Tow Trucks, Wreckers and Car Hauler Discussion

[HotRodPC]

So I was heading up the mountain when I got a call for a private tow. As I was running out of cell coverage I got the address and headed out there. I showed up with our short rollback, only about a 19' deck. I arrive to find that the tow is for an 07 Dodge 3500...

Crew cab...


Diesel...


Parked nose in.


My gut feeling (which I should have listened to) said to go back to town and grab the bigger rollback. Instead I decided to attempt to load it. Of course since it is nose in I have to grab it by the tail. With about 4" on either end I managed to get it loaded. The hydraulics didn't like moving the deck back. It groaned all the way. Fortunately it was only a 3 mile tow but I do not believe I will attempt that again. I don't think it would have been as bad nose first as that would have centered the weight better. I still think that was too big a load for that truck. The steering was a bit light on that trip.

I guess it's time to pay more attention to my gut.

It would have been nice to have had the vehicle info going in but they didn't have it all.

Believe it or not, that longer truck, probably a 21ft, may not have lifted it. That extra 2 feet and having the weight further out on the end. Of course you can load it the same way. You can work your bed and you'd be amazed at what you can get it to lift when you think it's not going to happen. Especially when you don't want to put it back down and go swap trucks. Not sure how true, but when I picked up this load, I was told these 4x4 F450's weighed over 12,000 each with the equipment that was mounted in the boxes. Very well could be true. I did break a winch line loading the first one. I ended up backing up into the the other truck to help finish loading. Got it on deck, used the E brake and Park on deck, drove ever so slowly to a hardware store to get parts to sorta fix the winchline, then went back and got the other one. That wheel lift is maxes right there, and that's cuz I used a floor jack to help it. If those were 12K ea, then I was grossed out at well over 40,000 on a 26,000 truck. I pulled that load 90 miles or more. It was a pretty wild ride.

 

[ScottyB]

Believe it or not, that longer truck, probably a 21ft, may not have lifted it. That extra 2 feet and having the weight further out on the end. Of course you can load it the same way. You can work your bed and you'd be amazed at what you can get it to lift when you think it's not going to happen. Especially when you don't want to put it back down and go swap trucks. Not sure how true, but when I picked up this load, I was told these 4x4 F450's weighed over 12,000 each with the equipment that was mounted in the boxes. Very well could be true. I did break a winch line loading the first one. I ended up backing up into the the other truck to help finish loading. Got it on deck, used the E brake and Park on deck, drove ever so slowly to a hardware store to get parts to sorta fix the winchline, then went back and got the other one. That wheel lift is maxes right there, and that's cuz I used a floor jack to help it. If those were 12K ea, then I was grossed out at well over 40,000 on a 26,000 truck. I pulled that load 90 miles or more. It was a pretty wild ride.

You may be right about the difference in trucks, but I doubt it in this case. I'm not sure if the big one has a longer wheel base, but I think it does. It is also larger up front (I forget what models they are as I'm not familiar with Internationals) but it sits about a foot higher and is an extended cab. The hydraulics also work MUCH better.

I had it on the truck, so fit wasn't the issue. I think it would have worked better if I could have loaded it nose first so the heavy end was between my axles instead of behind them. I was just nervous with how light my front end felt. It didn't help when I went to off load it and I was pointed uphill and I watched the steers come off the ground briefly as I rolled it back.

This truck is going away in about a month anyway. A new 21' rollback under a new Dodge 5500 (?) Extended cab 4x4 is coming in soon.

I think this was more of a "Trust your gut" situation. Yeah, it would have taken an extra 45 minutes to change trucks but it would have felt better.

It was funny when the boss looked at me and said "You can't do that, it won't fit that way" when I told him what I did. I guess I didn't do it since it won't fit.

 

[HotRodPC]

Oh yeah, you'll get the steer wheels off the ground every now and then. On my C6500 Chevy, and a heavy AT&T truck, I've had the headlights pointing at the moon several times.

You're right, nose in would have been much better for the weight factor and distribution. The hydros wouldn't have to work near as hard either. But, it is what it is, there's going to be plenty of times when you can't load the optimal way.

