GRUMPS The Towman

You certainly can use the pic Mr. Resch. I personally have never had a tree break on me, but I have heard of guys breaking them. I always search out the beefiest, healthiest tree i can find when it is needed. i also NEVER wrap a strap any higher than maybe 8" from the base of the tree. Keep it low, use a STRAP or round sling and not a chain. i dont want to hurt the tree at all, I just need its help a lil.

Had one of my regular customers get his plow truck stuck pretty good down a side trail on his property yesterday during a storm. The Holmes tree made quick work of it of course!!!!

Rest easy Trooper Bullock.

Those packers carry most of their weight in the rear. If that thing was loaded and packed tight ( obviously was ) it is probably in the ball park of 55 - 65,000 lbs.... on a fully extended under reach thats good for what? 15 - 17,000 lbs extended... Just a mildly educated guess. Back in my heavy towing days these types of trucks were on my hook regularly. From the front and properly hooked of course. They are heavy and lumpy as hell even empty.

Our city contract has a 24 hour storage fee delay for ppi and law enforcement tow aways .Our tow rates are only regulated for l.e. tow aways @ $150.00. Storage is set at $50 a day. It has been this way for as long as I have been here and this is my 22nd year. We can upcharge for extra equipment, labor, time, etc. we just have to inform the officer or parking attendant on scene. I have never had them say no to a request.

How is it possible that someone has such a beautiful ( not to mention expensive ) piece of equipment like that and this is what they do with it??? I am totally disgusted by every single thing that was done here right down to the cops that not only let this happen but, probably pressured them to do it... A PRIME example of why the majority of this industry is not ready for standardization and first responder status.... The day this took place was a sad day for professional and responsible operators everywhere...

Nice. What we say around here for these ones is that the driver ran fresh out of talent. 😀

I still have one of those things !!! I just cant bring myself to get rid of it... lol For modern technology I use go-payment from my quick books system. The payment goes right into my business account and i havent had any issues with it in the 2+ years ive been using it.

Agree

What I believe Moose is saying is there are many, many valuable discussions and information on this forum that is spearheading our industry's evolution as well as hundreds of years of combined experience and wisdom from professional operators from all around the world. Theres all walks of life here from the small, 1 or 2 truck companies ( such as myself ) to larger companies with the biggest, baddest rigs out there. As well as some towing and recovery hall of fame members. If its towing and recovery related, it is here at towforce.

You mean to tell me that having law enforcement on scene didnt add that super protective shield of invincibility that all road side workers feel they have when someone with a badge and gun is there?? Thats NUTS..... ( Insert sarcasm here ).... Very glad to hear nobody got hurt.

Thats crazy. I remember something similar happening many years ago downstate on long island near where I grew up. If memory serves right, a group of kids thought it would be funny to chuck a frozen turkey off an overpass on the long island expressway that subsequently went through the windshield of a car, striking a woman in the face. She did survive but was horribly disfigured and went through multiple surgeries to reconstruct her face and skull.

A 16' box should mount up on anything from a 1 ton ( f350 - 3500 ) to a 4 - 5 ton ( f450/4500 - f550/5500 ) with little modification. As long as you have enough usable frame length. Most 16' boxes are built for these style chassis. ( think U-haul style trucks ). I misread your original question and was under the assumption you had a roll back truck that you were going to tear down and install a box body on it. If you go new cab/chassis then you should be able to find or order one at the length you need rather easily. Finding a used cab/chassis will be a bit tougher but I am sure they are out there. Buying a used roll back would be a pretty big expense to just tear off all those pricey components in my opinion. An older $ 4.000 - $ 5.000 cab/chassis turns into a $ 10.000 - $ 15.000 ( and MUCH higher ) truck with a roll back body on it.

Welcome aboard. Do you have late model used truck parts available? If so, send me a private message and I will let you know what I am after. I dont want to block up the forums asking here. Thanks in advance !!!

