WRECKER SERVICE

Wrecker companies make money from human suffering.

File: 1479590837517.jpg (40KB, 500x491px) Image search: [Google]

40KB, 500x491px

>>16365094
I'll get right back at you op I've been running g a tow truck for 4 years now. Just rolled up on a call so I'll come back with answers once I'm done with this one

>>16365240
That's not true, you can't just leave your car on the side of the road mangled all to hell
>>16365241
excellent! I anxiously await

>>16365094
>what is y/O/ur opinion?
your market is saturated, also taking the 3am midwinter car in a ditch call sucks balls.

>could it be profitable?
maybe?, you need to run the numbers.

>>16365241
Well that was easier than expected. Smack starter car starts.

>wheel lift v flatbed
Both are good and both have differnt calls they are better for.

There's only 3 reasons to not out something on a wheel lift.
>stinger clearance
>awd and vehicle too heavy for dollies
>cars with fucked suspension. Broken control arms/ball joints
If you do not care about damage none.of that matters.

Only reason I don't put shit on a flatbed is I can't get a line on the car and I can't get the car to my truck. Again if damage is not a concern I could make it work.

Roll overs are easier with a wrecker but can be done with a flatbed you just need more room.

IF you own your own truck it CAN be very profitable. Your biggest hurdle will be getting a customer base in a town that small. Try hitting up local shops and dealers to see if you can get a deal running calls for them that customers want to get there but don't know a tow truck.

They just put a Collison call on me so I gotta.run but will check back later maybe bring pic if it's a good one.

>>16365240

t. 18 year old who drifted his BRZ into a fence and neighbor's tree

>>16365285
Yes building the customer base is a concern, however I do know most people in one way or another have bought scrap cars from them or sold them parts or something, one of the top guys right now gets requested a lot I hear on the police scanner he has been at it about 8 years....not sure what it would take to convince people to request me instead

File: 20161223_132228.jpg (2MB, 3264x1836px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 3264x1836px

>>16365302
Back again that was not a very good wreck. That guy who gets requested because he gets there fast and knows what the fuck he is doing. So he can load shit fast. That's what the cops want. Here the tow company's that have an in with the cops have cheerys and sirens. They can just flip.on the fuck you move lights and book.

For private tows you wanna load and tow thats where the money is. For me I'm hourly and get a bonus based on calls run per month. It's better to get shit started so they can drive to the shop or get it loaded fast so I can run more calls. If you can get fucked up cars fast that makes cops happy. If your cool with local shops they will recommend you for same reason and the ships I'm cool with ill.drop in bays or where they want.

Dealers who get shitty with where I put stuff piss me off. I drop broken ball joints infront of their quick service bays at night just to fuck that service writer over every chance I get.

If you run a shop and your cool I'll do everything I can to put the car where you want. If you a dick I will.go out of my way to make that as much of a bitch as possible for you.

>>16365302
>not sure what it would take to convince people to request me instead

Years of persistantly staying on their radar while you wait for the other guy to die or retire.

>>16365464
I meant he gets requested by the owners of the vehicles not the cops, if its a collision and the car owner has no preference they just go with who ever is next in rotation, but I understand what your saying being quick would be beneficial, 2 of the 3 company's are based closed to town while one is about a 20 minute drive form the city limits and no one ever ask for him and I almost think they skip him on rotation sometimes because of it

File: 1481843143132.png (850KB, 666x663px) Image search: [Google]

850KB, 666x663px

>>16365487
Sorry for the delay I'm at work so shit posting and driving is hard.

That guy most likely has tow shit for the people who request him or someone they know. Same reasons though he knows how to do shit. Can load it fast and without fucking g it up worse than it is. Not sure how small.town politics play into this.

To give you an idea of where I work ill.tell you where im at. Its fucking huge coverage.

Look up st louis MO on google. I run as far north as florrisant as far south as arnold and as far west as chesterfield. I sometimes do shit farther out than that but that's not a regular thing. I also run IL sometimes if they want me on that side of the river.

Forgot to answer your first question. Getting a used wrecker with a boom,stinger and two winiches will probably be the cheapest way in with you being able to do almost anything. You can do anything with a wrecker but it will.involve getting creative and towing shit not how you should. If nothing breaks then it's no problem.

I would start with local shops and dealers to try and build customer base. Hopefully if you are nice and do good work word of mouth will do the rest since you are in fairly small town. I just have no experience with the small town bullshit.

About to go on a long haul.to pick one up in imperial and take it who knows where so I might not be back for a while.

Do it and put out ads online for a cash for clunkers program.
Low ball everyone $100. Repair and resell what you can, part out what you can't.

Tow Op here.

Not to be a pessimist, but unless you have a considerable amount of experience and know what the fuck your doing, which means a hookup more complicated then a J hook through the wheel, you're going to have a bad time.

First and foremost. Trucks. Whats your budget? A flatbed specced for simple calls will still run close to 100K new and will be beat right to shit doing police calls with any winching or rolling. Used flatbeds that are cheap, say 15K, are going to have hour meters that will be in the 500-600K range and will be absolutely beat to piss, probably with a winch about to explode and a bed with a fucked sub frame.

