Will a Spider fit on a U-Haul trailer?

[WantASpider]

I'm going to look at a Spider this weekend. Hopefully it will be as the seller advertised it and I'll be the proud new owner of an Italian sports car.

The only catch is getting it home. I don't want a 60 mile road trip to be my first test of a 30 year old car so I was planning to trailer it home. The catch is, I don't own a trailer .

I know that a lot of smaller cars are too narrow to fit on a U-Haul trailer. Will a Spider fit on a U-Haul trailer? What is the distance between the tires on a Spider, I'm guessing its around 46" (52" track width - 6" wide wheels)?

[So Cal Mark]

I can't imagine it wouldn't fit. You could also just rent a dolly and save some bucks

[rlux4]

My 82 measures 53" ctr to ctr on the tires. I have 60's on it and the outside measurement is 60".
I had very good luck towing my car 800 miles last summer with a tow dolley. Good luck towing it that is, not so lucky the situation that caused me to have to tow it home.
Ron

[pope]

If the Spider doesnt fit, put your regular car on the dolly and tow it home with your spider!

[launieg]

I towed both my driver spider and my parts spider with a U-haul car trailer. In fact, I've towed many cars the same way, some much bigger than a spider. No problem. Good trailers, at least the ones we see here (which have many USA state plates on them).

I winched the driver spider out of a steep driveway and onto the trailer, but we pushed the parts car on by hand!

By the way, to use a dolly here, the car must be licensed. So you might want to check on that issue where you are.

[JimM]

If you get a standard width U-Haul trailer your 124 should fit with about 6"-9" on each side. If the car is licensed then you should be able to use a car dolly, or if you know someone with a tow bar that will work. If you use the trailer take a come-a-long with you or lots of help to push. Also tie downs if the trailer does not haave them. Hope you get the car--best of luck.............Jim

[wengr]

when I last inquired with Uhaul about renting a trailer, they looked up the siders weight to ensure that the total weight was ok for the tow vehicle and made no mention of it bieng too small to fit on. However 60 miles is not so far. Do you have AAA? or can you take a friend with AAA? If so and the car runs ok, maybe try it and if you have a major problem AAA will roll back it for you.

[tonyfromjersey]

It most definitely will, I used one twice to bring my car back and forth to the body shop guy in the poconos. You need to be careful pulling it on and off since there's not a ton of extra room, but it's just fine.

[WantASpider]

Thanks for the confirmation it will work and the alternative ideas. 7 replies to such a basic question tells me that not only have I found a car to get enthused about, but I've also found a good forum for help.

I could try to drive it and call AAA if necessary, provided the failure is minor (losing a wheel, tie rod, etc at 70mph on the interstate is not a AAA event). Fortunately my daily driver is a pickup truck, so the trailer will only cost me $50 plus a bit extra in gas to haul it. That $50 isn't much more than a tow dolly, and it's worth it to me so I can get it back to my shop and give the car a good inspection before getting it up to highway speeds.

If the car comes home I'll post an update in the intro section.

[ga.spyder]

Good call.With a car you dont know,the safe course is to trailer it.The U-Haul trailers are way over built,you wont even know the car is on there.Tow dollys are ok...but I would much rather use a car trailer.As a matter of fact,I just bought one!!
Craig

[kmac33]

Craig,
It may have been a mistake to let it out that you now own a car trailer. You"ll start getting requests to help move vehicles. Like hypothetically, if someone had a Spider that was being restored and the engine and transmission were pulled out, and the body shell will have to be towed or trailered to the body shop for painting, hypothetically of course, that makes your car trailer pretty attractive .
Good luck Wantaspider with the potential purchase!

Kevin

[ga.spyder]

Kevin ,you know you would be welcome to it anytime! Of course,by the time you drive to and from B'ville,you could have paid for a UHaul!...Hypothetically speaking I did find one that a older guy here had under his shed.Good solid dual axle frame,but only a 10 1/2' deck.It is at a welder(who is a fabricator for a trailer mfg.),having a 2 1/2' extension put on it and some fender bracing.I will get it back Mon. and paint it and put a new deck on it.I figure to have about $700 total in it when it is finished. The welder said it will be a solid,well-balanced unit w/ no rust,etc...Pretty good deal!!
Craig

[rlux4]

Craig, I'd be happy to send you details to the hitch I made for my car if you want to use the Spider to tow that new trailer.
Ron

[ga.spyder]

Great idea ,Ron.That way I can tow my crew-cab p/u and save some gas money!!
Craig

[amsiegel]

Drive it back. I did 200 miles when I picked up mine last month. Of course i did get a flat and had no jack or lug wrench.
Its all part of the adventure. Just think of the stories you will have if the brakes down and grizzly bear come out of the woods.

Do listen to me I am not all there.

Do what you feel safe with and enjoy your car. Congratz