Picking up new 914 project. Any tips tricks for loading an inop 914 on a U-haul trailer? Options

[914rrr]

I've used Uhauls to haul home many 914s...

Bring a wheel chock or block of wood. The come along is not going to be long enough to do a single pull. I usually have to block the car halfway up the ramp and reposition the come along.

Depending on the state of the car, I also jack up the front of the trailer so the ramps are more in plane with the trailer bed. If you don't do this the engine bar could get hung up on the back of the trailer coming over the ramp/lip. I've had that happen plenty of times.

Thanks for the heads up. Yup, just bought a whole buncha straps, chains, slings, ratchet straps, a come along and 4 wheel chocks at harbor freight. No engine bar, engine and trans removed and sitting in passenger compartment.

[914rrr]

Hit the easy button and hire a flatbed. I just did it with one of my cars yesterday.

I’ve picked up cars with locked up calipers. The winch on the flatbed moves the car whether or not the wheels roll.

Tempted, but car is 4+ hours away. It would be a hella tow bill! We're making the trip up and back in 1 day. Leaving at 4 AM.

[930cabman]

I've used Uhauls to haul home many 914s...

Bring a wheel chock or block of wood. The come along is not going to be long enough to do a single pull. I usually have to block the car halfway up the ramp and reposition the come along.

Depending on the state of the car, I also jack up the front of the trailer so the ramps are more in plane with the trailer bed. If you don't do this the engine bar could get hung up on the back of the trailer coming over the ramp/lip. I've had that happen plenty of times.

Thanks for the heads up. Yup, just bought a whole buncha straps, chains, slings, ratchet straps, a come along and 4 wheel chocks at harbor freight. No engine bar, engine and trans removed and sitting in passenger compartment.

You will be fine, they are not that heavy. I have used a come along several times, frozen wheels and all. Make sure she is strapped down good and stop every so often to double check. For the price of a U Haul, it's a no brainer. GLWPU

[914rrr]

OK, Rant Time. U-Haul has maintained their 100% perfect record of delivering equipment (trucks, dollys, trailers, etc.) with underinflated tires !!! Employee told me " they didn't have an inflation gauge" WTF ?!?!?!?!? Guess what, I DID !!! Employee proceeded to thump trailer tires with a stick and proclaim "...they're all fine..." Quick check with my Ryobi inflator netted anywhere from 47 psi to 56 psi. They grudgingly agreed to top them all off.

Lesson: NEVER assume U-Haul has properly inflated tires on ANYTHING on their lot. Same goes for equipment maintenance like properly lubed tire strap ratchets (HA HA), broken or missing ramp pins, etc.

[Ishley]

After the first 10 minutes of driving stop and check everything. A few stop and go’s and you’ll know what’s moving around. Check it again after driving a bit on the highway. Place the car facing forward in the trailer.

Good luck!

[ClayPerrine]

Yes - like that - but with potentially no front tow hook you may be tempted to use the rear tow eye. Don't do it. Don't tow/trailer a 914 backwards - you'll blow out the rear window and maybe blow off the roof, too.

Maybe you can use a come-along instead of a winch? It's the same sort of thing as a winch, but has a hook on the end of the ratchet section.

Thanks, that looks like a quicker, easier solution. Something like this?
https://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-cable-w...ller-61964.html

Great advice and cautionary tale! I haven't tried or experienced the 914 backward tow results, but heard from a parts customer or 2 (used windshields) that had their 914 windshield blow out while towing backwards!

From experience.... the owner of the body shop that has Betty's car is a long time 914 owner. He has a 350 Chevy in it, and he used to put it on his trailer to take it to events, and he always put it on backwards to make the tongue weight better.

We were behind him on the freeway, and we watched his top peel off the car and come flying past us. It just missed us. So I suggest that you put it on the trailer facing forward. I have been trailering 914s for years with no issues facing forward.

