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Denied Uhaul rental?

9K views 74 replies 33 participants last post by  LabCab 
#1 ·
How many of you JK owners have been denied renting a uhaul trailer due to a "soft top"? I've been denied several times recently and it is frustrating. I can understand not renting to a convertible without a roll cage but a Jeep with a tow package and capable of towing 3.5k lbs makes no sense! I've seen Jetta's flying down the road with a 5x8 trailer and my Jeep isn't allowed to tow anything with a tow package and stability assist????
 
#2 ·
Yeah, I've seen several people post that they've been denied as well. One guy was actually posting asking to BORROW a hard top to rent a trailer to drive from like Washington state to New York. It was crazy.
 
#4 ·
Agreed. I've had to put my hard top back on in the middle of summer just to rent a trailer from u haul. Home depot on the other hand has let me rent trailers a couple times with my soft top.
 
#7 ·
I think a petition to update policy based on fact that the Jeep has:

http://www.jeep.com/en/wrangler-unlimited/capability/


Wrangler Unlimited offers you the ability to tow up to an astonishing 3,500 pounds. Plus, Trailer Sway Control (TSC)+ is an available safety and security feature packaged in the Trailer Tow Class III Group that does not require driver input and automatically kicks in whenever it senses you need it.


I see cars far less capable towing a Uhaul and we are banished? And as others said newer explorers due to past issues.... It just ticks me off. In Feb I need a trailer and my plan is to have a buddy w a Tundra pick it up, then get off lot switch to my Jeep, that shouldn't need to happen!
 
#12 ·
I think a petition to update policy based on fact that the Jeep has:

2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited - 4x4 Capability Features


Wrangler Unlimited offers you the ability to tow up to an astonishing 3,500 pounds. Plus, Trailer Sway Control (TSC)+ is an available safety and security feature packaged in the Trailer Tow Class III Group that does not require driver input and automatically kicks in whenever it senses you need it.


I see cars far less capable towing a Uhaul and we are banished? And as others said newer explorers due to past issues.... It just ticks me off. In Feb I need a trailer and my plan is to have a buddy w a Tundra pick it up, then get off lot switch to my Jeep, that shouldn't need to happen!
It's not the towing capacity, it's the soft top. You can rent if you have a hard top on, but not a soft top.
 
#9 ·
Just keep in mind the liability you will be open to if something DID happen and you circumvented their restrictions. They would OWN you.

I know the rule :censored: sucks, but your idea could blow up in your face. And please know, I am not casting aspersions on your driving or character. I'm thinking about the other :censored: on the roads.
 
#10 ·
Just keep in mind the liability you will be open to if something DID happen and you circumvented their restrictions. They would OWN you. I know the rule :censored: sucks, but your idea could blow up in your face. And please know, I am not casting aspersions on your driving or character. I'm thinking about the other :censored: on the roads.
I get that. They can own all of my near $0 of net worth these days.
 
#16 ·
I will say this about "Rules"..... Yes, many times they suck. Usually when we find the Rules not favoring our specific situation.
In the business I'm in (28 years Ugghh) I've seen it TOO many times and usually try and tell clients " It's their Ball, Their Game - Their Rules"
Whether it's a Bank loaning Money or a Rental Agency - It's their Stuff, They get to make up the Rules much as we would "If" it was Us loaning or renting something out to a total stranger.
Try and look at it that way.

And yes, Deliberately contravening a Contract stipulation is a material misrepresentation and opens the door wide to Civil litigation in a Liability situation where injury or loss of property is concerned - NOT worth it.
 
#18 ·
They must have good ample reasoning behind this ruling. Like it or not, they don't make rules to purposely hinder then own income.
 
#19 ·
I second that, but it's not them ether, it's there insurance company won't insure convertibles.

First question I was asked when I said I had a wrangler was if it was a hardtop. I asked her the reasoning and she said insurance purposes.

I am sure they have been sued in the past by some f***tards in the past they can't get insurance that will cover convertibles and softtop wranglers.
 
#20 ·
I heard from the Uhaul rep there was a Jeep instance years ago where there was a roll over.. And they changed the rule. You need to keep in mind there were roll over issues about 20 years ago with the Ford Explorer, and Uhaul still doesn't rent to that make of car, even though issues of the past ar fixed.

This isn't a safety issue because Jeeps have roll cages, stability control, proper tow capacity, we aren't like a mustang with a tow package tearing down the road. The wrangler has plenty of towing features, and honestly if I got in a wreck with a trailer, which would be hard to do from Jacksonville to Daytona where I usually tow on highway, I think I could make a case stating Uhaul policy is out of line with the capabilities of the Jeep anyway.
 
#28 ·
Last week I tried to rent a 5x8 from this dealer, and the week before I had rented and returned a 4x8. Another person was checking me out last week and I couldn't rent, the week before I could, from the same location. It means the first person didn't check, but the second guy, who owned the place, didn't let me rent... Hell that guy was out back when I backed up and returned the first rental... and THAT same guy rented to me in Feb and Jul a 6x12 each month... Yes and I had the Jeep then too!
 
