Car dolly or trailer?

[CigarGuy]

Just found out my parents are moving to Florida. I have to get their Ford Taurus to them in Fl. I have a new F150 with trailer brakes. What should I rent a car dolly or a car trailer? The car has front wheel drive. Thanks for your thoughts. Any anybody have a good place to rent one from?

[highlife4me]

Renting from U-Haul will probably give you more places to drop it off. Dolly will be cheaper to rent than a trailer but trailer may handle a little better.

[crappiegetter]

My opinion would be to get an auto transport from U-haul costs a little bit more but better in the long run for the long haul to Florida. I am a van body specialist for U-haul in Coon Rapids and I have rented the dolly and auto trans. and the dolly didn't pull as nice for me on a bit of a distance.

[Powerstroke]

For that long drive I'd say get the trailer. Even though the dolly will be cheaper, it won't be as "driveable" and you're putting all those extra miles on the rear tires for no reason. A trailer will pull and stop more reliably and will be easier to back up when needed.

[delcecchi]

Have you considered driving it down and flying back? Between dolly rental and extra gas for the truck, pay for the plane ticket probably.

[CigarGuy]

Have you considered driving it down and flying back? Between dolly rental and extra gas for the truck, pay for the plane ticket probably.

Ya, thought about it. I'm going to load the truck and car with the things they are keeping and were going to sell everything else. They are moving in with my sister and pretty much the only thing they need to buy is a bedroom set. I have checked auto transport sites and Pod type containers and we feel this is the best option. They offered to buy me a topper rather than pay for a pod type deal(if they decided to keep more stuff) for bringing the car and stuff to Florida. Plus, I'm laid off for a few months and it will give me something to do.

[Tom7227]

A year ago my son moved to NY and I was asking the same question. Everyone who responded said that a car dolly is really tough to negotiate and that you better not get into a situation where you have to back up. The kid rented a truck and a trailer and loaded it all up and had no problems at all. I don't recall the money involved but I don't recall that the trailer was overly expensive. There were two drivers on the way out and so that made it very workable.

If you're going alone be sure to take your time. You may want to buy a Nuvi or something like it to keep yourself from getting too lost.

[bikeoutback]

After using a car dolly twice last summer to move a truck and a jeep with longest trip of 30 miles I'd go trailer myself. I just didn't like the car dolly at all but keep in mind I really was pushing the limits of the dolly with the vehicles I was pulling also. I know when my dad moved my grandma from MI to MN they used a moving truck and put the car on a trailer behind it and went slick he said. No problems backing up or anything either.

If the cost isn't too much more I just think a trailer would be easier and safer. Keep in mind that the lights on a car dolly are on the sides and up by the front of the car. I'd guess they would have you place some temporary magnet brake lights at the back of the car but I'm not sure. Trailer would just be drive it on and strap it down.

How big of difference is it in $$? And if $$ are not a concern then trailer for sure.

[CigarGuy]

Car dolly $176.00, trailer $350.00. I am a local-commercial truck driver so pulling something will(should) not bother me, unless the roads are bad or the hills too big!! Did't think car dolly's would get such a bad rap with all the snowbirds I see using them heading south!

[zamboni]

When I moved back to MN from Kansas City, I booked a dolly thru Penske. Day I went to get it and my moving truck, they didn't have the dolly, so they gave me the trailer at same price. I was glad I got the trailer