GRUMPS The Towman

23 hours ago, EdsTowing said:

Had a TT yesterday that got stuck and they bored until the blew out both drive tires. We went out and pulled it out of the driveway so a tire service could replace the tires. Some folks are just ignorant...

Brings a whole new meaning to the term "Let her eat"...

I too have noticed that Uhaul is now paying for winch outs and agree it was a good move on their part. Too many times when a customer would call for a recovery/winch out, they wouldn't want to pay so they would "call a buddy" with a pickup and a chain. We all know how tragic that can end at times. 

Had one a couple years ago where they yanked and ripped on it with a pickup and tow rope till it broke loose only to lose it down the muddy hill, through the trees and on its side. The pickup ended up off the other edge, into the side of the house that they were just moving into. All because they didnt want to pay me for the original winch out. 

Here from the very cold (-20* last I checked) Upstate Ny... 

Not here as much as I used to, but life happens as you all know...

Cat thefts have been out of control in my area. One dealership in particular had 56 cars and SUVs hit over the holidays... Brand new vehicles. The local UHaul had 15 trucks hit the first time (spring) and 11 the second time (fall). They have gotten me at my tow yard twice since last summer. Luckily, they only nailed a few scrapper cars I had in there waiting for my partner to pick up and not any of my ppi cars or insurance wrecks. I (like most everyone else) have cameras and signage stating so. They simply do not care. They wear their "covid masks" to conceal their faces and they know that the cops could really care less. Hell, most of the dirtbags doing it here are well known by p.d. and yet they still operate essentially unimpeded....

It really is a free for all... Until one of them gets shot by one of us property owners. THEN it might garner some attention from p.d.

They are great for moving cars around in the shop and moving them out of tight spots for loading as long as you push the vehicle in the right places and are on smooth pavement/concrete. dont bother trying to use them to load or offload a car. I guarantee they will break, kick out and/or hit the car and cause damage. They arent built for any shock-load of any sort. 

Ditto to the above responses. And that goes for ANY Motor club I do work for. It is CC Up Front, Full rates charged, g.o.a. or not, before I even get out of my chair. I tell them straight up, "If your calling me, Then your obviously out of options and we will play by MY rules."

I never have but, The day I get a chargeback or a dispute from them is the day I no longer even consider providing them services.

I dont need them, they need me.

Well Said Dperone. My current motor club policy is the same as yours and has been for over a year now. If they are calling me, Then I already know it has been probably Hours that their client has been waiting and they have exhausted trying all their providers ( both local and out of area ) Or what is more likely the problem is that they dispatched it to one of their fly-by-night contracted clowns in town who told them 45-1 hour for an eta 4 or 5 hours ago and still havent shown up. That happens a lot here because these companies take on every call they get even if they dont have the resources or even the ability to provide the service.

It is the old mentality of " I am SO busy and running my ass off all over so I MUST be making money....

I do feel for the end user ( the disabled driver ) because this is a service they pay for through their insurance or whatnot. But sadly, this is what these Motor clubs have evolved into and the damage done to the system/industry is on the clubs hands. 

The Honest, Professional towing providers like us wont / cant work for what they are willing to pay so they really "Get what they pay for"...

I gotta agree with Fixdent. I would have told P.D. I wasnt interested. 

I used to run and jump on every call that pd would call on until it got to a point where I realized it was costing more to " make them happy" than I was making. 

Although I still get stuck with one every now and again, I have no time, tolerance or yard space to sit on worthless vehicles just because the police asked me to.

I hope you can come to a reasonable solution with the owner on payment.

10 hours ago, Stubborn66 said:

Nice car

 

I had a 68 with a worked 289 back in the day.  Jacked up in the back with wide back tires, at about 100mph if felt like it wanted to take off airborne there was so much air going under the car LOL.  Back then, we were taking cars that didnt really handle all that well and jacking them up and making them handle even worse!!

The 68 was and always will be my all-time favorite Mustang. Had a couple back in the day myself. Like most other cars that I had growing up, I really wish I knew then what they were worth today.

And I too look back at a lot of the things I did to and with the cars and trucks I modded and drove and wonder how in the hell it is that I am still alive or at least not horribly disfigured or paralyzed.

Cars we call Death traps today were "Good runners" back then. LMAO..

I keep a good stock of clean terry-cloth / micro fiber rags in a Small container that I use strictly for placing between my straps and any fancy wheels I come across. So far so good.. It is also one of those "lil extras" that customers see you go out of your way to do that can garner an extra tip from time to time..

Took this freshly resurrected 73 Mustang convertible to the "hibernation station" as we all call it the other day. As you can see from the ground and the road spray on my truck, The owner should have called me last week But being the first year that the car has been done, She was having a hard time putting it up for winter. It is powered with a "Massaged" 351 Cleveland and is an original 4 speed car too. I have moved this car multiple times through its rehab including picking up the basket case from the barn where it was found a few years back. My wife's uncle is the person who performed the ground up rebuild including building the engine and the paint work for the woman who owns it. 

I was never a huge fan of these big boat mustangs really but this one is a pretty good looking yet, mean and nasty specimen

4 hours ago, EdsTowing said:

Watch that swing!  LoL

 

My thoughts Exactly Ed.

