Archived Need towing help, please

[MDW]

I am asking for help from someone with a 5th wheel hitch.

As we were evacuating from Texas City, Texas we had a axle break on the truck towing our 36' Avion 5th wheel trailer.

I'm looking to get the trailer and truck towed back to Texas City.

The trailer will be the hardest as any wrecker can tow the truck.

The truck is still hooked to the trailer on the side on Hwy146 in Baytown.



We would very much appreciate the help.

You can contact me at 281-960-3497cell or 281-960-3538cell

Thanks in advance Pam & Michael Watkins

 

[GAmes]

I hope you are safe and your trailer survived the storm. Considering the traffic going back toward Houston it would probably take me 3 or 4 days to get to Baytown from here or I'd be on my way. I've been told that the king pin of a 5er is the same size as that of a big truck. Perhaps you could engage a bobtail driver to lend a hand. Also keep an eye out for a transporter. Horizon, Bennett, Star, Quality and a host of others. If they have removed their signs they are still easy to spot. They will have a fifth whl hitch in the bed and a 2 5/16 ball hitch mounted on the back, and will usually have a fuel tank in the bed. Good luck.



Gary

 

[Diesel Nut]

Come on there has to be SOMEONE in Texas with a 5th wheel hitch??? I wish I were closer, but its a long haul from northern Washington. Hope you weathered the storm ok and best of luck to you!

 

[R C Cola]

Tow Problem ??

I am in Oregon and should be back down in that area in about a week and a half. If you still do not have a solution you can pm me or better yet call--801-391-0935 Best of luck R C

 

[MDW]

Having a hard time getting online.

Will be heading back tuesday morning. That is when we are told it will be ok to return.

I have no idea if its still on the side of the road or not.

Might still need help, don't know yet.

 

[litespeed]

Got to be some help out there?

There has got to be some one close with a setup to get you off the HWY... .



I thought everyone in Texas had a gooseneck and a 5th wheel setup? :-laf



Sorry,,,,, bad humor... ... .



If you are having a hard time finding help I would go with a transport company or a local "Hot Shot" just to get your rig off the road! That is a dangerous situation.



There has got to be someone... ..... Even from TDR??????



If you were within 600 miles of where I lived... ... . You would be off the road in a few hours... ... I pull heavy... ... NO PROBLEM... .



If you are having a hard time getting through via phone or internet give me a call (PM me for #) and I will see if we can hunt someone down to help you out!



I know when we got hit last year here in Florida... ..... Phones, Internet, Power, etc... ... ... . Were off and on for days (Major Pain in the ***).



PM me if things get bad and I will do what I can to help!!!!!!! :-laf

 

[wneubauer]

I have no 5th wheel hitch, but even if I did I think it would be close to impossible for me to get there from Dallas unless they have the fuel and traffic issues fixed between Dallas and Houston. The big text signs here in Dallas on 635 have the message "Massive delays to Houston" and something about fuel shortages flashing across them. That does not sound good.....



Good luck and I hope someone can help you out!!

 

[MDW]

Update: The trailer has been removed from the side of the road and none of the agency's can find it.

So, we will not need help removing it. Thanks for the offers.

We will be back in town tomorrow and if they still can't find it we will report it stolen.

 

[MDW]

Follow up

To Whom it May Concern:

Here’s my story.



Hurricane Rita is on her way.

Time to evacuate.

Load up the Trucks and trailers with our possessions.

Spend 9 hours getting nowhere, actually to Hwy 146 at the Main St. exit from Texas City.

Where one of my trucks breaks down. The one towing our home away from home, our travel trailer.

Call the Baytown police, they arrive much quicker than expected, about an hour.

They call a wrecker

Wrecker shows up quicker than expected but can’t tow the travel trailer just the truck.

After discussions with the officer he tells me if I can get it into the emergency lane it will stay there till I can return to retrieve it unless Rita does it in first.

I refuse the towing and push the truck and trailer to the side of the road with the other truck.

We move as much of our possessions as we can to the other trailer and keep going but now have no place to stay. My wife my mother and myself. What to do.

As we sit in traffic worrying we try hotels to no avail.

Our only option as we see it is to go to my uncles in Louisiana just north of New Orleans.

After about 36 hours of no sleep we make it to refuge finally.

We sleep.

Hurricane Rita turns north unexpectedly and missed Texas City.

The place we are at loses power. Time to evactuate again.

We go to New Orleans of all places as my other uncle has power.

We return the next day as power is restored.

We are now on the other side of the damaged area with no route back as officials say to stay away.

We obey.

I talk to people in Houston on Sunday who goes to look for the truck and trailer to see if it is ok.

No truck and trailer??

We start calling Baytown police but are told “we didn’t tow any vehicles” call Harris county sheriff.

We call all agencies: Harris county, Houston police, DPS, TX Dot(trying anything at this point) to no avail.

We call back to Baytown to be told “we don’t have it” but that they heard Harris County came through and towed vehicles call them.

We call Harris County again.

This goes on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.

We return Tuesday. I call Baytown again. They heard that Harris county was holding vehicles at a park and ride lot on North Shepard and the only way to see if it was there was to drive up and look for it.

We go look. Not there.

Wednesday morning, I call Baytown again this time to report the truck and trailer stolen since noone can find it.

They tell me Baytown police cannot make the report as its the county’s problem call them.

I call Harris County again.

I’m told the only way to make the report is I have to drive up to the Wallisville rd sub station.

I’m losing my mind after hours of being told, “we didn’t tow it or call someone else, we can’t help you”

I call Harris County back to see if anyone can make to report over the phone please.

I find a beckon in the storm. Someone willing to help, finally.

She calls every agency she can think of to no avail so she says I need to make out the stolen report with Baytown.

My heart sinks.

I inform her that was why I was calling her.

She informs me its Baytown jurisdiction but while I’m still on the phone with her she calls Baytown PD gets Baytown to understand it’s there report to take.

Thank you.

Baytown now informs me that an officer must call me back.

Dejected again.

An officer calls me within 2 hours, great.

He asks me “what can I do for you”?

I say that I need to report a stolen truck and trailer.

He says do you mean the truck and trailer had towed by XXXX towing company??

I said WHAT??

You know where it is??

He gives me the name of the towing company and phone number.

I call to find out I owe over 500 dollars to get my vehicle back. OMG…

A big portion is storage fees.

Someone shoot me now…….

First I was told it wouldn’t be towed.

Then its gone and noone has it…. . Baytown police WE DID NOT TOW ANY VEHICLES, then how did it end up in a tow yard.

Come to find out Baytown police had it towed and didn’t inform anyone as to its location (including itself) as it racks up storage fees.



To say I am disappointed would be the understatement of the century.

We had a horrible time evacuating.

Come to find out for no apparent reason, as the hurricane didn’t even come here.

Now feeling like a fool and reevaluating our choice to leave, we get let down by our own system.

I will have to say this will be a large factor as to wether or not I leave in the face of another hurricane.

I have much more to say but just don’t have the energy.



Michael

 

[GAmes]

Total bummer, but try to be positive. You lost some sleep and some money. All in all, it could have been much worse. I'm guessing an insurance check wouldn't be even close to the cost of replaceing your trailer and it's contents. I'm reading between the lines that your home was undamaged and your family is safe. A year from now you may be able to look back at the adventure and smile a little.



One more thing I just thought of, and it may cause you pain. Did the truck that was towed need to have the driveshaft removed first (5 spd for sure, don't know about auto) and was it?