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Main => Everything Else => Topic started by: ChadTower on December 14, 2005, 11:09:04 am

Title: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: ChadTower on December 14, 2005, 11:09:04 am

Good idea?  Bad idea?

I have a lot of light duty stuff that I do and I'm sick of worrying about renting a pickup.  I can't replace a car any time soon nor buy an old pickup, so I'm thinking if I can rent a utility trailer when necessary that's cheaper and easier than a renting a truck...

Any thoughts?  I got a quote of around $160 to install, including cost of the hitch.
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: missioncontrol on December 14, 2005, 11:13:43 am
sure it's allright if your going to be hauling mopeds around
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: ChadTower on December 14, 2005, 11:14:34 am

Heaviest duty I could think of would be a couple pins or cabs, the occasional couch... I have a huge pile of asphalt I need to move but I could do that in multiple trips.
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: whammoed on December 14, 2005, 11:16:08 am
Do they list any kind of tow rating in the manual or anyplace else?
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: Ed_McCarron on December 14, 2005, 11:25:21 am
Its probably so small, I bet they recommend not towing a trailer at all with it.

Whats the GVWR?  I can't imagine it being very large, and once you add the tongue weight of the trailer and a few passengers you are probably over the limit.
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: ChadTower on December 14, 2005, 11:32:46 am

Erf, can't seem to find it online... will have to keep looking.
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: Stingray on December 14, 2005, 11:43:53 am
You're talking about hauling, what, maybe 500 lb at the very max? You should be fine.

-S
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: Havok on December 14, 2005, 11:48:18 am
The GVWR should be on the car door - there's usually a sticker...
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: Ed_McCarron on December 14, 2005, 11:49:16 am
Plus the weight of the trailer.

My 4x8 trailer weighs over 1000 lbs unloaded.

When I let someone else load the trailer once, they put 3 heavy coolers of food/ice at the back, while the rest was fairly evenly loaded - causing a negative tongue weight.  Almost killed myself until I pulled over and redistributed the load.  Thing was whipping around like a live wire.

I can just imagine the same effect in a car thats 1/2-1/3 the weight of my Explorer.

Not saying it can't be done, just saying be -real- careful with trailers and loading.  Its very easy for the trailer to get out of control.
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: nostrebor on December 14, 2005, 12:09:18 pm
You're talking about hauling, what, maybe 500 lb at the very max? You should be fine.

-S

What he said.

 Just try to come up with a light trailer, and drive slow. The Harbor Freight trailers are not bad, cheap, and pretty light. I owned one for a while to pull an ATV... worked just fine.

<sarcasm>They are a lot of fun to put together too</sarcasm>
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: ChadTower on December 14, 2005, 12:27:12 pm

Since I don't have a place to store a trailer, I'd probably be renting one from Uhaul when I needed it.  I don't need it that often, either.

Anyone know how much an average cab actually weighs?  Use a bigger one, say a Dynamo.
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: Ed_McCarron on December 14, 2005, 12:46:02 pm
My Gauntlet machine claims to weigh 350 lbs, but me and another small guy managed to get it up a flight of stairs unassisted, so I think thats over the actual weight.
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: Stingray on December 14, 2005, 12:48:09 pm
I'd say a Dynamo is 300 or less. I can move mine in and out of the house myself, and I'm I'm harldly a big muscular beefcake.

-S
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: ChadTower on December 14, 2005, 12:56:46 pm

Moving something using a decent handtruck isn't much of an indicator of how much it will weigh on a trailer, though.
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: ErikRuud on December 14, 2005, 01:13:56 pm
I'm not sure which Civic you have but  this site (http://www.theautochannel.com/newcardb/cccars.html?bodystyle=Family%20Coupe&titleid=430400) indicates that it is not rated for towing.

I think my 1988 Prelude was rated for 1000 pounds.
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: ChadTower on December 14, 2005, 01:17:49 pm

I should have noted it's a 4 door 1999 DX.
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: Stingray on December 14, 2005, 01:36:56 pm

Moving something using a decent handtruck isn't much of an indicator of how much it will weigh on a trailer, though.

I don't own a hand truck.

-S
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: ChadTower on December 14, 2005, 01:37:39 pm

Could you describe how you did it, then?  Corner swings?
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: Stingray on December 14, 2005, 01:40:18 pm
Back the truck up to the front door. Drop the tailgate, open the door, drag.

-S
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: Witchboard on December 14, 2005, 01:42:28 pm
Could you put that in Layman's terms?  ;)
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: ChadTower on December 14, 2005, 01:44:21 pm

Step 3:  pick up all the MDF crumblies from the floor.
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: Stingray on December 14, 2005, 01:44:38 pm
Could you put that in Layman's terms?  ;)

Stingray push.

-S
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: Witchboard on December 14, 2005, 01:51:04 pm
... drag.
Stingray push.

Urrr!  You confuse Witchboard... Witchboard smash!

Step 3: pick up all the MDF crumblies from the floor.

I'm sure he uses the casters on the back of most cabs.. shouldn't be too much to pick up.
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: ChadTower on December 14, 2005, 01:51:54 pm

Not one of my cabs has casters on it.
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: Stingray on December 14, 2005, 02:01:23 pm
My Dynamo doesn't have casters. However, my house is tiled throughout. I put an old blanket on the floor and then stand the thing up on it. It slides very easy that way.

