doingitall

What started as a glow that Dani Rees saw from the office window into the shop area at Mid-Iowa Towing, quickly turned into a massive inferno that left her and her husband’s business completely leveled Friday afternoon. No serious injuries were reported. “I was in my office and saw little bit of fire out of the shop window,” said Rees, who owns Mid-Iowa Towing with her husband, Mike. “I yelled for everyone to get out and everyone got out. It happened fast – real fast.” Firefighters were called to the scene at 1:20 p.m. Heavy smoke and fire quickly overwhelmed the shop and eventually the office, which is connected. The business is located in Barnum’s fire district at 1914 Kountry Lane, west of Fort Dodge. Intermittent explosions could be heard as the fire grew, blowing debris several feet from the shop. As the fire spread to the office, piles of white paper blew out of the front door. The high wind gusts blew the thick, black smoke to the north and across busy Iowa Highway 7, impacting visibility for traffic. About 10 people were inside the building when the fire started, according to Rees. One of them was Matt Knowles, of Fort Dodge. Knowles had bid on a vehicle on Thursday and was there to pay for it on Friday. “I was finishing up the paperwork, getting ready to pay for the (Chevrolet) Blazer that I bought,ã Knowles recalled. “All the sudden we could see glowing from the mini blinds of the office to the shop. They started screaming fire and within a matter of seconds, it was out of control.” Knowles stayed until he was sure everyone was out. “I wasn’t the smartest about it,” Knowles said. “When that happens, I would want someone to come get me.” Two employees suffered burns to their hands, Fort Dodge Fire Chief Steve Hergenreter reported. One was treated on scene by Fort Dodge paramedics. The other employee was transported by private vehicle to the emergency room at UnityPoint Health – Trinity Regional Medical Center. Hergenreter said the employee has since been treated and released. By the time firefighters arrived, flames were shooting through the roof. Capt. Jeff Hill, of the Fort Dodge Fire Department, reported that firefighters and paramedics came in two engines and an ambulance. “There are no hydrants out here in this area,” Hill said. “We attacked it with all the water we bring with us in our hoselines.” Hill said firefighters from Barnum, Badger and Clare brought tanker trucks and engines. “Once we ran out of water, we switched over to their tanker trucks to supply it with water,” Hill said. “And they shuttled water back and forth from a city hydrant at the corner of (U.S. Highway) 169 and (Iowa Highway) 7.” Once the fire calmed down later in the day, excavators and other heavy machinery were being used to sift through the rubble. The initial investigation into the cause indicates the fire started after an employee used a cutting torch that ignited vapors from gasoline, Hergenreter reported. Nine Fort Dodge firefighters responded to the initial call. Eleven off-duty firefighters were called to cover the fire station, Hill said. Another 20 firefighters from Clare, Barnum and Badger responded. The Fort Dodge Police Department, Webster County sheriff’s deputies, Iowa State Patrol and MidAmerican Energy Co., were also called to the area. While Rees was thankful that no one was seriously hurt, she said it’s difficult to put a value on a business she and her husband worked so hard to build up. “You can’t put a value on a business that we built from very little to what it is now,” Rees said. “It means more to us than a number value.” Mike and Dani Rees have owned Mid-Iowa Towing since 2010. They purchased the business from Mike Rees’s parents, Roger Rees and Karen Rees, who had owned it since 1980. “We started with three trucks,” Dani Rees said. “Ten years later, we have 11 trucks and 10 employees.” Mid-Iowa Towing currently provides towing service for the city of Fort Dodge. Dani Rees fully anticipates the business rebounding from the setback. “One thing at a time,” she said. “We may have been pushed, but we didn’t get knocked down. We are still going to keep going. It’s what we do.” https://www.messengernews.net/news/local-news/2020/02/fire-reported-at-midiowa-towing/

My local competitor to the north had a devastating fire today. Luckily no serious injuries have been reported though two employees are reported to have burns and some smoke inhalation. I have not yet reached out to them as I am sure they are still reeling from this afternoons events, though I intend to reach out soon. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers as they start the rebuilding process ... https://www.kcci.com/article/2-injured-in-fort-dodge-fire-that-leaves-building-a-complete-loss/30934580

Cannot read the model number, but the hydraulic valve body has a check valve, I would start there, assuming you are able to verify that the pto engages and there is fluid flowing.

You do not mention what brand of bed this is, and that may be crucial information. Common places to look are plugged hydraulic filters (you say your is new), and stuck bypass and hydraulic valves. Some filter housings have a valve in them, though the fail position should still provide pressure as it should bypass the filter. I had a Vulcan bed that had a bypass valve at the driver side valve bank that was a constant problem. Do you have a way to check pressure at the valves? Given your description I am going to assume you can hear the pump engage, which leads me to an educated guess that fluid is flowing, and a bypass valve is causing your problem ...

Mine (2006 model year) had this issue as well. Replaced the speed sensor, and that helped for awhile. Final solution was replacing the trans wiring harness. Mine had a few places where the wiring near connectors had corroded but was not visible. Found a couple of places that the ground wires rotted inside the wire covering.

