Towing My Vehicle: Tow Dolly, Auto Transport, or Toy Hauler?
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About to embark on a cross-country move or a summer road trip? You might be wondering how to bring your vehicle with you because the price for shipping or renting a car has made you rethink whether you even need it. Let’s introduce you to a car trailer. These trailers (which include tow dollies, auto transports, and toy haulers) allow you to tow your vehicle behind your personal vehicle or moving truck rental and bring it along on any adventure.
Key Takeaways
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How to Tow a Car
Trying to understand how to properly tow a car can be overwhelming at first. To start, you’ll need the following towing equipment requirements for your vehicle:
- Hitch system
- External mirrors on both sides of the vehicle
- Fully operational lighting
A full list of vehicle requirements for the tow dolly, auto transport, and toy hauler is listed on their product information pages and user instruction manuals.
If you are planning on towing a car with your personal vehicle and need a hitch, U-Haul is North America's #1 hitch installer. With more than 1,500 install locations, we can guarantee you'll find a location near you. Tell us your vehicle year, make, and model, and we will show you available trailer hitches and related towing components. You get to choose a hitch from leading brands like Curt, Draw-Tite, B&W, REESE, and Hidden Hitch.
The next step in the process is choosing to use a tow dolly, auto transport, or toy hauler.
What is the Difference Between a Tow Dolly, Auto Transport, and Toy Hauler?
A tow dolly, auto transport, and toy hauler have a lot in common, especially when it comes to loading. No matter which car trailer you are using, you’ll be able to use ratchet straps, security, and safety chains to secure your vehicle while on the road. If you’re a visual learner, there are plenty of videos showing how to load either a tow dolly or an auto transport. When it comes to the differences between a tow dolly, auto transport, and toy hauler, most of them are based on the car you're pulling.
All three are effective options, and they each come with these benefits:
- Towing instead of driving will protect your vehicle from wear and tear, reduce fuel costs, and eliminate the necessity of a second driver
- Three out of four U-Haul customers say it takes 15 minutes or less to load a tow dolly, auto transport, or toy hauler
Tow Dolly
The tow dolly is designed for more lightweight cars that use front-wheel drive transmissions. When using a tow dolly, the rear wheels of the towed vehicle are left on the ground to help take part of the load off your own vehicle. Four-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive cars can be used on a tow dolly as well, but the driveshaft must be disconnected. More in-depth instructions are available in the tow dolly user guide.
It’s also important to note the weight of your own vehicle and the towing capacity of the tow dolly. It’s required that the tow vehicle must weigh at least 750 lbs. more than the vehicle being towed. It’s okay to not know all of this and turn to the pros. Using the U-Haul online reservation tool, input the year, make, model, features (front-wheel drive, four-cylinder engine), and hitch system of both the vehicle used for towing and the vehicle being towed to see if the tow dolly works for you. If you need assistance finding your hitch system rating, U-Haul can help.
Auto Transport
Unlike a tow dolly, an auto transport puts the entire vehicle on the trailer. This allows the car trailer to handle larger vehicles. U-Haul auto transports are built to handle a maximum load of 5,290 lbs. The dual-axle trailer lets you forget all about whether your car is four- or two-wheel drive because it does all the heavy lifting. Don’t forget when loading your vehicle on an auto transport to engage the parking brake, raise the side fender, and slide the ramps back into the latched position before setting off with your vehicle on the auto transport.
Toy Hauler
The toy hauler is a versatile flatbed trailer built for both local and long-distance hauls. With a max load capacity of 6,845 lbs., it can handle everything from off-road vehicles, large SUVs, race cars, and even full-size trucks. The 16-foot deck, drive-over fenders, and three 8-foot ramps make loading and unloading simple, no matter what you’re hauling. Multiple tie-down points and rails are built in to keep your cargo secure. All you need to bring is your own straps before hitting the road with the toy hauler.
How Much is a U-Haul Car Dolly, Auto Transport, and Toy Hauler?
To rent a car trailer from U-Haul, you can visit a U-Haul location in your area, call our reservation phone line, or use the U-Haul online reservation tool to get a rate quote for your local or long-distance moves. All towing equipment rentals come with a free vehicle pre-tow inspection provided at a U-Haul location before the rental.
Can You Tow with a Rental Truck?
Yes, you can tow with a rental truck. If you find yourself unable to meet the vehicle requirements for towing or don’t want to put strain on your personal vehicle, U-Haul has you covered. When getting a rate for a tow dolly, auto transport, or toy hauler, you can also add a truck to your reservation and get a combo discount! Next time you search “where can I rent a car dolly,” consider the #1 choice of do-it-yourself movers at your nearest U-Haul location.