TowZone

Another Report States:

 

"A red Toyota Tacoma failed to yield and pulled into the tow truck driver’s path from Ramsey Road,” police told the news outlet. “The red Toyota Tacoma’s driver was cited for failing to obey a traffic control device.”

 

Idaho State Police posted the video to social media and asked people to help them keep first responders safe.

 

According to a report from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 11 officers were fatally struck by vehicles while standing on the side of the road in the first half of this year alone. Meanwhile, nationwide statistics show that 775 officers died between 2005 and 2017 – either by being struck or in crashes while on duty.

 

"Please slow down, move over, and pay attention when approaching emergency vehicles/incidents," they wrote in their Tweet.

The" Motor Club Rankings Member Participation" begins November 15, 2019 and runs thru January 15, 2020.

 

This year our goal is to have more than 300 members participating in this annual ranking of Motor Clubs.

 

So, get your top ten list together and do not share it at this time. On November 15th we will ask you to post it.

 

Well, on second thought you can give us a hint as to which club you would currently rank at the top.

 

If you do not have a top club and do not contract with any motor clubs. Do not respond as negative responses will be deleted. The negativity can be saved for other topics seeking a resolution, if you are not seeking a resolution then there is no reason to complain here. Thanks

These were originally posted in 2010. The Rebuild took place in 200?.

 

The story is this began a Towzilla. It was an old electric company line truck originally.

 

Looked like this when Timco bought it. The Frame, diffs, & x-fer case are a 1948 GMC

 

 

Tim, cut off things I didn't want & welded on things he did want.

 

 

Tim then made the wrecker bed, & squirted on a little paint on till it looked like this.

 

 

And Towzilla was born or created. In time, the old cab began to rust away, & the engine got tired.

So once again, Tim cut off things off he didn't want, & welded on things he did want.

 

 

Tim made the tunnel box & light pylon.

 

 

And once again he squirted on a little paint.

 

 

It came out looking like this. Towzilla was reborn as Ramzilla!

 

 

Ed purchased Ramzilla from Tim

 

 

And began repainting it his company color.

 

 

 

 

He has just gotten done painting this unit was ready to take it out on a call,,,

 

 

The truck was built A1 from top to bottom, it drives like a dream, Ed was very anxious to use this truck on those out in the sticks kind of jobs,, and stated it was a true pleasure going to get this truck off of Tim,, He referred to Tim is one of the nicest fellers you will ever meet. He has sure put a lot of blood and sweat into this truck and done and again did and A1 job on it,

 

 

Ed had wanted this truck ever since he first saw it on Tow411 and was really honored to have been able to purchase it from Tim and add it to his fleet. Ed stated It will be very beneficial on those off road jobs where you wonder how your going to get in and out,,, not to mention the public relations with this truck will be outstanding, Thanks,Ed

 

 

Timco replied to Ed by saying:

 

Ed, the pleasure was mine. I really enjoyed meeting you & your brother, I can`t wait for our bike ride this summer. I knew Ramzilla would have a good home with you, & I can tell you are going to work the truck like it needs to be worked. The paint job & lettering looks great, & I can guarantee you will get instant recognition every time you drive the truck.

Tellico ORV area had an adverse effect on several of us here in this area. The cabin rentals, ORV campground, motels, auto parts stores, & off road shops were especially hit hard by this event. I hated to see the truck just sit here, so I decided it should go to a good home. I am confidant I made the right choice.

As some of ya`ll know, I have built a lot of things through the years. Everything I ever built was for a customer, or else I was building it with resale in mind. This old truck was different. It was built for me, the way I wanted, with resale out of the question. It`s funny how fate changes things. I truly hope the truck gives Ed the same amount of pleasure & pride as it has given me.

Farewell, old friend.

 

Well Tim, we have had about 10 inch's of snow since last night and more coming, I have been swamped and I made it a point to keep myself in the 6x6 all that I could,,,I have done several recoveries with it tonight, I also had a fully loaded single axle salt truck stuck on a back road and this ol feller brought it out, it was impressive, i couldn't get through one road because of a pickup stuck in the middle of the road waiting for AAA,,,LOL,,,that was funny,, ,it was so deep in front of the pickup from drifting that I was pushing snow with the front bumper,,i then cut through the ditch and went around the pickup to pull out the salt truck,, the county guys couldn't believe how deep of snow it went through.

