Towing Camaro on a Rental Trailer (Penske / Uhaul / Budget)

**BigFrog** · 07-01-2016, 10:31 AM

Greetings all!

I am relocating 2200 miles and want to put by 2002 Camaro SS on a Penske rental trailer, but the rep said the car is "too low and too wide" to fit on the trailer. The specs on the trailer are that it can carry 4300 lbs (more than I need by far), maximum wheelbase of 125" (the Camaro is 101.1"), maximum outside tire width 75" (my car measures 71"), minimum inside tire width 42" (My car measures 52"). So it looks like the problem is the clearance and getting it on and off the trailer (which only has to happen one time each).

Has anyone attempted this or done it? If I can get that car on and off the trailer without damaging the car (or the trailer) I don't see any reason not to do so.

Thoughts?

THANK YOU!

DN

***SMWS6TA*** · 07-01-2016, 11:53 AM

I know you can use a Uhaul long trailer. You have to a) don't let the front wheels go down onto the well it has. Use a board to fill the gap then roll onto them. Otherwise it will break the air damn. OR b) hold short of the well and use your own tie down straps. Make sure they are rated for the load. I also used 2"x12"x6' with a spacer board to give it a less steap angle to load on the ramps. Also make sure your car is centered to clear exhaust. Sounds like a PITA but it's what's got to be done to tow safely.

You can also remove the air dam with both methods.

**sjgreen6** · 07-02-2016, 06:22 AM

I agree with Scott. In fact I used two 2" thick by 10" wide boards stacked and staggered to reduce the ramp angle. Bottom board was 3 feet long, next up two feet long. All boards screwed together and placed under the end of the trailer ramp. You'll need a good spotter to ensure you are dead center and that you are clearing all around as you ease carefully up on to the trailer. You also need to watch the angle of the trailer to the ground. In other words if you don't have perfectly level ground then load the trailer with the front of the trailer pointing up hill. If the front is pointing down hill it will increase the loading angle and make it harder to load without scraping. Once you are on the trailer and have the front wheel nets secure, be sure to have padding for all of the points where the chains will go over your rear axle.

**BigFrog** · 07-02-2016, 11:20 AM

Thank you both! I have a nice flat paved area to load, a good spotter and plenty of lumber. I may take a few photos to post later, unless I high center the car and smoke the tires all over and rip it to shreds...

**sjgreen6** · 07-03-2016, 06:08 AM

The scary part is leaving it parked in a random hotel lot each night during the trip and hoping some jackass won't do something to it.

**BigFrog** · 07-03-2016, 10:50 AM

I will have four nights of that... Even worse is that it will be behind a 26' Penske Truck, so I won't be able to see it. My wife will be trailing in her car and we have two-way radios. I am sure she is going to love hearing "Is the Camaro still OK?" every 30 seconds for 5 days.

I was also thinking of pulling the truck up so my car is right in front of the desk clerk and telling them the truck broke down but they said not to touch it and they will be out in the morning to fix it.

***SMWS6TA*** · 07-08-2016, 08:52 AM

Originally Posted by BigFrog

I will have four nights of that... Even worse is that it will be behind a 26' Penske Truck, so I won't be able to see it. My wife will be trailing in her car and we have two-way radios. I am sure she is going to love hearing "Is the Camaro still OK?" every 30 seconds for 5 days.

I was also thinking of pulling the truck up so my car is right in front of the desk clerk and telling them the truck broke down but they said not to touch it and they will be out in the morning to fix it.

Or offer a $20 if they'll watch it over night.

That's the one thing I hate about uhaul trailers there is no locking point to keep some random jackass from unhooking the trailer. On long distance drives I would throw a chain on the front and rear with a lock on it. That way it would deter some asshole from trying to unload it for at least a few extra mins.