Help! Car protection for long trailer ride behind a uhaul - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Kronos · 04-04-2014, 12:55 AM

In just under a month i'm moving from St. Louis MO to Boulder CO. I'll be putting my frs up on a trailer which will be attached to and pulled by the uhaul and all I can see in my head is my car being pummeled with random rocks and gravel for the 13 hour drive. So I considered getting a car cover. However I'm reading now that car covers can cause paint swirls. Considering the car will be in the wind for so long I'm guessing it would not go over well for my paint. Any suggestions would be fantastic!

ZionsWrath · 04-04-2014, 01:03 AM

Pay a transport? I imagine hauling a car with a uhaul is going to cost quite a bit in fuel and renting equipment. Put that money towards a car transport and have peace of mind and it will be insured in case of accident or damage.

humfrz · 04-04-2014, 01:14 AM

Maybe purchase an inexpensive, generic bra for the front.

It wouldn't have to fit all that well nor be all that durable.

humfrz

jebuwh · 04-04-2014, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kronos

In just under a month i'm moving from St. Louis MO to Boulder CO. I'll be putting my frs up on a trailer which will be attached to and pulled by the uhaul and all I can see in my head is my car being pummeled with random rocks and gravel for the 13 hour drive. So I considered getting a car cover. However I'm reading now that car covers can cause paint swirls. Considering the car will be in the wind for so long I'm guessing it would not go over well for my paint. Any suggestions would be fantastic!

I just did the Utah to southern California move with the FRS on a trailer behind a uhaul. About 12 hour drive. It honestly did really well. The uhaul was wide enough to protect it from anything hitting it. That was my experience anyways.

PRG3000 · 04-04-2014, 03:36 AM

First, just relax. Second, you don't need anything. I've towed my car 1200 miles from Maryland to Florida before on a UHaul trailer behind the UHaul truck. The car will not touch anything. The thing is basically going to be 'tailgating' the truck all the way. Wind will barely even hit it. As far as rocks go, the car has an extra 2-3 feet of ground clearance thanks to the trailer, and not far enough back to really get hit w anything. Pay for it to be transported if you want, it's your money.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Rio · 04-04-2014, 04:26 AM

Vinyl wrap! Just like car manufacturers do.

roddy · 04-04-2014, 06:50 AM

Buy a few rolls of masking tape and cover the front bumper, as well as the leading edges of the front fenders, hood, windshield pillars, and roof. You'll be fine.

dnieves · 04-04-2014, 06:57 AM

Don't forget to put masking (painter's) tape over the mirrors as well.

regal · 04-04-2014, 08:39 AM

The gas extra gas you'll burn may want to consider a cheap one way flight back and drive it. I hate trailering long distance. The FRs is a wonderful car to drive on long trips, its a real bonding experience.

Turbo95eg6 · 04-04-2014, 09:12 AM

Just do the cover, I assure you your car has plenty of swirls already.

HunterGreene · 04-04-2014, 09:18 AM

If you do end up putting it on a trailer, don't forget to fold your side mirrors in as well.

Jyn · 04-04-2014, 11:01 AM

Two options:
Flatbed trailer - use painter's tape on front, hood, and side mirrors. Fold your side mirrors in.

Transport - I used Google, found a reputable site that basically puts your car up for auction, transporters bid on it, then they connect you with the transporter and you set up the logistics that way. It was a lot cheaper than I expected - cheaper than a flight for me. You may want to research this option if you have more time.

n2oinferno · 04-04-2014, 11:16 AM

It'll be fine.

I did it, some >800 miles over 16 hours or so, ten years ago. No damage to the vehicle at all.

bcj · 04-04-2014, 11:19 AM

You can get rolls of carpet protector that would go on and off pretty easily.
Plastic sheeting with tacky glue on the back. Mostly used during remodels to keep dirt and paint off.
A lot like the OEM shipping panel protectant. You can cut to fit.

04-04-2014, 12:55 AM	#1
Kronos Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Drives: Asphalt FR-S MT Location: St. Louis MO Posts: 352 Thanks: 324 Thanked 126 Times in 82 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Help! Car protection for long trailer ride behind a uhaul In just under a month i'm moving from St. Louis MO to Boulder CO. I'll be putting my frs up on a trailer which will be attached to and pulled by the uhaul and all I can see in my head is my car being pummeled with random rocks and gravel for the 13 hour drive. So I considered getting a car cover. However I'm reading now that car covers can cause paint swirls. Considering the car will be in the wind for so long I'm guessing it would not go over well for my paint. Any suggestions would be fantastic!