Wreckers are e-z mode, and anyone who learned in one first, and learned right, will like them infinitely more then a flatbed. I do. The problem, of course, comes down to what kind of wheel lift system you use, and what you can even legally use. IMO, the best wheel lift system is the Vulcan strapless as I think its more versatile then anything else. If you plan to run accidents, then an autoloader is just asking for trouble as they become hard to chain grab. vehicles without risking damage to your own truck.

The best piece of advice I think I can give though, is you know what your trucks limits are and stay within them. Older units are over built as fuck and will tow a metric fuckton more then their designed to. For example, I drive a 3 ton truck, but you can bet I could lift and tow a regular truck from the front if it was an emergency.

The single biggest problem you'll have though, is yourself. You've gotta respond at all hours of the day, not just when you want to. Pissing people off doesn't get you anywhere, and a bad attitude at 3am isn't good either.

When it comes to Police calls, you have to know when to give and take and what they'll let you do without getting someone pissed off. There's a time and a place to stick to your guns and a time and place to just do whatever the cop says. Continued.

>>16365849
OP here, I have towed well over 100 cars usually just by hooking around the A frames or rearend depending on which direction the vehickes was facing BUT there were all junk cars that I purchased and were never on the road again so who know f I fucked anything up although I always tried to be cautious, the guy who is doing the majority of the business in my town now had no tow truck experience prior to buying a truck and opening for business.... as far as I know he never had any formal training , I however would be willing to attend a wreck master school and learn all I could, currently I couldn't afford both a wrecker and a rollback so I assume I would be buying a rollback to start with as its more versatile, and I fell you on the all hours bullshit im not crazy about that but im interested in being self employed im 31 years old, some background in auto business so towing may fit me well, im not sure

>>16365849

On the note of police calls, EVERYONE charges more for them, because, well , you can. Unless its illegal, then waa. You also can't be afraid of backing away from something that is going to cost you a lot of money with no profit. If the cops want you to fish something out of a pond that has no plates or VIN numbers attach, you aren't getting paid for that shit, and you need to drive away unless someone agrees, in writing, to pick up the bill and store it themselves. Remember, your in this to make money, not do things for free.

Equipment is the next big thing. Flatbed and wreckers carry pretty much the same equipment, but with a few differences. Shared equipment is chains of various lengths, largely grade 7, but each truck carries a few smaller grade 8 chains, normally for tiedowns. A few different chain binders, ratchet and break over style, broom, shovel, empty pale, some fluid absorbant in old windshield washer jugs, different lengths of hardwood (Gotta be hard wood) and straps and ratchets.

Unique equipment for my flatbed (That isn't brand specific) would be my chain J hook bridle for hook ups, normal J hooks with chains, several chains with grab and T hooks. Wheel straps, axle straps, flat grabhook straps with T, R, Mini J and grab hooks.

For my wrecker, I keep a full tool kit with a 330 piece wrench set, all kinds of pliers, a roll of duct tape, a smaller 50 piece ratchet set, a set of common 12 point sockets for drive shafts, hammer and some straps.

This is what I keep in my trucks, because I find my area calls for that. You might be different and not need anything close to what I carry. You'll quickly find yourself buying more tools as you run into jobs that require them.

In the end, the only thing best piece of advice I can give is to remember that every call is different, and to never, ever EVER fall into normalcy. Its whats killed countless operators over the years and will continue to do so.

Good luck, hooker.

File: 1358725137042.png (90KB, 318x235px) Image search: [Google]

90KB, 318x235px

Orignal.tow bro back again just drove 30miles to pop start a car.

>>16365849
>>16365883
>>16365912
This bro brought up many things I had assumed you might already know. I was wrong for thinking this and I can tell.this dude has towed some shit.

I wish I hadn't recently cleared my phone. I have some good pics of cars in ditches, really cool shit I've towed, and some nasty wrecks. That will have to wait till I'm off and at home on my pc later.

I also wish you best of luck. I do this for no other reason than I like it and I don't have a boss on my ass all day. I grab the truck and am left alone pretty much my whole shift. If someone paid me to do somethingelse that didn't involve standing outside in shit weather for better pay I would switch jobs.

Pic for you fellow tow bro

>>16365240
>Wrecker companies make money from human suffering.
No. Your statement indicates wreckers cause more suffering. Tow companies alleviate suffering by offering a solution. There are those car owners who could think of tow truck operators as causing more suffering.

Such people are:
a. Schadenfreude sociopaths who purposely wanted the wrecked vehicle to remain there to block the road.
b. Sociopaths who want the vehicle to clutter the side of the road and increase problems for other people.
c. Sociopaths who do not want the problem of the wrecked vehicle to be solved. Situations such as insurance and lawsuits typically need the wrecked vehicle to be moved to an examination center.
d. Sociopaths who want the wrecked vehicle to remain there as their "monument" to the world. Really, it's more like a finger poke in the eye, but that's how sociopaths are. If they can't cause others to have misfortune, they at least want others to keep looking at examples of misfortune in hopes of decreasing joy in the daily lives of other people.

