Hauling cars trucks and tractors with a UHAUL rig - DOT stuf

denglish · Sep 12, 2016

After reading rockyridgefarm's post about getting stopped by DOT in Iowa, I wondered about the times I pulled a UHAUL car trailer. How does that work with respect to OTR rules? How come I can rent a UHAUL car trailer, pop a car or truck on there and just take off with no special license, log-book, etc? Does DOT give UHAUL equipment exemptions with respect to log-books and such?

I've hauled cars and trucks on UHAUL several times across many state lines. In 2015, I hauled a Farmall A tractor from eastern NC to central KS in one day on a UHAUL car trailer. I guess I drove about 15 hours straight without any interaction with DOT or any law officers (or any breaks). Did I break a bunch of laws or was I small enough that I was exempt? After reading about Rockyridefarm's encounter, I would be very nervous to do that trip again.

dr sportster · Sep 12, 2016

You don't need a CDL and I don't think the rules apply to a U-Haul trailer.

4520BW · Sep 12, 2016

If you are under 26000 gvw and no air brakes you should not need any thing more than a standard driving licenses.

rockyridgefarm · Sep 12, 2016

Did the trailer have a GVWR over 10,000 lbs? Did your rig have a GCVWR over 26,000 lbs? Doesn't matter what it actually weighs, it matters what it has for a GVWR.

If your answer was "yes" to either of these questions, you'd have been in the exact same boat as me had you been on the detour west of Correctionville.... Except you maybe would not have been pulled over at all because you didn't have Wisconsin Farm plates.

It might have been worse for you. I do have a CDL, DOT number, and Fed Med Card. He might just have put your rig out of service until you found someone with a CDL, Fed Med card, inspection stickers, and DOT number...

Meangreen · Sep 12, 2016

UHaul is generally considered private\non-commercial use. I have never used one of their trailers, but I'm guessing since they are aluminum and meant for standard car hauling they are probably only rated to 7,000 lbs.

As far as the Iowa DOT post, I am an Iowa resident and have pulled tractors all over the state and never been stopped. Just rolled past a DOT officer while I was hauling a tractor on Labor Day and he let me go. I have "Private Not For Hire" stickers on the side of my truck and pull a bumper hitch trailer. What more than likely tipped him off to the gentleman from Wisconsin was the fact he was pulling a gooseneck trailer with nothing on the door of his truck. (I've read that on here several times as being a big no no) Had he had a farm logo and a DOT number, he may or may not have been allowed to roll on. Who knows?

D beatty · Sep 12, 2016

You wouldn't need a CDL or log book. Their large box truck is rated 20,000 lb. max. and 7,500 lb. max. towing. Their car trailers has a 5,290 load max.

denglish · Sep 12, 2016

I'm sure I was way under 7,000 for the trailer and surely under 26,000 for the whole truck and trailer. After these comments, it makes me think that UHAUL keeps their fleet under a size range that won't trigger the commercial regulations.

Thanks for your replies.

D beatty · Sep 12, 2016

You have to stay under 20.000 lbs. on their trucks.

Determined · Sep 12, 2016

Probably an unofficial look the other way for U-hauls, but I would not want to bet the farm on it.
Tried to rent one years ago to move a 48 Dodge for a friend and none of the dealers would rent me a trailer.
Called the next dealer and said I had to move a Honda Prelude, they had me hooked up and rolling in no time.
Drove 40 miles to where the Dodge was sitting and as soon as we started to winch it on, the trailer popped off the hitch as the rental dealer never closed the coupler.

JerryS · Sep 12, 2016

Horning in on DEnglish's post, do laws apply similarly to large camper trailers (25-30 feet) with
gooseneck or fifth-wheel?

Geo-TH,In · Sep 12, 2016

Uhaul won't rent to you if your vehicle can't handle it.
They have hydraulic brakes. 7k trailer can only haul 5 k.

Indiana Dot says all uhaul stop off at weight stations.
DOT boys will laugh at you if you do.

Flemming · Sep 12, 2016

(quoted from post at 11:45:49 09/12/16) Probably an unofficial look the other way for U-hauls, but I would not want to bet the farm on it.
Tried to rent one years ago to move a 48 Dodge for a friend and none of the dealers would rent me a trailer.
Called the next dealer and said I had to move a Honda Prelude, they had me hooked up and rolling in no time.
Drove 40 miles to where the Dodge was sitting and as soon as we started to winch it on, the trailer popped off the hitch as the rental dealer never closed the coupler.

What was your tow vehicle? U-Haul has a cross-reference table, looking at towed vehicle, and lists vehicle they determined are heavy enough to handle tow. Several years ago, tried to rent trailer to tow my mother-in-laws Ford Tempo from MN to FL, using Nissan Quest van. No go. Went back with my old Chevy 1/2 ton pickup, no problem.

