U-Haul's practices raise the risk of accidents on the road

> wrote in message
ups.com...
> http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...ck=3&cset=true
>
>>From the Los Angeles Times
> DANGER IN TOW
> Driving with rented risks
> U-Haul International is the nation's largest provider of rental
> trailers. A Times investigation finds the company's practices raise
> the risk of accidents on the road.
> By Alan C. Miller and Myron Levin, Times Staff Writers
> June 24, 2007
>
> Marissa Sternberg sits in her wheelchair, barely able to move or
> speak. Caregivers are always at her side. Progress is measured in tiny
> steps: an unclenched fist, a look of recognition, a smile for her
> father.
>
> Nearly four years ago, Sternberg was a high-spirited 19-year-old bound
> for veterinary school in Denver. She rented a U-Haul trailer to move
> her belongings, hitched it to her Toyota Land Cruiser and hit the road
> with her two dogs and a friend.
>
> That evening, as the Land Cruiser descended a hill in the Chihuahuan
> Desert of New Mexico, the trailer began to swing from side to side,
> pushing the SUV as if trying to muscle it off the road.
>
> "I knew something bad was going to happen," recalled Corina Maya
> Hollander, who was taking a turn behind the wheel. "We both knew."
>
> The Land Cruiser flipped and bounced along Interstate 25. The trailer
> broke free and careened off the road. Hollander crawled from the
> wreckage, her head throbbing.
>snip<

Does this mean that U-Haul will now refuse to rent any trailers to Toyota
Land Cruiser owners?
.....same way they continue to discriminate against Explorer owners?

In article . com>, Brontide wrote:

> People feeling "entitled" to drive how ever they like and sue when
> something goes horribly wrong.... check
>
> Why am I supposed to feel sorry for these people?

I had written most of a reply to the posted article then decided against
it. While the people in the stories were generally morons, so are the
people operating U-haul on all levels.

Basically it's a merging of stupidity that is bound to kill people.

The 45mph speed limit that U-Haul has is just them covering their ass. If
that's true, then anyone traveling on the interstate should not rent
their equipment. Then again, it's U-Haul.... I was surprised when the
article stated they had equipment that was less than 30 years old.

Many, many people have drivers licences..... this means they are *allowed*
to drive.... it doesn't mean that they *should* drive.

Buying or having a trailer hitch doesn't mean that someone automatically
becomes knowledge about towing.

Word to the wise... before driving away, always - ALWAYS test the trailer
brakes... Is this too hard to comprehend?

gordo wrote:

>Does this mean that U-Haul will now refuse to rent any trailers to Toyota
>Land Cruiser owners?
>....same way they continue to discriminate against Explorer owners?
>
>
>
>
Only if they drink hot coffee.

Brent P wrote:
> In article . com>, Brontide wrote:
>
>
>>People feeling "entitled" to drive how ever they like and sue when
>>something goes horribly wrong.... check
>>
>>Why am I supposed to feel sorry for these people?
>
>
> I had written most of a reply to the posted article then decided against
> it. While the people in the stories were generally morons, so are the
> people operating U-haul on all levels.
>
> Basically it's a merging of stupidity that is bound to kill people.
>
> The 45mph speed limit that U-Haul has is just them covering their ass. If
> that's true, then anyone traveling on the interstate should not rent
> their equipment. Then again, it's U-Haul.... I was surprised when the
> article stated they had equipment that was less than 30 years old.
>
>

What TFA also failed to mention was that the trailer likely had "surge
brakes" and not proper electric brakes, which could have helped recover
from a sway incident. They can't have worked very well, either,
otherwise it'd be impossible to back up with a U-Haul trailer attached,
and I know better from experience. Of course, you can't blame U-Haul
alone for this, as every trailer I've ever rented has had "surge brakes"
which should simply be assumed not to work.

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

Jim Warman wrote:
> Many, many people have drivers licences..... this means they are *allowed*
> to drive.... it doesn't mean that they *should* drive.
>
> Buying or having a trailer hitch doesn't mean that someone automatically
> becomes knowledge about towing.
>
> Word to the wise... before driving away, always - ALWAYS test the trailer
> brakes... Is this too hard to comprehend?
>
>

See my previous post... U-Haul and other rental trailers don't *HAVE*
brakes to test.

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

> DANGER IN TOW
> Driving with rented risks

And my local rent-all will rent equipment that you can kill yourself
with if you're a ****ing moron and don't know what you're doing. So
what?

In article >,
(Brent P) wrote:

> In article . com>, gpsman
> wrote:
>
> > What very few have seen is a slower vehicle "run over" by faster
> > traffic, trailer or no.
>
> If someone driving 45mph would need to so much as tap the brakes, he
> would get run over the by the semi drafting him 3 feet off his rear
> bumper.

That is BS. You need to be in control of your own vehicle,
and let the other people drive their own vehicles. Speeding
up out of your fear of your lack of ability to handle a traffic
situation is about the worst possible thing you can do at that
time. If you cannot handle a vehicle the way it is supposed
to be driven, then get off of the road.

-john-

--
================================================== ====================
John A. Weeks III 952-432-2708
Newave Communications http://www.johnweeks.com
================================================== ====================

On Jun 24, 10:31 pm, (Brent P)
wrote:
> The 45mph speed limit that U-Haul has is just them covering their ass. If
> that's true, then anyone traveling on the interstate should not rent
> their equipment. Then again, it's U-Haul.... I was surprised when the
> article stated they had equipment that was less than 30 years old.

If the equipment is used within the written guidelines, IS IT SAFE? U-
Haul has gone to the extreme of placing the 45 mph MAX sticker in such
a way that it can be read in the side view mirror as well as when you
are loading the trailer. To exceed it you are willfully ignorant or
ignoring the warning.

-Eric
http://brontide.blogspot.com/

On Jun 25, 9:07 am, Brontide > wrote:
> On Jun 24, 10:31 pm, (Brent P)
> wrote:
>
> > The 45mph speed limit that U-Haul has is just them covering their ass. If
> > that's true, then anyone traveling on the interstate should not rent
> > their equipment. Then again, it's U-Haul.... I was surprised when the
> > article stated they had equipment that was less than 30 years old.
>
> If the equipment is used within the written guidelines, IS IT SAFE? U-
> Haul has gone to the extreme of placing the 45 mph MAX sticker in such
> a way that it can be read in the side view mirror as well as when you
> are loading the trailer. To exceed it you are willfully ignorant or
> ignoring the warning.

I think the true warning is that if U-Haul is only willing to state
that its equipment is safe below 45 MPH, then it is simply not safe to
use.

I need to find a friend to convince to buy a small car trailer so I
don't ever have to use U-Haul again (I'd buy one myself, but I have
nowhere to store it.)

nate