Auto Transport Trailer for AWD, 4WD and Rear-Drive Cars

It comes down to which wheels drive your car. A tow dolly lifts only the front wheels, so the rear wheels roll on the road. That works for many front-wheel-drive cars. For cars that send power to the rear wheels, rolling those wheels for miles can damage the drivetrain.

Many hybrids and electric vehicles also have towing limits written in the owner's manual. Check yours, and tell us the exact model when you call. We confirm the right equipment for your car.

A loaded auto transport is one of the heaviest trailers you can rent, because it carries a whole car plus the trailer itself. It typically needs a pickup, a larger SUV or a moving truck set up to tow. U-Haul sets requirements based on both the tow vehicle and the car being towed, and we check both when you call.

Have ready:

• Tow vehicle year, make and model
• Hitch receiver and ball details
• The towed car's year, make, model and drive type

If you are pairing it with a moving truck, see the truck plus trailer page.

Slowly, straight and with a spotter. Loading is the part that takes the most care. Follow the instructions printed on the trailer, and use these steps as an overview.

1. Hitch the trailer to the tow vehicle, and make sure the coupler is latched and the tow vehicle is in park with its parking brake set.
2. Park on level ground with room to line up straight behind the trailer.
3. Lower the loading ramps and secure them as shown.
4. Many auto transports typically have a fold-down fender on the driver side, so you can open your door once the car is on. Confirm this at pickup.
5. With a spotter guiding you, drive the car up slowly until the front tires reach the stops.
6. Put the car in park, set its parking brake and turn it off.
7. Attach the tire straps over the tires and tighten them, plus any chain the trailer instructions call for.
8. Raise and secure the ramps and fender.

We show you each part of the trailer at pickup before you load.

Tire straps settle as the tires flex, so they need a recheck. Stop within the first few miles, then at every fuel stop.

• Tighten each tire strap again.
• Confirm the car's parking brake is still set.
• Look at the coupler latch and safety chains.
• Test the trailer lights with a helper.
• Walk around and look at the trailer tires.

A loaded auto transport makes your rig long and heavy. Leave extra stopping distance, take turns wide and keep speeds moderate.

Unloading is loading in reverse, with the same care. Keep the trailer hitched the entire time.

1. Park on level ground with clear space behind the trailer.
2. Lower the ramps and the fender.
3. Remove the tire straps and any chains.
4. Start the car, release its parking brake and back down slowly with a spotter.
5. Raise the ramps and fender, and store the straps as shown.

Never unhitch a trailer while a car is still on it.

A car on a trailer adds a lot of weight behind your truck or SUV. Tires, brakes and suspension all work harder, especially on long grades. As a tire and repair shop, we can check your tow vehicle in the same visit as your pickup.

You get a written estimate split into need and want, and nothing is done without approval. Our free towing inspection page covers the hitch check, and our suspension service page explains what heavy loads do to shocks and springs.

An auto transport is typically the heaviest trailer U-Haul rents, and it is built differently from a dolly. The details below are general guidance. We confirm current specs and the requirements for your two vehicles when you call.

Because the trailer has its own brakes, backing up a steep driveway can feel different. We show you how it behaves at pickup.

A car on a trailer can nearly double the weight your tow vehicle is moving. Grades are where that weight shows up. The I-15 through Cajon Pass is a long pull, and the descent back toward the valley is just as long.

• Before the climb: check the temperature gauge and turn off the air conditioning if the engine starts running hot.
• On the climb: let the speed fall. Stay in the right lanes as posted.
• Before the descent: shift to a lower gear so the engine helps slow the rig.
• On the descent: brake firmly in short applications, then release. Riding the pedal overheats the brakes.
• Speed: California sets 55 mph as the limit for vehicles towing, and a loaded car trailer often feels better slower.
• Following distance: leave far more room than normal. Stopping takes longer with this much weight.

If your truck has a tow or haul mode, use it. Heavy towing is hard on transmission fluid, and our transmission service page explains why it matters after a long haul.