Boxster on a U-Haul car trailer?
 

I know some guys use these to take their cars to the track, and maybe some have used them for moving.

What do you all think about placement? In the past (as a construction worker in a previous life), I’ve loaded trailers with weight distributed 60/40, biased to the front.
U-Haul, due to trailer design with wheel stops fixed at the front, wants you to pull the car all the way to the front of the trailer, front (engine) first.

I’ve seen that Porsche drivers back the cars onto the trailer so the engine is in the front.
My thinking is that with the car already balanced about 40/60 front/rear and the far forward placement of the vehicle on the trailer, by loading the car front first the trailer would end up about 60/40 front rear, which would be better than having 75% of the weight on the tongue.

Thoughts?

BTW, making a 2000 mile trip in October. Car carrier and other trailer options are out due to budget, so it’s going on the trailer, one way or another. :)

I picked mine up on a u-haul car trailer. Handled fine but did scrape going on ( plastic underside behind front tires. AND if you load it all the way to the wheel stops, be careful unloading. I pulled my front bumper 1/2 off because it slide on fine, but backing the bumper scraped and pulled loose. If I did it again I would take and put a piece of 3/4" plywood under the front wheels to have clearance when unloading. Or have a friend work the bumper while unloading. Other than that it trailered great behind a 2017 Tundra.
( scared myself a couple times, would look in the rearview mirror and yell at the Porsche to "get off my ***" thought he was tailgating

PW - I've done it twice. Both times I loaded front first, all the way forward. Didn't even feel anything behind me as I brought the cars home.
First time was Tulsa to OKC when I had a water pump fail me.
Second time was this - bringing my spec car project home from Jon (78F350), He's in Eastern Oklahoma, I'm in Southwest Oklahoma. Truck drove fine, Boxster and trailer towed fine.
Rick

Edit: looking through some pictures, I remember another time a few years ago when I U-Hauled home another fine example of a mid-engine, 2 seat Porsche. :) This one was sitting in a barn in the Texas panhandle.

Guy I sold my 01S trailered it home using Uhaul. It had to go on rear first b/c the front lip would not clear the traler front with the wheels in the right tie down place.

Thanks guys. I appreciate it.
Still not sure whether front or rear facing would be better. Now I’m seeing 986 weight distribution numbers at 47/53, so I guess it doesn’t matter.

What do you all think about covering? It’s a 30 hour drive, so I also worry about the cloth flapping and rubbing the paint.
Would covering the car’s painted areas with paper before putting on the cover be overkill?

Sorry guys...I’m worried about her. :o

In my picture above you can see I covered it. Nope. Not again. The wind effect will lift it up and flap the entire time you're going down the road. The picture above is before. By the time I got home all I had was a rag flapping in the breeze. I honestly wouldn't worry about a cover. It's just one more variable to deal with.

Also - if you use the same type of trailer I was using, the engine of the Boxster set right between the trailer axles. It was a very balanced ride.

Here's bringing my '02S back from Tulsa. It was only a couple hour trip, but it came home just like this.

Once you load it, you'll play hell getting the doors open. Better to drop the top and go out over the top.

Yeah, I agree: covering seems like a bad idea to me. Without something to protect it, would quickly wreak havoc with the paint. [PW, what kind of "paper" you referring to, as far as protection? Anything not actually stuck to the paint is gonna flap in the breeze..]

I see the problem with getting the door open. One would have to have a lot of faith in the weather forecast to go top down! One possibility: Pull the car onto the trailer, put the top up, latch it, open the driver's side window, climb out, being careful not to scuff the door paint on the way out. The window can then be closed by the key in the door lock technique.

I agree with Frodo on raising the top for your trip. The trip above was a short trip on a blue sky day. I was just lazy to raise the top knowing I'd have to get back inside the car in a couple o' hours.

But yeah, I think covering the car is just inviting trouble.

Just a thought and it may not be a good one :D but check to see if locally you have some guys that do boat wraps for winter . It is usually white in color and comes on a roll . The material has nylon straps built in every few feet . They stretch it , tie it down then lightly hit it with a heat gun . I see cars on delivery trailers quite often with a similar setup . It would help protect the vehicle and I doubt it would hurt the paint . Now that I think about it throw a cheap cover on first then have the wrap done . Double protection . Good luck with the move .

Didn't realize you could buy the material over the counter , here is one result from a search .


https://www.amazon.com/Winterizing-Proofing-Protecting-Protection-Winterize/dp/B076WMR3CD?tag=pontoon0a-20

Just use painter's paint (masking paint) to cover the front of the car. It will take a while, but it doesn't have to be perfect. You'll have plenty of free time to do that while moving, after all!

If it were me, I wouldn't worry about rock chips or getting the car dirty too much. It won't be any worse than driving the car.

I left the top up and crawled out the driver's side with the window down. It wasn't until I was returning the empty trailer that I noticed the mudguards over the wheels fold down so that you can open the door. Not for the first time I felt like an idiot but fortunately no one saw me crawling in or out.

OOPS! :eek:

That's good to know. I'd have been spending the rest of my life climbing out the top or through the window of every Porsche I drag home.

And I gave up worrying about feeling or looking like an idiot a long time ago, but yeah...

You CAN teach an old dog new tricks! :cheers:

So PW - nosy minds need to know... I understand you've been finishing up some schooling the past few years in the few conversations we've had.

