Roadside Assistance/Flatbedding????
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,012
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From: Minnesota
Roadside Assistance/Flatbedding????
I just renewed my Vette insurance and for $4.50 added roadside assistance which I was told included flatbedding if necessary. Then on the way home got to thinking--how do they load the Vette? If they were going to pull it up on a flatbed or trailer from where do they pull? Anyone with experience? My front spoiler extension sits pretty low.
SEMPER FI--1970 Dave
SEMPER FI--1970 Dave
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,957
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From: Chico Ca
Flatbed trucks have a pretty low angle. If the spoiler is too low and wants to rub on the deck of the truck the driver can place some blocks under the front tires at the point were the bumper comes in contact with the deck. as the car gets up on the deck further it won't be an issue. Usually it just falls upon the skill and diligence of the tow truck operator.
There are some alternatives to paing that $4.50, you could just tow it with this guys Ford ranger
There are some alternatives to paing that $4.50, you could just tow it with this guys Ford ranger
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
OK, in the interest of preventing somebody else from making the same stupid mistake as me I will expose myself as an idiot!!
I thought those holes in the frame were there for towing the car, so I instructed the towtruck driver to put the hook into the hole in the frame..... and it tore up the hole a bit.
What worked fine was to wrap the chains around the front axle...both sides, near the wheels.. the A-arm? I was a little nervous about this, but the wheels stayed on the car.
I thought those holes in the frame were there for towing the car, so I instructed the towtruck driver to put the hook into the hole in the frame..... and it tore up the hole a bit.
What worked fine was to wrap the chains around the front axle...both sides, near the wheels.. the A-arm? I was a little nervous about this, but the wheels stayed on the car.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 690
Likes: 1
From: near Memphis TN
I had a flatbed tow last week (Flat tire, no spare, tire came off the rim so "fix a flat" would not work, this was a new tire that a tire shop put on so I am having them pay for the two - anyways that's another story...) - my front height to fendor is 26 1/2 inches, at least an inch lower than stock. He pulled it up from the front. No problems. The flat bed itself, or at least the one he used, is alot more variable and versatile than you think. He was able to back out the flat bed portion and lower it to an incline angle of about 15 degrees or so. I have more trouble getting out of many driveways.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,012
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From: Minnesota
Originally Posted by SpyderD
I had a flatbed tow last week (Flat tire, no spare, tire came off the rim so "fix a flat" would not work, this was a new tire that a tire shop put on so I am having them pay for the two - anyways that's another story...) - my front height to fendor is 26 1/2 inches, at least an inch lower than stock. He pulled it up from the front. No problems. The flat bed itself, or at least the one he used, is alot more variable and versatile than you think. He was able to back out the flat bed portion and lower it to an incline angle of about 15 degrees or so. I have more trouble getting out of many driveways.
SEMPER FI--1970 Dave
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Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 690
Likes: 1
From: near Memphis TN
Originally Posted by 1970 Dave
But from what point did he hook up to? and did the cable want to cut into the front spoiler extension? I guess that I would like to be prepared if I ever need a tow late into the evening
SEMPER FI--1970 Dave
SEMPER FI--1970 Dave
Now I have to peek under the front of the car when I get home.
edit update: Looked at the front, no damage at all to the spoiler. If you tug on the spoiler you will see it is pliable enough to move up three or four inches without damage.
Last edited by SpyderD; Mar 7, 2005 at 07:27 PM.
Instructor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Golden CO
I had to have mine flat-beded last summer. The first truck that showed up was a regular one-piece straight bed. The driver took one look and called for a second flatbed they used for towing Lambourghinis. It has a bed that split about 5 feet from the tailend. Once the nose is on the first split portion the entire bed tilts straight and up it goes. Took almost no time to load. Got it home and no damage whatsoever. Key is call the right tow company that has experience with exotics!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 758
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From: Ville de la Baie Quebec. A winner is just a loser who tried again.
I had mine put on a flat bed in both directions,, and both times the guy new what he was doing,, the second time I questioned the driver, he told me they have a register that tells them how and where to hook up.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 111
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From: Kannapolis NC
Originally Posted by . There are some alternatives to paing that $4.50, you could just tow it with this guys Ford ranger
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[IMG
http://www.funnysnaps.com/towing.jpg[/IMG]
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2005
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I speak from experience I am a tow truck driver. You can use the holes in the frame as long as there is not alot of strain to load such as car still in gear. If the frame is rusted then you will get damage. As far as the spoiler if the tow truck driver has any experience he will have 2x12 or at least 2x8s to put infront of each front wheel to act as a small ramp to create less of an angle going up. I can't count how many I have loaded including my own without damaging one.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,012
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From: Minnesota
Originally Posted by mikie77
I speak from experience I am a tow truck driver. You can use the holes in the frame as long as there is not alot of strain to load such as car still in gear. If the frame is rusted then you will get damage. As far as the spoiler if the tow truck driver has any experience he will have 2x12 or at least 2x8s to put infront of each front wheel to act as a small ramp to create less of an angle going up. I can't count how many I have loaded including my own without damaging one.
--thanks--that what I was looking forSEMPER FI--1970 Dave
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,255
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From: Manalapan FL
Someone in the past apparently hooked up my car using the holes in the frame. I now have two elongated holes accompanied by a protruding strip of metal where they peeled forward.
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 977
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From: wash. dc
roadside assistance
well i had my 71 towed last fall when the fuel pump went out... the driver had the wrong hook and when he pulled the car on he tore the front spoiler... said he had been towing suv's all day and had the wrong style hook on it. said he'd pay for whatever it costs to fix it but i took it off the road for the winter after i replaced the pump...will be looking him up very soon...
