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Bob's Most Excellent Uhaul adventure

3013 Views 7 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  bytesaber, 
BobMc
I am in the process of relocating from Illinois to Michigan. Yes, people are moving into Michigan. We bought a new house, but haven't sold our old one. It seems houses show better with furniture. So we left the bulk of it behind and I rented a uHaul trailer (5x8) move our clothing and other essentials.

Here is what I learned:

Don't trust the people at uHaul. After reserving a 900 lb trailer (8x5) they tried to give me an 1800 lb (6x12) trailer. When, I pointed out that the limit on the Element was 1500 lbs, they seemed confused and told me that they hook up the big trailers to Element's all of the time. I said no, and got the 8x5.

Check the cotter pin on your hitch pin. I had one fail after I picked up the trailer. The hitch pin bounced out and the entire mount became disengaged from the hitch. The It could have been nasty. Luckily I was able to slow down and pull to the side of the road. I'm glad I had the safety chains.

Empty trailers ride much rougher than full trailers. The trailer bounced around considerably before I filled it up. After that, it was as smooth as silk.
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psschmied
BobMc said:
Check the cotter pin on your hitch pin. I had one fail after I picked up the trailer. The hitch pin bounced out and the entire mount became disengaged from the hitch. The It could have been nasty. Luckily I was able to slow down and pull to the side of the road. ..
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It's always a good idea to check a trailer connection frequently. A properly sized cotter pin shouldn't fail, but if the hitch pin uses a cotter pin to retain it, replace the entire hitch pin with locking anti-rattle pin. You can use it whenever you rent a trailer in the future.

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Y
Nice! Where do you buy these hitch pins?

psschmied said:
It's always a good idea to check a trailer connection frequently. A properly sized cotter pin shouldn't fail, but if the hitch pin uses a cotter pin to retain it, replace the entire hitch pin with locking anti-rattle pin. You can use it whenever you rent a trailer in the future.
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GaryS
YH1NBPSC said:
Nice! Where do you buy these hitch pins?
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Google is your friend.
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Tim Vance
YH1NBPSC said:
Nice! Where do you buy these hitch pins?
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Canadian Tire, where else, eh?


(seriously, I've also seen similar ones in Walmart)
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psschmied
YH1NBPSC said:
Nice! Where do you buy these hitch pins?
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Search on "Silent hitch pin".

Nearly every place that sells hitches and a full line of auto accessories, such as Harbor Freight, Pep Boys, Murrays, Walmart, Sears Auto Centers, Canadian Tire etc, offers some form of locking and/or anti-rattle hitch pin.

BTW, the proper fastener for a standard clevis pin on a trainer hitch isn't a standard cotter pin, but a spring bridge clip. A standard cotter pin is a soft metal one-use device that must be bent to stay in position. A spring bridge clip is an improvement, but will wear out over time, faster if it isn't properly sized. A properly sized retaining clip of any type will just barely fit through the hole in the clevis pin.

(The three clips shown below with 1 straight leg are bridge clips, suitable for use with clevis hitch pins; the fourth, called a hairpin clip, isn't. ) :

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Y
D'oh! Duh, google :p Sorry, had a brain fart there. I'll have to check the stores for these, thanks all! :)
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B
BobMc said:
After reserving a 900 lb trailer (8x5) ...
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How did it go? I'm thinking about renting either a 4x8 (850lbs) or a larger 5x8 (900lbs).

Figure after loading i'll be dang close to 1500 (maybe over) and stuff in the back of the Element as well. I have a 2005 5speed Manual AWD EX with a 3500lbs rated hitch.

Things I'd be interested in are how large was your best guess payload? Do you think you went over? Do you think you could of comfortably hauled more than 1500? Cross over any mountains? Will be my first time hauling anything on this vehicle so figured I'd try to find some feedback.

I'm not asking for any opinion on a larger trailer. I don't think larger than a 5x8 is wise on an Element. I could be wrong perhaps. Basically just trying to get a feel for if a heavy 5x8 is pushing it. I'm in a toss up on a very cramped 4x8 or a medium loaded 5x8. Would like to know if I can fill up the 5x8 and possibly approach 2000lbs. Don't know if that is crazy or just something along the lines of needing to drive more careful if choosing to do.

How fast did you drive? They all say 55mph on the side and wondering if you someone could elaborate on that.

Thank you,
-bytes
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