Gambles · Sep 12, 2016

How were you able to haul a tractor on a U-Haul trailer? Don't they ask you what vehicle you are going to haul?
If you told them that you were going to haul a tractor on their trailer, did they allow it, or did you tell them you were hauling something else?

jeffcat · Sep 12, 2016

O they can be a pain! I had my Explorer and they wouldn't let me rent anything. They have had too many law sutes cause of people trying just what you guys have said. I now have a full blown Ford Expedition and there are NO problems with that beast.

Determined · Sep 12, 2016

(quoted from post at 17:27:54 09/12/16)

(quoted from post at 11:45:49 09/12/16) Probably an unofficial look the other way for U-hauls, but I would not want to bet the farm on it.
Tried to rent one years ago to move a 48 Dodge for a friend and none of the dealers would rent me a trailer.
Called the next dealer and said I had to move a Honda Prelude, they had me hooked up and rolling in no time.
Drove 40 miles to where the Dodge was sitting and as soon as we started to winch it on, the trailer popped off the hitch as the rental dealer never closed the coupler.

Click to expand...

What was your tow vehicle? U-Haul has a cross-reference table, looking at towed vehicle, and lists vehicle they determined are heavy enough to handle tow. Several years ago, tried to rent trailer to tow my mother-in-laws Ford Tempo from MN to FL, using Nissan Quest van. No go. Went back with my old Chevy 1/2 ton pickup, no problem.

Tow vehicle was a 1-ton dually, problem was the lists did not go back far enough for them to know if a 48 Dodge would fit on the trailer.

mmfan55 · Sep 12, 2016

The rules read : if your tow vehicle
is under 26,001#: and trailer is under
10,001#; no CDL is required: even
though GVWR is 36,000. If tow unit is
over 26,000: a CDL is required. If
trailer is over 10,000 AND combined
GVWR is over 26,000 a CDL is required.
YES the laws have an exemption for U-
haul type units: but: it doesn't
specify u- haul so that exempt status
does apply to all. That is how
someone that can't drive a Datsun can
rent a 26' box truck: hook a 20'
trailer behind it and head cross
country.

NCWayne · Sep 13, 2016

It's ALL about the money they can collect from fees, and fines..........As far as collecting those fines, it all comes down to the fact DOT can follow the rules, or can make up rules as they go. I've heard of both happening more times than I can count.

Bret4207 · Sep 13, 2016

(quoted from post at 12:49:49 09/12/16) After reading rockyridgefarm's post about getting stopped by DOT in Iowa, I wondered about the times I pulled a UHAUL car trailer. How does that work with respect to OTR rules? How come I can rent a UHAUL car trailer, pop a car or truck on there and just take off with no special license, log-book, etc? Does DOT give UHAUL equipment exemptions with respect to log-books and such?

I've hauled cars and trucks on UHAUL several times across many state lines. In 2015, I hauled a Farmall A tractor from eastern NC to central KS in one day on a UHAUL car trailer. I guess I drove about 15 hours straight without any interaction with DOT or any law officers (or any breaks). Did I break a bunch of laws or was I small enough that I was exempt? After reading about Rockyridefarm's encounter, I would be very nervous to do that trip again.

As far as FEDERAL DOT rules and regs, if you were hauling personal property not related to a commercial enterprise, (IOW- moving your residence from one place to another for instance) then you aren't commercial and aren't subject to the FMCSR. Same for campers and RV's- they aren't commercial motor vehicles engaged in interstate commerce so they aren't subject to FEDERAL DOT laws. Now, your state laws may vary widely and that is something each individual state would have to address.

D beatty · Sep 13, 2016

If you look closely at U Haul trucks and trailers they all fall below any Dot regulations.

denglish · Sep 13, 2016

(quoted from post at 15:47:31 09/12/16) How were you able to haul a tractor on a U-Haul trailer? Don't they ask you what vehicle you are going to haul?
If you told them that you were going to haul a tractor on their trailer, did they allow it, or did you tell them you were hauling something else?

When I hauled a Farmall SA on a UHAUL, I told the national office what I was going to haul and I told them the weight and wheel dimensions. The national office said okay. When I called the local rental place, the first one would not do it and the second one I called said okay. When the entered it in their computer the entered the towed vehicle as some kind of car, I don't remember what. I did not lie to them, I told them it was an antique tractor. I had a confirmation number and quote from the national rental line.

Leroy · Sep 13, 2016

U-haul said a full size half ton 74 chevy was not big enough to use with trailer to haul a 98 Buick. Said I would need a one ton before I could rent. Friend and a second friend took second friends trailer behind first friends Dodge dually to bring the broken down Buick home.

Bret4207 · Sep 14, 2016

(quoted from post at 09:45:38 09/13/16) If you look closely at U Haul trucks and trailers they all fall below any Dot regulations.

No sir, they do not. U-Haul has lots of vehicles with GVWRs over 10K lbs that can become CMVs depending on who's driving and why.

Hauling cars trucks and tractors with a UHAUL rig - DOT stuf

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