You'll soon figure out, the lower trucks are much easier to work with. This new boss I have, has small wheel trucks, 19.5 tire trucks, the old boss has 22in tires trucks. The 22in tall tires do last much longer for just a little more money and why the last boss runs them, but you pay for it in high deck trucks. This boss here likes the lower COG (Center of Gravity) and says, he don't care, easier on the body (as in the driver), the truck chassis and less chance of accident to customers car, like loading a 300zx or a Viper for example. You can still load a Viper on a big truck, it's all about technique, but much less chance with a lower to the ground deck.

 

[smurph20]

So I was heading up the mountain when I got a call for a private tow. As I was running out of cell coverage I got the address and headed out there. I showed up with our short rollback, only about a 19' deck. I arrive to find that the tow is for an 07 Dodge 3500...

Crew cab...


Diesel...


Parked nose in.


My gut feeling (which I should have listened to) said to go back to town and grab the bigger rollback. Instead I decided to attempt to load it. Of course since it is nose in I have to grab it by the tail. With about 4" on either end I managed to get it loaded. The hydraulics didn't like moving the deck back. It groaned all the way. Fortunately it was only a 3 mile tow but I do not believe I will attempt that again. I don't think it would have been as bad nose first as that would have centered the weight better. I still think that was too big a load for that truck. The steering was a bit light on that trip.

I guess it's time to pay more attention to my gut.

It would have been nice to have had the vehicle info going in but they didn't have it all.

I got that same feeling one afternoon when I had to load a E550 ambulance onto my F350 stupid duty with a 19 foot bed. I got it loaded nose first but my rear bumper (no wheel lift on this truck) would drag the ground if I hit anything bigger then a speed bump faster then about 15mph. I had to drag it out of banjo country almost 30 miles to a shop.

 

[ScottyB]

Interesting thing about this job, I'm starting to put together a list of vehicles to stay away from. Added to the list today is the H2. That was just too much fun today. At least I learned some good things going forward. Audis aren't on my good car list either, but they didn't give me the same trouble loading.

 

[HotRodPC]

Sadly, you usually won't get the chance to pick and choose.

 

[ScottyB]

Sadly, you usually won't get the chance to pick and choose.

I wasn't clear, I was referring to personal ownership. As far as towing goes, the job is the job.

On the other hand, I haven't towed a square.

 

[Jims86]

H1s are no joke either, but you would have to service a really wealthy area to ever see one.

 

[HotRodPC]

H1s are no joke either, but you would have to service a really wealthy area to ever see one.

He said H2. H2 can be had for $58K brand new, and used as low as $30K with some age and mileage on it in great shape. H1, you won't touch for anything less than $100K I'd like an H1 if it had a Cummins in it.

 

[HotRodPC]

I wasn't clear, I was referring to personal ownership. As far as towing goes, the job is the job.

On the other hand, I haven't towed a square.

So when are you going to start posting up your tow rigs, equipment and some carnage. You can start a thread in the Members Photos section if you want, or just add it to this thread. What truck are you running anyway?

I'm currently running a Hino X Cab of all things with a Vulcan 21 foot bed. Power Locks, Windows, Tilt Cruise, AC, Air Brakes, Air Seat, Rear Air Ride with Bag Dump which comes in handy on the low to the ground vehicles, or if I ever get stuck in mud like did out at the river, and had to use my wheel lift to lift the truck and push it forward out of the hole when it sank the rear wheels to the hub on 1 side. It was catty wompus, I couldn't even send the bed home. One side above the bed lock, the other side went over the top of the bed lock. So first I leveled off the truck to get the locked in home which helps make the whole truck more rigid, then used the wheel lift to get another bite, then lift and push the truck forward. I didn't tell you that trick either. And I wouldn't let the bossman see you do it. I only do it when I don't have a choice. You can also use your bed winch to pull yourself backwards. You can even pull yourself forward if you have enough cable and snatchblocks. I've turned my Perterbuilt with a Jerr Dann bed, 90 degrees before using the winch and snatchlocks hooked to trees out in a rural area recovering tornado damaged trucks wrapped around trees.