04-04-2014, 04:26 AM	#6
Rio Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Drives: 2014 Scion FR-S ハチ Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,048 Thanks: 744 Thanked 390 Times in 241 Posts Mentioned: 131 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Vinyl wrap! Just like car manufacturers do. __________________

04-04-2014, 06:50 AM	#7
roddy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Drives: '13 Ultramarine Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 2,243 Thanks: 1,476 Thanked 1,165 Times in 685 Posts Mentioned: 15 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Buy a few rolls of masking tape and cover the front bumper, as well as the leading edges of the front fenders, hood, windshield pillars, and roof. You'll be fine. __________________ no man with a good car needs to be justified...

04-04-2014, 08:39 AM	#9
regal Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: Scion FR-S/Toyota Yaris Location: PA Posts: 1,438 Thanks: 21 Thanked 316 Times in 232 Posts Mentioned: 21 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	The gas extra gas you'll burn may want to consider a cheap one way flight back and drive it. I hate trailering long distance. The FRs is a wonderful car to drive on long trips, its a real bonding experience. __________________ 2013 FRS Argento Silver 6MT Mods: Clear fender side lights Tactrix ZA1JB01C 2014 Calib

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04-04-2014, 01:03 AM	#2
ZionsWrath Thanks Join Date: Apr 2013 Drives: BRZ Location: NY Posts: 4,163 Thanks: 5,989 Thanked 3,100 Times in 1,498 Posts Mentioned: 38 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	Pay a transport? I imagine hauling a car with a uhaul is going to cost quite a bit in fuel and renting equipment. Put that money towards a car transport and have peace of mind and it will be insured in case of accident or damage.

04-04-2014, 01:14 AM	#3
humfrz Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Drives: 2013 FR-S, white, MT Location: Puyallup, WA Posts: 29,870 Thanks: 28,792 Thanked 31,819 Times in 16,427 Posts Mentioned: 708 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Maybe purchase an inexpensive, generic bra for the front. It wouldn't have to fit all that well nor be all that durable. humfrz

04-04-2014, 03:36 AM	#5
PRG3000 Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Drives: Scion Location: Fl Posts: 19 Thanks: 3 Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	First, just relax. Second, you don't need anything. I've towed my car 1200 miles from Maryland to Florida before on a UHaul trailer behind the UHaul truck. The car will not touch anything. The thing is basically going to be 'tailgating' the truck all the way. Wind will barely even hit it. As far as rocks go, the car has an extra 2-3 feet of ground clearance thanks to the trailer, and not far enough back to really get hit w anything. Pay for it to be transported if you want, it's your money. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

04-04-2014, 06:57 AM	#8
dnieves Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Drives: FR-S 10 Series Location: NY Posts: 1,062 Thanks: 615 Thanked 347 Times in 251 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Don't forget to put masking (painter's) tape over the mirrors as well.

04-04-2014, 09:12 AM	#10
Turbo95eg6 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Drives: 2014 BRZ SWP LTD Location: The 503 Posts: 2,174 Thanks: 331 Thanked 2,266 Times in 858 Posts Mentioned: 18 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	Just do the cover, I assure you your car has plenty of swirls already.

04-04-2014, 11:01 AM	#12
Jyn Noob Join Date: Jan 2014 Drives: FR-S Mammogram Location: Austin Posts: 1,585 Thanks: 574 Thanked 870 Times in 479 Posts Mentioned: 24 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Two options: Flatbed trailer - use painter's tape on front, hood, and side mirrors. Fold your side mirrors in. Transport - I used Google, found a reputable site that basically puts your car up for auction, transporters bid on it, then they connect you with the transporter and you set up the logistics that way. It was a lot cheaper than I expected - cheaper than a flight for me. You may want to research this option if you have more time.

04-04-2014, 11:16 AM	#13
n2oinferno Praise Helix! Join Date: Jan 2011 Drives: Accord 2.0T, Silverado Location: Upstate SC Posts: 2,859 Thanks: 428 Thanked 2,208 Times in 1,072 Posts Mentioned: 11 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	It'll be fine. I did it, some >800 miles over 16 hours or so, ten years ago. No damage to the vehicle at all.

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