File: 1480035856344.jpg (43KB, 500x453px) Image search: [Google]

43KB, 500x453px

Biker wave
>your on a bike
>I'm on a buke
>bikes are cool

Tow bro wave
>your in a tow truck
>I'm in a tow truck
>this rain is shit
>I hope all your calls have keys, steer and roll
>later bro

>>16366145
Yeah, what are exorbitant storage fees compounded daily when some poor bast ardent is inna hospital?
You people are vampires.

>>16366084
look forward to any advice, or pics, situations you want to share.... how old are you by the way? how did you learn this trade what compelled you to do it?

>>16366843
Still at work but it has died down.

I was 22 when I started and I'm 26 now. Got into it pure chance. Was in school.for computer shit and said fuck this it's too expensive. Dad told me that's fine of you don't wanna go to school but you gonna have a job if you live here.

My cousin was towing at the time. He got me an interview and they hired me/trained me. I think i rode with another guy for about a month b4 they sent me out on my own. I drive a AAA fleet tow truck. Honestly if you have keys the car rolls and steers it's fucking Ez to tow shit. That said you can do big damage by hooking stuff up wrong. I'm off in like two hours ill dump some pics of shit I've towed when I get home.

>>16367321
How do you tow a car out of the ditch when it has no tow hook points accessible in the front? If you use that tow cable with a hook on any part of the suspension, it will wreck that suspension part. Or is that okay since the suspension is already ruined by going into the ditch?

File: 20161020_114735.jpg (2MB, 2643x1487px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 2643x1487px

>>16367581
Ok just got home from work so ill answer your questions. grabbed a beer so I've got some time.

That is a per call decision.
There are alot of different things to each car in each ditch.
>How steep is the ditch
>What kind of angle am I pulling at
>How beefy is the shit made on this car

best way out is straight out the way it went in. that is not always possible though

Pic related

File: 20161020_114819.jpg (2MB, 2643x1487px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 2643x1487px

>>16367928
as you can see that strap is wrapped around the lower control arm near where it bolts into the frame. I ended up pulling this one up far enough so i could get to the actual tow points then switched to my bridle to pull it the rest of the way out by where you are supposed to hook.

Usually if I can't get to proper tow points I tell the person I can probably get it but you have to understand that something might end up broken or bent cause I can't get to the proper tow points. If you are still cool with that sigh here and I will do my best to get it out without messing your car up. They don't want that and I don't want that. This also depends on the person some people just expect you to be able to get their car out of places a car shouldn't be without messing anything up.

Inc dump might take a little because alot of my images are to big for 4chan so I gotta downsize b4 I post.

File: 20160128_164709.jpg (3MB, 3716x2090px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 3716x2090px

>>16367950

File: 20160128_164730.jpg (3MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 4128x2322px

>>16367964

File: 20160128_164719.jpg (3MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 4128x2322px

>>16367973
both sides the front suspension was completely fucked. this car barely steered. Got it out with only a love kiss on the that fire hydrant and I told that lady it was gonna hit something on the way out since it wont steer b4 i even hooked up.

File: 20150618_132527.jpg (4MB, 3716x2090px) Image search: [Google]

4MB, 3716x2090px

>>16367978

File: 20150618_132514.jpg (3MB, 3345x1881px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 3345x1881px

>>16367987
this one actually came out pretty easy and almost completely undamaged. Some scratches to the paint on the drivers side but not a single dent. hooked the real tow points had the guy get in and steer while i pulled it out came out right how it went in.

File: 20141226_143817.jpg (2MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 4128x2322px

>>16367989
Here's an example of making it work.

>Wheel MIA
>my ball joint skate wont give enough clearance to get it on the truck without scraping the ever loving fuck out of it
>Hey I've got some tire skates and a wheel chuck that might work

>>16367964
How did that car end up there?
Steering bust while driving?

>>16367989
Big comfy bed of vegetation.

>>16367996
nothing special on this one this lady just managed to hit a sign mount so hard she busted her face on the steering wheel and broke the frame of her Taurus. She also asked if it was fixable. I was forced to tell her that car was done.

File: 20151128_162626.jpg (1MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

1MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368014
forgot pic

>>16368013
that car got up there cause old lady driver. Only reason I could figure out. Most of the time I dont even ask anymore cause people lie and make up bullshit excuses about what happened all the time

File: 20150716_141244.jpg (2MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368022
didn't tow this one but I found it at the backyard mechanic in the hood where I was taking the car I had. saw the wheels and told the dude sir that is not what a mustang should look like.

He told me
>hold up ill pull it out for ya I love this thing.

File: 20141003_203644.jpg (2MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368037
Steel street plate claims lowered colorado

File: 20141003_203700.jpg (2MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368049
2/3

>>16368049
You're in CO?