 

[ScottyB]

So when are you going to start posting up your tow rigs, equipment and some carnage. You can start a thread in the Members Photos section if you want, or just add it to this thread. What truck are you running anyway?

I'm currently running a Hino X Cab of all things with a Vulcan 21 foot bed. Power Locks, Windows, Tilt Cruise, AC, Air Brakes, Air Seat, Rear Air Ride with Bag Dump which comes in handy on the low to the ground vehicles, or if I ever get stuck in mud like did out at the river, and had to use my wheel lift to lift the truck and push it forward out of the hole when it sank the rear wheels to the hub on 1 side. It was catty wompus, I couldn't even send the bed home. One side above the bed lock, the other side went over the top of the bed lock. So first I leveled off the truck to get the locked in home which helps make the whole truck more rigid, then used the wheel lift to get another bite, then lift and push the truck forward. I didn't tell you that trick either. And I wouldn't let the bossman see you do it. I only do it when I don't have a choice. You can also use your bed winch to pull yourself backwards. You can even pull yourself forward if you have enough cable and snatchblocks. I've turned my Perterbuilt with a Jerr Dann bed, 90 degrees before using the winch and snatchlocks hooked to trees out in a rural area recovering tornado damaged trucks wrapped around trees.

Mostly I drive our International 4400 with a Jerr Dan 21' roll back. This is also the only automatic we have currently. I haven't got stuck...yet, but I appreciate your tips...I'm sorry, the tips I may have picked up from a random stanger in a bar somewhere. We have an International 4700 (why that one is smaller than the 4400 I haven't figured out) with a 19' Jerr Dan roll back. That one is being retired in the next month or so. It is going to be replaced with a Dodge 5500 quad cab 4x4 with a 21' Jerr Dan roll back.

We have 2 wheel lift trucks as well. The older and larger is an International (I forget the number) and the other is a Ford F550. I'm not too familiar with the tow equipment on these trucks. I have used the wheel lifts and did sling one car but I wouldn't claim competency with that yet. I'll try to grab some pictures when I'm at work.

The H2 should have been a piece of cake to grab but I had to work through a learning curve. It had an ABS module failure that was affecting all the other systems. I was unable to shift it into neutral. I also admit to being green when it comes to 4x4 drive trains. Took me about 40 minutes to figure out how to disconnect the shift cable. Knowing what I know now it would have only taken about 7 minutes (taking into account dragging out the jack and putting it away). The kicker is it only took 15 seconds to put the transfer case into neutral which is all I really needed to do. The same job that took me an hour to load yesterday would take me 15 minutes tops today. They make them really easy to grab with those D rings front and back. It is just frustrating when it takes that long to learn what you need to know.

 

[HotRodPC]

When your rear wheels get stuck on the roll back, (provided it has wheel lift to tow a 2nd car), you drop the stinger to the ground. Extend it out about 8 inches or so. Then keep dropping it and it should start lifting the back end of the truck. Once out of the hole, then extend the stinger and that pushes the truck forward. Don't extend all the way out, it's hard on the hydraulic and can bend the stinger if you get way out there, so don't max it out. Then you can lift the stinger back up, suck it back in, and get another bite into the ground and repeat as needed. I've scooted one over 12 feet before using the wheel lift to walk it out. If you have air brakes, you'll need to leave the air brakes with air ON so it don't lock the front wheels. You can leave it in Park if an auto, or the Rear E brake on if hydro brakes and a cable E brake. This way when you do get out of the hole, and set your rear wheels back down, your truck don't take off rolling away. Usually get more lift out of your wheel lift too, if you tilt your bed a bit since that brings the wheel lift closer to the ground.

 

[HotRodPC]

As I had explained Scotty B, this is how **** can go very wrong. Got a long story here that happened today.

