Re: U-Haul auto transport trailer weight?

[Daniel Chenault <DanielC@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The dealership will charge you a premium; find an independant or franchise.
I got mine (97 Dodge Ram) at a place that sold Draw-tite hitches. Other
choices are Reese (pricey) and Putnam. Expect to pay between 120-180 and
maybe 20 for installation. Be sure and ask the place to put on a light
connector (easier to let them do it than do it yourself).

Ratios on that model are 3.55 (stock) and 3.92 (option). 3.92 would be
better for towing but you can get by with 3.55. Forget speed, drive where
the torque exists. On this engine that would be 2500-3500. Best to drive
with OD off if you want to keep your transmission a few years (unless you're
driving in Kansas or Nebraska).

Tie-down is done with either straps or come-alongs. One at each corner
attached to the frame, not the suspension or body parts. Attached to axle is
fine too. I usually tie down the front first to position the vehicle for
tongue weight, then the rear. Have the car in neutral for this operation so
the straps can move it forward and backward as you tighten them. Then put it
in reverse and set the parking brake. The straps should be pulling against
each other with the front straps/chains angles forward and the rear ones
angling rearward. There should be less than about 2-3 inches play either
directions. More than that and you're compressing the suspension (which can
cause damage going over bumps) and less than that and you risk tearing the
car loose under heavy stopping. If you're using straps tie off the end
securely. If come-alongs tie the handle down to the chain. With come-alongs
you can use a padlock to lock the handle down which not only secures the
chain but secures the vehicle. I have no preference on strap or chain.

Not sure what you mean by "tank-slapper." Do you mean sway (trailer going
side-to-side)? If so that is an indication of the tongue weight being too
low. Get the measurement of the trailer's ball height from the ground when
level and tell the trailer installer; he can ensure the trailer will be
approximately level; plus or minus about two inches either direction is
okay.

Since you've towed before you know about giving other cars room, safe
stopping, cross-winds so I won't go into that. Would be really good if the
trailer had brakes; surge or electric.

One final note; as the air flows over your truck's rear it will come down
right about where your car's hood begins carrying with it all kinds of road
dirt (including small gravel). Best solution is a trailer with a front
shield. Second-best is a securely-tied car cover; I'd even go so far as to
secure towels or a blanket under the cover along the front (sort of like a
bra).

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "FS" <freestat@domain.elided>
To: "Daniel Chenault" <DanielC@domain.elided>; "BMW-Internet"
<bmw@domain.elided>
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2002 10:36 AM
Subject: RE: U-Haul auto transport trailer weight?


> 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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