What comes to mind is a F550 - 5500 chassis which has a 19,500 GVW and comes with 4wd running gear. There are box bodies built for these chassis of all sorts. You didnt mention sizes. if your looking to take say, an older 20' - 26' box and install it on a similar chassis as I mentioned there would be considerable fabrication required to install it. The rails wont line up and depending on the cab to axle length there may be a need to shorten or lengthen the truck frame as needed.

Welcome back. 82 years old and still slinging chains huh?? That is awesome !!!! Stay healthy and safe sir.

Too many people see lying to get a day off as normal whereas I would much rather an employee to just be honest. If you want to go and have some beers with your buddies at the race track, then say so. We are all adults and I get it. Everybody needs a day here and there to blow off steam. Just my opinion.

I Hope you have a speedy recovery. With any luck, they will find the person responsible.

Nice job. Being a carrier guy, I always like seeing carrier recovery work. I do gotta agree with mooresbp though. Throat down, tip up !!!

I saw a complete set of duals come off a semi trailer in front of me once on the thruway. Both wheels, tires, brake drum and hub. In the ball park of 1200-1300 lbs at 70 mph. I was horrified. As I followed the duals down the highway I considered trying to use my car to push them off the roadway but I had my wife ( at the time girlfriend ) with me. Its one thing if I tore my car up trying to get these duals off the highway I couldnt bear to watch them slam into a minivan full of kids or something. they made their way on their own off the shoulder and down the ravine. thank god no one got hit by them. The trucker didnt even know this had happened as I chased him down after the duals left the road. He stated he had just left a truck shop where he had a that wheel seal replaced. I have a strong feeling the tech who did the work lost his job on this one. luckily no one lost their life.

Way cool.. It is always awesome to see older iron out there in good shape still earning its keep.😀

Thats surprising that danco cant identify that valve body. Although an exact replacement piece would make life easy you can install pretty much any 3 function ( technically 6 function, 3 position) valve body with a little modification and fabrication. Also, depending on whats wrong with that one you may be able to get it rebuilt. If you are the dryden lawn I think you are in dryden ny, You can try cook bros. truck parts in cortland or frey heavy duty in syracuse. They may be able to rebuild it or find a close replacement assembly for you.

In 2000, I was recovering a cavalier that had run over a spare tire that fell out from under a ford pickup, got hung up on it and slid down a hill off the shoulder. My truck, lights on was on the shoulder, I had about 30' of line out and attached to the car and there was a trooper, lights on parked about 5-6 car lengths behind my work area.I had winched the car about 10' to a point where there was a rut that allowed room to remove the tire from under the car. I stopped winching and walked down to the casualty, got down on my knees and grabbed the tire. Just as I did that a buick lesabre crossed the center line, slammed into my truck head on shoving it back and spinning it 180' into the front end of the troopers car. the whiplash effect pulled the cavalier into and over me and mashed me down into the soft, muddy rut. I suffered 2 broken ribs, a punctured lung, a fractured vertabre, numerous cuts and gashes and both my wrists were broken. turns out the driver of the buick was a 72 year old woman who had a medical emergency while driving. There were no skidding tires, no odd sounds of any sort till impact. The buick driver had her cruise set at 50 m.p.h. so she ran into my truck at 50 m.p.h. Luckily she survived the crash and the stroke she suffered that caused the wreck. This wreck is in the back of my mind everyday and i am thankful I survived. My truck (was my first one i owned outright on my own) was totalled For years ive tried to think of what I could have done differently to protect myself better and all these years later i have decided that this was one of those freak accidents that you really just cant prepare for.

Welcome to the forum. That is a beast of a truck you have there. Very good looking rig. What does it have for an engine/drive train? Back in the day, my father had one similar to yours (minus the sleeper) that was Cat powered and a 2-speed rear if memory serves right.

I apologize if the information I posted was incorrect as I received my information 3rd, well technically 4th party. If the driver was Injured I hope he has a speedy recovery. If you know the driver personally Winchester, could you let us know the details of what happened ? A lot of times any information received is like playing the game telephone because these incidents DONT get the proper recognition they deserve.