'm guessing only the flush-mount tie downs in the deck should be used for that.

I want steel stake pockets for transport chains and binders.

 

[GON]

Is that an aluminum bump rail all the way around? If so, NO WAY that holds up. People will drive over it, drop stuff on it and worse.

And everyone is going to try to secure their straps to it, but I'm guessing only the flush-mount tie downs in the deck should be used for that.

I want steel stake pockets for transport chains and binders.

Those are really good points. Majority of people transporting vehicles with U haul equipment likely are challenged with securing the vehicle to the U haul trailer. This "prototype" U haul trailer will be significantly harder to secure a vehicle on.

The cost to deploy the "prototype " trailer for Uhaul to accomplish any mass across the Uhaul network I suspect is monster cost prohibited.

Something tells me it may be unlikely to see this prototype trailer at a Uhaul retailer in this decade- if ever.

 

[D60]

I've lent my steel PJ with wood deck to people and been amazed at the ways it gets damaged.

If I had a trailer like that, no way I'd lend it to a good friend much less rent it out. It's beautiful but must be used by someone who knows what they're doing and has skin in the game. No one respects that which they don't own.

And those ramps will get damaged (best case) or just go missing (worst case)

 

[repairman54]

Last UH car trailer I rented was open in the center with the flip down fender covers. Fender covers were bent up from them being used as a step. It did have tire tie down straps though.
This is definitely more robust and renter ''resistant'' than the older ones with the open center for less chance of driving into or off the trailer when someone is hauling home another lawn ornament. And it can double as a flatbed trailer for non-vehicle loads since it has deck tie downs, so it spends more time getting rented than sitting parked.

 

[lbhsbz]

Is that an aluminum bump rail all the way around? If so, NO WAY that holds up. People will drive over it, drop stuff on it and worse.

And everyone is going to try to secure their straps to it, but I'm guessing only the flush-mount tie downs in the deck should be used for that.

I want steel stake pockets for transport chains and binders.

Doubtful...everything U-haul is hot dip galvanized steel.

 

[D60]

Doubtful...everything U-haul is hot dip galvanized steel.

That would make more sense and be far more durable. Still, people will find ways to severely damage that rail.

If that's a steel deck, it's the shiniest galvanized I've ever seen and it'll be a heavy trailer.

 

[Ranger83]

Gotta be able to haul those SUV-Marus!

 

[meep]

I’ve had nothing but good experiences with their current version … have only used them a handful of times but this is one of those “get off my lawn” moments for me.

 

[GON]

I’ve had nothing but good experiences with their current version … have only used them a handful of times but this is one of those “get off my lawn” moments for me.

U hauls' current auto transporter does an outstanding job, but has a few limitations. I have used the U Haul auto transporter many times and love the simplicity of loading, tie downs, and unloading.

The biggest issue with Uhaul's auto transporter is low profile vehicles. When I transport a S class with a Uhaul auto hauler, I have to raise the air shocks so the front bumper can clear the required front of the trailer. The current Uhaul auto transporter also has limits with larger or wider tires. The Uhaul auto transporter wheel straps can barely fit the S class W221 OEM front tires. The Uhaul auto transporter also struggles with vehicles with nerf bars- the transporter is sometimes to narrow to allow the nerf bars to ride free. Finally, the 7,000 gross wait limit eliminates the auto transporter from being a match for towing certain passenger vehicles/ light trucks/ SUVs.

 

[eljefino]

The current u-haul auto transporter is pretty nice. It's weird that it just has two front tire straps that ratchet down, and a chain for the rear axle for which kinda-tight is good-enough.

I tow with a half ton, though, and the difference between my 400-lb dolly and the U-haul thing is a make-or-break difference. So the dolly gets the work, even if I have to drop a driveshaft once in a while.

 

[GON]

The current u-haul auto transporter is pretty nice. It's weird that it just has two front tire straps that ratchet down, and a chain for the rear axle for which kinda-tight is good-enough.

I tow with a half ton, though, and the difference between my 400-lb dolly and the U-haul thing is a make-or-break difference. So the dolly gets the work, even if I have to drop a driveshaft once in a while.

There are emergency chains both in the front and the rear. Most renters are not aware of the front chain.

The biggest risk when towing a vehicle occurs when braking hard. The Uhaul auto transporter does an outstanding job mitigating hard braking risk by having wheel chocks built in, something flatbed auto haulers rarely have as part of their design.