Being my company that pulls Copart's too, when I do out of town runs using a roll back, knowing the out of town Coparts pay better, and for the reason of getting some of the bosses fuel replaced and scoring a few points, not to mention a little bigger check, I'll call Copart on my way out of town and tell them what I'm pick up and what I'll have room for and see if he can get me a Copart tow to go along with my roadside service or private tow. I told my boss today, I'm shooting myself in the foot cuz every damn time I do this, it's a No good deed goes unpunished type of deal and I end up getting a burn out rolled truck way out yonder in a muddy pasture (exxageration of course, BTW, Burn Outs are the worst to carry, roll overs are 2nd worst), so bossman says sure, call Copart and get another Paul's Valley (48 miles South of OKC) set up. So I'm making $52 on the roadside service tow, and figured I could add $22 to my check by picking up a Copart too. We get the Copart fax and it's a "Will Tow" which means it'll go on the wheel lift, but half the time when said they're Will Tow, yeah it Will Tow on dollies, but rollbacks can't use dollies cuz they don't have the lift height. Boss says, pick up the Copart First, since your dropping off the Roadside Service vehicle in Norman, then come on into the city and drop the Copart. I look, the roadside service call is a FWD Nissan Juke. Cool, that will work perfect.

NOT !!!

I pick up the Copart, No problem. It is infact a "Will Tow", not that it matters since it's going on the deck and I'm towing the Juke back. I get to this bank and of course the Juke is nosed in, at this tiny parking lot at a country bank and I'm in this long ass truck.
So I had to hook the Juke rear wheels up and drag it off in Neutral then flip it around it get the front wheels off the ground to not burn up the trans. I took it about a mile @ 30mph to find a big enough lot to drop it, drive around in front of it, and rehook it.

So I get in front and get it hooked up and ready to haul balls back to the city, dropping off the Juke FIRST at Norman, OK on the way into OKC. (Didn't get a pic of that, I was pissed and forgot). As I'm walking around the Juke across the back to make sure nothing is dragging or I don't have it lifted to high and would be dragging it's ass on pavement, I happen to notice this badge on the back of the Juke that says, Pure Drive. As I keep checking all my safety chains, and straps, then into the cab of the truck to take off and get on the Freeway, I'm thinking, WTF is Pure Drive??? Then it hit me, I better check that thing out. Sure the hell enough, I look under it the rear end and it's got an IFS axle. I look up front too thinking maybe it's RWD and not FWD afterall. Nope, my luck...Pure Drive is All Wheel Drive just like I fuggin figured. So I am very very glad I thought to wonder WHT is Pure Drive or I'd have made a few thousand dollar mistake and cooked a trans and probably a Tcase. But now I have alot more work to do, cuz the Juke has to go on deck. Now I had to unload both vehicles.

Flip a bitch in this big ass truck, and then load the Juke.

Then Flip it again to get rear wheels up on the Copart since it's RWD, and prepared to tow backwards.

And wonder how well this is going to tow with the fender well pushing on the tire. It's just plastic, I'm going for it. Fugg it I did use a pry bar and got the about an 1/8 inch of clearance. It'll hit on the bumps every now and then but it'll tow fine.... I hope.

 

[HotRodPC]

So then I get the Copart Trailblazer hooked up on the stinger and strapped down. Now ready for bidness and hit the interstate. FINALLY.

Then get to the dealership in Norman, OK and have to drop the Copart Trailblazer to get the Juke off.

Then of course, push the No Start, No Power Juke into a stall by hand cuz there is no damn room in this dealership, not even in Tow Row to back up a roll back, even a short one let alone a long one with a 21ft bed and X cab. Got'r Done while all the Service writers watched with their fuggin hands in their pockets playing pocket pool. And of course load the Copart Trailblazer on deck.

 

[HotRodPC]

So yep, as I KNEW would happen, No good deed goes unpunished, and all the extra work sure wasn't worth the extra $22 to play multiple musical car swaps. I could went out and got the Juke and been back in town to take more calls in about 3 hours. Instead it took me a total of about 4.5 - 4.75 hours.

BUT, even though it took much longer than I wanted it too, here is the moral ScottyB. Like I said several posts back... BEWARE and KNOW what your towing. I didn't even know Jukes came in AWD. So damn glad I paid attention to the PURE DRIVE badge. You just have to be aware of things like that or you'll make expensive mistake. So yeah, I had a rough day to get started, BUT, it could have been a very very bad day had I trashed that drivetrain.