Any one here a tow truck driver?

[Fitchconstruction]

Looking for a manual or documentation that states how to tow a disabled vechile. 2004. 5 Dodge 4x4 with auto. Trannie has a cracked overdrive housing.



Thanks for any info.

 

[TBurow]

dont understand the ? are you looking for info on how to tow the truck with the cracked od housing or how to tow vehicles in general?

 

[JHardwick]

Should be fine just throwing the x-fer case in nuetral.

 

[TBurow]

safest way is to use a trailer(u haul or other rental co. ) or flat bed it.

 

[Fitchconstruction]

Towing company towed truck 25 highway miles picked from front. They didn't remove drive shaft. I'm looking for something that I can us in my fight with the owner who states he has towed for 20 years and hasn't removed a single shaft.

 

[Fitchconstruction]

This is a DTT trannie on top of that.

 

[TBurow]

check your owners manual it should state that it cannot be towed with the drive wheels on the ground at speeds ie excess of 45 mph for more then 10 miles or severe damage to the trans will result, there is no fluid being pumpes through the clutches to cool/lubricate them they build up so much heat/friction they weld themselves together. i towed for 10 years and after ruining 1 dodge trans the same way they did, if its a long haul i always shift the t-case into neutral and tow with a wrecker(no wheel lift) or use a flatbed. if that is not an option they should have towed from the rear and left fronts on ground. its clearly stated in the owners manual and common practice for any tow driver with any expirience or a brain.

 

[Fitchconstruction]

My owners manual states 35 mph is max. And yes I'm thinking this blow hard has ruined more than one trans in his stated 20 yrs towing.



Does anyone have paper work to back this info up. Does like DOT or ? make a manual of how each vehicle has to be towed? It's going to be a battle to show this owner what he did or didn't do.

 

[MBrewer]

Years ago I was involved in the vehicle towing (tow-truck) industry, from the inspection side of things. I recall, while waiting to speak with the manager of the local AAA office, I reviewed a book or booklet that listed the proper items needed to properly tow specific vehicles. This booklet included photos. I recall one item in the list, was a 4 x 4 piece of lumber stock. I believe it was used to protect the front end of a sport car. I do know there are tow truck competitions, and professional organizations out there for the drivers. You should find something. The AAA I mentioned is part of the insurance industry. Check with your policy writer.

Good luck to you-

Mike

 

[TowPro]

You already have the paperwork. What you read out of your owners manual is officialy the word. Of course you are going to have to take this to court to get anything out of this blow hard Some times when they know you really are going to take them to court they will settle first.



Did it get towed because of the Cracked OD unit, or do you beleve the Cracked OD unit is the result of the towing?

 

[BStoecker]

Any moron with a tow truck should know to put a 4-wheel drive vehicle up on a flat bed. AAA won't dispatch anything else if you have 4-wheel drive.

 

[JMarhofke]

The company I tow for will only use a "flatbed" on all 4wd, or awd vehicles. On medium trucks with either manual or

auto trans, we pull the driveshaft if the truck has to be towed from the front. Regardless what people say, we will

take the extra time to pull a shaft, or axle. It is a whole

lot cheaper then paying for a transmission repair... If

you need further proof, find an AAA "towing" manual. They

print one every year, and are available to towing companies.

The book clearly explains tie down points, and towing procedures for just about every vehicle made. I agree with

what others have said here, if this towing company has

been towing vehicles on their drive wheels, they have been

causing damage...



Jim

 

[Fitchconstruction]

Thanks guys! I went to sullivan brother dodge and copyed the service manual for towing. This a hole still states he's towed for 20 years. How many trucks has he distroyed.

 

[Fitchconstruction]

OD unit is cracked because of a u-joint that went south. Would have been a quick fix.

 

[BStoecker]

Ignorance is temporary. Stupidity lasts forever. Guess this driver falls under the forever category. Good luck in court.

 

[GTani]

Just saw a similiar case on the "People's Court". He had a statement from the transmision shop stating the vehicle was towed improperly. The judge called a dealer and talked to the service dept. He won his case.

 

[JasonCzerak]

So, the next question should be... Will you get the transmission rebuilt to STOCK or DTT specs? You might wanna have documentation stating this transmission isnt' stock. . I hope the fact that it wasn't doesn't work againsed you. But they should pay for what you had.



And hte funny part is, since the transmission was broke to begin with, they fix it for free. So it was kinda nice they towed it incorrectly.

 

[Fitchconstruction]

DTT all the way! I will pay for this myself if I have to. I will never go back or buy another 48re in stock form.



Latest is the owner of the tow company is letting AAA eat the bill. I own my own construction company and would never turn my back on a situation I created.

 

[MLKramer]

I've towed for many years, the only way we'll tow a 4X4 is on the flatbeds. If they're wrecked we'll get em out with the wrecker then haul them wherever they are going . I won't plug our shop but as I see it it's just the proper way.

(edited) BTW, I don't know if it has anything to do with thier prociedure but we are a AAA towing service. Common sense rules the way we tow.

 

[DPKetchum]

When a auto has been trowed and trans is damaged its easy to tell on teardown. Fliud will look good,clutchs and drums will look good. The "stuff"that turns and does NOT get lube will look like its been melted down in areas. Been involved in more then a dozen over yhe years. You can tell that it was a lube starvation and trans was NOT operating. Any good auto trans man upon teardown can show anyone with a touch of common sense what occured. I always had customer call his insurance company,get their adjuster out(they always looked and went YEP tow tore THIS up) and THEY went after the tow company.