File: 20141003_203723.jpg (2MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368055
3/3

File: 20150317_153203.jpg (2MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368059
no the truck
>chebby Colorado

You paid $800 to get this out of Impound and you think a body shop can fix it?

1/2

>>16368065
>lowered chevy colorado
What the fuck.

File: 20150317_153241.jpg (3MB, 3922x2206px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 3922x2206px

>>16368065
blew the main hydro line in these guys impound lot

notice 5gal of hydro fluid on the right

File: BigTruck.jpg (2MB, 3264x2448px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 3264x2448px

>>16367996

I hate wheel offs that don't damage the rotor enough to just drag them. Realistically it should be replaced, but people don't realize that and freak out.

That's a nice looking... Vulcan? though. Are those rails removable or the crappy fixed ones?

File: 20150804_184218.jpg (2MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368072
This is way to fucking big and heavy to be on this poor truck. was sketchy driving this beast

File: 20150609_223002.jpg (3MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368081
I think they are just bolted on. we have so many different trucks and beds I dont even know which one is on what truck.

>Prius takes out jaywalker

>>16368087
Old lady drives into a brick building.

>car still in building when I get there
>Does it still start?
>Yea
>Start it throw in reverse
>back out into street where I can load

1/3

File: Chinese_tire_belts_busted_TRIANGLE_brand.jpg (56KB, 757x527px) Image search: [Google]

56KB, 757x527px

>>16368082
That does look a bit scary for the flatbed's wheels. So much pressure.

File: Towin.png (4MB, 1987x1063px) Image search: [Google]

4MB, 1987x1063px

>>16368081

My phone really needs to chill the fuck out with the size and quality of pictures it takes. Everything needs to be cropped and shrank to be posted on 4chin

File: 20150725_233115.jpg (1MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

1MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368096
1/3 forgot pic first time

>>16368099
Those tires are more than adequate for the job. They're duals after all.

File: 20150725_233125.jpg (3MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368108
2/3
>>16368107
yea I have the same problem why I just downsize shit in Paint since im at home now

File: 20150725_233133.jpg (1MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

1MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368114
3/3 potato quality

>>16368114
>I just downsize shit in Paint since im at home now
Glad I'm not the only photoshop master on this board >:D

File: 20150925_162536.jpg (3MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368099
hehe that truck is on leaf springs with an aluminium bed. that's a diesel f250. Told them it was to much for the truck but if it fits it ships.

Now for some of the cool shit

File: OffTheGround.png (4MB, 2094x969px) Image search: [Google]

4MB, 2094x969px

>>16368107

As the name implies, 3 of 4 wheels actually made contact with the ground. Shitty old Taurus hit the tree so hard it cracked and bent the unibody hard enough to leave it like that. Made it a bastard to pull out of the ditch, and even harder to tie down

>mfw I put more effort to drive 15 mins at 3AM then the scrapper did to go down the highway over an hour with it

Also, last post, must sleep. Maybe more tomorrow.

File: 20150925_162524.jpg (3MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368133
2/2

I have no idea what this thing is but its old as fuck and british.

File: 20151128_162656.jpg (2MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368022
found a better pick of the frame on the Taurus

Inc dump to go with this story
>Get call for a 60's ferrari 330 on the side of the highway
>roll up get it loaded
>ok dude where we going with it
>We going to my warehouse
>sure dude prolly has like 6 cars in there
>NOPE.gif
>This dude meant his fucking warehouse of cars

>>16365094

I own a body shop and have a rollback that I use for personal use and really easy customer tows.

I only suggest 1 thing: CAB OVER.

I had never driven one before I purchased, I bought a super used one with 400k miles, thing runs great and gives me no grief. Diesels run forever so don't be afraid of the odometer if its been well cared for.

Personally, the only way I can imagine it would be profitable would be if you owned a few trucks and had a crew of tards running around picking up shit for repo, roadside for the state/city or hauling for insurance salvage yards. Guy I bought my rig from said he was driving insurance totals for 8-10hrs a day and was making about 80k/yr. He was paid per vehicle delivered.

Isuzu FTR is a great rig to look into. I strongly suggest buying used and learning your rig, doing your own maint. before you jam into a new rig.

File: 20141024_204447.jpg (2MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368164
1/?

File: 20141024_205058.jpg (2MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368171
2/?

File: 20141024_205105.jpg (2MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368174
3/?

>>16368169
cab overs are good trucks but fuck do they bounce your ass around alot.

File: 20141024_205127.jpg (3MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368180
4/?

File: 20141024_205141.jpg (2MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368185
5/?

File: 20141024_205150.jpg (3MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368187
he had firetruck

File: 20141024_205203.jpg (1MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

1MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368189
AND A TANK? not really sure what that thing was

File: 20141024_205211.jpg (2MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368194
last one for this dude and his warehouse.

apparently he said everything in there ran besides the Ferrari I just towed back

File: 20151030_193217.jpg (3MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368196
40's army jeep

>>16368196
Damn.

File: 20160718_161737.jpg (2MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368198
not sure what this thing was either.

