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optimistic
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# Posted: 16 Dec 2013 19:08
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I want to bring my old car, 2003 mitsubishi outlander, up to rochester from brooklyn. I will use my 2008 Nissan pathfinder (4.0 v6) to bring it up using the u-haul car trailer - http://www.uhaul.com/Reservations/EquipmentDetail.aspx?model=AT
According to uhaul, they match the tow car with the towing car, it is ok to do.
BUT what to you think? safe or no safe?
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hueyjazz
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# Posted: 16 Dec 2013 19:57
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Well, I'm sure you know the weather between points A and B and at either end is crap right now.
I would at least wait for dry pavement. Getting out of Brooklyn hauling a trailer. Well, that is going to be a joy. Maybe do that while the natives are sleeping.
Most of your trip is going to be I-90 which is as flat and straight as it comes. Your only hill section is going through the Poconos on I-87 or the Delaware water gap and that isn't too bad. It is the hills and curves that can get you.
If you have never towed a trailer before you may want to read up. Take turns gracefully and know that stopping distance is increased. But any reasonable person should be able to handle it. Just know the laws of physics still apply and I think this would be safe.
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bobrok
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# Posted: 16 Dec 2013 20:43
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With that trailer/load and the weather conditions I would recommend taking the thruway all the way. I-87 up to Albany and then I-90 west to Rochester. It will cost more in tolls, but being a frequent Thruway traveler I know it is one of the best built and maintained interstate highways in the US. That means no steep grades, wider travel lanes and breakdown shoulders, service areas with genuine services incl. towing if necessary, and the roads will be clear of snow and salted. You don't want to be doing the north/south direction coming up I-81 towing a trailer in a snowstorm with prevailing west winds. Coming north on 87 up the Hudson valley before turning west you should have much more protection and easier towing conditions.
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davey25
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# Posted: 16 Dec 2013 21:28
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Just used the tow dolley from uhaul yesterday..towed very well ..went through a snow storm and bad roads..just remember it's harder to brake..leave lots of room
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optimistic
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# Posted: 16 Dec 2013 22:15
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Thanks for the tips! I'm already used to driving out of Brooklyn huey jazz.. ;)
I also wanted to use the dolly but read it's a no no for awd. The outlander is..
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silverwaterlady
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# Posted: 16 Dec 2013 22:38 - Edited by: silverwaterlady
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I'm not in that area right now but I drive it often. I would advise you to wait for better weather if the roads are bad. Just the wind sheer from a semi can put you into a jack knife on slippery pavement. I won't drive in those conditions and nobody should.
Edited because I don't care how excellent a driver you are ice will take the control you thought you had out of your hands.
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 16 Dec 2013 22:40
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I'd say "does the trailer have a hydraulic brake system? If so, you will get brake assist. If its electric, do you have a controller and a 7 way plug? If no braking assist, quick stops is going to be the downfall. Leave plenty of room between you and anyone else. Go slow through intersections too.
The tow-er should weigh more than the tow-ee including trailer. If not, they wont rent to you.
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bldginsp
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# Posted: 16 Dec 2013 22:45 - Edited by: bldginsp
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The whole issue with towing is your ability to stop it safely, and avoiding jacknifing if you have to stop quickly in a turn. So long as the weight being towed is within the range of the towing vehicles capacity, this tells you the brakes on the towing vehicle should be able to stop it well. Avoiding jacknifing is less an issue with a trailer that is not long, but you still want to avoid cornering at high speed in case you have to stop it quickly. Also, it's easier than you might think to burn up a transmission if you try to push up a severe grade too fast too long. But so long as you take it easy sounds like you have an easy tow. Not like when I burned up my transmission pulling an eight foot diameter water tank. Once I got over 40 the wind resistance was enough to heat up the trans, like pulling weight up a grade.
Oh, and I wouldn't do it at all if there is any chance of ice. Didn't you guys just get dumped on majorly?
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 17 Dec 2013 00:04
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Check the specs on what your particular vehicle is set up to handle; Maximum weight on the hitch, maximum trailer weight, maximum gross weight (tow vehicle, trailer and load) AND the maximum weight tow weight that is permitted for braking without brakes on the trailer.
I am unfamiliar with the Uhaul car hauler trailers. Maybe they have surge brakes. Hope so because that helps with good trailer handling and safety.
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silverwaterlady
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# Posted: 17 Dec 2013 02:40 - Edited by: silverwaterlady
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I would like to share with everyone the dangerous things I see people doing while towing.
1. Driving to fast. Most trailer tires are rated at a speed of 65 mph on dry pavement.
2. Failure to do a pre trip and doing one everytime you stop. I know you didn't do one if I see you don't have any tail lights or burned out turn signals or the chain dragging on the ground sparking.
3. Not taking curves on the high side resulting in your trailer in my lane.
4. Cutting in front of me because you somehow forgot about that trailer behind you.
5. Following distance. You need to increase it because its going to take you more distance to stop.
I'm in CA tonight going to Fed Ex to deliver Christmas presents to TX. Be safe out there!
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optimistic
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# Posted: 17 Dec 2013 06:56
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Not so sure after reading...
One thing that seemed strange: pathfinder curb weight (edmonds.com) is 4580lbs. Outlander is 3461lbs. Trailer is 2200.... I don't think I can tow it even though they told me that I can...
I will look into it today.
