towing your 4runner on a car hauler

[t4rFL]

I'll be towing my 4runner on a U-haul trailer. I've towed before but never a car hauler. do you just strap down the wheels or do you attach a strap to the frame too? If so where exactly. I assume u-haul will provide me with the necessary straps. I have a 3rd gen. any other tips? thanks.

 

[4runner_kid]

I'll be towing my 4runner on a U-haul trailer. I've towed before but never a car hauler. do you just strap down the wheels or do you attach a strap to the frame too? If so where exactly. I assume u-haul will provide me with the necessary straps. I have a 3rd gen. any other tips? thanks.

Uhaul trailers normally are just tire straps on the front and a safety chain in the rear. At least last time i used one of their car haulers in 2007.

On my car trailer i strapped down the axle's (solid axle front) on all 4 corner's.

 

[Ezlife45]

I've hauled vehicles both ways, securing through the rims, and directly to the frame. As long as it's snug and your straps don't slip you'll be OK.

Ratchet straps need a little "wrap" around the drum so the tension keeps the strap from slipping.

Had one loosen up before from not enough "wrap".

 

[wcjeep]

I've hauled vehicles both ways, securing through the rims, and directly to the frame. As long as it's snug and your straps don't slip you'll be OK.

Ratchet straps need a little "wrap" around the drum so the tension keeps the strap from slipping.

Had one loosen up before from not enough "wrap".

I agree with Ezlife45. On my Offroad Jeep I strap the axles. There is one school of thought that says strapped axles still allows the suspension system to cycle as if being driven.

Go with whatever Uhaul recommends for their equipment.

 

[Volcom]

I tow my 84 4Runner around a lot. Easier to tie down to the axles on a solid axled rig. I cross the fronts and keep the back straps straight back. My reasoning - the rear straps are strongest when straight. If I have to slam on my brakes in an emergency, I want them to be straight. I like crossing the fronts to give the rig some security against sliding off the side. It would take a hell of a force to get it to slide off but I try to be safer than sorry.

 

[Travelin]

This should help:

https://www.uhaul.com/Videos/Trailer-Videos/How-To-Load-A-Car-Onto-A-Auto-Transport/

 

[electricfingers]

the decision to rent or buy car carrier.

t4rFL,

FYI ...

In June, we also planned to rent a U-Haul car carrier (trailer) to tow our 2018 4Runner. The tow vehicle was to be a 2010 Tundra with 4.6 L v8 and has tow package. This same Tundra towed 6,000 sailboat with no problems.

U-Haul said no. They said this tow vehicle is not rated for the weight of trailer + 4Runner. I was stunned, and challenged their statement. The U-Haul phone representative sounded as if they are just reading a policy statement off their computer screen. Also, in May, U-Haul quoted a car carrier rent price of about $240, but by mid June the quote had risen to over $ 600.

Contacted Penske. They rent car carriers IF you rent their moving van too.


Now thinking about buying my own trailer.

 

[Travelin]

Very odd that U-Haul won't approve the Tundra for towing the 4-Runner. I tried a couple of different tow vehicles on the U-Haul website and even a 2018 Tundra with a 10,000 lb rated hitch is not acceptable. Could be the weight of the towing vehicle vis a vis the towed vehicle, although it does seem arbitrary. U-Haul should spell out the criteria for the towing vehicle.

Regarding rates, both with Penske and U-Haul, season matters: summer is peak moving season, therefore peak truck rental season. And origin/destination matter. Demand in each area of the country is a significant factor in determining rates. If a city has significantly greater outgoing rentals than incoming rentals, the outgoing rental rates will reflect that. Although, odd things happen. In November I rented a Penske 16 foot truck from Rockville, MD to Prescott, AZ and did the same last month and the rate for the same size truck, same origin/destination was $500 less in July than last November. Go figure.

Good luck!

 

[t4rFL]

my tow rig is a Ram 1500 and was approved. I did just input a Tundra but used my 2001 4runner as the one being towed and it approved it. so maybe if you are using the newer 4runners they are probably heavier....

 

[t4rFL]

success; 2 front straps and front/rear safety chains.

 

[Thebeastlives]

Very odd that U-Haul won't approve the Tundra for towing the 4-Runner. I tried a couple of different tow vehicles on the U-Haul website and even a 2018 Tundra with a 10,000 lb rated hitch is not acceptable. Could be the weight of the towing vehicle vis a vis the towed vehicle, although it does seem arbitrary. U-Haul should spell out the criteria for the towing vehicle.

Regarding rates, both with Penske and U-Haul, season matters: summer is peak moving season, therefore peak truck rental season. And origin/destination matter. Demand in each area of the country is a significant factor in determining rates. If a city has significantly greater outgoing rentals than incoming rentals, the outgoing rental rates will reflect that. Although, odd things happen. In November I rented a Penske 16 foot truck from Rockville, MD to Prescott, AZ and did the same last month and the rate for the same size truck, same origin/destination was $500 less in July than last November. Go figure.

Good luck!

Something is wrong I just used uhaul in California to tow a 4 runner behind my 08 5.7 Tundra and the load was approved. After all the tundra is rated for 10,000 lbs. Their car carrier simply straps the front wheels down to the front of their trailer and I used their chain to hold the rear in place.