Clay

[lesorubcheek]

Just a few things from the one we picked up earlier this year. First, those U-Haul car trailers are very nice. It was stable at speed and was a very affordable option. The 914 we picked up had no rear suspension, so the seller used a lift mounted on the rear of his van to pick up the rear of the car and (amazingly) we rolled it up onto the trailer with no problems. Used a tractor with a lift pole to roll it off, even easier.
This car didn't have a key and (of course) the front wheels were turned to the right with the ignition locked. Had to unbolt and remove the steering shaft u-joints so I could move the wheels by hand to steer it. We would never have loaded it if we couldn't straighten the wheels. Always a good idea to have tools handy.
The U-Haul trailer had a folding left side fender so with it folded down you could open the drivers door of the loaded car. The right side didn't fold, so once loaded you couldn't open the passenger side door due to no clearance. Likely not an issue, but good to know ahead of time just in case.
Best of luck with your new 914 and have fun!
Dan

[willieg]

My brother-in-law has used the Uhaul car trailers a couple of times for his 914 and says it is the best way. BTW: I heard a story about a 914 that was put on a trailer backward and the windshield blew out. Urban legend? Maybe but also something to think about.

[willieg]

My brother-in-law has used the Uhaul car trailers a couple of times for his 914 and says it is the best way. BTW: I heard a story about a 914 that was put on a trailer backward and the windshield blew out. Urban legend? Maybe but also something to think about.

[Cairo94507]

Never assume tires are properly inflated on equipment you rent. I always check them before trailering anything anywhere. I also check to make sure all of the lights are working properly. Don't be that guy with no brake/taillights on the road. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[914Sixer]

Not an urban legend, I had a brand new windshield blown out from towing it backwards. Took the new chrome with it. Expensive lesson.

[mepstein]

I towed a bunch of 914’s with u-hauls before I worked at the Porsche shop with a big trailer. There’s no reason to put a 914 on backwards. The 914 is light and the u-haul trailer is heavy. You will barely know the 914 is there. Targa tops and windshields do blow out when trailered backwards. Same with rear trunks. Front trunks have safety latches, rear trunks don’t. Cars are meant to go forwards, not high speed in reverse.
Drive a mile or so with the car on the trailer, hit the brakes, get out and recheck the straps. Be prepared for someone to cut you off or stop short at a yellow light. Trailering a car is a magnet for people to do dumb stuff in front of you. Prepare for the weather. It always starts to rain when you have to load a car.

[FlacaProductions]

Not to hijack, but on the topic of "Cars are meant to go forwards, not high speed in reverse" - why are nearly ALL open car haulers loaded with a reverse-facing vehicle on the top floor? Even new-car/OEM/factory haulers. This makes me itch and I just keep thinking that these vehicles aren't made to travel backwards at speed...but I must be missing something since everyone's doing it.

[Superhawk996]

Not to hijack, but on the topic of "Cars are meant to go forwards, not high speed in reverse" - why are nearly ALL open car haulers loaded with a reverse-facing vehicle on the top floor? Even new-car/OEM/factory haulers. This makes me itch and I just keep thinking that these vehicles aren't made to travel backwards at speed...but I must be missing something since everyone's doing it.

Completely different scenario with modern cars where glass is bonded to the body and with functional body seals. Modern glass is not going to blow out.

Spend some time on Google images. How the first top level car is loaded is pretty random. Depends on the truck, the trailer, the size of vehicle being loaded, and driver preference managing the load and center of gravity. I’ve seen plenty of car haulers loaded in my life at the factory and see it done both ways.

[mepstein]

Like Phil said, modern cars are different. I gave Jarred a rear trunk lid when his was towed backwards and the hood sprung. No reason to tow it backwards, especially when the A-arms make great points to strap the winch.

[914rrr]

Congratulations... BTW it didn't happen unless there are pictures.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/first.gif)

Regards, Rob Watson

Here ya go! 3+ hour ordeal getting it on the trailer: discs dragging badly, crappy HF come-along wouldn't release reliably, tires wouldn't stay aired, etc., etc. almost late getting back home to U-Haul for the trailer return, luckily it rolled off way easier than it went on.

I discovered this 74 is already in the register. More details to follow.

[914rrr]

...passed the all important jack test!!

[930cabman]

Is that a longish hole in the lower portion of the door? but the long looks good. Glad you made it home in one piece and good luck with the resto

[CCE]

I use the tow hooks in the lower front and back, the day my coil failed.

They worked fine.

[Unobtanium-inc]

Both 914 projects I trailered home had one or more frozen calipers. That can make things trickier unless you have confirmation that it actually, you know, rolls. If not, bring enough tools to remove calipers as needed.

Ah yes, been there, done that! Confirmed they weren't frozen, bringing tools and pry bars just in case. Quasi-bonus, the brake lines are rotted away... so no fluid, no pressure!

Just be happy it has wheels, it's a lot harder when they don't....