Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

I'm trying to figure out if a 55 Patrician will fit onto one of those Uhaul car trailers? I need to know the exact length from wheel to wheel as it sits and the width of the car at it's widest area.

Thanks

Here is the official Packard dimensions. Wheelbase is 127" center to center and length is 218 1/2". Figure car is a little over 18 1/4 ft long & 6 1/2 ft wide

Measuring my 56, if you wanted to add a chock front and rear in addition to the chains you would need a flat floor surface of about 155 inches or slightly under 13 ft. You would have about a 3 foot hang over past the wheels on each end.

Don't forget about opening the door to get out if you drive it on. Lots of trailers have a cover over the wheels about where the door has to open. Assuming the car is at normal height and is level, it can't be any higher than about 9" to allow the door to open -- less would be better.

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One word of advise re: the U-Haul carriers: every car I see going down the highway on one of those is not strapped down very well. Take charge of that aspect of the process, get the straps tight, and make sure the ratchet buckles are lock back onto themselves.

Possibly times have changed, but the last time I tried to rent one of these they were quite anal about knowing both what was going on the trailer and what was pulling it. The first time we were denied because the tow vehicle was inadequate and the car to be trailered was not allowable. (63 coupe de ville). Had a devil of a time with them.

patgreen is spot on about U-Haul rentals. The last time my friend and I rented one to tow a 56 Packard 400, he exaggerated to them what kind of truck he had. He has a Ford F-250 Turbodiesel, but had to tell them it was F-350 in order for the U-Haul computer to allow the contract. Of course in actuality, we had no problem towing with the F-250.

Craig

I've made reservations online for U-haul, and the drop-down menu didn't have a 1949 Packard available. So I think I simply selected Studebaker, and the U-haul clerk didn't care or know the difference anyway.

That was towing it from KY to FL, and it towed just fine at normal highway speeds.

On the move from FL to VA, I found that renting a trailer from Budget would save me a couple of bucks. I figured the trailers were the same anyway. Boy was I wrong. Accelerating smoothly on the on-ramp the car started to sway, and eventually the trailer was across and in to three lanes. The car was rocking on the trailer so bad that the door sides were bouncing off the trailer fenders. It would not surprise me if the trailer's tires came off the ground. This was in an Expedition, loaded with the wife and three kids. One of the scariest events of my life. I managed to regain control, but had to drive all the way to VA doing not a tick over 55.

So the moral of the story is, not all of the rental trailers are the same. Budget's design is shorter than the particular U-haul trailer I had previously used. There was no way to adjust the car on the trailer, fore to aft, and the tongue weight was wrong. Please try to make a dry run at highway speeds before you head out on a trip.

I went today and measured one of those Uhaul trailers and it was right around 80 inches wide between wheel covers. That would be a tight fit. What is the widest part of the 55 Patrician--the bumpers?

Looking at my 56 it would be the front bumper and side moldings. The 55 photo from parts manual also looks to be the same with wider front bumpers.

On each side, the chrome molding sticks out an inch or so. Rear bumpers are flush and front bumpers stick out about 3" per side.

Measuring the actual tire track, if driving absolutely straight on, 72" for the tires would be needed and it would be tight. As long as nothing sticks up higher than about 6-8" from the floor then the body should pass over. That would be the absolute minimum. At 80" width on the trailer, a good driver could do it if the wheel wells are not too high to prevent the door from opening -- but just make sure the door will open or you will have to crawl out a window.

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One good thing is, on the driver's side of the Uhaul trailer the wheel cover drops down so you can open the door and get in and out of the car no problem. So, the front bumper will obviously be toward front of the trailer and the main concern will be that each door area will not be to close to each wheel cover as it sits while being towed.