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GOOD LUCK, THEY ARE A BLAST. I BOUGHT MY TRUCK VIA GSA, OUT OF VT. I LIVE IN ROCKAWY, NY ABOUT 200 MILES. I TRIALERED IT ON A U HAUL TRAILER W/O A PROBLEM. WHEN I GOT HER HOME I HAD FUEL PROBLEMS, AN ORIGINAL RUBBER HOSE HAD DE-LAMATEN INSIDE AND BLOCKE THE FUEL FLOW. HAD TO BE TOWED HOME SEVERAL TIMES TILL I FOUND THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO ROPED TOWED THE M FOR A DISTANCE, AGAIN W/O A PROBLEM. IF U GO THE U HAUL U BETTER TELLTHEM ITS FOR A FOR SOME OTHER VEHICLE, AS THE M IS TOO HEAVY FOR THERE CHARTS. BUT IT CAN BE DONE/ BOB

If you plan to flat tow it, use a proper tow bar, the best thing to do is remove both rear axle shafts and both front hub caps. This will eliminate needing to check gear boxes prior to the tow. I've seen more than 1 transmission thrashed as a result of towing, because the counter shaft does not rotate when towed, thus there is no oil splash to keep the mainshaft moving parts lubricated. Another concern is to be sure your towing vehicle is heavy enough for the task. That 6,000# M37 will push a light duty vehicle into an uncontrollable frenzy before you know it.

My opinion of using U-haul or any other towing equipment that is not rated for the job, SIMPLY NOT SMART!! You may be untruthful to the renter and do it, you may get by. You also run the risk of equipment failure, possibly resulting in accident and law suit. If such an incident occurred, you will be on your own, and most likely your bank account would be cleaned out. To me it is not worth the risk. The best advice; if you aren't equipped for the task, hire someone who is, best money you'll ever spend.

I've said it before, but its worth repeating. Rent an equipment trailer from a tool rental place. The ones they use for Bobcats are usually rated for 12k Lbs. I have done this several times, and have never paid more than $50 per day plus tax. I Have a dually as a daily driver, but Any 3/4 ton should be up to the task. This is much safer than a Uhaul.

Brett

I would stay clear of a U-Haul trailer. Not worth the risk.
As stated by Collen, if your going to drive it you will also want to bring a fire extinguisher.
24 volts and old wiring/hoses can be quite the fire hazard.

GOOD DAY ALL, I BOUGHT MY M VIA GSA, OUT OF VT. RENTED A U-HAUL TRAILER, AND TOWED IT HOME; 200+ MILES. NOT A PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT U-HAUL CHARTS WONT LET U RENT ONE OF THEIR TRAILERS BECAUSE OF THE WEIGHT OF THE M. I TOLD THEM I WAS USING IT FOR A TAURUS. AFTER I GOT IT HOME IT STARTED RIGHT UP AND SEEMED TO DRIVE GREAT. TILL I STARTED VENTURING FURTHER AND FURTHER. HAD TO BE ROPED TOWED HOME A COUPLE OF TIMES, TILL I FOUND THE PROBLEM. A RUBBER FUEL LINE HAD DE-LAMINATED INTERNALLY AND RESTRICTED FUEL FLOW. REPLACED ALL THE OLD RUBBER FUEL LINES WITH NEW; NOW I CAN DRIVE IT ANYWERE, MAYBE NOT ACROSS COUNTRY, BUT ITS GOOD. THE LESSON: U NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU ARE IN FOR AT THE START. SHAKE IT DOWN AFTER YOU GET IT HOME BY EITHER METHOD. BUT AS SOMEBODY SAID HAVE A TOW VEHICLE STANDING BY. GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN

I think that the U-haul trailers are rated at 3500#.
If you are (changed to silly ) enough to put something 2X the weight rating,
you get what you deserve. Darwin will take care of you.
Just remember you are not the only person on the road.
If you do get in an accident, think of the liability.
Please do not follow this advice to use U-haul, IT IS BAD.
I have heard of 37's on a U-haul bending the axles in
and the axles failing. /--------\ DON'T Do it!

Welcome to the group. You are among friends ( even if we are a bit crotchety <sp?> sometimes.
J.B.

