Hauling a bus on uhaul trailer

[ohiovw]

I’m picking up my bayfront this weekend. The plan was to rent a uhaul trailer, the vehicle hauler that the entire vehicle sits on. All 4 wheels, not the front 2 wheel style. If there is any advice from anyone that’s done it already I’m all ears.

[crownline]

I towed my 72 from upstate NY to upstate Wisconsin on a uhaul trailer behind a 15ft uhaul truck. Had no issues just check the tie down straps every time you stop.
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1972 Bus 1700 cc Single Carb. But not a progressive.
Barelymuvin
Wish I still had the ones I got rid of.

"It"s got some dings and dents and neither of us is going to SEMA."(Update, I went to SEMA in 2019 but the Bus stayed home)
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[KTPhil]

What parts of the Bus are best to tie to? Front beam, tires, what about the rear? Never done it, sorry for the dumb questions!

[richparker]

A U-Haul car trailer has the straps that go over the tires. You do not strap the frame down. I have used one a couple of times. There’s no issues.
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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
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[ohiovw]

[richparker]

Link

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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’71 Double Cab

[SGKent]

just remember that a bus weighs maybe 3800 pounds. The trailer another 2200+. That is 6000 - 6500 pounds you will be pulling. Leave plenty of distance to stop and take it easy. Also keep in mind that it puts a strain on the car or truck that is towing, regardless of its capacity, and do make sure that you have an adequate hitch and towing capacity. Good news is that it is not 100F outside. Bad news is that ice can happen this time of the year especially on bridges in cold weather. Have a safe trip. Also keep in mind that the trailer is wider than a car, and that if it has a hitch operated braking system instead of electric, it can be a problem backing up, especially uphill.
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Skills@EuroCarsPlus:
"never time to do it right but always time to do it twice"

[ohiovw]

Thanks for the info guys. I appreciate it.

[andrewtf]

If you don't mind -

Where to and Where from?

But only if you want to share.
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'75 Riviera - 'BIG EMMA' - Travel Beast
'77 Riviera - 'Murphy' - Daily driver in nice weather
'78 Westy - New to the family
'63 Austin Healey - sitting alone in a museum

[Gashog]

Haiuled a 72 deluxe from CT to TX. Only problem was the fucking traffic on I95… never again…, but the trailer did great. I did strap the back down, in retrospect, probably didn’t need too. Bus had a crate Subaru keeping the rear end down.

[Abscate]

60 mph. No faster. Triple your following distance.

Yes it has surge brakes. Are you going to inspect the pads, drums, and shoes or just assume it’s all good?

I don’t either. That’s why you triple your following distance.
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[aeromech]

I just did this on Saturday. 1987 Vanagon.

Trailer was $59.20 from Uhaul
Round trip rental
Picked up at 0700, returned at 1600
280 miles up to Beverly Hills and back to San Diego
2006 F150 with 5.4 V8
Gasoline was 22 gallons X $4.27 = about $100

My Truck struggled at times. Van was loaded with parts

Strap down the front tires and chain down the rear

When I got home I found the left from tire net had come loose. There’s a forward chain on the trailer I didn’t use but wish I did.

For those of you who knew Tom Powell, this was his Vanagon and his kids want to finally sell it. Tom died about 4 years ago. I’m going to get the fuel lines fixed and get it ready for sale. Then try to find a good home for it. The bulk of the proceeds will go back to his family.
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Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
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VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
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[Abscate]

Aloha, Gary

-Abscate for tp


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[Wildthings]

You can always rent a Uhaul truck to do the towing as well. We did a 300 mile tow using a Uhaul truck and a trailer 6-7 years ago for around $250 IIRC. Had I used my own truck I would have put double the miles on it and spent another very long day (600 miles) on the road.

[sodbuster]

Had the pilot bearing on my old 79 camper friction weld itself to the mainshaft of the transaxle once. Thought it was the clutch at the time. it left me stranded in Albuquerque NM. I rented a u-haul trailer and a box van. I loaded everything I was hauling in the bus into the box van loaded the bus on the trailer and towed it home to Southern California. No issues and one fuel stop. (diesel box van.)

Got to say that those U-haul guys in New Mexico were the best. I had left my bus at a VW dealer that did nothing more than stare at my bus and scratch their heads for a whole day before deciding they really didn't want to work on it. I had to get a hotel for one night. I made my arrangements for the u-haul over the phone and those nice folks came out the next day to pick me up to take me out to the truck and trailer. Great folks.

[richparker]

In 2013 I was on a MTB trip in Fruita. On the way home I was aproching a stale green light and it changed on me. I slammed on the brakes and one of the rear cylinders popped out of its housing. It was my fault, I should have been more prepared for the light to change and I also didn’t have the brakes properly adjusted. I’ve since been schooled on how to properly set up VW drum brakes. I called uhaul, made the arrangements and they came and picked me up.

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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’71 Double Cab

[Stinky123]

You should not chain the body down....suspension yes, body no. The body needs to be able to spring up and down.

A U-haul trailer has surge brakes....IOW, the trailer automatically applies the brakes.

richparker....that Burger King is now closed. It took me about a minute to figure out where the pic was taken.

[riva]

What tow vehicle?

[DanM]

It's worth noting that U-Haul trailers don't have a winch on them, so if your bus isn't running/driving you need to get creative to get it on the trailer and in position to be tied down.

[Vangabonders]

I towed mine 12 hours like this with no problems.

Or you can always do it like this


Link

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73 tintop to poptop westfalia (Frankenbus)