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do you call AAA

WillWagner

The Person You Were Warned About As A Child
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Well, I guess barring a vented casting or a fuel pump that flat quit, it would be fairly to patch on the road and get it home. Other big issues is where the SS family comes in. We do kinda have a list of who is where, the Member locator map. A bit hard to get to if you are new here and maybe out dated. That thing needs to be on the new site.
 

Coal Cracker

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Weatherly, Pa.
As a member of the Dodge truck Turbo Diesel Register, we had a manual of members , who voluntarily signed up to be on it, I know I'm a newbie here, but I'd volunteer to go on such a list, I have tools , safe room for storage, , hopefully soon to have a deuce to tow with, and I'm not far from Annville, pa. Mechanicsburg, Pa. And the Rausch Creek Rally.

Maybe a diffrent forum by state, and whoever would like to volunteer to be on it.


We had diffrent checkoffs, if we had air, storage, tools, covered, uncovered work area, towing,

Maybe a moderator will see this, as a site suggestion.
 

JTugwell

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Pensacola, FL
I called AAA down here, and tried to get the RV coverage. They told me no because it didn't have a permanently installed toilet. Thats almost worth going to buy a real toilet from lowes and bolting it to the bed. Seriously though i have a portable marine head. i may put it in the back, and take pictures. maybe they will let me slide. I would imagine it would be a whole lot easier to convince them of RV status if you have a M109.
 

Nonotagain

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i have AAA RV, and i've used it. come back from the Hampton Roads Rally last year the steering seized up in the middle of a turn. they had a f650 out there and she towed me 70 miles back to the house. i asked the guy what the tow might have cost, he said probably between $400-500. the $130 a year was well worth it and so is the piece of mind every time i take her out.
When I got out of the towing business ten years ago my service call was $95.00 just to show up then $2.50 per mile provided I did not have to pull a drive shaft or axle.

Most tow companies would not attempt lifting a M35 or larger truck with anything smaller than a F650 Ford. Once you get over a one ton sized pick-up truck you pay through the nose for towing.

When I first started in business it cost me $4K per year in insurance for three F350 trucks. Five years later the same three trucks cost $13K per year.

Towing is a high risk business. Gone are the days of the old Holmes 440 wrecker. A new hydraulic wrecker on a 450-550 series chassis will set you back close to $70K. Try to make money when you have a $1500 a month payment on the truck plus insurance, fuel, maintenance, oh, and paying the driver well enough so he does not tear up your equipment.
 

Josh

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hypotheticly speaking if you droped one rear drive shaft, could they hook up from the back and just lock the steering wheel? ive seen many semis towed from the rear, is it possable with a deuce? since a majority of the weight is on the front axle when empty.

you still have an issue of braking, but around here ive seen many public busses, hooked up in the front and being towed by F350/450 size wreckers. im not sure how much the buss weigh but i can imagine in excess of 13000lbs.
 
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800summit

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Soldotna, Alaska U.S.A.
Well where I live and where go I have no towing, I come prepaired for almost anything, I bring equipment to change out a tire, or repair it . I bring all sizes of copper tubing with fittings, belts,bearings,seals,tools etc. good thing these are big rigs. The only thing that worries me is having to walk and leave it to get help. $ome$onbitch would steal something out of it:twisted:
 

Nonotagain

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hypotheticly speaking if you droped one rear drive shaft, could they hook up from the back and just lock the steering wheel? ive seen many semis towed from the rear, is it possable with a deuce?

If you are going to pick up any tandem axle vehicle from the rear you don't need to remove the drive shaft. Towing with one rear axle on the ground on a tandem is bad news as the vehicle being towed will have a mind of its' own.

I used to tow tractors out to trucks that were disabled so that a swap could be performed. It was always faster to snag them from the rear, tie off the wheel and go for it.

Depending on what the break down is caused by dictates which direction the vehicle gets towed from. An empty dump truck can safely be towed on the front wheels, while a loaded dump had to either tow on the rears or loaded on a Landoll type trailer.

I don't miss having to study the tow logs to determine where you can hook up to without causing damage.
 

Josh

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Portland, Oregon
ive never seen a tow truck flat tow something so i dont think that option is possable. some of the larger tow trucks ive seen have ball hitchs but not pintle so a normal tow bar is out. flat beds are out i think because of the hight. now this has me wondering how to tow a deuce behind a wrecker and make it AAA acceptible...
 

rideni

Member
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Aberdeen, MD
I towed a deuce and this will sound crazy with an f350 dumptruck and some 3/4 inch chain, I wrapped it through the front clevises and the pintle hitch and chain hooks on the rear of the dump, it worked in the rain with speeds up to 30mph on empty straight backroads, I charged the the deuces air up and road it and braked and steered.
the only problems was a very very steep driveway in which I had to use a tractor to push it up the hill., not enough weight on the rear of the dump
 

grizcty

New member
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Alaska
Here in Alaska, I have towed both civilian owned CUCV & Hummers, for AAA.
But , I can guarantee, AAA will NOT cover the larger vehicles.

