Date: Thu, 12 Sep 2002 21:04:20 -0400
Reply-To: Matthew Libby <MLibby1@CFL.RR.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Matthew Libby <MLibby1@CFL.RR.COM>
Subject: Re: long-distance towing
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
As a tow truck driver.
Flatbeds cause more damage, period!
Flatbeds require winching, and chaining down of your vechicle, even if the
proper points are used, the frame is stressed a great deal. Ive seen many
bent. Furthermore low clearance items such as exhausts fairings, etc. can
easily get ruined. This is a HIGH stress experience for your vehicle. In
fact Porsche manuals (newer) reccommend against using a flatbed.
A wrecker, using a wheel-lift, (what 99% have these days), only touches the
front or rear tires. It is as if the car is driving along normally. The
weight distribution is the same as if all 4 tires were on he ground. ANY
vehicle (except true AWD) can be towed with a wheel-lift!
When a owner requests a flatbed he ties up a valuable truck needed for AWD's
and wrecks. And usually he/she will WAIT. Furthemore, many companies have
switched to flatbeds because their cheaper, not because their better.
So when going for full service request a wheel-lift!!!!
Matt
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Rodgers" <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2002 6:34 PM
Subject: Re: long-distance towing
> I don't let anybody tow my vanagon.
>
> I saw a really beautiful baby blue Jaguar XKE convertible absolutely
ruined by
> two idiots.....one that did the towing, and the other that permitted it.
That
> XKE flexed sufficiently to cause the doors not to close properly. After
seeing
> that episode I swore no towing at least with one end off the ground. I
know,
> doesn't sound reasonable, given how vehicles drive across ditches, curbs
etc,
> but I saw what I saw, and I know that vehicles flex, and I don't want my
rig
> flexed out of shape so the doors don't quit fit right. I tow with all
wheels on
> the ground or fully loaded on a flatbed.
>
> I turned down an authorized AAA tow and sent back and got a flatbed. Only
way to
> go. Why should I tow, when all the real towing competitors have the
flat-bed
> service?
>
> Go for full service!!
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>
> Ben T wrote:
>
> > In a message dated 9/12/02 8:05:28 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
> > dan@OFFTHEHILL.ORG writes:
> >
> > << Speaking of tools to carry on roadtrips: I've got regular ol' AAA
> > coverage,
> > but I'm wondering if there are any long-distance towing plans out
there --
> > AAA only covers 100 miles; my auto insurance offers an optional plan to
> > cover
> > $50 of fees (ooh, ha).
> > Is there anything out there which will cover a flatbed back to Mass if
my
> > trusty Vanagon breaks down in say, upstate New York? >>
> >
> > Dan,
> >
> > I've heard of people having the AAA tow truck put the vehicle down. Then
> > calling for a second tow as permitted. Thereby getting 200 mile charge
free
> > tow. I can't remember if you can do more than two tows per breakdown
though.
> > The critical part is the vehicle has to be brought down first and a
second
> > call to the AAA dispatcher must be made to comply with AAA regs.
> >
> > Whenever I've needed a tow for my Syncro, they've always given me a
flatbed
> > for proper towing. I don't know what they do about 2wd vans.
> >
> > BenT
> > http://hometown.aol.com/bentbtstr8/myhomepage/index.html
>
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