<VV> Uhaul car hauler

Tue Oct 17 13:44:53 EDT 2017

Here is my experience from long hauling many different race cars over the
years on several different personal trailers.

The proper tongue weight for a normal automotive tow vehicle setup is
10-15% of the GTW (Gross Trailer Weight or laden weight). You get there by
adding the tare weight (unladen trailer) PLUS the net weight (the load).
Check all the states you are hauling through, you may need to go through
the weigh stations on the highway and you need to know the tare, net, and
total weights or these guys will just bust your balls. If you are out of
envelope or over total gross for the tow vehicle? Ticket plus you get to
park until you get it right. Ever notice how weight stations are in the
middle of nowhere? Try to get help, not gonna happen.

So if the trailer is 1500 and the load is 3500, then the GTW is 4500 then
times .10 = 450 lbs on the tongue as a minimum and 4500 times .15 = 675 lbs
as a maximum. That's a fairly small envelope to just guess at.

Go under the minimum and the load can start to whip the trailer (sway) and
you can lose rear wheel traction and jackknife. If you hear your rear
wheels squealing as the trailer sways, pull over IMMEDIATELY. If you go
negative on the tongue weight, give me a call so I can stay off the road
until you are declared dead and it is safe to drive again.

Go over the maximum and you can lose front wheel traction because the
pushing down on the tongue unloads your front tires and you can skid from
the lack of braking effectiveness (front brakes do 70% of the stopping
generally) or lose control from lack of front wheel traction in a turn.
Hitting the brakes abruptly with a high tongue weight, just makes it MUCH
harder to stop.

With experience on your own trailer, these calculations can be done by
estimation. If you are renting or borrowing someone else's trailer, use a
scale. If it is raining, DO NOT TOW unless you have done these
calculations. It is VERY easy to lose control in reduced traction
situations outside the 10-15% envelope.

I use bags of rocks from Home Depot to get the weight distribution right
when I am hauling someone else's race car and I can't move the car around
to get the weight right.

After all of that is done, check if you are over the GVWR for the tow
vehicle. If you are, reduce the load or get a different vehicle.

I am not trying to discourage you, just understand that heavy towing is
outside most people's normal experience and equipment, expect a learning
curve. If you have questions, head over to the local road/drag/circle track
or strip, most guys will be glad to help out and answer questions about any
of this.

Good luck, Ed

On Tue, Oct 17, 2017 at 12:57 PM, Jay Maechtlen via VirtualVairs <
virtualvairs at corvair.org> wrote:

> On 10/17/2017 6:49 AM, rich dixon via VirtualVairs wrote:
>
>> Gents: so what I've learned here is the Corvair needs to be loaded on the
>> u haul trailer with the car being back onto the trailer. I assume this is
>> for weight distribution. What happens if one loads the car on with engine
>> in rear? I assume the trailer will sway a lot? Thanks, I would not have
>> thought of this.
>> R. dixon
>>
> Depends on length of trailer and the towing vehicle.
>
> You want the load positioned so that the weight is centered a bit in front
> of the trailer axles. You want some weight on the tongue and tow ball.
> As far as swaying - that depends on some number of things - trailer
> suspension and tow vehicle.
> Regardless of how you put the car on the trailer, you want it so it tips
> the trailer toward the tongue, rather than lifting up on the tongue.
> How much? Depends on the tow vehicle, I think. You want it to settle down
> a but, but not too far?
>
>
>
>
>> Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
>>
>>
>> On Monday, October 16, 2017, 7:31 PM, Art Linden via VirtualVairs <
>> virtualvairs at corvair.org> wrote:
>>
>> I had the same experience a few years ago when I wanted to trailer my 66
>> convert from Connecticut to Maine so my grandson could use it for his
>> senior prom.  Local UHaul refused to rent a trailer for towing a Corvair.
>> I ended up driving it up with my wife following in the daily driver.
>> Worked out fine.  The Corvair probably benefitted from the longer than
>> normal drive.  But I never did get any reasonable answer as to why they
>> wouldn't rent me the trailer.  Must be some story there, maybe with a
>> lawsuit from someone who didn't use the equipment properly???
>>
>>
>> Art Linden
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Ed Bittman via VirtualVairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
>> To: Frank <64monzaconv at gmail.com>
>> Cc: Frank via VirtualVairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
>> Sent: Mon, Oct 16, 2017 12:55 pm
>> Subject: Re: <VV> Uhaul car hauler
>>
>> Frank and everyone,yes U-Haul trailers are great for Corvairs but around
>> my area here in Florida if you mention Corvair they WILL NOT rent you a
>> trailer period. There are 5 U-Haul dealers near me and everyone said the
>> same thing. I did use one to haul my '60 sedan to the convention in
>> Knoxville,I told them I was hauling a '62 Chevy II,they never blinked an
>> eye. I put the car on frontwards and it towed perfectly. Ed in Florida
>> ---- Frank via VirtualVairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org> wrote:
>>
>>> Just curious, when Corvairs are hauled with a Uhaul trailer, are the
>>> Corvairs hauled facing forward or facing the rear ?  Any concerns about
>>> weight distribution.  Does the Corvair rub or drag during loading ?  Other
>>> suggestions?
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
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>
>
> --
> Jay Maechtlen
> SoCal
> '61 2-dr modified w/fiberglass skin,
> transverse 3.8 Buick V6 TH440T4 trans
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