Dave Milne

You aren't going to get much extra protection in a roll over with a plastic
hardtop !

--
Dave Milne, Scotland
'99 TJ 4.0 Sahara

"Eric Jermain" <eric22@peoplepc.com> wrote in message
news:vpoig86bhvfk74@corp.supernews.com...
: This does not explain why they rent to hardtop TJs.
:
:
: If I were the OP, I would borrow a friend's hard top for 15 minutes, rent
: the trailer, then drive back to my friend's house and remove the hardtop.
: Problem solved.
:
: "James Nipper" <jnipper@nospam.fdn.com> wrote in message
: news:RZWdnRYQWYIQigaiRVn-iQ@comcast.com...
: >
: >
: > I cannot personally attest to this, but it has been posted here several
: > times by Jeep owners that U-Haul will not rent to a vehicle that has a
: > softop. Obviously, they think such a vehicle is too light to safely
: handle
: > a trailer.
: >
: > --James--
: >
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:

Tirya

> "James Nipper" <jnipper@nospam.fdn.com> wrote in message
> news:RZWdnRYQWYIQigaiRVn-iQ@comcast.com...
> >
> >
> > I cannot personally attest to this, but it has been posted here several
> > times by Jeep owners that U-Haul will not rent to a vehicle that has a
> > softop. Obviously, they think such a vehicle is too light to safely
> handle
> > a trailer.

It depends on the U-Haul outlet. The two that I've visited had no problem
renting a trailer to me, soft top and all. A third that I had gone to (as
well as the corporate website) said "no" because it was a soft top.

The reasoning, from what I can fathom, is that a hard top offers more
protection to the driver if something should happen to the trailer - there's
something solid surrounding the driver, as opposed to just a rollbar and some
canvas and plastic.

My advice to soft top owners is to call around, even if it means it's a little
bit further away. They are out there. =)

Tirya
--
TDC Inca Jeeper
A dirty Jeep is a happy Jeep.

Tirya

> "James Nipper" <jnipper@nospam.fdn.com> wrote in message
> news:RZWdnRYQWYIQigaiRVn-iQ@comcast.com...
> >
> >
> > I cannot personally attest to this, but it has been posted here several
> > times by Jeep owners that U-Haul will not rent to a vehicle that has a
> > softop. Obviously, they think such a vehicle is too light to safely
> handle
> > a trailer.

It depends on the U-Haul outlet. The two that I've visited had no problem
renting a trailer to me, soft top and all. A third that I had gone to (as
well as the corporate website) said "no" because it was a soft top.

The reasoning, from what I can fathom, is that a hard top offers more
protection to the driver if something should happen to the trailer - there's
something solid surrounding the driver, as opposed to just a rollbar and some
canvas and plastic.

My advice to soft top owners is to call around, even if it means it's a little
bit further away. They are out there. =)

Tirya
--
TDC Inca Jeeper
A dirty Jeep is a happy Jeep.

Tirya

> "James Nipper" <jnipper@nospam.fdn.com> wrote in message
> news:RZWdnRYQWYIQigaiRVn-iQ@comcast.com...
> >
> >
> > I cannot personally attest to this, but it has been posted here several
> > times by Jeep owners that U-Haul will not rent to a vehicle that has a
> > softop. Obviously, they think such a vehicle is too light to safely
> handle
> > a trailer.

It depends on the U-Haul outlet. The two that I've visited had no problem
renting a trailer to me, soft top and all. A third that I had gone to (as
well as the corporate website) said "no" because it was a soft top.

The reasoning, from what I can fathom, is that a hard top offers more
protection to the driver if something should happen to the trailer - there's
something solid surrounding the driver, as opposed to just a rollbar and some
canvas and plastic.

My advice to soft top owners is to call around, even if it means it's a little
bit further away. They are out there. =)

Tirya
--
TDC Inca Jeeper
A dirty Jeep is a happy Jeep.

Tirya

"Lon Stowell" <LonDot.Stowell@ComcastPeriod.Net> wrote in message
news:qiDmb.27946$HS4.109535@attbi_s01...

> If you have enough to consider renting a truck, the trailer would be
> to big for a Wrangler. How much was the rental from U*Hell? It might
> be cheaper to either ship your stuff or consider buying a small
> lightweight utility trailer.

I don't think the OP has "enough to consider renting a truck" - I think U-Haul
suggested he "rent a truck" so that he can tow a vehicle dolly with it, with
his Jeep on the dolly. Which, if his move was anything like mine, means that
he would be driving a hella-expensive, three-quarters empty truck that he'd
have to pay mileage and gas for, just so he could pull the dolly with the
Jeep.

