Hi all, long time caller, first time listener. I've found various threads on the H.A.M.B. pretty useful over the years, but up til now haven't had any real need to request the help of the brain trust. Until yesterday. I've been hunting for one of these vintage Uhaul rooftop boxes (or Car Top Carrier as Uhaul called them) for a few years now. I finally found one, and it's everything I hoped it would be: Except, broken. One of the corner pieces is cracked in half and bent badly. The four corners are all symmetrical, so I have two that could be used as patterns once the rivets are drilled out and the pieces removed. Originally these were die cast as one piece it looks like, but I'd be happy to do them in 2 or 3 pieces and weld/epoxy them together. I'm not going for concours perfection, just "good enough" from 10' away, and no aluminum HVAC tape, which is what's on there now. It seems like a pretty complex piece to sand cast, but I've done exactly zero sand casting before. I was hoping someone around here may have some input on the best way to go about it.
I guess it doesn't even need to be aluminum p I thought I peaked in elementary school. I was wrong. This is it, my penultimate achievement.
form from aluminum sheet. 3003 .060 or .090. hammer on a bag to get close. Or make a wood buck since you need two, or just replace them all so they look the same. you'll find threads on forming metal bucks here. Fun project
Current best idea is to cut off the mostly good ball corners and then just form a flat sheet to make the quarter round flat section, and rivet it all together.
I saw a guy on youtube restoring an old uhaul box truck. He had similar damage on the corners. Said he ordered new replacement parts straight from uhaul. Might be worth looking into for yours.
Last I knew Uhaul doesn't sell anything. They scrap it when junk. Just like is stamped on yours. The only way you bought it is someone stole it.
Uhaul doesn't sell much, but they do sell stuff from time to time. Where do you think the old trucks and trailers come from? They're not stolen, they were bought from Uhaul. I've got a Uhaul appliance dolly, bought it directly from a Uhaul dealer, reason sold, it had a bad wheel. Paid $25 IIRC, as is. Most of the truck and trailer sales go through the main office, although I have seen some trucks at dealers with for sale signs on them, pretty well stripped of their Uhaul decals though.
@Okie Pete Thats who I was talking about too. Found these w a 5 minute google search. May be worth looking into a little further for the OP.
Yeah, I bought it from a kinda shifty guy who said he was helping clear out his neighbor's property who used to be a uhaul dealer and found it. Idk, I don't really care, you think Uhaul has a strike team to recover antiquated equipment 30 years after it was last used?
U-Haul ordered many 1979 F350 cab/chassis for moving trucks. Oddly enough, they specified the 330 HD truck engine. Many have turned up in private hands.
I know this post is somewhat old but what was said above is 100 percent true. I worked for U haul 32 years ago and the only equipment U-haul will ever sell is old fleet trucks. The post above about buying a appliance dolly from a U-haul dealer is most likely true But a U-haul dealer is not U-haul and I can guarantee you that sale was not authorized by U-haul as U-haul would never authorize a sale of any equipment other than trucks and vans. I learned this my first week there. U-haul equipment is built totally different than any other equipment sold by anyone. And this is done on purpose so they can identify their equipment. And to answer your question as to if "Uhaul has a strike team to recover antiquated equipment 30 years after it was last used?" The answer to that is Yes! As a employee you are trained to watch for equipment that was rented and never returned. If any key person who works for U-haul saw your topper they could take it from you no matter who you bought it from as it is in fact stolen. There have been many cases of old U-haul equipment that has been in private hands for several years being recovered and destroyed by U-haul. It is very cool and you do not see them anymore and the reason is U-haul does not offer them anymore and most all of them have been destroyed other than the stolen ones like you have that have not been recovered yet. I know that is probably not what you wanna hear but it is what it is. Thanks for posting it is awesome and I have not seen one in a long time.
Well I’ll update the thread by saying I emailed the Uhaul technical center for info on this and they responded by saying how rad it was, that it was manufactured in Boston in 1978 and last rented out in December of 91. I have also, tentatively, found someone to sand cast new corner pieces.
