someotherplace

Funny (not) how Houston news sources have no interest in this story, yet it's reported on two different San Antonio news sites.

Real short on details; I'm trying to see if anyone around my group knows any more.  At first I thought it may have been near a storage lot as there's lots of metal fencing but it appears to just be 18 wheeler parking areas.  There are some apartments across the street..

Richard

2 hours ago, Midnight Mitch said:

I have successfully released them on a few occasions.  I  used my cordless impact battery and some speaker wire the first time.  I keep a couple jumper wires with a 20 amp fuse in the truck now.  You can hear if motor is releasing/ or applying.  It strains when applying, and runs quieter when releasing.  MAKE SURE TO BLOCK/CHOCK the front wheels first.  Just do the tap, tap method, and only run it back until it frees up.  When dropped I use a Sharpie and write "Parking Brake Disconnected", on windshield. I also write it on the work order, and leave a business card.  I plan on making a tool specifically for these. A power window switch, wiring, fuse, and connectors from wrecking yard would make it quick and easy.  I only mess with them if going on the wheel lift

That's pretty much how I imagined they could be released.  Seems like it's just a stepper motor or similar device that you power it to apply, reverse polarity to release.  I mostly am just concerned that it not cause any errors or problems with the vehicle if I released them, towed it to the lot, then re-applied them.  Everyone wants a payout on a damage claim whether real or imagined.  In most scenarios we just throw them on the dollies because we need to get off property quickly, no time to mess around with the brakes.  However in the rare case where it's a dolly job that has to go a long distance, esp. freeway, I'd like the option in the toolbox.

Richard

1 hour ago, Kjband13oc said:

Extension is out so far because snow ,mud and gravel that got stuck in front of tube when picking it up.Once I got to road after pics cleaned it up and pulled it back in.

I was mostly teasing; I know no experienced operator would intentionally leave the extension out that far when towing unless the clearance was needed.

That's one thing I've noticed on those particular units, if you let debris get in the extension housing, it spells doom for the hoses and man it ain't fun taking apart to repair.  None of them are, but it seems the auto-grip is a bit more susceptible to damage there.  Previous job had one in the fleet and several lots we store at are gravel.  That was the one truck that kept catching rocks and eating hoses.  With several different people driving the truck, couldn't seem to keep everyone trained on avoiding it.

Richard

One can reasonably deduce that the vehicle he was attempting to load would belong to the suspect, unless of course it was stolen.  In my experience when they park stolen cars where they're obviously not supposed to be, they're dumped, and WANT them to be towed...not going to come out shooting.  So chances are pretty high the vehicle in the manager's spot belongs to the suspect.  Not difficult detective work, this one

Richard

Careful there; I think you might be approaching the load limit of that wheel lift and your dollies.  : )  : )  : )

I think you could bring the extension in at least a couple feet or so, though...

Richard

One-liners day was the 21st?  Well then, I must be "a day late and a dollar short" ... LOL

In regards to going after a tough-to-load PPI: "We'll either get it, or we won't" (you'll never get it if you don't try)

Multipurpose: the classic "What could possibly go wrong?"

And the motto of a former employer, "It isn't a problem until it's a problem" .......

Richard

Agreed, sounds like a scam attempt and likely has nothing to do with Square themselves.  Are these coming in an email?  If so it's probably scammers with a fake email hoping to get your Square login info so they can snatch your money.

Richard

There's the convertible version at one of the lots I drop at.  Looks like it may have been someone's low-mile grandpa car, before it got crashed.. it looks like it went under a flatbed or something.  The windshield frame is completely flattened, highest point is hood/trunk area. : (  Oh, and I wasn't trying to be funny about the "convertible" thing - it was an actual ragtop car, fake woodie sides, etc. ugly as hell even when brand new.  I wanted to take a picture of it but I'm pretty sure it was from a fatal crash so I decided not to.

Richard

The ghosts around our place are completely silent.  Any time something comes up missing or broken, and you ask the crew, the answer is DEAD SILENCE

I wish I was joking, but I'm not. : (

Richard

Did you get a peek at the engine?  Some of those trucks had 400 badges but actually had a 402 BB under the hood. : )

Richard

Lots of hard-to-believe elements to the story.  Sounds more like very inexperienced driver error(s) : (

Richard

^^^ that.. the parts are expensive.

Richard

Forever ago when I was a good guy (wrecks not PPI) we would disconnect the batteries on wrecks, if the FD didn't.  Just seemed wise.

Richard

1 hour ago, GRUMPS The Towman said:

I remember that Richard. I wonder what ever became of that member ? Havent seen him on here since....

Oh, you mean Mr. Drag and Shake?  I'm no old hand and there's often many different correct ways to get a job done, but then there are also the very incorrect ways to go about it..

Either he chose to stop contributing, or is simply back under a different name, as those situations tend to go.