>>16368082

What tow truck is that? I want that thing bad, mines too big

File: 20161126_171847.jpg (2MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368203
What do you mean that isn't a road

File: 20160212_211110.jpg (3MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368207
R is for reverse. this pic doesn't really show but that is a straight drop down about 9ft. lady was at the bar.
>Can you get it back on the road my husband doesn't know I'm here.

>>16368204
it's a Hino 195. It's an ok truck, turbo 4banger life. super sketchy in the snow because its so fucking light.

File: 2016032595223131.jpg (262KB, 1152x2048px) Image search: [Google]

262KB, 1152x2048px

>>16368220
1/3

File: 2016032595223146.jpg (481KB, 2560x1440px) Image search: [Google]

481KB, 2560x1440px

>>16368226
2/3

File: 2016032595223254.jpg (586KB, 2560x1440px) Image search: [Google]

586KB, 2560x1440px

>>16368230
3/3

I green texted this story yesterday
>>16355248
>>16355294

got a couple stories in that thread.

File: 20141225_204707.jpg (2MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 4128x2322px

>>16368237
last one for me I've got some other shit to do.

>Big truck on a cab over.

Hope you all enjoyed the dump. I know there has to be at least a few other tow bros around with pics and stories.

File: Wrecker Service - Copy.jpg (99KB, 634x463px) Image search: [Google]

99KB, 634x463px

>>16368248
>>16368248
Original op here, I thoroughly enjoyed waking up to find all these stories and pictures on here, hope you find time to share more with us later today..also a few questions

>do you have CDL's (are they reuired for those trucks)

>do you have a book of some sort that shows tow points? or do you just look for them?

>have you ever damaged a customer vehicle and had them complain?

File: 1481963024390.gif (3MB, 300x225px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 300x225px

>>16369229
First post and big bump anon back again. Just woke up I've got family shit to do but ill answer a few questions before I leave for that.

>do you have CDL's (are they reuired for those trucks)
not sure I only have a class E but the trucks have air brakes so I think we get by with some loophole on truck weight to not need the CDL.
>>16368081
these pics are not mine but I would bet this guy does have a CDL


>do you have a book of some sort that shows tow points? or do you just look for them?
I have a book that shows tons of Tow info on cars. I dont ever use it since I've have been at it for a while I just look in the common places where they should be to find them. If its double stamped you can put a hook in it. All tow slots on the frame pretty much look the same just are in sligtly different places per car.
>Under the front bumper on jap stuff these are my favorite easy to find easy to grab.
>Behind the front wheels on the frame or near the pinch weld.
>Infront of front wheels or in wheel well.
>I hate loading shit backwards so I hardly do it unless there is no other way. Brings up different clearance issues with my truck and shit with spoils were not meant for wind to go over them backwards at highway speeds same with side mirrors. Most cars have hooks on the back side too.
there are some cars that have holes that look like tow hooks right next to the actual tow hooks.

>have you ever damaged a customer vehicle and had them complain?
yes

>Popped an oil pan on a mustang by hooking it up wrong
>kissed a curb with a Porsche once (no power steering and I didn't wanna thread the truck through the porsche dealer lot)
>Vette with a bodykit and carbon fiber air lip on the front bumper. (winch cable ground a grove in the lip even with ramps onto the bed)

all those were from when I was still a rookie and I owned up to the damage because I'm not a fucking liar and thats what happened. we have some drivers who would lie even if they broke something.

>>16368194
>AND A TANK? not really sure what that thing was
Ferret armoured car.

All those old cars, just sitting there unviewed, hoarded by some boomer...

>>16369991
Very commendable on manning up on the damage, don't your hooks or I guess what your calling a bridle have a nylon strap as to keep the winch cable off the bumper? I bought one that was nearly worn out from a local tow company when I was buying some of there junks that storage fees had eat up and the nylon broke and I made a new deal using the same hooks but replaced the nylon with chains and fastened it with cold shuts and a little spot of weld

>>16370461
The bridle is cloth with hooks at the end. But when you hook up to some cars behind the wheels it's far enough back that the hook at the end of the cable is under the car where you connect the bridle. Normally not a problem unless the car is super low. But that was not a stock example of a car.

At the folks house now so don't have anymore pics to dump. Will check back everyonce in a while

File: WBS-36STHT-PS.png (67KB, 800x800px) Image search: [Google]

67KB, 800x800px

>>16370616
This is what I'm talking about when i say bridle. This is what hooks to the car and the you hook the winch to the end of that teardrop ring.

This just a random pic I don't use one with the monster J hooks. My cluster has mini J, T, and R hooks on it.

Plz tell me you used chain rated for towing stuff not just some chain you had. When you made yours

>>16370724
it was actually just some chains I had, but ive brought over 100 cars, trucks, vans many with no wheels and mangled all to hell with no problem yet so I guess they are ok but probably need to be replaced, but honesty I haven't bought a junk vehicle in several months scrap prices in it the shitter and I just don't sell enough parts to warrant staying open really time to try something different

>>16370817
Yea for scrap cars that's not a big deal.

