U-Haul driving tips?

[NobDossDelivery]

I'm about a week away from driving a 25 footer with a car trailered behind it cross country.

Anybody have any tips to avoid hitting other cars, deer, people, gas pumps, etc?

 

[hornhooper]

Avoid buying the insurance. The people at uhaul try to scare you when renting the vehicle into buying it.
-Ask your car insurance company if they cover any damages.

 

[hornbanger]

dont listen to their "speed" recomendations

you will know you are driving too fast when the trailor starts swaying behind you

 

[minivette_horn]

Keep the shiney side up.

 

[RoundRobin]

Watch for overhangs, seriously. I've seen plenty with the roof opened up because people aren't used to looking for vertical clearance.

RR

 

[Hobbes]

haha - definitely follow the overhang advice. A roommate in college smashed the hell out of the garage at Delphi condos on 24th.

 

[Bookman]

Don't weave in and out of traffic.

PS: last time I rented a UHaul, it broke down and I spent eight hours on the side of the road in-between Austin and San Marcos on a warm August day. So, say your prayers and pack some water.

 

[kevwun]

Put your heaviest things in the front of the trailer. If you don't, your vehicle and the trailer will look like a fish going down the highway.

 

[DMLonghorn]

If you haven't already reserved it, I would look into self pack and load moving companies. I was looking at taking the smallest U-Haul from NYC back to TX, and it was going to cost me around $1800. I looked into the moving companies where you pack everything and load it in the truck, but they drive it to the destination and I got it for $1250. Cheap enough to still save money with a plane ticket. It depends on the amount of space you fill, but it would be worth a look. Then you could just drive your car, not worrying about the trailer.

 

[JohnnyM]

I just drove a 24-footer and trailer towing a car from Tucson to Austin.

It's not that hard, although the vehicles suck. Mine had "cruise control" in that if I floored it the thing topped out at 75mph. I went about 65-70 most of the time with no fishtailing. I was also on the highway and so clearance wasn't much of an issue, but that surely is something to watch for if you're around some low hanging trees/houses. Don't do a whole lot of lane changing, but don't sit in the right lane going 60 either. It's not that hard to control, and you don't have to go that slow. You'll pass others going 55mph and you'll get passed by some going 80+, so just find where you're comfortable.

All that being said I will never give U-Haul another dime in my life, not even to fill up a propane tank. I had the worst rental experience I could imagine and will strongly discourage anyone from renting from them in the future.

 

[zzzz]

The UHaul site used to have a messageboard where you could also pick up some good tips.

 

[PUT_SIMMS_IN]

NDD...
Good luck to you my man. Uhaul's are notorious for breaking down on cross country trips. Honestly, if you have not made reservations, I would check into Penske, Ryder and Enterprise and see what they have for where you are traveling. Don't know if it will work out but it may be better than waiting on the side of the road in the summer.

You may be able to even call uhaul, ask them what the year, mileage, and all is on the truck they will reserve for you. They will likely tell you that they don't know what truck it will be until the time but it is worth a shot. Request to be in a newer truck with low miles and see what they can do. From my dealings with uhaul... they will probably sigh a lot and roll their eyes as they are talking to you and spend a lot of time accomplishing absolutely nothing. I have just had too many bad experiences and have heard from way too many of my customers who have had the same.

Good luck and sorry to paint a scary picture but just thought I would throw out some options.

 

[horn4life]

I would also double check on the cost difference between self loading a box and having them move it versus a one way U-Haul. You might be VERY surprised in that the movers might be cheaper.

MUCH better to drive your car cross country. Last time we didi thins the AC went out about an hour into our trip. In Texas in AUgust it sucked.

Triple alert on the low hanging object alert. Trees are often low hanging in residential areas, and are not often thought of as low hanging objects until the damage is done...

But seriously a buddy of mine just saved nearly $1000 by NOT driving a uhaul and using a mover for a box he packed himself from North Carolina to Austin, versus the one way drop off U-Haul price.

Good luck!