Towing Question - can I tow this safely?

[ctechbob]

To each his own. I've had a tow dolly over 30 years which has no brakes and felt safe towing 4000 pounds over 1000 miles. Of course you drive extra cautious and keep a following distance like an 18 wheeler. The easier maneuverability and parking would make it my first choice in most any case.

Never said I wouldn't feel safe. I just said they're more of a PITA than they're worth when you have a flatbed available. Plus I prefer to have the towed car's wheels off the ground.

 

[D60]

I'd do it all day long but I've done worse. What does U-haul say? They're usually KGB-esque about grilling you over details of tow vehicle and vehicle being towed.

 

[DuckRyder]

If U-Haul will rent you the trailer without fibbing about what you are towing it'll be fine... They are silly conservative.

 

[ls1mike]

I don't see any problem with this, you won't be pushing as much air as you would with a travel trailer that helps.
The last U-Haul car trailer I had was actually pretty decent and the surge brakes worked well. Just take your time.

 

[ls1mike]

If U-Haul will rent you the trailer without fibbing about what you are towing it'll be fine... They are silly conservative.

That is no lie.

 

[supton]

Surge brakes usually have a pin you can insert before backing up, right? not sure if that has changed.

 

[andrew_j]

To each his own. I've had a tow dolly over 30 years which has no brakes and felt safe towing 4000 pounds over 1000 miles. Of course you drive extra cautious and keep a following distance like an 18 wheeler. The easier maneuverability and parking would make it my first choice in most any case.

How much experience on mountain downhills? Also think first timer here and inexperienced and a rental…

 

[atikovi]

Just take it slow and easy with plenty of space in front of you and you will do fine.

 

[BrianF]

Give her! Dump some gears and go slow down hill, will be fine. I've done plenty of heavy half ton hero towing with my 2011 Ram 1500. 8,000 pounds would have been on the light side.

 

[Zee09]

Tow with reckless abandonment with confidence.

 

[ctechbob]

That is no lie.

This is why I always tow a 2020 Honda Civic.

Just funny that sometimes it looks like an Accord, or whatever else it is I happen to be moving that day.

 

[Cujet]

It seems the folks here "know" how to do it.

 

[wlk]

Should be 55mph rating on trailer (was when I rented one but yrs ago)- go 55mph O/D off and slow down the mountains, you'll be fine.

 

[SatinSilver]

@CKN for towing advice although I think you already received good information so far.

 

[Chris142]

Surge brakes usually have a pin you can insert before backing up, right? not sure if that has changed.

The local rental place here plugged the holes got that pin so you can't defeat the brakes. I had a terrible time backing a trailer up my driveway. I literally had to push the trailer with it's brakes locked up.

 

[twouvakind]

First things first, whats in your crankcase? Filter? And where are you in your OCI?

 

[ls1mike]

And you can't back up with surge brakes

Well, you can if you want to...my truck will push through them ask me how I know...stupid boat.

 

[CanAmAndMore]

The ram will handle it fine, the true question is about your driving skill, and the rental trailer maintenance condition.

Those are questions that I can't help you with.

 

[cptbarkey]

I own one of these uhaul trailers personally. You should be OK but thats a heavy load and really should add a weight distribution hitch. Keep it at 65mph or lower. Do not trust the tires. The ram 1500 also isnt a very good tow vehicle imo but it will do the job.

 

[CKN]

IMHO- That's on the edge of what I would put behind it. What mountains are we talking about?