Renting a cargo trailer is a popular option for a smaller load, or for a few precious items you'd rather haul yourself. It's a different piece of equipment from a car-hauling trailer or a tow dolly — make sure you're renting the type you actually need.
Verify compatibility — don't assume "cars can tow trailers" is enough
Whether your vehicle can safely tow a given trailer depends on the specific vehicle, trailer,
hitch, and load together — not on trailers being generally towable by cars. Before you
commit, verify:
- Your vehicle's tow rating and payload capacity, with passengers and cargo included in the total, not just the trailer's empty weight
- The trailer's axle rating and tongue weight requirements
- Hitch and coupler ratings — a permanently installed hitch and a rented temporary hitch are not interchangeable without checking the actual rating
- Wiring and brake requirements for the trailer size you're renting
- Any manufacturer restrictions on towing for your specific vehicle, especially for AWD/4WD vehicles and EVs, which can have towing limitations that aren't obvious from the general tow-rating number
Your rental company can help with this, but the responsibility for checking your vehicle's actual limits is yours — ask specifically, don't assume "should be fine" covers it.
Before you drive off
Never allow anyone to ride in a trailer, and don't carry hazardous materials or flammables in it (U-Haul's instructions say both).
Provider rules differ: U-Haul, for instance, recommends a maximum of 55 mph when towing its trailers (a provider recommendation, not a nationwide legal limit) — read your rental company's instructions.
Have the rental company demonstrate coupling and the safety chain/connections, check lights, tires, and mirrors, and do a short handling check in a safe, empty area before you're on the road with a real load. Trailers can also be towed behind a rental truck — ask specifically which truck/trailer combinations are approved together, since not every pairing is.
Providers
U-Haul is one example of a company offering trailer rental — mentioned here as an example of the category, not a recommendation. Compare providers using the questions above.
Other PPM/DITY
options:
Check it yourself
Towing limits depend on your specific vehicle, hitch, and trailer. Rules, prices, and instructions change and differ by service, installation, and provider — open the sources below, confirm the current details for yourself, and get your move's specifics from your transportation office in writing.
Helpful Hints
- Consider how comfortable you are driving with a trailer — towing changes braking distance, turning radius, and backing-up behavior.
- Make sure you can actually fit what you're planning. Check the trailer door's dimensions specifically — they're sometimes smaller than the trailer's inner dimensions.