I am moving to Austin in about 6 months and have been trying to figure out how to get all of my stuff and my MCS there. I've seen other threads about towing behind RV's and such, but I will be renting a moving truck and would like to rent a trailer, not buy. Does anyone know where to go to rent a trailer for the MINI, I've heard UHaul etc. wont do it because the MINI clearance, and my mini is also lowered. I wish I could just drive the MINI up into the truck. Any ideas or leads?

 

U-Haul has 2 types of Trailers:
1) A Front Axle Lift - Which requires you to put the rear in neutral or disconnect the drive shaft.

2) A drive on with tire rails. I would think this one would work fine. You could always take your Mini by a big Uhaul rental location and measure it or test it.

Ryder also rents a drive on trailer.

 

Just saw an RV post about the ramp potentially being too steep for the Mini.

Not sure why you couldn't get some 2x6s from Home Depot and use those to make a longer shallower ramp so you could drive up. You would need to make sure to brace them so they didn't slide forward when you started to drive on.

Might be able to stack some bricks etc. You just need to decrease the angle of the ramp so the front bumper clears.

 

Are you doing the move by yourself or with a friend?
when you tie up a trailer to the back of the U-haul, they say not
to exceed 55mph as the braking capacity is not that great. it
could take a LONG time from Seattle to Austin at 55mph...

if you are doing the move with a friend, have him drive the U-Haul
and you drive your MINI separately. you can use blue painter's tape
on the front end along with your side mirrors to protect it from
insects and debris during the trip. you can take the interstate
at the speed limit which should be higher than 55mph in rural
areas.

 

I rented a trailer from Ryder when I moved from Dallas to Portland and the trailer actually lifted up in the front to reduce the angle on the drive up ramps...then you ratchet the trailer bed back down. Might be worth checking out.

 

car dolly. the 2 wheel trailer.

drive up the front and put it in gear then strap the front tires in. we used one to trailer cars cross country for a long time before we ever got a drive up trailer.

as far as exceeding 55 with a car dolly goes, thats the biggest bunch of BS ive ever heard. ive driven cross country at 75-80 mph with a car dolly towing a 4000 lb roadrunner or charger, i think a mini at 65 mph would be safe.

 

Its drivers like you that get people killed each year. Ain't no freakin way you should be pulling a car dolly at 75-80 mph. And I don't care if its a VW let alone a car that weighs 4000lbs. Try and stop in a safe distance at 75-80 mph In California its 55mph while pulling a trailer and the car dolly is considered a trailer. Let the CHP pull you over for towing at 75 to 80 and you get your cars impounded and you go to jail for wreckless driving.

 

Wow ... I wonder how many cars CA gets to sell at auction for reckless Driving?

 

Man, you gotta drive that thing! We're moving across country this spring and I've driving our car there no matter what.

 

Penske car trailer. All four off the road. You need to watch when you fo over the bump at the end to lock the front wheel. If your front is too low crunch. I used a block of wood to go up and over and save the air dam. Thats how I got all my stuff down here. Big truck and car trailer.


Paul

 

Yeah, go ahead and joke about it, but what I'm saying about the speed of 75-80 mph pulling a car dolly is just plain nuts.

And while the state of Ca, or any state for that matter, is really not in the business of impounding cars and then selling them at auction, they will do whatever they need to do to get the idiot drivers off the road.

 

And btw, if you do get thrown in jail for wreckless driving, just look in the yellow pages under the heading of BAIL BONDS.... Its the wreckless drivers who help keep these people making a very good living

 

^^^ +1 let alone, going that fast on a truck that you have no idea if it has
been properly maintained... sure, they can whip up some paperwork..that it
went through inspection like 3k miles ago over who knows how many people
used it (or disassembled it for parts along the way).... i wouldn't take any
chances.

 

Now that i can agree with.

Peske, U Haul, Ryder, I hardly believe those trucks get regular maintenece and service like they should.

I hardly ever rent trucks anymore, now that have one of my own now, but last time we needed one, the truck sounded like it hadnt had its brakes changed for 100k miles.

 

I know Penske does their scheduled maintenance. My dad used to work there as a Diesel mechanic, as well as AMI. The problem lies in the fact people rent them and drive them as if they are stolen and try to turn in without identifying problems.

Lawyers and a litiginous society coupled with maintenance actually improves profits makes sure they get maintained.


Paul

 

Have someone else drive the truck and you DRIVE the MINI.....

 

I'm moving from Austin, TX to Sarasota, FL next month and my MINI is going via FEDEX in an enclosed trailer. I'd drive it, but I don't think I could fit my wife, daughter, and five cats in it.

 

How are FEDEX's prices if you don't mind me asking?

I cannot drive my MINI to Austin because that would leave my wife driving the moving truck, not a good idea.

 

Shipping a car is not all that expensive. I've shipped cars cross country using DAS Auto Shippers http://www.dasautoshippers.com/. Just plug in your origin and destination into their free calculator and they'll e-mail you a quote. Since both your start and end points are major cities, it will be MUCH cheaper if you deliver the car to their depot and pick it up at their depot. Otherwise you are paying for them to subcontract the flatbed service when they pick it up and drop it off. Even if it costs more than renting a trailer, think of all the hassle you save.

Sometimes you can get a better deal by calling their toll-free number. If you are friendly and polite, they might offer you a lower rate if you are flexible about dates.

Let us know how this option prices out over renting and hauling a trailer (remember that hauling it behind your rental truck will increase your fuel cost).

 

Check with U-Hual. I beleive that U-Hual doesn't have an issue with putting a MINI on a drive on trailer (4 wheeled). It's only the two wheel trailers that they get ansy about clearance over...