The fact remains that I can still get it in & out of the truck myself, and as previously stated, I'm a wimp.

-S
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: Witchboard on December 14, 2005, 02:11:17 pm
Well then, I stand corrected.   :police:
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: Stingray on December 14, 2005, 02:13:01 pm
Well then, I stand corrected.   :police:

Well the other upright that I have does have casters, so you're still battin' .500 :)

-S
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: ChadTower on December 14, 2005, 02:13:51 pm

He's 0-4 with me.
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: Luxury on December 14, 2005, 03:23:12 pm
I'm surprised that you have the engery/motivation to move a Dynamo.
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: Stingray on December 14, 2005, 03:48:05 pm
I'm surprised that you have the engery/motivation to move a Dynamo.

New arcade cab out in the back of the truck. I can't play it until I get in inside, upright, and plugged in. The only thing that would motivate me more would be if it were full of beer and strippers.

-S
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: Ed_McCarron on December 14, 2005, 03:57:27 pm
The only thing that would motivate me more would be if it were full of beer and strippers.

It would weigh more then.  Or, gravity might be stronger.  Ask Bosss7.
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: missioncontrol on December 14, 2005, 04:01:06 pm
The only thing that would motivate me more would be if it were full of beer and strippers.

It would weigh more then.
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: Stingray on December 14, 2005, 04:12:22 pm
The only thing that would motivate me more would be if it were full of beer and strippers.

It would weigh more then.  Or, gravity might be stronger.  Ask Bosss7.

If it were full of strippers, I'd make them get out and carry it for me. :)

-S
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: Ed_McCarron on December 14, 2005, 05:13:49 pm
ha cross posting makes it funnier

You just know that someone out there is reading it and going "WTF?  Where does he get this from?"
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: nostrebor on December 14, 2005, 05:20:01 pm

Since I don't have a place to store a trailer, I'd probably be renting one from Uhaul when I needed it.  I don't need it that often, either.

Anyone know how much an average cab actually weighs?  Use a bigger one, say a Dynamo.

U-Haul trailers weigh 17 metric tons and tow like --I'm attempting to get by the auto-censor and should be beaten after I re-read the rules--.

 And no! I am not bitter!
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: Zakk on December 14, 2005, 06:17:54 pm
I thought this was going to be a joke thread.  Like "ironing board wing on a civic!"
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: DrewKaree on December 14, 2005, 09:40:38 pm

The only thing that would motivate me more would be if it were full of beer and strippers.

-S

So you lied about your love for bacon then, because any bacon-lover worth a darn would have the strippers outfitted with bacon bikini's.

In a former job-life, I used to rent trailers, and I've got a buddy who happens to own a trailer rental yard.  You probably can't get a temporary hitch for that thing, but you should be okay with U-haul's smallest trailer (which should fit a cab or pin, but DON'T do the ass-fault removal with it).  He said he believes most of their trailers are all-metal, making them heavier than most of his, but with the small amount of weight you're talking about, you should be fine.
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: ChadTower on December 14, 2005, 09:49:06 pm
Eh... with that answer, I think I'll pass on the whole thing.  I'd rather not toe the line when it comes to my transmission.  I'll be done paying for this thing in 4 months and it could last me another 3 years at least.
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: DrewKaree on December 14, 2005, 09:52:06 pm
I think they have vans you can rent for cheap.  If not, just head to Home Depot to rent one of their trucks.  You might have to buy a few 2x4's, but it's cheap
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: ChadTower on December 14, 2005, 09:58:05 pm

What would a Uhaul place do, though, if you rented their truck to haul broken asphalt?  Would there be potential damage issues?

And UHaul is horribly unreliable... every time I try to rent a vehicle from UHaul they don't actually HAVE it when they say it will be there.
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: AC. on December 15, 2005, 12:06:44 am
Uhaul cuts their timing CLOSE.  Thats why they are cheaper than, uhhh, hmmm, oh yeah -- Ryder! cause uhaul often does not have your reservation.
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: DrewKaree on December 15, 2005, 06:46:10 am

What would a Uhaul place do, though, if you rented their truck to haul broken asphalt?  Would there be potential damage issues?

And UHaul is horribly unreliable... every time I try to rent a vehicle from UHaul they don't actually HAVE it when they say it will be there.


You NEVER EVER EVER NEVER EVER NEVER EVER NEVER NEVER EVER ...... never tell them what you're doing with their stuff, and you DO take the damage waiver.  The only bad part about their trucks is you'll have to move the asphalt twice.  Once to load it, then you'll have to shove it off.  If you rent Home Depot's trucks, the beds on 'em tilt/dump, or at least the ones in my area do. 

Check out Hertz.  See if they have a location in your area.  We rent trucks from them all the time for work, big ones.  They come specifically with a dump box and since they're just F-350's with a different back end, you shouldn't have any problems driving 'em.  Bigger equipment rental shops in your area might also do trucks as well.  Those are the places that'll rent skidsteers, bucket lifts, trenchers, scaffolding, etc.
Title: Re: Trailer hitch on a Civic
Post by: ChadTower on December 15, 2005, 08:50:52 am

I'll give Hertz a call... Home Depot only rents out in 75 minute blocks here and I can't load all this by hand in an hour.