Most Uhauls have 2 3500lb axles under them giving them a grand total GVW of 7000lbs minus the weight of the trailer. So it would have approximatley a safe working capacity of about 5500lbs. At best this would borderline for an M37. We've all heard the stories of people hauling thier rigs on these trailers and having no reprocussions. This is based soley on luck though, and luck can be a fickle thing.

The worst thing about Uhaul is little to no maintenance is done on thier equipment. I would hate to have to repair a junk trailer that failed on the road cause it was overloaded. Now I would be out the cost of a car trailer, and with my luck, the project that was on it. I'll buy myself a trailer before I buy Uhaul one. Nevermind the multitude of lousy drivers on the road today. I'd hate to have some cell-phone yapping-accident causing yuppie get off scott free for wrecking my junk cause I was over loaded and under-insured.

Most rental outfit car trailers are also rated to only 7000lbs minus the trailer weight as well. The best course is as suggested, an equipment trailer with a 10000lb rating. I was fortunate to have my M37 delivered to my door on a 5 ton deck truck for 120.00 bucks for 100 mile trip (one way). This was worth its weight in gold to me. I didn't have to drive, winch, tug, strap down or do anything. One phone call and it showed up 4 hours later. Piece of mind is worth it.

Its often worth it to call a shipping company or two, as they may be dead-heading (traveling empty) to your town anyway, and can offer a deal for shipping if you are willing to wait on thier schedule.

Cost me a Franklin to get mine delivered. Truck was 2 1/2 hours away. I have to say it was well worth the piece of mind.
10 miles may not seem like much in todays world. But in a old, and unknown truck it can feel like 100.
Not to mention doing a inspection and lube/case fill in a parking lot is not giving the MV world the best image...or very environmentally friendly should you have a spill.

I'm not planning on using a u-haul. Same reason the trucker delivering it from out of state can't drop it at my door: I live on a large hill in E. TN, my driveway is gravel, and not very wide, and anyone crazy enough to tow a trailer up the hill surely isn't crazy enough to try backing it down - no room to turn it at the top, believe me.
So I'm having it dropped at the nearest convenient location, which happens to be a large parking lot 15-20 minutes (maybe 8 miles) from the house.
8 miles isn't far, I just want to make sure I don't break the truck, or put it in the river on the way home.

Cost me $9,400 to deliver my truck, it is just that i had it delivered from Tennessee USA to Sydney Australia ha ha......mmmm

OK. NIX THE U-HAUL TRAILER, BUT WHET MAKES YOU THINK THE RENTED EQPT TRAILER IS ANY BETTER MAINTAINED THAT A U-HAUL RENTAL?? CK OUT THE M AS STATED ABOVE AND DRIVE HER HOME, 8 MILES IS NOT ALOT, BUT ALSO STATED ABOVE, HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE STANDING BY TO LEND A HAND, GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN.
BOB

Get a friend with a deuce and proper tow bar.

Mark@Sea wrote:Or will be soon. Buying it over the net, and getting it shipped home. According to the seller, it runs, but has been parked in the garage for several years.
What should I check, right off the bat, so I don't blow something up driving it home (10 miles from dropoff point)?

Never trust anyone! This dude wants to make a sale, and will say anything to make the sale......Do as the others have mentioned. I also agree that towing is your best option. You mentioned a semi couldn't back down your driveway, why can't the semi drop truck off at the end of your driveway? Then you'd only have a short hop to the house.

Mark@Sea wrote:I'm not planning on using a u-haul. Same reason the trucker delivering it from out of state can't drop it at my door: I live on a large hill in E. TN, my driveway is gravel, and not very wide, and anyone crazy enough to tow a trailer up the hill surely isn't crazy enough to try backing it down - no room to turn it at the top, believe me.
So I'm having it dropped at the nearest convenient location, which happens to be a large parking lot 15-20 minutes (maybe 8 miles) from the house.
8 miles isn't far, I just want to make sure I don't break the truck, or put it in the river on the way home.

8 miles is plenty far, especially if the truck decides to stop running 4 miles down the road.....!!!! Have it towed, trust us!!!

Welcome to the site WarrenD!