But remember that if that chain snaps that car is gone. I've had a cable snap on me once. the car was barley up the bed and parked against a curb so it didn't get to far. the curb stopped it. I also had a safety strap on the control arm cause the winch had been making weird noises all day. Had there been nothing there and no catch strap. that shit is fucking gone and smashing whatever is behind it.

>>16370863
I always try to add a safety chain to something on my Junkers, as well as putting them in park and usually stick a wheel chock under a wheel lol

>>16365464
Are you me lol

File: 1481686053395.jpg (22KB, 272x200px) Image search: [Google]

22KB, 272x200px

>>16371180
I would hope not since I am me. Who knows though

>>16365240
>Wrecker companies make money from human suffering.
Depends on how you typically encounter them. People who only see them for "tow to impound" or "tow from illegally parked spot" of course only see them as adding more punishment. But for most people, tow trucks are a necessary appreciated help.

Otherwise, you might as well say gasoline stations make money from human suffering. If you don't pay, your car refuses to work. That is extortion! Criminal! How dare they extort money from me just to make my car work!

>>16373225
I was listening to the police scanner yesterday (Christmas eve) there was a report of a intoxicated woman who parked her car and left with someone, the car was blocking a drive, cop came, car had no insurance and expired plate, he called for a tow truck, tow truck arrived at the same time the owner did back at the car, she was not impaired just out of gas, she didn't have any money to pay the tow truck driver so he took the car back to his lo with him, shit like that is kind of sad, but i understand that he needed to be paid for making the trip..

File: multi tool.jpg (91KB, 960x720px) Image search: [Google]

91KB, 960x720px

Bumping with my old junk hauling truck, happen to be using it for farm purposes this day.

>>16365094
If locked out of a car, is it better to get a locksmith to unlock the car? Or will a tow truck operator be able to unlock the car more or less equally well?

>>16375616
I would only assume a locksmith would be more suited to the task as his entire profession is opening locked things and installing locks ect, however I have a lockout kit I carry behind the seat of my old rollback I was using for the junkyard and have yet to encounter a locked door I couldn't eventually open with it

>>16365094
If you're really interested in it, pick up a newer ram 5500 and go owner op for one of the big companies.

>>16375616
Most everything can be unlocked by a skilled tow truck operator. Some vehicles like the Land rovers have electronic lockouts and security systems so they're best just hauled to the dealer.

>>16373423
Not on him. The officer takes control of the vehicle and must stay with it in that case. Once the truck is dispatched it's pretty much too late. Add the fact that if it hits the bed it's his and she wasn't going to win.

Also why would she block a driveway with a disabled vehicle and not notify someone at the place?

>>16375869
Dually noted and agreed
>>16375843
I don't live close enough to a major city to work for a large company as owner operator, also im not a fan of dodge trucks they used to be pretty shitty trucks I had several in the junkyard with bad trannys and what not, have they improved??

>>16375616
No I can get into just about anything.
>>16375852
2nd. It's 2000+bmw I don't mess with. It's not worth the dmg rush getting in. I have gotten into a 14 range rover.

>>16375852
>>16375945
What does an average tow cost where you guys are lets say just a simple fender bender and you tow it to the persons home 10 miles away? also what do your yards get per day for storage fee?

>>16376441
$4 a mile for me to drive to you
$55 to put it on the truck
$4 a mile for where you are going

>>16376441
also on this same note what is the protocol for collecting payment, do you back up to where your going to drop the car and then bounce them for the money or do you unload it and then discus the money (I assume not)? have you ever took a vehicle to someone's destination and then learn they didn't have the money? what happens next?

>>16376460
depends on the person.

If its in a shitty spot in the middle of the road ill deal with money later. It doesn't come off the truck till I'm paid. you dont wanna pay thats fine ill be taking your car with me

>>16376455
I think the local companies here get 50-60 per tow within a certain mile radius or maybe within our county (it's small)...and like $15 per day storage

File: 20160108_182728.jpg (2MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 4128x2322px

>>16376460
Pic unrelated
>Dodge reliability

Story semi related
>dispatch calls me
>hey I need you to take a car out of our impound lot and take it to this person so they can pay.
>A ton of drivers have turned this call down
>Its like 1am and they want me to take the car to the shithole part of the city
>They told me person owes ~$300
>Laughed at my dispatcher on the radio
>If you want to charge her over the phone and get it paid for sure ill go do it
>I'm not driving to the fucking hood and telling someone that they cant have their car at 1am unless they give me $300 cash
>asked her if she really thought anyone would do this.
>she said yes
>I said fine how about this Ill get the car and come pick you up.
>You can get out of the truck and tell this person they cant have their car without $300 cash
>call goes away
>No one would run it

Guess she didn't wanna go to the hood and tell someone they cant have their car

>>16375925
Quite a bit. I never had a single issue with mine. And the engine brake will help with saving brake pads. You're going to spend long hours in the rig so creature comforts should be high on your list of priorities. To me the single cab 2016 5500 I had was the most comfortable thing I'd ever been in. Of all of them though the strongest was a hino 258 small tire.