#26 ·
While I do agree that U-Hauls policy is based on some outdated thinking, you have to respect the highly litigious environment they operate in. I'm sure this was a reaction to actual or potential lawsuits at some point.

Also it is another reason the JK is Terrible tow vehicle. People who buy it expecting to use it like a truck to tow things are bound to be frustrated. There have been many posts to that effect.
 
#38 ·
#40 ·
Very simple solution, don't do business with them. I don't like the rule but it's their rule. Thankfully in most towns there are other rental companies for trailers you can rent from or you can buy you're own.
 
#53 ·
I'm not a big U-haul fan in the first place (had multiple difficulties with them over the years) so it doesn’t really bother me. There are several small companies around town I can rent from. In fact there is one just around the corner from me where I rented a trailer to haul my Willys home last year.

A petition is a good tool to give some customer feedback but as someone mentioned previously, it’s probably being dictated by their insurance company.
 
#57 ·
https://www.change.org/p/u-haul-uhaul-should-review-their-policy-so-that-2007-and-newer-jeep-wrangler-soft-top-2dr-and-4dr-can-tow-trailers

Uhaul should review their policy so that 2007 and newer Jeep Wrangler SOFT TOP (2dr and 4dr) can tow trailers


Currently Uhaul will not allow Jeep Wranglers (2dr and 4dr) with soft tops to tow any trailer, this is a policy that needs updated. For instance, related to Jeeps, they are designed to tow and have trailer stability control and more safety features. However, Uhaul has a policy preventing such rentals. Their official position is because of the soft top, which should not apply to Jeeps due to the roll cage. It should continue to apply to other convertible cars that lack this safety feature.

Uhaul policy:

U-Haul: Tips: Trailer User Instructions


* No open or soft-top sport utility vehicle is allowed to tow a trailer, because in the event of a crash, these vehicles offer less collision and ejection protection.



Here is information related to the Jeep's towing ability:



Jeep 2007-Present:

2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited - 4x4 Capability Features


Wrangler Unlimited offers you the ability to tow up to an astonishing 3,500 pounds. Plus, Trailer Sway Control (TSC)+ is an available safety and security feature packaged in the Trailer Tow Class III Group that does not require driver input and automatically kicks in whenever it senses you need it.

Wrangler Unlimited offers you the ability to tow up to an astonishing 3,500 pounds. Plus, Trailer Sway Control (TSC)+ is an available safety and security feature packaged in the Trailer Tow Class III Group that does not require driver input and automatically kicks in whenever it senses you need it.





We are only seeking that Uhaul officially review the practicality behind their decision and if they can prove that there is still a valid reason for keeping the policy to state their position. If there is no evidence to the contrary, Uhaul should allow Jeep Wranglers to tow based on the manufacturer's rating for the vehicle.

Currently if you own, for example, a 4 door Honda Accord 4cyl car you can tow a 6x12 trailer. This trailer is 3.95ft longer than the length of the Honda Accord and the Honda has no towing stability control or features that makes it tow worthy. Yet a Jeep that can tow 3,500 lb and has built in safety features is denied even the ability to tow a much smaller trailer.

Uhaul should review their policy because it is outdated. It shouldn't be illegal to rent a trailer when the manufacturer rates the vehicle with and without a hard top for the same ability.

Ultimately the Jeep is just as safe from 'ejection' with or without a hard top, you won't get ejected if you have a seat belt on. If you lack that no matter a hard top or not you will eject through windshield, window, or roof. In that case Uhaul should rent to no one if that is their primary concern.
 
#61 · (Edited)
Uhaul should review their policy because it is outdated. It shouldn't be illegal to rent a trailer when the manufacturer rates the vehicle with and without a hard top for the same ability.
It's not illegal to rent a trailer. Uhaul makes business decisions...not law. That's their right. If you don't like it, as has already been said, go elsewhere or buy your own trailer. I bought my own. Petitions may sometimes carry weight when dealing with government entities, but petitioning a business is a waste of time. A single lawsuit could cost Uhaul far more than all the money they would make in years of renting to convertible drivers. Business is business.

The vehicle's ability has absolutely nothing to do with it. It's the driver's ability and the possibility of more serious consequences in the event of an accident in a convertible.

I started my business nearly 40 years ago and run it the way I feel is right and safe. If someone doesn't like my policies or pricing, they go elsewhere. So it goes.
 
#59 ·
My daughter works for U-Haul corporate. I just spoke with her about this. Apparently, U-Haul was sued numerous times by SUV owners with soft tops (or with hardtops cut off) so they stopped renting to high CG SUVs with no top or with a soft top. If anyone wants to complain, we only have our litigious society to thank.

According to my daughter, there is no way that U-Haul will change this, even if someone gathers millions of signatures.

Joe
 
#63 ·
My daughter works for U-Haul corporate. I just spoke with her about this. Apparently, U-Haul was sued numerous times by SUV owners with soft tops (or with hardtops cut off) so they stopped renting to high CG SUVs with no top or with a soft top. If anyone wants to complain, we only have our litigious society to thank. According to my daughter, there is no way that U-Haul will change this, even if someone gathers millions of signatures. Joe
Well said!!!
 
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