Richard

Agreed on the danger of bending the (self-loader) forks, while they can surely handle the weight on their own, they may not be able to handle it hanging at the far end of the forklift forks acting as levers.

Wish I had some helpful advice on how to retrieve those little cars.  Do you think the roof structure is strong enough to lift them sideways through the door openings instead?

If the floors and rockers are gone (and I believe you 100% on that) I think they would still suffer a lot of damage if you try to lift them from underneath with the forklift forks.

Richard

Sounds like a familiar subject. ; )

On 1/9/2019 at 9:33 AM, someotherplace said:

I have heard of junk haulers being able to bypass them with some trickery and it seems totally plausible; I'm sure the electric brake setup is a stepper motor or similar type design that you apply power and it engages, then reverse the polarity and it retracts.  There will be connections outside the vehicle near the brakes.  I'd be willing to bet that a little experimentation with a small jump box and some test leads, I could make it happen.  I was mostly curious if anybody else here had gone down that path and what the pros/cons might be; if it freaks out the onboard systems or if they're just not that smart and this can be done without any ill effects.

From the thread -> 

Warning: may or may not be an interesting read, but the spoiler alert is that a work-around was not yet identified.

Richard

There were some guys around here running a road service outfit with their employees' personal cars.  It looked shady as you can imagine.  Several of the cars looked more like cars that would need road service, rather than provide it.  Haven't seen them around for a few years now; assuming they petered out.

As far as handicap tows go, I am 50/50 on them.  It is my all-time favorite violation to load, because (just about) everyone hates seeing someone take a handicap space that shouldn't be parked there.  However, I'm also nervous of towing someone that might be handicapped but just forgot to hang up their placard.

Fortunately, since I'm doing PPI in mostly residential properties, I can spot my "regulars" and have a pretty good memory for vehicles that I see repeatedly parked in certain spots, and whether they had their placard.  Every now and then I'll see those cars with the placard not displayed.  It may be stuck in their visor, or possibly in the door pocket, etc.  I gladly give them a pass, because I remember their car.

Everyone else - gets the hook!

Richard

My guess is that admin fee is for impounds, sending out certified letters to the registered owner and lienholder.  Timing and fees will vary based on local laws.

Richard

Pic of the windshield to see if they have a valid placard displayed?  Only then can I pass judgement. : )

I know wrecker drivers that apparently qualify as handicapped, placards on their personal vehicles, so I won't assume just because one may be handicapped that they can't do roadside assistance.  Beyond that, it's not up to me to judge whether someone is handicapped or they're giving a ride to someone that is handicapped...only to determine whether they're displaying proper credentials to take up the space I'm considering towing them out of.

Richard

OK; I'll bite!  They had to make the two labels to correct their coin policy after some smartass took them to task with a bunch of loose coins, since I'll guess they formerly "excepted" rolled coins.  : )

Richard

Grumps, that's about what my last set looked like!  A good friend and former co-worker gifted me a brand new set a couple years back (I think simply as gratitude for showing him the true usefulness of skates when doing PPI's) so I gave my old set to another co-worker who was just starting out.  They came in handy shortly afterwards when he had a brand new Escalade parked on moon rock sealed asphalt, steering cut and locked so that it would immediately roll into the vehicle parked next to it.  He called me and said, "What do I do?" Told him, "Lift it from the back, strap the tires, and get those skates! Pull it straight out and keep going until you have room to flip around and grab it from the front, then throw your dollies on the rear."  It came out of the spot like magic.  : )

The only downside I see to the design is once they get chewed up, it becomes difficult to snap them together for a wide skate.  The way I use them is just on 2 tires at a time, so I try to keep them snapped together as 2 wide ones all the time.  Every now and then I'll break them apart for various reasons like cribbing up slammed cars in conjunction with go-jaks, to make clearance for getting the dolly bars under.

Richard

The default complaint family for all tow-aways:

"I didn't see the signs" (pics of violation show the signs directly in front of the vehicle)

"There aren't any signs" (I've actually had someone tell me this while we were standing right in front of the signs)

Etc.

Always the sign's fault.  Those damn signs...

Richard

Unless you outright abuse them (which I occasionally do), the WreckMaster skates will last a lot longer than you'd think.  They're worth the money.  I use them to pull cars out of tight spots against curbs when I can't get in with go-jaks or dollies, and that's often pulling them a few feet across rough concrete or bad asphalt.  They've held up quite well and I've only bought a few sets over the years.

Richard

They don't seem to respond well to submarine lessons.  I guess that's one way to get out from under the payment, depending on whether or not their insurance company saw that news footage.

Richard

At most of the lots I drop cars at, you do business at a window/drawer arrangement similar to a convenience store in a bad neighborhood!  Many of these windows outside, with just barely an awning to keep you out of the rain.  Reasonable comfort???  Gotta be kidding me...but I believe it, it does indeed sound like Kalifornia.  First pic is a lot I drop at frequently.  Second is one I hope to never drop at again..........

Richard