Caterham on a U-Haul Vehicle Trailer?

[xflow7]

In the latest installment of my never-ending quest to get the NY DMV to once and for all accept my Seven, I am faced with having to take it in for VIN inspection (again!) on this Fri., the 21st.

 

Given the weather, I fear I may have no real choice but to trailer it there; only problem being I don't have a trailer.

 

An option I am considering is to attempt to use a UHaul car trailer, but they are obviously intended for considerably larger vehicles. So, has anyone attempted to use one in the past for a Caterham (non-SV)?

 

I'm guessing I'd need to be creative to keep the break-over angle between ramps/bed sane, but am also curious about whether there are other trailer features that might snag sump, etc.

 

Any insight?

 

Thanks,

 

Dave

[MHKflyer52]

Hi Dave,

 

It might be cheaper to have a flat bed tow truck take your car to the inspection station than using a u-haul car trailer. If your a member of AAA you can have your car towed as a member with just a phone call but you will have to tell them you will need a flat bed tow so they don't send a hook type tow truck. Just a though.

[scannon]

Measure the inside spacing between the wheels and see if your track is wide enough for their trailer. They should be able to tell you that with a phone call.

 

You can minimize the breakover by disconnecting the trailer from the tow vehicle and using the tongue jack to raise the front of the trailer as high as it will go. Maybe even put a block under the jack to maximize the elevation.

 

Have someone watching the underside of the car while you slowly drive it up onto the trailer.

[powderbrake]

Here in Missouri, you are allowed to drive your car to the inspection.

 

U haul also rents a front wheel dolly type trailer. Only the front wheels are off the ground.

[Al N.]

Dave-I second hiring a flatbed to get this done....if you go to the UHaul site, you'll see it recommends a specific procedure for low cars. The UHaul trailers I think have an open deck, so you will probably be fine in terms of sump clearance. I considered renting to get to the Dragon meet, but the price for my number of days of rental was over $1000.

 

Check also about their policy about renting and dropping off at the same location (which is what I'm assuming you'd be doing). My local place couldn't find a place in the UHaul software to figure that out. -Al

[xflow7]

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

It was legal to drive to inspection in Ohio as well, but in NY it is explicitly not legal. Having said that, I did drive it to inspection last time. :leaving:

 

My only hesitation with driving it again this time is weather/road salt related.

 

The inner width of the tires was my biggest concern based on my recollections of the last time I looked at a U-Haul trailer.

 

I will look into having it flat-bedded. I'll just have to do my best to put aside my bad memories of the last time I paid someone to transport my car.

 

Oh, and not being able to figure out how to do a local car trailer rental sounds about right for U-Haul based on my past dealings with them. :banghead:

[homebrew]

Dave, I rented a Uhaul to get my car to the inspection. I had no problems loading, either with width or sump clearance and the bottom of my oil pan is 1.5" below the frame rails. It may have helped that the hitch on the truck I borrowed made the trailer tongue sit high. My car is a +442 Locost, if that gives you any idea of its width.

 

If you think the break over angle is too great you could put a floor jack under the tongue jack, with the trailer hooked up to the ball then raise the floor jack so both the trailer and the back of the truck come up. That would decrease the break over angle. I used to see racers do this all the time back in the old days. :lol:

 

Here's a pic of me headed off to DMV.

 

Jimhttp://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/5925731_DSC00688.JPGhttp://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/2020985658_DSC00689.JPGhttp://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1726746420_DSC00692.JPG

[MHKflyer52]

Homebrew,

 

Nice looking 7. I lived in Newberg, Or and still have family in Portland Metro area so the next time we are up their I will post and let you know so maybe we can meet.

 

Here is a photo of my car on the first trailer in Newberg at our place.

 

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/272584091_DSCN1682.JPG

 

Still had hay on it when I loaded it (the 7 that is). Used a couple 2X10 stacked on top of each other under the pickups rear wheels to help the loading.

[xflow7]

Thanks for the help everyone. As it turns out I managed to arrange things so that I no longer need to take my car in today. But useful to know that a U-Haul is probably do-able in the future if need be.

[Boxologist]

what about rent-Al-Navarro? i heard he specializes in se7ens!:cheers: