How pissy is U-Haul going to be?

[gijoecam]

But I can't imagine a TrailBlazer weighs significantly less than an Explorer... Corporate probably has them brain washed into thinking that anything with the name Explorer on it is against company policy. Wouldn't come as a shock...

 

[dogfriend]

Corporate probably has them brain washed into thinking that anything with the name Explorer on it is against company policy. Wouldn't come as a shock...

U-Haul (and their employees for the most part) is (are) stupid. :

 

[Curtis]

I had a need for a small trailer - 5x8...
Went to www.uhaul.com, put in I had a 96 Explorer, and it said my vehicle does not meet the requirements to pull the trailer...

I put in my 04 Explorer, and it said the same thing.
I put in 04 Mountaineer, and it would let me reserve the trailer..

So its not just the people at the local locations, its the website too... I don't know why there is so much concern over explorers.. the Firestone tires are long gone!

I didn't need the trailer afterwards... so I cant confirm if the local place would have let me rent it.

 

[TheJackal]

I think thats because the Explorer is too big for U-haul's car trailer - which are typically made from aluminum and not really meant for SUVs.

More info: http://www.uhaul.com/guide/index.aspx?equipment=towing-autotransport

When I use the moving estimator it says this:

Our records indicate this is a recommended towing setup; however, all towing is subject to inspection. We suggest you have your vehicle inspected free of charge at any U-Haul Moving Center prior to the date of your move.

If not, I'm going to be screwed come end of the year, because I can't tow a trailer with the Explorer either. This is all about getting more money out of us, btw.

 

[thepotroast]

Not sure what your Explorer's had done to it, but the curb weight on a 4-door is usually around 4500+. 2-doors are around 4300.

-Joe

Hit the wrong digit...

Arbitrary....a dual axle trailer can carry MORE THAN 4k pound vehicle....

 

[huntman58]

Bumping an old post here with some up dated info. Went to U haul and tried to rent a trail with my explorer and was turned down so off I went to the next one same thing. This went on for the next 4 places also (all U hauls) I ended up renting from a local place an open trailer when I really needed an enclosed trailer. got what I needed done but I have to say they at each place look at my explorer and each time said the same thing they do not rent any thing that will be towed by a ford explore and when I asked why there was no reason given but that it was company policy! Last time I did rent from them was back in 2002 but have not needed them from then on tell now. So yes U-Haul stinks in this as the Monty and Navaho are the same truck as my 1st gen explorer! Grrr maybe when I murder it out I should also remove all badges that say explorer and then just call it what I need it to be! Or maybe we could all send U-Haul pics of explorers, Monty and Navaho’s and ask u-haul what is what because they will rent to two of them and not to the one other one and why is that? If they keep this up we will spread the word and start a boycott of them and also get Ford evolved because who wants to buy a new explorer when they will not be able to use it to tow if that need comes up! Just a thought here after all who is bigger Ford or U-Haul?

 

[Currency]

Not sure what your Explorer's had done to it, but the curb weight on a 4-door is usually around 4500+. 2-doors are around 4300.

-Joe

My explorer with me in it, half a tank of gas, gallon of anti-freeze, gallon of tranny fluid, half gallon of window washer fluid rolls in at 4,530 pounds. I weigh about 175-180.

Like everyone says, I don't see a problem with them renting to explorer owners if they use their explorer to tow with or tow their explorer. Makes me feel like it's similar to racial profiling. I've towed stuff with my explorer, even towed my explorer. Towed another explorer on a dual axle trailer without any issues. I'd go off on those damn u-haul people. Just pisses me off more then anything.... excluding my ex girlfriend. :


You can find anything online.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U-Haul

Ford Explorer

U-Haul will not rent a trailer to be attached to any Ford Explorer.[2] According to U-Haul: "U-Haul has chosen not to rent behind this tow vehicle based on our history of excessive costs in defending lawsuits involving Ford Explorer towing combinations. This policy is not related to safety issues. This is an unusual circumstance for U-Haul." This extends to all production years and models (for example, the ban includes the Ford Explorer Sport Trac) of Explorers, regardless of tire brand that is attached. Ford Explorers can, however, be towed by U-Haul equipment, and U-Haul also manufactures trailer hitches for Explorers.

The ban does not extend to sister vehicles such as the Mercury Mountaineer, Lincoln Aviator, or Mazda Navajo which are all the same vehicle simply re-badged.

Edit: more info

U-Haul trailers

On December 22, 2003, U-Haul, the largest North American equipment rental company, announced that they would prohibit their outlets from renting trailers to persons planning to tow behind Ford Explorers due to liability concerns.[19] This however was completely baseless by that time as the problem had been corrected with the tire recall, and the corrected inflation recommendation.[citation needed] Further, U-Haul did not alter their policies regarding the renting of trailers to persons planning to tow behind the Mercury Mountaineer or Mazda Navajo, which are both mechanically identical to the Ford Explorer.[citation needed]

Edit: Still more.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2004-01-08-uhaul-ford_x.htm

We should all sign a petition and mail it to them telling them because we own explorer and they denied us to use their rental trailers to tow behind our explorer that we will NEVER rent from them again. Remember we are money to them and besides we have cheaper local companies here that rent to me all the time

 

[dogfriend]

I'd never rent from them again regardless. They tried to keep my equipment deposit of $80 even though I returned the trailer in perfect condition. I had to contact my credit card company to get the charge reversed. They suck.

 

[holter95]

Avoid U-Haul like the plague. They have no idea what they're talking about regarding the Explorer (as evidenced by the Mountaineer nonsense). Furthermore, their logistics suck and their equipment is substandard (I wouldn't consider half of their fleet safe for road use). I wouldn't trust a U-Haul if my life depended on it. I personally think that any mishap involving an Explorer was more likely caused by a trailer failure.

Call Penske or Ryder or hit up your local equipment rental shop. They'll appreciate the business and give you better equipment to boot.

Story time: last time I rented a U-Haul they pooched my reservation, and I had to drive 60 miles out of the way to pick up a different vehicle, which was a dilapidated 15 year old Ford E-series 16' box van. It consumed 10 quarts of oil on the trip from Milwaukee to Minneapolis, the AC was inoperable, had a shot thermostat so it overheated every hour, and shook like the wheels were about to fall off. To boot, customer service was rude as hell. The agent who inspected the truck on drop-off yelled "G** D*MN they gave you a piece of s***!"

 

[1_v8_merc]

Here's an idea, rent a U-haul truck or trailer under a false name, pay cash and WRECK the damn thing and never return!

U-haul sucks, their **** is always screwed up, they never fix it.

 

[IZwack]

I hate to be the odd one but we've used U-haul equipment from an Escondido location a few times and we were satisfied. The box truck was new, clean, and powerful enough to get the Samurai over the mountains east of San Diego w/o breaking a sweat. Surge brakes on the trailer worked as expected and I felt that I had control of the rig throughout the entire trip.

 

[dogfriend]

Here's an idea, rent a U-haul truck or trailer under a false name, pay cash

Its been a long time since I attempted to rent anything from Uhaul, but I'm pretty sure they require a credit card deposit for anything you rent (as do most rental places). In fact, I had to dispute the $80 charge that they tried to make on my card after I returned the trailer but was unable to return the next day to sign the paperwork. My credit union took the charge off after I disputed it.

 

[arco777]

I hate to be the odd one but we've used U-haul equipment from an Escondido location a few times and we were satisfied. The box truck was new, clean, and powerful enough to get the Samurai over the mountains east of San Diego w/o breaking a sweat. Surge brakes on the trailer worked as expected and I felt that I had control of the rig throughout the entire trip.

Likewise... last month I drove the exact same truck and trailer as IZwack, pulling my Explorer, from Utah to Arkansas. I was very happy with it. The establishment's owner even sent his son to pick me up in Wyoming because the Ex wasn't running, and gave me a ride back to the office in Utah. The truck and trailer were clean and worked very well.

My recommendation is if you use Uhaul, try the smaller family owned locations.

EDIT: I never heard a word from the guy about a problem towing my Explorer... he just put it into the Uhaul computer system and it said okay. I could see them not renting dollies for Explorers because they're close to the weight limit though.

 

[Currency]

I'm pretty sure they require a credit card deposit for anything you rent

I rented a 26' uhaul truck to move last September and only left a 100 dollar bill for my deposit, They even were kind enough to put it in my girlfriends name and copy her DL but not mine but I told them I would be the one driving it. It was a 2006 chevy, 350 V8 recommended for 3-4 bedroom's. I moved out of a 1970's mobile home, 2 bedroom with an addon storage room. It took every bit of that 26 feet to load all of our crap up in it.

My biggest regrets on renting it are; For have a 350 V8 it felt like it had a hard time getting moving before it had an entire house in it, and that my spotters for backing up SUCKED. Women... lol

I was attempting to backup off of a one lane road into a one lane gravel drive with tree's on one side and mail boxes and tree's on the other side. I had to backup then pull forward taking the entire front left of the truck into a ditch twice just to get it backup into the driveway next to the back of the mobile home. It was my first time driving something this big. I didn't really have any problems driving it other then the PITA time I had backing into that driveway. Not to mention the road was right off a highway then up a rather large hill a passenger car would have a hard time getting up.

