From what I read years ago, as long as it's rigidly attached to the tow vehicle it shouldn't need a license plate. Having used mine for over 30 years, I've never been stopped, but your location may differ.
U-haul tow dolly without brakes?
- Thread starter Elkins45
- Start date
Last fall I used a UHaul tow dolly behind a '23 Tundra half ton to transport a VW Tdi Sportwagen from Dallas, TX to Maine - about 2000 miles. The dolly towed great (better than the UHaul auto transport trailers I have used in the past) and was MUCH lighter than the trailer and the whole rig was more aerodynamically efficient, which made for really excellent mileage on such a long trip with a decent tow-load. One way rental for the dolly was much cheaper than the trailer also.
As Cujet mentioned earlier, downside is virtually no ability to back up (extremely short distances only with frequent "resets") because of the two pivot points and (not meaningful) additional wear on the rear tires of the vehicle being towed. I had no issue with braking as I typically leave more space from the vehicle in front and the Tundra has excellent brakes.
As Cujet mentioned earlier, downside is virtually no ability to back up (extremely short distances only with frequent "resets") because of the two pivot points and (not meaningful) additional wear on the rear tires of the vehicle being towed. I had no issue with braking as I typically leave more space from the vehicle in front and the Tundra has excellent brakes.
I just replaced my trailer tires in 2021 but it’s been a while since I did the bearings. One of the reasons I’m thinking about the U-haul is that it would be worth $50 to put off packing four sets of bearings until a convenient time.
I would much rather have a bad bearing/hub/tire with a U-haul trailer than with one I’m responsible for repairing and getting home on my own.
dolly will be fine for that setup.
I was wondering about that. Isn’t pulling a RWD backwards like that is asking a lot of the steering column lock?
Steering column is unlocked and steering wheel is tied down.
I recently dragged home my brother’s 2014 Chrysler Town & Country minivan on a U-Haul tow dolly. I did a one-way rental across the state and was considering the full trailer, but in the end chose the dolly.
I used my mom’s 2019 Ram 1500 Hemi to bring it back. No issues, just needed to extend braking and keep reasonable speed.
I have a full car trailer, but the situation was either rent and turn in up here, or drive back, get my trailer, go back, and tow it again. It’s 300 miles and wasn’t worth the fuel costs.
The only issue I had was whoever rented the tow dolly before didn’t understand how the tie down strap works, and locked it onto itself. A lot of manipulation, a pliers, and patience were needed to undo their mess. That’s the risk you take.
I used my mom’s 2019 Ram 1500 Hemi to bring it back. No issues, just needed to extend braking and keep reasonable speed.
I have a full car trailer, but the situation was either rent and turn in up here, or drive back, get my trailer, go back, and tow it again. It’s 300 miles and wasn’t worth the fuel costs.
The only issue I had was whoever rented the tow dolly before didn’t understand how the tie down strap works, and locked it onto itself. A lot of manipulation, a pliers, and patience were needed to undo their mess. That’s the risk you take.
Don't certain states jurisdictions require trailer brakes over a certain weight?
So the picture is not applicable at all to buying out of state….
I only had to go a short distance in this case. I suppose buying out of state would be doable too.
No, it wouldn’t be doable. It would be foolish and dangerous.
When towing a car flat, all 4 wheels on the ground, you can pull it forward, but you cannot back up, or the front wheels will go full lock one direction or the other, that’s because the rake/trail in the front suspension keeps it stable when moving forward, but when moving in the opposite direction, i.e. backwards, the front wheels are inherently unstable. I’ve towed cars with all four wheels on the ground. I’ve seen this.
So, a car towed in reverse with the front wheels on the ground is inherently unstable.
Tying down the steering wheel might keep them from going full lock one direction or the other, but you’re fighting against the geometry of the front suspension. If your restraining method loosens, moves a bit, even, then you’re dragging the car with the front wheels partially deflected, and even more strain on your tie-down, not to mention a car that is swung out to the left or right of the two vehicle.
This is a recipe for disaster. Don’t set something up to be towed a long way, at high speed, when it is inherently unstable.
Yes, I can tell you for sure that IL anything over 3K gross requires trailer brakes. And then they have all their wonderful weight limits and requirements that you also have to watch out for as well. There are some exceptions for farm vehicles and the like during planting/harvest season but the IL state police love to get people as they come into the state at the weigh station on the Interstates. Like usual, IL is state to avoid for so many reasons.
When we got our current truck from two states away, I used the uhaul full trailer to tow our family car (about 4000 pounds) home, about 300 miles. It was a pleasant experience. The trailer pulled easy. The uhaul trailers are really well thought out. The hydro surge brakes seemed to work really well. I would not hesitate to do it again.
The only real downside is that you have to pull the car up to the front wheel bumpers, which gives you no ability to manipulate tongue weight. In my case, it didn't matter as we had sufficient truck.
The only real downside is that you have to pull the car up to the front wheel bumpers, which gives you no ability to manipulate tongue weight. In my case, it didn't matter as we had sufficient truck.