Watch that you dont swat people off the sidewalk when you make a turn. LOL

The electronics, pumps and plumbing are the pricey components of those endless pools. With my wife being disabled, We had looked into them because of the benefits of assisting with her mobility and exercise. They are Certainly NOT cheap. I assume the new owner got a killer deal on them because of the outer body and framing issues. 

This has been the first year in a few that I got all the winter gear out, checked and prepped on my truck before I got caught sleeping on the weather. And although we have had some snow and ice, I havent run into any issue needing special winter gear yet.

But if I didnt have everything ready, I am sure i would have been "up the creek" by now. It is just the way it goes for me.

I have a customer like that too. I take his antiques and classics in and out of storage every year for him at the change of seasons. Just put his Model A pickup away for the winter a couple weeks ago. 

Looking good !!

I figured being a gas jobby, she would pass everything but gas stations for you.. LOL

Do you have a Mico-lock system on it or are you just using the park brake system on your winch outs? 

I had a Mico-lock on just the rear brakes of my old wrecker and by putting the truck in 4wd, it would hold the front wheels through the locked together driveline as well. Really helped a lot on those hard pulls. I used to call it my "red neck winching brake" 

It is sad that this is what has become of Our times. I grew up in a world where a hand shake and your word was EVERYTHING and then some. So I too find it difficult to have to cover my ass on every step I take because someone at some point is going to try to roll you. 

As far as your Insurance adjuster thinking about  just paying the clown who is claiming unfounded damage, Threaten to drop them and see what he has to say about that. I am sorry. Even if it is "easier" to just pay it off, Its not the money. It is the principal and the fact that this bozo will then be off running his mouth all over about how he "won" and got paid his claim...That is My reputation He is dragging through the mud.. If I was you Subborn, I say Take me to court.. I be there with bells on..   

Oh Man,.... Those images are very painful to look at.... Theres a whole lot of Money all twisted up on that barrier.. 

Being that the boom is flipped around, I assume it was a concrete pump truck he was hauling.. ( cant tell from the pics really ) 

Those things are STUPID Heavy...

Very glad to hear no one was injured.. 

Tis' the season for all those Summer RV'ers to pack up for the season. I have had my fair share of calls from people looking to get their 5th wheels and tow behinds picked up from the campgrounds and brought home for them. Many I deal with are retired and elderly people who use them as their summer homes. I have done 3 already and have 4 more scheduled for next week. 

They certainly over build the rear ends of them pretty good.

I always found them to be easy picks too.

Now All you new guys out there, Take note.  These pics and narrative is how a pro works. Looking at the whole picture and taking ALL factors into consideration BEFORE Throwing the first chain. Implementing a plan and executing it text book style. Excellent work !!!

Any clown could have stabbed their spades into the ground, threw a line on the front tow eyes, Ripped and teared, Stood their rig on its hind end while tearing the place all to hell and it probably would have come out eventually albeit, with a good chance of some damage to the casualty and/or the tow rig. 

As a side note, I am no roofing pro, But that stone looks a bit on the big side to be used on flat roofing... I have seen the pea-gravel style stuff but nothing that big.

Kinda looks like #2 crusher run type stuff.. Not my cup of tea though..

Depending on the cost of that shaft, The owner Might want to consider going for a rescue swim to find it.. Lol

I too have spent a considerable amount of time researching and maintaining my expenses, costs and rates, ( Stubborn's Computer program is a big help 😉 )and always take any type of increase or change In rates very seriously. I try my best to look ahead to make sure I am staying competitive and fair ( at least with the other real and reputable companies in my area.)  I am Not looking to become a Millionaire like some of these fly-by-night clowns who are gonna take over the world, ( Just ask them, They will tell you ) But I do want to run a Legit, healthy business and put food on the table at home. Average fuel costs around here are hovering @ $ 3.75 - $4.00 a gallon. Being a 2 truck show, I have been able to focus a bit on controlling and improving MPG on my rigs via driving habits, Maintenance and cutting down on excess idle time Etc.. which has helped of course. I understand where that can be a huge undertaking for bigger fleets with multiple drivers and different driving / working habits. But for me, It is one area that I can easily make a difference. 

The companies around me That are currently adding the fuel surcharge are doing it as an added line Item. IF I end up jumping on that band wagon, That will be my play as well so I can remove or alter it as needed. 

For the Credit cards, I have always added a 5% "processing fee" on any CC charges over $150.00 My CC service provider charges 3% on every transaction, so it works out ok at the end of the month ( Usually, But now that I have spoke about it, It probably wont anymore. LOL ) Because Most CC payments I receive are at or above that range anyway. The few that slip by ( local lock outs, flats, Jumps ) get absorbed via the extra 2% on the bigger charges and I feel that it shows those small charge customers that I am not Nickel and diming them By charging a $3.25 fee ( 5% ) on their $65 service call..

Yes Please !!

This site is My only form of social media and I am still kicking myself in the butt for not being able to go to Baltimore this year.

I would call that a real "meat and potatoes" Kind of Job..

Excellent work.