Overall for having it an entire day and putting as much gas back in it that I had used cost around $90. Which is a lot cheaper then it would have cost me to haul it all in the back of an S-10 and malibu.

Overall the truck was clean and in good working condition. Better condition then my explorer is currently in

For it being a 2006 it only had 1,600 miles on it
It was a good driving experience since I had never driven anything that big. Also the radio in it sounded a lot better then my stock 94 explorer's premium radio unit

Edit: Not to mention having to load 85% of it myself (Thanks mom for loading 15% of it) then having to unload it all by my self. Pregnant women

Not to mention the whirlpool duet washer and dryer my ex kept. Expensive little pieces of crap I wouldn't recommend them to anyone, about $1,800

 

[KPT]

My brother is in the process of a divorce. I got stuck driving a 26' Uhaul truck with a wrangler on a trailer from New Port Richey, FL to Raleigh, NC. The truck had 18K miles. No complaints, other than that it should have been a diesel. That 8.1 liter GM engine would get the truck to 70 and then it would take 5 minutes to get to 75. Didn't ever get above 75.

It was good timing though, one of my flywheel bolts had backed out (don't get me started on the shop that touched them last) and I used it to get my truck to the shop:

Shouldn't be hard to get a Uhaul trailer with an explorer and the random (not uhaul owned) places that have them. When I rented this trailer:

as I pulled up the guy said is that an explorer? I said nope and that was the end of that.

 

[1_v8_merc]

I used to drive those 26 foot Penske Box trucks, turbo diesel, automatic.
Those things hauled some serious ass for such a large truck.
That thing took corners better than most cars i was driving with on the road, no joke.
(if the truck was empty)

Once you get those turbos spooling, they move, until you hit 75mph, then the stupid governor kicks in.......

U-haul trucks are a poorly maintained joke.
I'd just spend some extra money and get a penske or something.
(make sure it's diesel turbo)

 

[Fordified1]

While I totally agree that U-Haul's refusal to rent trailers for use behind Explorers is stupid beurocratic bullshit. You can blame their equally stupid insurance carrier for this. To keep their insurance costs down, they (U-Haul) had to agree to not rent for Explorer use.

I still use U-haul because they are a good bit cheaper than anyone else. I get around it by picking up the trailer with a friend's truck and then swapping over. I always return the trailer with the Explorer and get some wispers between employees and odd looks, but that's it.

Equally stupid as their willingness to rent to Mounty owners, is that the "no explorers" rule was made before the new generation Explorers were introduced which as we know is a completely different vehicle with rollover issues addressed.

It won't do a bit of good to ***** to U-Haul about this as they view the insurance provider issue as one that they simply have to live with to keep their costs down. If Ford had re-named the explorer with the new chassis design it would have saved a lot of folks a pile of money in insurance and other costs. It's unfortunate, but true. It might have even boosted sales to the more ignorant consumers who beleive the Explorer is roll-over prone. There are still thousands of these morons out there.

 

[huntman58]

The only problem with the swapping of trucks is if any thing dose happen it most likly will be fully on you as they will not cover one cent of it.

It still is all BS. as a explorer was never the problem it has and always will be people thinking the can drive a 4x4 like a vet gggrrrrrr!

 

[Fordified1]

It still is all BS. as a explorer was never the problem it has and always will be people thinking the can drive a 4x4 like a vet gggrrrrrr!

No the real problem is that people let their kids and other passengers (including themselves) ride down the road without wearing their seatbelts.

And imho... If more drivers drove their cars like sports cars regularly, they would know how to handle an emergency situation (like a blowout) and not overcorrect and cause a roll over. Lack of driving prowess, a very quick (maybe too quick for the average driver) rack and pinion steering system and tall skinny tires were the only real defects.

If Ford would have put Eddie B flairs on all the units and used a wider rim with a more positive offset with a slightly wider tire, like most other mid-size SUV's came with, the roll-over percentage would have significantly declined. I have to blame the bean counters at Ford for that to some degree.

I'm running + offset 8" rims with 255-70-15 tires (same height as the stock tires) on my 98 and the difference in emergency or aggressive handeling is like night and day. It also is significantly more stable when heavy towing. One of these days I'll get some stock flares on it so it doesn't look so cheezy.

 

[IZwack]