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bldginsp
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# Posted: 17 Dec 2013 09:11
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Every vehicle is rated to tow a certain amount of weight. My Toyota pickup is only 3500 lbs. That weight rating is not about the ability of the vehicle to pull the trailer up to speed, it is about the ability of that vehicle to stop the weight and avoid jacknifing in turns. You should easily be able to find out what the pathfinder is rated to haul, but 5600 lbs seems like a lot. Way more than my small pickup.
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 17 Dec 2013 10:39 - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
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Quoting: optimistic Not so sure after reading... One thing that seemed strange: pathfinder curb weight (edmonds.com) is 4580lbs. Outlander is 3461lbs. Trailer is 2200.... I don't think I can tow it even though they told me that I can... I will look into it today.
I had a Tacoma that was rated for 5000 lbs towing. But you want to have some sort of braking on that trailer with the weight of the oputlander and trailer. Ideally, the payload isnt any more (exceeds) than 75% of the tow rigs weight for the best safety. But doesnt mean it wont. What is your Pathfiner rated for in towing? Is the Pathfiner an auto or manual tranny? If its an auto, avoid overdrive, this overloads the planetary gears in the planetary gear set. The load on OD goes throught the planet pinions. So just pop it out of OD and keeps speeds modest, leave plenty of room, more if you dont have braking assit on trailer (I wouldnt do it without trailer brakes, unless emergency and short distance) But you should be able to do it, assuming the Pathfiner has a 5000 lb tow rating or higher. Some SUV's may be 3500, but I'll bet you are rated at 5K or more.
I assume you have a 2" receiver hitch set up mounted to the frame? Make sure the stinger and ball are rated for 5000 lbs or more also.
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bldginsp
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# Posted: 17 Dec 2013 13:52
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Some trailers have a form of automatic braking, where, when you slow down, it automatically engages its own brakes by the momentum of slowing down. No electrical connection to the tow vehicle. No idea if this is offered on auto tow trailers, might only be smaller utility trailers. Makes it easy, though.
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 17 Dec 2013 14:18
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From Uhaul's website
http://www.uhaul.com/Reservations/EquipmentDetail.aspx?model=AT
"the U-Haul patented auto transport trailer design outweighs the competition in more than one area. It is equipped with automatic brakes, " ... so that answers the question about trailer brakes. They are called surge brakes as there is a hydraulic brake cylinder incorporated in the tongue of the trailer. When the vehicle slows the trailer slides forward a tad applying pressure to the trailer master cylinder. That applies the brakes on the trailer. Backing up is still possible as the brakes are designed to only work in forward motion.
The only remaining question is what opti's tow vehicle is equipped to haul. Don't go by the maximum ratings on some website as the vehicle in question might not have the proper equipment; hitch, springs, gears.... there are assorted variables. Check the owners manual. That may refer you to the door jamb sticker on the vehicle.
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bldginsp
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# Posted: 17 Dec 2013 15:26
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Bizarre- what will they think of next- cars that drive themselves? Oh, yeah, they already have those. Think ill go to a small cabin in the woods and get away from all this silly complicated technology. Where's my ax?
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bobrok
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# Posted: 17 Dec 2013 15:40 - Edited by: bobrok
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Who knew this would be such a popular thread?
Optimistic, if you are really uncertain of how to do this you should contact those guys from Shipping Wars. From what I have seen they are not only expert at what they do but very professional as well, not to mention inexpensive.
Just a thought...
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optimistic
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# Posted: 17 Dec 2013 19:23 - Edited by: optimistic
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Quoting: bobrok Who knew this would be such a popular thread?
I know! I really like this forum! ;)
Guess what? sitting on my old car for a month and a half (very hard to sell in NYC - majority don't need them..) I just sold the car. For much less than I wanted but I still made out very well..
Murphy laws! the minute I post about it - I sell it. Just like how I posted in the theft thread and the next weekend found out I was stolen from. I should be careful what I post! ;)
Thanks for all the tip! At least I saved myself this trip up which would have been not so fun...
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 17 Dec 2013 20:44
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Quoting: bldginsp Some trailers have a form of automatic braking, where, when you slow down, it automatically engages its own brakes by the momentum of slowing down. No electrical connection to the tow vehicle. No idea if this is offered on auto tow trailers, might only be smaller utility trailers. Makes it easy, though.
Yes, it has a hydraulic master cylinder in the tongue, so when you slow down, forward energy in the trailer collapses the tongue and apply s the brakes. Can be a pain in the but if you are backing it up an incline, it tends to want to apply the brakes. It requires no hookup, just lock the ball down, hook safety chains, DONE.
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 17 Dec 2013 20:47 - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
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Quoting: bobrok Who knew this would be such a popular thread? Optimistic, if you are really uncertain of how to do this you should contact those guys from Shipping Wars. From what I have seen they are not only expert at what they do but very professional as well, not to mention inexpensive. Just a thought...
That isnt a bad idea at all really, in fact, I think i ts a good idea.
That is actually http://www.uship.com and I have shipped quite a few dirt bikes that way and a co worker had a Datsun Roadster (66) shipped up from Cally from my suggestion. Its owned by ebay, and shippers bid like an auction, but instead of the price going higher with each bid, it goes lower. Real slick, they have feedback etc.
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davey25
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# Posted: 17 Dec 2013 20:51
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Just pull the rear driveshaft and use the dolley..your vehicle may also just need the transfer case in neutral ..just ask the dealer
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