>>16376441
I've worked Florida where any accident call is immediately $125 minimum and Alabama where it was $45/5. However if you're called out by the police on a rotation it's billed different. Everything from response time to equipment use to mileage to/from is calculated.

>>16376460
Never let it go until you have been paid. If it's scetchy, I'll bill you before I roll from scene.

>>16376579
Ive driven Hino 258, Hino 195, F650, F550, a freight-liner, some nissan UD cabovers, and we had one dodge 4500 that is always brakes down. To be fair our trucks run almost 24/7 so they get abused.

I prefer the Hino's but the 550 was the most comfy and had the biggest balls that turbo diesel would haul fucking ass even loaded. The 650 cant turn for shit but you can put anything on it. and cab overs are cab overs. good turning radius, cant take real heavy shit, kinda gutless but makes alley calls pretty easy, and bounce you the fuck around all day.

>>16376589
I don't think these local guys (3 companies) are factoring in any of that shit when called out by police, although they probably should, but they seem to be making a go of it, one of the guys is just a single owner operator he has a brand new international rollback, a f350 rollback, a 2000's international rollback and recently a heavy wrecker for semi's but he's the only fucking driver, he makes it appear that he is making damn good money with those purchases

>>16376609
That's how the 258 was with me. Loved it but we called it the kicking donkey because of the ass bouncing around when unloaded. By far my favorite was a 08 F550 with 5ton boom and dual 8500lb winches. We used it for light recovery and wench outs. But it had a 7.3 wedged into it.

Before I quit I've been in f450/550/650/750 gm6500quad cab hino 258 prostar terrastar and the ram. Nothing was as comfortable as the ram. Plus we did interstate transfers and transport so 200-400mi one way wasn't unheard of.

>>16376638
I've done a 160mile haul 1 way in a one of our UD's that was fucking awful. It did have an aux jax in the radio so I could plug my phone into it. my own music made it ok but fuck if that thing didnt bounce me around for the 7 hour round trip.

>>16376619
>he makes it appear that he is making damn good money with those purchases
As a business, if he can store cars in the impound lot, then he makes even more money. He has to pay property tax whether or not the lot is full, so a full lot means every space is generating revenue each day.

>>16376716
His impound lot is in his backyard at his house so it works out I guess

File: 1443689880546.jpg (26KB, 215x365px) Image search: [Google]

26KB, 215x365px

>live in shitty town
>some dumbass methhead pulls out into the road hits a truck and bounces into another car
>pull over, get out, perform first aid
>direct traffic until the road is pretty clear
>push the lady's car out of the road
>get out a broom and sweep the road
>FINALLY emergency services arrive

It was literally like a 25 minute response time, and they showed up with two fire trucks, and amberlamps, and a fuckton of police cars, then proceeded to give me shit and ask me questions for fucking forever, even after I told them I had shit to do.

>tow truck bro shows up
>police cars and fucking tons of shit are in the way
>bunch of slack jawed faggots just standing around
>start DIRECTING THE FUCKING COPS to get them out of the goddamn road
>truck bro can finally get to the wreck
>car is super fucked, he's old and having a bit of trouble
>like 20 "emergency responders" are just standing around (in the middle of the goddamn road) watching this guy work
>go over and help him get the car on the truck
>he gives me a twenty, was a total bro
>finally get on the road
>late as fuck
>doing like 20 over on the highway (it was fucking empty I don't give a shit)
>get pulled over
>some fat fuck waddles over and starts the whole "Do ya know how fast ya were goin'" spiel
>pretty much done with all this shit at this point
>yeah dumbass, I have a speedometer, can you just give me a fucking ticket already
>his fat fucking nose "smells drugs"
>takes fucking forever to search my car for "drugs"
>late beyond help at this point
>just go to a bar and get shitfaced

Basically I hate cops.

This is a good thread.

Bumping for this quality thread to remain in service.

>>16377232
>like 20 "emergency responders" are just standing around (in the middle of the goddamn road) watching this guy work

As a tow op, this is probably the most frustrating part about accidents some days.

>WE NEED THIS ROAD THATS COVERED IN GLASS OPEN RIGHT NOW
>What no I'm not going to sweep I have paper work to do
>Oh, and make sure you get ALL of it
>As well as the metric shit ton of absorbent Fire put down
>ALL OF IT

Don't get me wrong, some are total bros and will help out, but some cops can be absolute cunts for no reason

Question to all you owner operators what can I expect to pay for insurance if I move forward with starting my towing service with a single rollback

>>16376505
>>16376455
So the average is less than $100 per tow?
How many calls do you go out for in a day?
I can't see how an O/O can make any money with less than six calls a night.

>>16380386
The cheapest possible tow is $55 and that's if you are broke down on top of me and I'm towing you across the street.

I work in a really high volume area in a large city/county so I usually do 8-14 calls in a 12 hour shift and run about 200-300 miles a day. It really depends on if I get shit I'm close to and not towing far, or I have to drive 20+ miles across the city to get to you then tow it 20+ miles to where ever you want to go.