I have used Square for years. No issues. Love it. If your iPads are cellular activated already then your cost to equip them with square will be minimal. While Square is certainly not the cheapest platform percentage wise, for me at least, the fact that it is so easy to use and payment next business day is a win of my one man low volume credit card operation.

Repeat ... do not use the tow eye that screws into the bumper! DANGER! So many better and safer options! I would suggest some training in light recovery, and some endless loops/recovery straps if you are looking at where to spend a little money. Through the wheel or around some stronger (not stamped steel) suspension parts are the best places to put a loop or strap, but there are other techniques as well. Some training will pay for itself quickly ...

I think a little re-training may be needed ...

Disappointing for sure! First, I think it is important to tell everyone who did the upfitting. Not to shame, but to let others know who we are talking about, and possibly who to avoid! Second, if this is a factory authorized upfitter, I think JerrDan would appreciate knowing about the problems and would likely after solutions. Third, there are a lot of customers on this forum, and providing more information about who and where and other specifics may encourage pressure from other potential customers and push them to provide a solutions faster and more transparently. I think we all know that sh!t happens, but to not address and fix these issues in a timely manner on a new truck needs to be called out. I do not think a lawyer is your best avenue, yet ... I do think that getting the manufacturer (JerrDan) involved is the way to go here. So more info and details would help get the ball rolling here ...

I bought a used F650 a few years ago. 2008, Cummins 6.7/Allison auto, pre DEF. This was a real upgrade from my 06 F650 with a 5.9 Cummins. The 6.7 was stellar! More power, the throttle peddle was actually more than an on/off switch, could actually merge with traffic onto the highway, I was happy ... then I had what appeared to be issues with the turbo variable vane system sticking. Common issue, I know. Poor performance, always seemed to be "out of breath", no power going uphill, poor throttle response, back to the 5.9 feel. Replaced the turbo system, could hear the turbo running correctly again, but ever since this happened, nothing has brought back the original performance. So the turbo was replaced, the EGR has been replaced, new injectors, the manifold pressure sensor for the turbo replaced twice, some other stuff, can't remember it all. Nothing has really changed, still poor throttle response, no power going up hills loaded or unloaded. Seems ok in town though not like when I purchased the truck, but getting on the highway, or going up a hill is still a lesson in patience and humility. I do not dare to make a pass at highways speeds unless I can see for at least a mile, even then I usually do not even try. One shop asked if it has ever done a "regen" cycle, and I have never had it do that (I am the only operator), but after asking, he seemed unconcerned. Two different shops have looked at this truck several times and tell me that there are no codes now, and that everything is "within specs". But still the truck does not perform like when I purchased it (at 125K). Now has 170K. There have been slight improvements when things have been fixed, but I am a long way from the performance it used to have. It functions still as it is, but man I wish it would run like when I bought it ... Any suggestions?

Mine is the same set up. Only time I have had any issues are when rewinding without tension. Under tension, even light tension, mine rewinds very nicely all the way from edge to edge of the winch drum. It does make a little grinding noise from the line rubbing a bit at the winch drum ends but I do not see any damage to the line at all. I thought same as you when I bought mine ... guide looks far too narrow. Have you actually tried the unit out? Do you actually see an issue? Like I said, mine works fine ...

Here. Wes Wilburn classes, LD, a couple of times ...

Dangerous road! I think your best bet is to be the best at what you do, and have a good reputation for quality work. The biggest thing is to get to know the towers in the area, I mean really get to know them. Not just the owners, but the grunts, the cable draggers, the guys and gals that work overnight in crappy weather. Get to know them and take care of them when they are at your shop, not monetarily, but help them get unloaded, get them some coffee, warm them up, dry them off, clean them up, get them some quick grub, give them your cell number to reach you after hours and go to your shop after hours and meet them to help, make it easy for them ... Go to their shop after you get to know them and buy pizza for their staff or safety meeting. When they know you will take care of the clients they bring in in a professional manner, and you will make things easier and more efficient for them when they are there, it will bring you business. Additionally, it is just good business to have positive relationships with area businesses. That said, kickbacks almost never build goodwill long term, and are likely illegal, especially in Illinois.

Well I would guess tire wear causing imbalance. If it is anything like the rest of the medium duties I have owned, a really good alignment and some new tires ... Every medium duty I have owned does this at some point. I am VERY limited for good alignments, like there is nothing around here for truck alignments. When I have had a really good alignment performed, like everything just right, and new tires, I get pretty good service from a set. As soon as anything wears or gets out of alignment, I get a little irregular tire wear and game over. Swapping tires (rotating) can help a little, but once they wear like that they are done. That has been my experience.

I made ramps out of treated 2X6's. 1 12 foot board - 2 pieces 3 foot, 2 pieces 2 foot, 2 pieces 1 foot. 3 foot bottom, then two foot, then 1 foot stacked and screwed together. i left the 1 foot on top slid back creating a notch for the bed to sit on. Don't have pics, but these work every time. If the vehicles clearance is less than 2 inches, you have to take the crap off the front anyway.