An old friend called DMV and said he had an old U-Haul trailer and…. DMV woman cut him off right there and said”You better not have a U-Haul trailer!” My friend quickly hung up!
That's all good and fine that you emailed Uhaul. However that doesn't mean that Uhaul will not recover it from you. Here is the bottomline and if you do not believe me Go to your local Uhaul center (Not a Dealer) and ask to talk to The GM and ask him or her if you have an old piece of Uhaul equipment (other than a Truck) if you can keep it or not? They will tell you the same thing I am about to tell you which is. "If you have that topper say at a car show or out in public, And a employee of Uhaul sees it and decides to call it in. You will lose it right then and there. No if, And's, or but's!! They can take it! and if need be they can have the police explain it to you as well. It sucks! but that topper is not yours! It belongs to Uhaul! and always will. I know of a guy who has an old Uhaul auto transport trailer. He has had it for years, it has been painted blue and had heavy steel fenders welded on it. he put a homemade trailer tag on it and uses it all the time and I have been telling him for years that if the right Uhaul employee see him with it he will be carrying whatever he is hauling on it because they will take it! I worked for Uhaul and have seen equipment recovered more than once. Goodluck to you with this, If I were you I would try and keep it as well Just always remember that you can lose it at anytime by letting others see it. One thing I find Ironic about this is the picture of the part you want to sand cast and replace says it all! "UHAUL NOT TO BE SOLD"
Dude get off your soapbox and let the guy enjoy his box . He has been warned by you twice and another guy . I’ll bring up Pudden’s shop again. He has 2 maybe 3 Ford courier box trucks . One had the top cut off when he found it . He is all over the internet with them . U-Haul hasn’t kicked in his garage doors and hauled off the trucks . The trucks cleared DMV when he titled them . No red flags .
"Dude" As you say! No one is on any soapbox! Whatever the hell that means?? If you read my comments you can see where I clearly tell him that he should keep it and enjoy it. As far as puddins fab shop goes. Not the same thing! Uhaul Does sell Trucks! but that is the only thing they will ever sell! They never have and never will sell Equipment!! look it up for yourself!! The only things Uhaul will ever sell is Box Trucks, (which is what Puddin's Fab has) Tow dollies, And Cab and chassis trucks. Never anything else. I don't care what he does with the box! I would keep it and enjoy it as well if it were me. But because I have worked for Uhaul and have seen first hand them take old equipment out of private hands before. I would always be aware that I could lose it at anytime. One thing I can tell you for 100 percent fact is Uhaul will not bend on their policy's Not for anyone! Listen, Uhaul doesn't give a shit about this old box. It was stolen from them along time ago and it did not really hurt their company. But all it takes is one asshole employee who wants to be a company hero to see this out in public and he will lose it!! that is the facts and the bottomline! It will get recovered and taken to one of many places Uhaul has and it will be destroyed No matter how cool it is.
Number 3 notice from you . I’d think once would have been enough I saw a single wheel trailer type one behind a rat rod at the Robbers Cave car show once . Had stuff bolted all over it . I think it had a hole cut in the back of it with a skeleton crawling out . The third brake lights were bulbs in its eye sockets.
"Cargo Vans" "Box Trucks" "Fleet Trucks" "Moving Vans" "Tomato Tamato" Label their Fleet Vehicles whatever you want. Them and Tow dolly's is still the only equipment Uhaul has and ever will sell. You can find this info on their site. I have determined that trying to be helpful on this thread is just been a big waste of my time. It seems that some of you No matter what the law or Policy is seem to think that you are special and because You might have bought a stolen piece of equipment at a Yard sell or a swapmeet or from a crackhead back in the alley that somehow that piece of equipment is no longer stolen. Well I wish all of you the best of luck in life with that mind set. In my experience Most of the People who think that Rules, Laws, and Policys don't apply to them. Well lets just say there are Special "schools" all over the country who will take them in and teach them about following rules and laws. Some people just have to learn life lessons the hard way.
Well, you can just direct that shit somewhere else, pal. I don't condone stealing or having stolen merchandise. The OP contacted U Haul and they know he has it.
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