The empty weight on a U-Haul 5x8' trailer is approximately 900 pounds (4x8' -
750lbs, 4x6' - 670lbs). Maximum hauling capacity for a TJ is 2000 pounds.
Get the smallest trailer you can (obviously!). In theory you should be able
to use a Class I hitch (max weight 2,000 lbs gross trailer, 200 lbs tongue
weight), but IMHO you'd be better off getting a Class II or III hitch that has
a 2" receiver, as the accessories for the 2" receiver are IMHO better. =)

Be careful how you load the trailer (weight distribution is key), keep your
speed reasonable, remember that mountains are going to be a pain in the a$$
(both up and down), and be sure your swaybar is connected. Pay attention to
trucks passing you and be ready for the backblast of wind.

Good luck!

Tirya
--
TDC Inca Jeeper
A dirty Jeep is a happy Jeep.

Tirya

"Lon Stowell" <LonDot.Stowell@ComcastPeriod.Net> wrote in message
news:qiDmb.27946$HS4.109535@attbi_s01...

> If you have enough to consider renting a truck, the trailer would be
> to big for a Wrangler. How much was the rental from U*Hell? It might
> be cheaper to either ship your stuff or consider buying a small
> lightweight utility trailer.

I don't think the OP has "enough to consider renting a truck" - I think U-Haul
suggested he "rent a truck" so that he can tow a vehicle dolly with it, with
his Jeep on the dolly. Which, if his move was anything like mine, means that
he would be driving a hella-expensive, three-quarters empty truck that he'd
have to pay mileage and gas for, just so he could pull the dolly with the
Jeep.

The empty weight on a U-Haul 5x8' trailer is approximately 900 pounds (4x8' -
750lbs, 4x6' - 670lbs). Maximum hauling capacity for a TJ is 2000 pounds.
Get the smallest trailer you can (obviously!). In theory you should be able
to use a Class I hitch (max weight 2,000 lbs gross trailer, 200 lbs tongue
weight), but IMHO you'd be better off getting a Class II or III hitch that has
a 2" receiver, as the accessories for the 2" receiver are IMHO better. =)

Be careful how you load the trailer (weight distribution is key), keep your
speed reasonable, remember that mountains are going to be a pain in the a$$
(both up and down), and be sure your swaybar is connected. Pay attention to
trucks passing you and be ready for the backblast of wind.

Good luck!

Tirya
--
TDC Inca Jeeper
A dirty Jeep is a happy Jeep.

Tirya

"Lon Stowell" <LonDot.Stowell@ComcastPeriod.Net> wrote in message
news:qiDmb.27946$HS4.109535@attbi_s01...

> If you have enough to consider renting a truck, the trailer would be
> to big for a Wrangler. How much was the rental from U*Hell? It might
> be cheaper to either ship your stuff or consider buying a small
> lightweight utility trailer.

I don't think the OP has "enough to consider renting a truck" - I think U-Haul
suggested he "rent a truck" so that he can tow a vehicle dolly with it, with
his Jeep on the dolly. Which, if his move was anything like mine, means that
he would be driving a hella-expensive, three-quarters empty truck that he'd
have to pay mileage and gas for, just so he could pull the dolly with the
Jeep.

The empty weight on a U-Haul 5x8' trailer is approximately 900 pounds (4x8' -
750lbs, 4x6' - 670lbs). Maximum hauling capacity for a TJ is 2000 pounds.
Get the smallest trailer you can (obviously!). In theory you should be able
to use a Class I hitch (max weight 2,000 lbs gross trailer, 200 lbs tongue
weight), but IMHO you'd be better off getting a Class II or III hitch that has
a 2" receiver, as the accessories for the 2" receiver are IMHO better. =)

Be careful how you load the trailer (weight distribution is key), keep your
speed reasonable, remember that mountains are going to be a pain in the a$$
(both up and down), and be sure your swaybar is connected. Pay attention to
trucks passing you and be ready for the backblast of wind.

Good luck!

Tirya
--
TDC Inca Jeeper
A dirty Jeep is a happy Jeep.

Roy

The wheelbase is not the issue, you need to have at least 10% of
the weight on the tongue. In this case you should be looking at a
couple hundred pounds or so. If you don't grunt when you hook it
up, its not heavy enough.

You can get another effect if the load is top heavy like a lathe
or vertical mill. If you go up hill, the center of gravity is so
high that it shifts back quite a ways. Back to wagging again.

