[Mgs] MG, how heavy art thou? And, a fateful tale of four fenders

[Phil Bates]

Let me tell you my U-Haul experience.  Now you have to keep in mind that
this was not planned, it was an emergency, and so U-haul may not have
exactly been prepared for this.

When my Porsche broke down (missing a piston when it finally stopped) I
hitched a ride to the nearest town - 27 miles south.  This was followed by
renting a U-haul car hauler.  I asked for  a come along, as I knew I
couldn't push the Porsche up, or drive it up.  The replay was go 60 miles
North to Wal-Mart.  So I did.  I got the car on the trailer, and headed
back.  Since the trailer says don't exceed 45 mph, I decided to take the
old highway roads rather than the freeway, and I went 55 because we all
think that 45 mph thing is a CYA tactic.  After 12 hours of driving I got
a motel and slept.  Got up in the morning, and headed off (across Colorado
on US40).  Bout 20 miles from the motel, I heard some noises.  One car
hauler tire was flat.  I pulled over.  Another one was smoking from bad
bearings, and was going to be flat soon.  So, someone happened along with
a cell phone, and I called U-haul.  They said I was in a bad location. 
That was true.  The guy with the cell phone said there was a phone at the
small town of Elk Springs, and I could leave the trailer, and drive 3
miles up there.  Good idea - I'd never think of that - I've never hauled
anything before.  U haul assured me that a replacement trailer was on it's
way from Grand Junction, CO, and it would be about 3 hours.  This was July
3 about 4 years ago - I was happy to get any help that day, with the 4h
the next day (and I think it was a weekend, but I don't remember).  Six
hours later the trailer came to me.

I swapped car hauling trailers, and headed to the freeway - that way when
it happened again, I'd not be in a "bad location."

All in all, it worked out - but the experience was no fun.  And I'm still
working on the porsche.

MG's have not been quite so bad, although I did have to tow one once too.

Phil


> If you are going to use it a few times, I would recommend getting your own
> trailer.  First, U-Haul will give you a fit unless you have the right
> truck,
> or you rent one of theirs.  U-Haul is notorious for causing great pains to
> renters, from long wait times with disgruntled staff that are overbooked
> from the toll free dispatch to difficult CYA rental policies.
>
> And if you have your own trailer, you'll get more use out of it than a
> pickup truck and you won't pay as much for it.  At 25xxlbs, you are just
> over the towing capacity of just about any car.   For short distances, I
> wouldn't worry about that at all, for long distances, you'll want the
> biggest truck you can find simply for the comfort of having the trailer do
> what its told.  Smaller trucks tend to "follow" the trailer more.
>
> I've towed two GTs 3 times on 3 different kinds of trailers, one of which
> was a U-Haul.
>
> -Steve
>
> On 7/3/07, Paul Hunt <paul.hunt1 at blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>> Kerbside weights (full tank plus all extras) range from 2303lb for an
>> early
>> roadster to 2529 for a late rubber bumper GT V8.  An early roadster
>> unladen
>> weight is given as 1920lb i.e. no fuel or extras.  Dry engine with
>> clutch
>> is
>> 358lb for an early 3-bearing.  Gearbox is 78lb.  Rear axle 117.5lb for
>> disc
>> wheels, 123lb for wires.  Info from the Leyland Workshop Manual.
>>
>> PaulH.
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> > I'm torn between renting the u-haul or buying, but I need to know
>> weight
>> > of car.
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>>
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>>
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> _______________________________________________
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>
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