Use the starter.
Use the starter.
Which mounted to trailer and a couple Come-a-Longs as backup,
Battery powered air compressor to fill the tires ,
a chain to tie the car to the trailer plus ratchet straps ,
If you over do straps / chains you get less trouble from the CHP :)
Had to load the race car onto a deck over trailer, thought I was in for a rough time. I think I had three people pushing and they almost pushed me off the other side. If you can get a slight downhill and the car rolls well, I think "just push" would work. I'm sure a neighbor or two would help if its an area with people around.
Before I bought my trailer, I had to use a uhaul trailer to rescue my daughter's Mazda 3 when the clutch failed. Myself and one daughter were unable to push it onto the trailer. With the additional help of a friendly stranger, it was easy. In my haste to get on the road to get her, I'd left my come-along at home.
I have a 12k winch on my trailer which is way overkill. The idea is to build a receiver setup so that I can easily swap the winch from the trailer to the front hitch on my van.
I can tell you how *not* to do it. It might initially seem like your buddy suggesting using the slope of the driveway has a good idea. Add in a few friends pushing, and it should be easy, right?
Sure, it is after dark, but that's not too big a deal.
...and once the truck and trailer are situated correctly, the truck is only hanging slightly out into the street, but it is late, so there isn't much traffic.
Being smart about the need to make quick steering corrections, as well as able to stop quickly if gravity takes over and it looks like we might overshoot the trailer, someone should just hop in to steer and then clamp the brakes once on the trailer, right?
It all went reasonably well until the car was up on the trailer, at which point cars started backing up in the street and getting agitated due to the truck hanging out...and we discovered that the car doors wouldn't open once on the trailer due to the wheels/fenders on the trailer...and the window wouldn't easily roll down...and the keys for the truck were in the pocket of the guy now trapped in the car stuck on the trailer...
Thankfully we are all older and wiser now, and have learned how useful a winch can be...or just paying for a tow/transport.
I put an ATV receiver on my trailer, and then mounted a small HF winch to one of their hitch mounted vise plates. I usually power it with a spare battery that I keep on a trickle charger.
Get a cheap come along and maybe some additional rope. https://www.harborfreight.com/4000-lb-2-ton-capacity-10-ft-cable-winch-puller-69855.html Also consider a couple of wheel dollies https://www.harborfreight.com/automotive/jacks-jack-stands/vehicle-dollies/2-piece-1500-lb-capacity-vehicle-dollies-67338.html if the brakes are locked up. All of the above should be readily available 'locally', but I would suggest you acquire them prior to departure to avoid disappointment. Unloading may be more interesting than loading depending on how well the tires actually roll. Maybe also consider an air compressor such as https://www.harborfreight.com/12120v-dual-power-120-psi-tire-inflator-with-led-light-70680.html. The latter could be a life saver not only for loading purposes, but also for your tow rig. A rolling jack or two might also help the cause, depending on mobility of the vehicle. I would consider just getting your entire tow rig from U-Haul etc. rather than Turo so you are 'covered' from an insurance perspective...a full trailer rather than just a front wheel only unit might be a wise upgrade.
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