• Hi Guest!
    You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

If you have to move a car but have no tow vehicle

Share this page

G

Guest

Guest
Guest
Offline
I have to go get my car tomorrow. It is up in Ma, about 200 miles away. I don't have access to a tow vehicle, thanks to the inlaws selling theirs, and the disgusting price to add a hitch to the LR3.

The cost of a flatbed to bring it home is unpalatable, so what to do?

I guess I could drive it, but it's not inspected and the headlights need fixing...

Well it seems that a one way trip renting a U-Haul truck to pull a trailer is only going to cost me $160.

A one way car rental going the other way is $80.

Score! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif

Might be worth considering if anyone else is stuck in this manner.
 
Kinda awkward to move it from a registered garage to your house, since that is a specific exclusion. Even discounting that, it is only the first 100 miles that is free. Also they don't guarantee a flatbed trailer.
 
Did you think about renting the uhaul for a 1 day intown move? You have to pay milage but it may be cheaper than one way.
 
They don't do in town rentals for truck and trailer.
Even if they did, the last time I rented a truck from them, it was $3.50 a mile.
 
They exclude towing and hauling on the contract. I went there and asked the last time I had to tow.

This wasn't intended to be a "ooh look you could have done this instead" thread.

If you have a better way that you did then I'm all ears. Until then...
 
My hope is that you get up there and the U-Haul company has the promised vehicle for you. I've heard of more than one person going to U-Haul to pick up a "promised" vehicle, only to be unpleasently surprised.
Truly, I hope all goes well. Best of luck.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]This wasn't intended to be a "ooh look you could have done this instead" thread. If you have a better way that you did then I'm all ears. Until then... [/QUOTE]

I have already posted my method, but will elaborate. AAA offers 200-mile towing. I've moved cars from one house to another on more than one occasion with no questions asked. If they do ask, just tell them the car broke down and you need to get it home. That's pretty much the truth, only omitting the fact that it broke down before you bought it.
 
Rent a U-Haul truck & put the car inside it!
 
Honestly the cost differential for the trailer was so small that it works better this way.

Plus the thought of driving my newly running car up a couple of 2x12s gives me the shivers.
 
Not to mention, that, legally, your not supposed to put cars inside the U-haul trucks. (not that it's gonna stop anyone from doing it)
 
AAA has different levels of benefits depending on yearly dues. With six classic cars, we figure the high mileage plan is a good idea! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
Are you set on a Flatbed? I used a tow dolly to tow my Jag about 75 miles to my moms, turnaround drove 30 miles south, picked up another 67 gt and then returned the 30 miles back to her house. It went, pardon the pun "without a hitch". zero problems and I actually made very good time.
 
Re: If you have to move a car but have no tow vehi

I never allow my cars to be moved without a flat bed. It's asking for damage to the body, gearbox and exhaust. Of course a flat bed guy who doesn't pay attention can also damage the brakes pipes on the rear axle so I'm sure to always supervise when loading.
 
Anthony, if only I'd have known....

The car is home. The trailer truck combo worked just fine. Buck sixty for the combo, another fifty for gas and sat at 75 the whole way back on I-84.

The hardest part was trying to get into my driveway - in the end I gave up and unloaded it on the road outside...
 
<smacks forehead> We ain't mecunicatin' well enuff here... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
 
Back
Top