I am filing a report against Uhaul. After reading through hundreds of complaints against this company, I write because my story is unique and, unfortunately, worse.
If you are reading this report you are undoubetedly aware of the thousands of complaints against Uhaul's "reservation" process - this is all true in my experience. I never once received any phone confirmation, my trailer was unavailible at the stated time and location, I too was instructed to drive hundreds of miles to pick up said trailer and I too had to wait for hours on hold before being disconnected several times to even access this information from a rude attendant. There seems to be absolutely no central organization between online HQ and Uhaul branches.
Needless to say, if there is so little organization with the reservation process, it should be no suprise that the same neglect present itself in Uhaul maintenance and safety precautions. When the desired trailer became availible for pick-up, my boyfriend and his best friend drove to the less-than-convenient location. An attendant attatched the trailer to my boyfriend's 4x4 Toyota 4-Runner Limited (with a tow hitch capable of towing up to 5000 lbs). This was a more than capable vehicle for my less than 1000 lbs. Of possessions needing to be relocated.
100 miles down the road, while driving an extremely cautious speed in the right-hand lane, my boyfriend and his friend were almost KILLED by the Uhaul trailer (I was driving a separate car several miles ahead). While driving, the Uhaul trailer became detached from my boyfriend's car. As you may or may not know, aside from the actual hitch, trailers are also attached to your car by chains which, if pulled taut as in this case, trigger the emergancy break.
The weight of the less-than-halfway filled trailer was significant enough to send my boyfriends full-size SUV into the guard-rail, across the entire highway of traffic and then head-on into the median of Interstate 85. The force of the Uhaul slamming into the back of the car was so great that the car's hitch went straight through the Uhaul.
By the grace of God, no one was hurt in this "accident". There were damages to my belongings and the extent of the damages to the car was so great that it was considered totaled despite the fact that it was nearly new.
We are still in correspondance with Uhaul about this incident, however I write this primarily as a warning. I have read several accounts of trucks not fit to be on the road.
These vehicles carry everything you own in the world - not to mention the most prized possessions of all: you and your loved ones!!!
I will never use Uhaul again and will adamantly discourage anyone who is willing to listen to my story from using them. We would not accept this kind of service in transporting our MAIL - it is appalling then that we might be so careless with material possessions and human life.
Upon reflection I have noted the following injustices that have made me to believe that this "accident" could have been prevented by Uhaul in so many ways:
Uhaul's website specifically stated that the car in mention was an acceptable car for using their trailers. There was never any mention of safety issues or any advice given as to safety precautions and accident prevention. The Uhaul employee attached the trailer himself.
FYI:
Did you know you only have to be 18 to rent one of these things? You can't even get a rental car but for $20 a day you can drive an enormous truck that is carelessly maintained.
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