>>16380386
For example a family member recently had a wreck, she had full coverage insurance, the tow company a O/O took the vehicle to his lot, it took about 2 weeks for her to find the body shop she wanted to do the job ect...I think the tow bill and storage after that time was $300-$325, now to me that seems like a damn good payday for that particular tow , $300 seems like it would go along way toward insurance/truck payment for the month and that was just one incident

>>16380515
Why dI'd they let them take it back to the impound lot? Why not just have it towed to your house and make the insurance come get it to the body shop. Seems like it would be cheaper to pay for two tows than have the tow company store it and charge you for a few weeks

>>16380531
The insurance company picked up the bill for storage and tow, she let them take it to the lot hoping they would get the ball rolling faster with her claim, because in previous experience when she had been involved in an accident the insurance company sent their own adjuster to asses the damage and cut a check, the vehicle was at home so no storage fees and they took their sweet time about getting out to look at it, so she figured by letting it sit at the impound lot the ins company knowing it was accruing storage would get it taken care of quicker

File: 1476635944779.jpg (99KB, 500x502px) Image search: [Google]

99KB, 500x502px

>>16380564
thats true. good enough reason for me. Money makes shit work faster

Who are most of you guys or your companies if your a driver insured thru? im trying to get some quotes from someone reasonably priced and with good coverage

File: 20140828_143855.jpg (2MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 4128x2322px

Bumping cause quality thread

File: 20140828_143952.jpg (2MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 4128x2322px

>>16382157
another boomer hoard i came across towing

File: 20140828_143746.jpg (3MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 4128x2322px

>>16382167

File: 20140828_144005.jpg (3MB, 4128x2322px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 4128x2322px

>>16382171
story to go with mini dump.
>Tow BMW to big ass fucking house in nice part of town.
>Where you want it at man
>In that garage over there
>Unload car
>So i see whats in this garage
>whats in that garage?

dude said he bought that alfa brand new for like $800 fucking ages ago still has it and still drives it

>>16365094
Wrecker?! I hardly know her!

>>16365464
bought a car once and the driver was super cool, went to my house and i thought he would just dro pit in the driveway but he dropped it in my garage. impressive, and great since i didnt have to move it

>>16382213
If your chill and where you want it is possible ill put it there. If your a dick ill make up shit like my truck cant get there and dump it in the street

>>16382221
Would you recommend a bigger 2 ton type rollback or a ton sized truck for someone starting out, I have experience driving a ton sized rollback for the scrap business but never had to be loading shit out of ditches or with any since of urgency guess what im wanting to know is which would be easier and most efficient to use for a noob? also keep in mind that 99% of all the recovery calls will be on rural 2 lane country roads if that makes any difference.

>>16365240
I have a couple of issues regarding wrecker companies but they are actually doing most people a service. While I don't know how much or how little they are regulated, the pricing of private tow/wrecking services is A LOT cheaper than a government impound lot.

source

>got arrested on a dui and private tow company took car and stored it for a night, cost $400
>got car impounded for going 185 in a 55, cost $1400 in storage fees

>>16383490
Jesus Christ!!! 400 for one night??

File: ferd rollbacl.jpg (803KB, 4096x2127px) Image search: [Google]

803KB, 4096x2127px

>>16375843
>>16375925
>>16376579
desu guys, theres a reason that you dont see dodge tow trucks, or dodge box trucks, or even dodge service trucks. its because dodge a shit.

>>16383557

>Dodge a shit
>So I'll post a picture of a Ford!

Please. A newer Freightliner M2 will outlast 2 Fords or Dodges. New Fords a shit since they decided to force their engines and transmissions in the 450, 550 and 650. Gone are the days of an F650 with a proper medium duty Cummins and Alison behind it.

>>16383441
Honestly wheel lifts are the best tow trucks. They are better for winch outs and just about everything. I drive a flatbed though because they give the wheel lifts to the day guys for parking garage calls. And we only have like 3 and 20 something flatbeds. I'm not sure but I would bet a used wheel lift will.be less than a used flatbed

>>16384100
Im sure they are some what cheaper from what I have seen, I just assumed a flat bed would be more versatile for a one truck start up company

>>16384096
fye:freightliner a shit too

>>16384124

Much better then a Ford or Dodge without getting into Peterbilt or Kenworth's though.

>>16384124
>>16384131
international?

>>16384131
truth
>>16384136
better than freightshitter

>>16384136
>>16384163

Intertrashional is nowhere near better. Especially the new ones with the maxshit. Freightliners are the new cheapshit company trucks since they have a lot less problems then Internationals anymore.

I wouldn't tell my worst enemy to buy International.

>>16384119
Cars with fucked suspension suck to do with wheel lifts and sometimes isn't possible. you can do anything with a flatbed as long as you can get a line on the car. shit that doesn't roll sometimes sucks to get off the bed, but its doable. Wheel lift will be able to handle more oddball stuff but a single flatbed can do just about anything as well