A few years ago.
0700 hrs. I had a call for a Deuce, the would not start.
Fella tried to get AAA to pay for it.
Which was a No Go!

Customer then called me from a pay phone, and wanted me to tow the rig.
Asked him what was wrong with it. He said he didn't know?
I quoted him a price, & told him I would be there in about 4 hours, and he agreed.
He gave me his C/C info, and authorized me to tow his truck.
I charged the C/C prior to leaving.
Drove 150 miles to his location.

When I arrived, at his camp and what a scene!
Found him passed out in a chair. :beer:(temp was in the mid 30's)
With the Deuce on one side, the camp fire on the other.
The Deuce, had a camper permanently mounted on platform, on front half of the bed.
And a electric winch mounted under the camper.
The winch cable was strung out 150', off a gin pole.
That was mounted to the back of the truck, into the pucker brush.
And a half butchered steaming moose, in the bed.
And a rifle leaning against his tires.
I hollered at him, he didn't even budge.
I emptied his rifle, put the shells in my pocket.

I finally woke him up, with my horn.
I asked him what was on the other end of the cable?
He got worried, and told me to mind my own business.
It didn't take me long to figure out.
The fella had more booze in him, than brains.
I walked into the brush, and found another dead moose.

I am very straight forward with folks. (and a retired LEO)
I asked him who shot the 2nd moose?
He drunkenly told me, his buddy.
What buddy?
He said he went to the liquor store, in a p/u truck.
The nearest liquor was back 40+ miles, at a lodge. (Yep, same place he wanted it towed to!!)
Asked him how long ago he left, said he didn't know?
I lit up a smoke, and of course, he asked me for one.

Told him to go sit in his chair.
I gave him one, and told him to stay out of my way.
I unhooked the cable, from the 2nd moose.
And coiled it up by hand, put it in the bed.
Hooked up the front of his truck, with a tow bar/sling.

Leaned his rifle on the trailer with the wood, in it.
Dumped the shells in his cooler.

He said I had to wait for his buddy to show up.
I told him no problem, but the clock starts now.
He wanted to know what I meant.
I told him I normally charge $2.00 per minute for stand by time. (waiting)
But, if I am waiting with a drunk, it was $5.00 a minute. (I quit drinking 26 y/o)
He asked how much 10 minutes would be. I told him $50.00.

Then told him to give me a hand pulling the moose off his truck.
He said why?
Told him, so they could finish butchering it.
He said OK, as long as I only charge his $4.00 per minute!
I agreed. (never did charge him)LOL
Told him his friend would be back shortly.

And flat towed it to the lodge.
After unhooking the Deuce.
Went in the lodge, and talked to them.
They said his friend was sleeping in his truck, in the parking lot.
While talking to them, friends of mine showed up.(they already got their moose)
I told them what was going on, & were the bullets were.
And they said they would give them a hand.

I left, for home.

Got a call later that night, from my buddies.
And they explained what took place.

The (drunk) fellas, both got there moose early that morning.
And decided to save their fuel, by not running the deuce.
Then wore the batteries down.
Then decided to have a few drinks, and a few more...

They ended up helping butchering the moose.
And broke camp, gave him a ride to the lodge.
While his friend slept the whole time, in the parking lot.
My customer then got on the phone, and apologized for his stupidity.
I told him, I don't mind when I am getting paid.
And that another trucker I knew.
Was driving that way in the morning.
And I could have him deliver a couple of new batteries.
Which he agreed too.

Just another typical day, during Alaska's hunting season. :lol:
 
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grizcty

New member
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Alaska
ive never seen a tow truck flat tow something so i dont think that option is possable. some of the larger tow trucks ive seen have ball hitchs but not pintle so a normal tow bar is out. flat beds are out i think because of the hight. now this has me wondering how to tow a deuce behind a wrecker and make it AAA acceptible...

Very easy Josh,

Many of us "older" folks.
Still like using some older equipment.

Until about 10 years ago.
The majority of all vehicles, could be towed with a sling or tow bar.:-D:-D
You pick one end, and sometimes needing dollies, for the other end.
AWD, broken axles, etc.. (like the picture below)

Most large trucks are picked up from the rear, and towed on front axle.
Or, put on a lowboy trailer. Either way gets very $$$.

Now flat towing is using a sling/tow bar/boom under bumper, tow hitch etc..
To barely pick up, the front of another truck. Taking some of the weight off the disabled vehicle. At the same time you have complete control
This make it possible to have all 4 - 6 - 10 tires still rolling down the road.

Just make sure, you have enough braking control-ability to STOP!:roll:

Newer sissy vehicles, all need to be wheel lifted, or flatbed-ed.:-(

Hope this helps.:idea:
 

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