 

I must admit though that it has taken me a little readjusting getting used to the Ol Holmes from our hydraulics, it has been probably 16-18 years since I ran an Ol Holmes,, but it is about like riding a bicycle,,,lol,,, one thing for sure is there will be a set of hydraulic stiff legs added soon,,, I am allergic to scotch blocks,,,,lol. Anyhow to say the very least this ol feller has defiWell we have had about 10 inch's of snow since last night and more coming,I have been swamped and I made it a point to keep myself in the 6x6 all that I could,,,I have done several recoveries with it tonight,I also had a fully loaded single axle salt truck stuck on a back road and this ol feller brought it out,it was impressive,i couldn't get through one road because of a pickup stuck in the middle of the road waiting for AAA,,,LOL,,,that was funny,,,it was so deep in front of the pickup from drifting that I was pushing snow with the front bumper,,i then cut through the ditch and went around the pickup to pull out the salt truck,,the county guys couldn't believe how deep of snow it went through.I must admit though that it has taken me a little readjusting getting used to the ol holmes from our hydraulics,it has been probably 16-18 years since I ran an ol holmes,,but it is about like riding a bicycle,,,lol,,,one thing for sure is there will be a set of hydraulic stiff legs added soon,,,I am allergic to scotch blocks,,,,lol.Anyhow to say the very least this ol feller has definitely earnt a stall in the stable here,,, I have been more than impressed with this unit.,,,

 

I'm all Ford but in this case I made an exception ,I have wanted this truck ever since I first saw it, Tim always said he would let me know if he was ever to sale it and that is exactly what he did,,, I wish there were more fellers as straight on their word as Tim is, if Tim tells you something it is set in stone.Take care,Ed

 

Timco Replied:

 

Remember it once had a Ford body on it.

 

Ed, Thanks for the kind words. I truly appreciate it.

 

Ed replied:

 

I had a challenge with this ol feller this week, a local gas company we tow for had a gas truck fully loaded setting on the axle buried in the snow and spun down until mud was in the rims, this unit was full and was grossing 36-38,000 pounds, it could not be brought straight out but had to be pulled from an angle, I couldn't begin to get a heavy to it because of high drifting from the snow so I took the 6x6 and used some snatch blocks, the weight exceeded my truck even with the scotch blocks so I tied off to the companies 4x4 service truck and got my truck to set,, it did a fine job bringing it out, I was amazed with the strength of this Ol Holmes, I never ran a 500 model until this one but it is a little workhorse. This truck has saved the day several times during this snow storm.

 

Timco replied:

I am truly glad to see the truck working again. It was painful for me to see it just sitting here doing nothing. Ed, you should call up Trout Unlimited & the Sierra Club to say thanks for shutting down our ORV area.

I would have never even talked about selling this old truck until the damn tree huggers crippled us here.
Again, I am glad it went to a good home, & I hope you are satisfied with it for years to come.

Thanks to all who encouraged me & had kind words when I was building this truck. I really do appreciate the compliments ya`ll gave me through out the years it was mine.
 

 

 

 

Looks like one of those honey holes for a tow company.

 

It appears as though you may have gotten a little muddy on this one.

@Eric Fouquette @Matt Bartlett

I have heard of Tow Operators being placed in a choke hold by an angry customer. I have never heard of a death resulting from such an act of aggression. I hope the facility has cameras and one caught this event. That will go along ways in court to putting this murder behind bars, likely were he came from. God Speed, I'm sure we will know more about the persons position as this story unfolds.Until then I will assume this was a tow operator.

Check the list to see if you won either a T-Shirt or a Cap. Then let me know which one you would like. If it's a T-Shirt I need your size.

 

You can pick up your prize anytime up to or at the Wall of the Fallen Events. After Saturday Morning it will be considered unclaimed.

 

Thanks for Participating. Anyone that has signed the Roll Call and was not drawn can purchase a T-Shirt or Cap at the Reduced Price of $10. You must be on this Roll call list to get the discount. PM me your size if you choose a T-shirt and if you want to add a cap it's an additional $10. Caps are limited and I need to know prior to the show as the few available sell out quick.

 

Jefftow - FTI Groups - rreschran - mushspeed - WeDoTows - cws - McEwen Tow

Bentons01 - Buddystator - Barabootowguy - American Bulldog - meyerstowing

 

And don't forget there will be a T-Shirt Tuesday Drawing posted sometime tomorrow with 9 winners. Winners are not announced by email, you must check the Video Post in order to claim your T-Shirt. Winners have until Friday to claim their prize. Thanks to all who participated.

@Njsss that would be my error as I was transferring some interesting topics from the old Tow411 Board.

 

@doingitall actually created this post, I'll work on clearing that up when I get more time. I apologize....

 

The Original Topic is here: https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/tow411/boat-tail-riviera-t143426.html

Topic Originally Created by Doug Fitzgerald on Tow411 in May of 2005:

 

This is a maintainer we recovered 2 weeks ago also.
We went with the 91 Kodiak and the 75 Chev 1 ton 4X4 but did not need the Kodiak.
Skip helped rig and took the pics.
I recovered it using a triple line hooked back to the truck (no deadman) only anchor for the truck was the scotch blocks.
Notice how the tires are mashed down .
Doug

 

 

 

 

 

I have done so much with so little for so long that I now can do almost anything with nothing

 

pttowguy said:

WOW! What a strong working 1 ton! Great pics.