I'm guessing with a 30 hour drive it's connected to a new job? Where you going/what you doing, if I may ask? 30 hours from KC puts you on one end of the country or the other. Or pretty far north.

Rick

My boys in their mid-late 20's protect their cars by covering the front with blue painters tape. Seems to do well keeping bugs/small rocks from damaging the paint. the tape off easy when done and doesn't leave any residue.

BTW, my brother did the tape thing back in the mid-70's driving his new Camaro down the ALCAN from Anchorage. Back then, there was a good 1500 miles of gravel road. Worked great but I can't remember what type of tape he used.

No possibility of driving the car?

I have made that ride before in August with no A/C, not fun! :(

Thanks. I think this is what I’ll end up doing. ;)



Unfortunately, no. I’ll be driving the truck pulling the trailer and we have two other cars to move.

You do know the fenders fold down on a Uhaul trailer right? ;)

I dragged my parts car home 1200 miles on a Uhaul trailer, towed it with a 2011 X5 50i. Pulled great 70-80 mph the whole way.

Used a U-Haul to get my new purchase home. Drove straight on, and the way forward. From prior Miata hauling I had cut 2x6 boards that went under the front tires to raise the front to clear the lower bumper over the U-Haul wheel stops.

What do you guys think about speed?
I planned to keep it at 60 or less for safety, but that adds 5-6 hours to my journey.

No experience with U Haul, but I've always pulled my trailers (with brakes) at full traffic speeds.

Most U-haul trailers have 55MPH posted on the fender for a reason.;)

I’ve never encountered a trailer that didn’t say “55”, but I rarely see anyone following that.
Either way, I plan on 60. ;)

I was just curious what others with actual experience with them had to say. I won’t risk it with my baby back there.

Particlewave,

Do periodic checks on the wheel bearings by checking the wheels or hubs for heat build up if you do much prolonged 60 or over driving.
Those U-haul trailers are prone to bearing problems under long sustained over 60 mph driving condition.

Kalama yup 8 miles. Hope you like rain!!!!!
Do you fish?????

Thanks for the tip! I’ll keep my infrared thermometer in the cab and check them at every stop. 60 will be my top speed...I’ll do my best to keep it a few under. ;)

I haven’t gone fishing in at least a decade, but I might take it up again out there.
I’m not a rain guy, but the wife will love it! I’ll just have to put up with it.

Water everywhere out here. A goodly number of rivers within a 60 mile radius.
Salmon and steelhead the most desired fish with Steelhead being number one.
The fishing is not what it was in years past but they are still in the rivers.
just lower in numbers. Hooking a big Steelhead is just as addictive as driving the Boxster.

Sorry for going of topic:eek:

60 should be good, PW. Slow and steady. Our 1400 mile OW on I5S in 2-34's pulling FB trailers found us doing ~60 all the way. Slow and steady wins the race. Inspect the trailer tires before you leave. We had one blow out on the FW, was reimbursed. No huge deal, but it did set us back a few hours.

Nobody puts baby in a corner. 60mph. ;)

Your towing speed is somewhat dependent on your rig and how it is setup . Does your tow vehicle have a short or long wheelbase ? Does the trailer and cargo out weigh the tow vehicle ? How level or weight balanced is the trailer/tow vehicle ? You will find the answers to these questions pretty quickly on the highway especially after a few tractor trailers pass you . If the tail wags the dog keep the speed down , if it feels steady you can up the speed to the point you are comfortable . Be wary of stopping distances . Have a safe trip ! :cheers:

I pulled one over 2000 miles at 70-80 mph no problems.

directly related to the capability and weight of the towing vehicle?

I will be pulling it with a 20’ U-Haul truck.

Well if that's the case then you won't be going over 50 mph 😁

Watch me :p

I've found that trailer speed really depends on how the trailer is balanced and how much it weights. With a full 12' Uhaul, which probably weights about the same as a 986, I normally average around 60mph. It's not worth going faster, especially downhill. I also would NOT try and cover your 986, flapping fabric will do more damage to the paint than a few rocks. You might look into temporary clear bra, or even masking tape.

I'm glad you are planning take it slow and I hope your move goes well! :cheers:

My trailer weight with the car was just under 5000 lbs. Tow vehicle was a 2011 BMW X5 with twin turbo V8, has a tow rating of 6000 lbs. Load was well balanced with the Boxster on front first, trailer never swayed at all. The Uhaul car trailers are very heavy and tandem axle.

Yes, one good example are the push-back tractors used for the commercial aircraft, because it is fairly easy to break the momentum and get a fully laden aircraft moving, however stopping it when you need it is a different story..

I use to haul 60,000 lbs of flammable, explosive and poisonous gases with a tractor that weighed 12-15,000lbs for a living. The longer the vehicle the more stable it will be at speed. I personally wouldn't drive faster than 70 with what you'll be using because your fuel economy will suck. Does the trailer have brakes? Are they adjustable? If not, then I'd probably keep it down on the speed. Specially when going down hill through the mountains. Most trailer tires are the cheapest tires money can buy. They don't like being over or under inflated. I run mine 5-15 psi lower than the sidewall says. It kind of depends on how high the side wall pressure says to be.

Interesting thread. Just watching the comments on speed. In Europe the max legal towing speed is 80kph or 50mph. Trucks are restricted to this speed and run tachographs to track drivers hours, breaks and speed.

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