We rented a 6' x 12' enclosed trailer from the local U-Haul dealer. We loaded the trailer with less than 1,000 pounds of furniture (max load for the trailer is 3,500 pounds). While towing the trailer, our transmission blew up (a medium duty truck transmission with only 52,000 miles on it).
I sent the truck to a transmission shop and placed a call to U-Haul to advise them of the situation. I was told that I would have to file a claim with their insurance carrier, Republic Western Insurance, (convienently, a "sister" company of U-Haul).
They sent a "representative" out to where we were broken down at, and the representative inspected the trailer and found that the brakes on the trailer were not working, due to no brake fluid in the trailer's reservoir.
Now I have only been a mechanic for 14 years now, and I can give a good estimate as to how long the trailer has been without brake fluid. The bottom of the reservoir was covered in rust. This tells me that there has been no brake fluid for at least a year.
Also, the last time the trailer had a SAFETY INSPECTION or BRAKE INSPECTION was MARCH!
After the "representative" left, I contacted the representative at the insurance company for 2 days before I got any kind of a response, which was they were still reviewing the information. The next day I got a call from him stating that even though the trailer was in disrepair, that they were not at fault and were denying our claim.
We are currently reviewing our options for litigation against U-Haul and Republic Western Insurance.
If you rent any equipment from U-Haul, please follow my advice:
(1) check the inspection stickers on the equipment you rent BEFORE you leave the rental location. Check the safety inspection sticker AND the brake inspection sticker. If something looks strange, ask for a different rental unit.
(2) if you do not know where the safety inspection & brake inspection stickers are at, ask the representative to show them to you.
Please remember that if you rent any equipment from U-Haul, and there is a mechanical problem with the equipment, you can be held liable and at fault for any accident and damages that are a result. YOU are responsible for making sure that the equipment that you are driving and/or towing is safe.
0 comments