 

TOwBoy88 said:

Why did you pick the 1-ton over the Kodiak for this job since both were already there?Billy M.
Bill's Towing
Jacksonville, IL
(217) 245-7835

 

Jim Lundsford said:

as I recall that little 1 ton has a 20k or so winch...good pull Doug...you get all the good ones

 

DWH842 said:

You show'em how Doug, not everyone in texas needs three big'uns to handle one small problem.
Don

 

Doug Fitzgerald said:

Billy
The one ton has a 20000 Lbs winch with over 200' 1/2'' cable (yes I know I am old school not wire rope) so it is great for recovery jobs.
I learned many years ago all the tricks about leverage

But I have recovered some things you can not beleive with the Kodiak/No-Mar 10-10.
I built a new tailgate on the Kodiak with 2 D rings and 4 eyes to hook blocks to and it is bolted into the frame with 1/2'' plate run 30'' up inside the frame bolted in with 13 bolts each and a heavy angle iron under the bottom of the frame.

I have not done too much real heavy recovery yet with my 2001 GMC 6500/No-Mar 10-10 but have pulled some stuck macks etc with it.

DougI have done so much with so little for so long that I now can do almost anything with nothing
 

TOwBoy88 said:

Thanks for clarifying that for me Doug.

Was just a wondering mind...you know us wrecker operators.Billy M.
Bill's Towing
Jacksonville, IL

 

Guest Said:

An excellent job of rigging,and I still call them cables too!!
there are just somethings that you can't change - And most of us ole' time string wrecker users can still communicate with each other without being "correct" in describing the piece of equipment we are using.
Thanks for sharing with us !

Kenny@Defalco's Heavy Recovery
Chatham,NNJ

 

KJBAND13OC said:

I am so happy to see this.I use almost the same truck to do some heavy recoveries.Good job

 

Mike Scheidt said:

nice to see someone uses there 4x4 like we do its amazing what those little trucks will pull with a little rigging

 

 

Drawing for a Dozen Prizes. So get your name in here.

 

Pick up your Prize at the Tennessee Tow Show.

Anyone know anything about this one?

@Kat a member needs technical assistance!

I don't know, it's got to be worth what you gave for it....

Over the past few years it seems many became accustom to reading topics on all forms of social media. Preferring to sit back and watch and a few others, generally to same ones all the time comment. It's going to take some time to get the message back back to where it was a decade ago. But, I know there are many out there ready to participate on a professional level again.

I feel bad that the number of drivers operating with unrestrained passengers especially children continues to increase.

Currently there is no back haul forum, we've tried a couple of times iver the years and there is never enough activity. So, Main Street is fine at this time.

While it does not make the loss of life or the critically injured truck driver an easier to except. The statement made by the  the Allen County Sheriff’s Department does shed light on who was at fault.

 

"A van carrying six people failed to stop at the intersection of O Day Road and Washington Center Road shortly after 1 p.m. Sunday. As a result, the van slammed into an oncoming tow truck."

 

We'll do our best to update the story as the investigation continues as well as await the Tow Truck Drivers status as well as his name.

 

Thank you horsehaulin from Blue Eagle Towing for bringing us the information you have. May the TowForce be with him! By the Video we now know just how violent the accident was and your driver remains in our Thoughts and Prayers!

Let's get this going, every member responding that is attending the Tennessee Tow Show will be entered into a drawing. For this Show the Drawing will be held prior to the show.

I didn't go through the images. Is it possible the boxes are Century and the bed is Vulcan.

 

Making it a FrankenCenturyVulcan?

If anyone can pinpoint a reason tow operators are being killed then speak up. I have looked at this many years. A tow op can do everything right and the tragic outcome still occurs. Other times a lack of safety was present yet may not have made a difference. But, take every precaution you can.

This is a Code Red Weekend. A Tower Statistically will be struck in the next 4 days.

Sent from my SM-G950U using TowForce mobile app

Yes, many compiling lists are adding every tow operator that has passed in order to sensationalize the tower deaths. That 60+ a year should only reflect Roadside, criminal and accidental in the line of preforming their duties.

 

I do not even want to say this but I feel it must be brought to the attention of those who may find themselves in situation which requires more attention. Statistically a Tow Operator will be struck within the next 4 days.

I just went in search of any follow up story's or  replies that would shed like on the incident. Nothing!

 

This ceremony will take place once again this weekend. The Cones, The Vests and The Hard Hats stand out. But it's the the Boots that Towers Stood and Worked in that will impact you the most.

 

 

 

Well if your the owner then you would have to fire yourself. Besides these are images taken for the story. While a the choice of work wear should be considered, it is highly possible she was not working at the time.