Trying to pick up a 1940 Oldsmobile, unfortunately it is 400+ miles away. Shippers want WAY too much too get it here, I would like to bring her back myself. Have a decent truck and a tow bar, but the tires on the car are older than dirt. Are there any modern tires/rims that will bolt up to it, so that I can tow it home? Specs on the 'net say it has 6.50x16 tires on it stock? Thanks in advance!
As already mentioned, get a U-Haul trailer and haul it back. If it's going to be a short haul, less than 1200 miles round trip, I generally will rent one near my home and return it to the same location. Around here you can rent them for $50.00 a day if returned to the same place. Good luck. B.t.w... Tires are not your only concern when flat towing. Many other things can get you in trouble...
I went like 250 miles or so one way with a uhaul trailer. I'd do it again. I think I paid like 40$ picked it up saturday morning brought it back sunday afternoon. wife and I drove there picked it up found a nce notell motel on the way back. all in all was a fun road trip. trailer+ gas+ motel & dinner = $300.
Ditto on the uhaul trailer. I have a 18 foot car trailer with a 2 foot beaver tail that I use for hauling tractors, but loading low cars is a real pain. I have rented a uhaul trailer three times and left mine at home. The uhaul is designed to haul cars. If I could buy one I would! With insurance for 10k (trailer is valued at 5k) it was 59 bucks three weeks ago. Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
Just remember the uhaul doesn't have a winch. I had to pull my deuce on with a lawn tractor. A come along will probably work
OK, didn't mean to ruffle any feathers here. I was trying to find a quick answer while hashing out a deal while on my 30-minutes-of-internet-access-during lunch, sorry. Intro has been posted. If I had a bigger truck the U-haul thing would work, unfortunately it's a V6 Dodge Dakota. It does ok hauling my heavy motorcycle trailer and a bike, don't think it would fare so well hauling a car trailer AND a car. Just looking into alternatives.
I woudn't flat tow anything behind a Dakota. Flat towing is done every day, but it's not my idea of a good time. Fly out and rent a one way u-haul and trailer (or Hertz/Budget). Another option is the guys here on the HAMB that haul cars. I think they are pretty reasonable. What do you consider "way to much" to haul it 400 miles?
I have used a u-haul trailer in the past to haul my '40 from Socal to Vegas, they are pretty smooth but very heavy. If I were you I would go with a package deal, truck & trailer. That way, if any problems arise, u-haul can help you out.
Yeah, that might be the way to go. I'm getting quoted $600-700 dollars to haul it 400 miles I'm working with the guy right now, he may end up hauling it out for me.
You have to figure the hauling home as part of the deal. If it's too much for ya, don't get it, if ya gotta have it, figure it in the prise and go get it. Uhaul trailors are aluminium, not too heavy.
If your heap will flat tow it, it will handle the newer light weight U Haul trailers also. My 4.0 V6 Ranger is smaller than yours and I have towed a car trailer behind it. Just keep your wits about you, don't haul ass and leave space between you and the next dude. Once you start rolling, the truck won't know if its a trailer or not.
I tow everything with my 98 Dakota , but its got a 318 and load helpers etc . set to go , drives tows and flat tows better than my 84 ferd and its more comfortable just gotta watch out for the stupid people but that goes no mater what you drive or ride, like said above id U-Haul it or get one of the guys on here that's set up for it ........ worth every penny .
do the math before you make the decision to haul it yourself. cost of rental truck + cost of rental trailer + fuel + comealong + incidentals + time
I have hauled a bunch of cars with a trailer behind my Dakota V6. Its rough going up hills, kinda slow, but it will pull it. I say rent a Uhaul also. Their trailers are balanced right for hauling a car. No way would I flat tow a car that old,just asking for trouble. Just don't tell U haul what kind of car your are towing. Tell them its a 32 Ford coupe because they actually have that in their computer.
Get ya a buddy with a trailer,and go get it...save the money and have some fun,when your done you will have a cool story to tell...
Yeah, I've got a few of those from running after bikes! If the U-haul trailers are light she might be able to handle it, my motorcycle trailer is something I converted from an old landscaping trailer, it weighs over 1000 pounds unloaded!
^^^^^done that on more than one occasion too............. just a matter of finding a loading dock on both ends of the run , need some really really long ramps other wise
Tow dollies are about as risky as flat towing a car you are unfamiliar with. One of the cars I hauled with the trailer I thought of using a tow dolly for. On the ride home on the trailer, one of the rear spring shackles failed. Turns out the underside of the car was far more rusted than it looked when I loaded it. If the shackle had gone towing it with the dolly, would have been catastrophic. Got to have good tires, suspension, bearings, etc if you go that route. If you have not seen the car I would not do it. Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
The biggest plus about renting a trailer is that they are equipped with surge brakes. You can go to U-Hauls web page and figure out the cost and whether your rig will work. Sometimes ya just got to tell them you're picking up something lighter.
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Back to the original question. My buddy has a 41 Olds, it takes the same bolt pattern as a Chevy Astro van. 5 on 5 bolt pattern. Find a set with tires at a local junkyard.
im pretty sure you need a 3/4 ton truck in order to rent the trailer from u haul, ask them, figure your time and gas plus getting some good tires for the old car and at least one spare, you might just realize having someone else haul it would be the way to go if you have the money,
Nope. I rented full car hauler and used my 07 V6 Wrangler. Pulled a 30 Tudor, Pulled great and Uhaul had no problems
I have a 01 v6 dakota quad cab and had to haul both over hilly terrain and on interstates with a 47 ford tudor sedan. sometimes it was a little slow on steep hills but not bad. that was 5 years ago and I still have the truck, so no damage done. U-haul didn't say anything about my truck. buy the insurance too