RE: U-Haul auto transport trailer weight?

["FS" <freestat@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

WOW! Thanks for all the calculations...

I don't have a hitch yet; I was going to have the dealership install it but
needed to know the class first (class IV sounds right).

Don't know the rear-end ratio; I'll have to check on that, but I'm assuming
lower is better? What are the ratios available on this model? What highway
speeds should I NOT exceed?

Is it safe to assume that the folks at U-Haul know how to properly tie it
down? This may sound silly, but how do you tell it's "actually" secured?
Tips?

I've never towed anything with the Durango before, but I've towed boats
weighing 3-5000lbs with vehicles like the Silverado and Expedition -- 'some'
experience :-)  Usually can only go about 55-60 without getting into a
tank-slapper when towing boats...


- -----Original Message-----
From: Daniel Chenault [mailto:DanielC@domain.elided]
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2002 10:58 AM
To: FS; BMW-Internet
Subject: Re: U-Haul auto transport trailer weight?


Your GVWR is 6400 lbs with a payload of 1770 leaving a vehicle weight of
4630; max towing is 7550. Safe towing requires the tongue weight to be
12-15% of the trailer and this goes against the payload. A 2002 M3 weighs
3415; I'll assume your '98 is close enough to that; trailer will be around
1,000 giving a tow weight of 4415 - so you'll have a tongue weight of
530-660 lbs. This leaves 1110-1240 payload (this includes you, fuel,
baggage, etc). Assuming worst case that the trailer weighs 2,000 lbs this
makes the tongue weight 650-830 and payload of 940-1120.

On all counts you're well within the manufacturer's specs.

What kind of hitch do you have? Do NOT by any means even consider using a
clamp-on hitch from U-Haul; you need a Class IV hitch which handles up to
10,000 lbs. gross weight and 1,200 lbs. hitch weight. Some would say that a
Class III would work with ratings of 5,000 and 500 but this is treading just
a bit too close to the line. Can't have too much hitch and the price delta
is minimal.

Performance won't be great; it'll be sluggish. Just how sluggish depends on
the rear-end ratio. This should show on a sticker under the hood. Expect gas
mileage of 6-8mpg. If you've never tied a vehicle down to a trailer before
get someone to help you; there's the right way and all the other ways. Let's
not have that M3 come loose on the highway.

Have you ever towed before?


- ----- Original Message -----
From: "FS" <freestat@domain.elided>
To: "Daniel Chenault" <DanielC@domain.elided>; "BMW-Internet"
<bmw@domain.elided>
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2002 8:06 AM
Subject: RE: U-Haul auto transport trailer weight?


> '01 Durango SLT 4.7L V8 - 4WD
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Daniel Chenault [mailto:DanielC@domain.elided]
> Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2002 5:50 PM
> To: FS; BMW-Internet; BMW-CCA
> Subject: Re: U-Haul auto transport trailer weight?
>
>
> What truck do you have and I'll tell you.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "FS" <freestat@domain.elided>
> To: "BMW-Internet" <bmw@domain.elided>; "BMW-CCA"
<gvc-bmwcca@domain.elided>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2002 4:19 PM
> Subject: U-Haul auto transport trailer weight?
>
>
> > Anyone know what a U-Haul auto-transport (all four wheels supported)
> trailer
> > weighs in at? I'm trying to determine if my truck can tow a '98 M3
(>3000
> > lbs) using that trailer...
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > --
> > to be removed from bmw, see /bin/digest-subs.cgi
> > or email "unsubscribe bmw" to majordomo@domain.elided

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