Will Honea wrote:
> On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 20:48:14 UTC "ScriptLizard"
> <yeahright@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>>Hiya, folks...
>>
>>I'm moving from Florida to California in January. I don't have all that much
>>stuff to take with me, just enough to barely fill a small U-Haul trailer.
>>The only problem is, upon researching trailer pricing, U-Haul won't rent a
>>trailer when the towing vehicle has a soft top, which my 2000 Wrangler has.
>>They said something about safety hazards. I'm still researching that crap.
>>
>>Anyway, does anyone here know of another place that rents trailers for
>>one-way travel? or maybe why U-Haul is giving me this crap over the soft
>>top? They suggested that I rent a truck AND a trailer to tow my Jeep which
>>seems somewhat reversely ironic I suppose, but the that quadruples the cost
>>of just renting the trailer.
>>
>>Anyway... any thoughts, my fellow Jeepers?
>
>
> I've seen a few SWB Jeeps pulling those small U-Hauls down the highway
> and "tail wagging the dog" immediately comes to mind. Saw one coming
> back from Denver last week and I'm not sure how he kept from rolling
> the whole thing up in a ball when the trailer started weaving - I
> stood one the brakes and had all 4 wheels squalling figuring I was
> going to 1) have to miss him somehow and 2) he was gonna need some
> help real soon. Those trailers have too short a tongue and you have
> too little wheelbase to be any fun at all.
>

Roy

The wheelbase is not the issue, you need to have at least 10% of
the weight on the tongue. In this case you should be looking at a
couple hundred pounds or so. If you don't grunt when you hook it
up, its not heavy enough.

You can get another effect if the load is top heavy like a lathe
or vertical mill. If you go up hill, the center of gravity is so
high that it shifts back quite a ways. Back to wagging again.

Will Honea wrote:
> On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 20:48:14 UTC "ScriptLizard"
> <yeahright@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>>Hiya, folks...
>>
>>I'm moving from Florida to California in January. I don't have all that much
>>stuff to take with me, just enough to barely fill a small U-Haul trailer.
>>The only problem is, upon researching trailer pricing, U-Haul won't rent a
>>trailer when the towing vehicle has a soft top, which my 2000 Wrangler has.
>>They said something about safety hazards. I'm still researching that crap.
>>
>>Anyway, does anyone here know of another place that rents trailers for
>>one-way travel? or maybe why U-Haul is giving me this crap over the soft
>>top? They suggested that I rent a truck AND a trailer to tow my Jeep which
>>seems somewhat reversely ironic I suppose, but the that quadruples the cost
>>of just renting the trailer.
>>
>>Anyway... any thoughts, my fellow Jeepers?
>
>
> I've seen a few SWB Jeeps pulling those small U-Hauls down the highway
> and "tail wagging the dog" immediately comes to mind. Saw one coming
> back from Denver last week and I'm not sure how he kept from rolling
> the whole thing up in a ball when the trailer started weaving - I
> stood one the brakes and had all 4 wheels squalling figuring I was
> going to 1) have to miss him somehow and 2) he was gonna need some
> help real soon. Those trailers have too short a tongue and you have
> too little wheelbase to be any fun at all.
>

Roy

The wheelbase is not the issue, you need to have at least 10% of
the weight on the tongue. In this case you should be looking at a
couple hundred pounds or so. If you don't grunt when you hook it
up, its not heavy enough.

You can get another effect if the load is top heavy like a lathe
or vertical mill. If you go up hill, the center of gravity is so
high that it shifts back quite a ways. Back to wagging again.

Will Honea wrote:
> On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 20:48:14 UTC "ScriptLizard"
> <yeahright@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>>Hiya, folks...
>>
>>I'm moving from Florida to California in January. I don't have all that much
>>stuff to take with me, just enough to barely fill a small U-Haul trailer.
>>The only problem is, upon researching trailer pricing, U-Haul won't rent a
>>trailer when the towing vehicle has a soft top, which my 2000 Wrangler has.
>>They said something about safety hazards. I'm still researching that crap.
>>
>>Anyway, does anyone here know of another place that rents trailers for
>>one-way travel? or maybe why U-Haul is giving me this crap over the soft
>>top? They suggested that I rent a truck AND a trailer to tow my Jeep which
>>seems somewhat reversely ironic I suppose, but the that quadruples the cost
>>of just renting the trailer.
>>
>>Anyway... any thoughts, my fellow Jeepers?
>
>
> I've seen a few SWB Jeeps pulling those small U-Hauls down the highway
> and "tail wagging the dog" immediately comes to mind. Saw one coming
> back from Denver last week and I'm not sure how he kept from rolling
> the whole thing up in a ball when the trailer started weaving - I
> stood one the brakes and had all 4 wheels squalling figuring I was
> going to 1) have to miss him somehow and 2) he was gonna need some
> help real soon. Those trailers have too short a tongue and you have
> too little wheelbase to be any fun at all.
>