towing a car with an automatic transmission

[Alpo]

I don't think anybody puts a hook under the end of the car and drags down the street anymore. I think they all pull it up on the back of a flatbed.

 

When I had to have my truck towed to the shop, I unlocked the steering wheel so I could put the gear shift in neutral, so the back wheels would turn and they could pull it up on the flatbed.

 

But if I was not available to unlock my truck and take it out of gear, how could they do it?

 

I know that if a standard has a three on the tree, and you can open the hood, you can put it in neutral. I've done that. I don't know how you could do it with a floor shift. With the newer automobiles that you have to unlatch the hood from inside the cab, I don't know how you could do it period.

 

And I truly don't understand how you could tow the car off if it's an automatic. When it's in park them drive wheels ain't moving.

 

In the book I am reading - yes it's another book - this is a police car, in the 70s. So I'm absolutely sure that it is an automatic. Someone stole the car then brought it back. So they're going to do a thorough forensic inspection of the interior of the car trying to get some kind of proof of whodunit.

 

The instructions were to have it towed to the nearest police garage, but under no circumstances with anyone to drive it or even enter it.

 

And I just got me wondering how the hell they was going to tow it if nobody got in it it took it out of gear.

 

Which led me to thinking about repo men, and how they show up at your house at 3:00 in the morning and hook on to your car and drive it away because you haven't made your car payments.

 

 

[Boggus Deal #64218]

Unless it’s an all wheel drive, you pick it the vehicle up by the drive wheels. An AWD, you put one end on a dolly and pick it up by the other end.

[Sheriff Dill]

When I was in Law Enforcement I’d we didn’t have the keys for the vehicle we needed towed. The tow truck driver would drag it on the flatbed. The little bit of drag on the tires never caused issues for the vehicle. The fun ones to watch were the vehicles that had unpaid parking tickets and it was a race to get the vehicle hooked and on the truck before the owners came out. Some of the tow truck drivers/operators are amazing at what they can do. 
 

Most tow companies keep the single wheel dollies on their rigs as well. 

Edited March 7 by Sheriff Dill

[Michigan Slim]

My son started his own company a couple years ago. He just got into repos. Amazing how fast he can get a car hooked. Drag it, dollies under the drive wheels, whatever it takes. Get it and get out 

Now, if is a service call or other customer call, the vehicle is treated with utmost care. Repos, parking violations, whatever? Not as much. 

[Alpo]

3 hours ago, Boggus Deal #64218 said:

Unless it’s an all wheel drive, you pick it the vehicle up by the drive wheels. An AWD, you put one end on a dolly and pick it up by the other end.

So it doesn't hurt to be dragged down the street with the steering locked?

 

My truck, for example. Rear wheel drive, so you pick it up by the back end. But the steering is locked. You go dragging it down the road and that doesn't hurt anything? You turn the corner in the front end can't turn?

[Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L]

 

[Boggus Deal #64218]

27 minutes ago, Alpo said:

So it doesn't hurt to be dragged down the street with the steering locked?

 

My truck, for example. Rear wheel drive, so you pick it up by the back end. But the steering is locked. You go dragging it down the road and that doesn't hurt anything? You turn the corner in the front end can't turn?

The steering is locked so the wheels don’t steer. Like pulling a two wheeled trailer.

[Pat Riot]

14 minutes ago, Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L said:

 

What a Maroon!

[Texas Jack Black]

5 hours ago, Alpo said:

I don't think anybody puts a hook under the end of the car and drags down the street anymore. I think they all pull it up on the back of a flatbed.

 

When I had to have my truck towed to the shop, I unlocked the steering wheel so I could put the gear shift in neutral, so the back wheels would turn and they could pull it up on the flatbed.

 

But if I was not available to unlock my truck and take it out of gear, how could they do it?

 

I know that if a standard has a three on the tree, and you can open the hood, you can put it in neutral. I've done that. I don't know how you could do it with a floor shift. With the newer automobiles that you have to unlatch the hood from inside the cab, I don't know how you could do it period.

 

And I truly don't understand how you could tow the car off if it's an automatic. When it's in park them drive wheels ain't moving.

 

In the book I am reading - yes it's another book - this is a police car, in the 70s. So I'm absolutely sure that it is an automatic. Someone stole the car then brought it back. So they're going to do a thorough forensic inspection of the interior of the car trying to get some kind of proof of whodunit.

 

The instructions were to have it towed to the nearest police garage, but under no circumstances with anyone to drive it or even enter it.

 

And I just got me wondering how the hell they was going to tow it if nobody got in it it took it out of gear.

 

Which led me to thinking about repo men, and how they show up at your house at 3:00 in the morning and hook on to your car and drive it away because you haven't made your car payments.

 

 

 You Never cease to amaze me.😉

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

43 minutes ago, Texas Jack Black said:

 You Never cease to amaze me.😉

Amaze, or frighten?

[Texas Jack Black]

23 minutes ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

Amaze, or frighten?

   Both😉

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

He doesn't think like anyone else I know.  Maybe everyone  on  his  planet  think  like  he does.

 

Now, on MY planet.......!

[Alpo]

2 hours ago, Texas Jack Black said:

 You Never cease to amaze me.😉

Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?

27 minutes ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

He doesn't think like anyone else I know

Thank you.

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

37 minutes ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

He doesn't think like anyone else I know.

I don't know... I think that Alpo and Subdeacon Joe might be polar opposites, Alpo asks questions nobody else does, Joe answers questions nobody asked.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

59 minutes ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

I don't know... I think that Alpo and Subdeacon Joe might be polar opposites, Alpo asks questions nobody else does, Joe answers questions nobody asked.

They do seem to balance their part of the universe, don't they?  

 

Sort  of a Yin and Yang  sort of thing.  'Taint good nor bad, it  just is!

Edited March 7 by Forty Rod SASS 3935

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

38 minutes ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

They do seem to balance their part of the universe, don't they?  

 

Sort  of a Yin and Yang  sort of thing.  'Taint good nor bad, it  just is!

As long as they don't unbalance our universe, I'm good with both of them, but I don't know that I'd say EITHER of them is balanced.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

Are any of us?

[Alpo]

That's why he's in California and I'm in Florida --- we balance the country.

[sassnetguy50]

6 hours ago, Boggus Deal #64218 said:

The steering is locked so the wheels don’t steer. Like pulling a two wheeled trailer.

Some people with tickets or repo order will turn their wheels full left or right when they park.  

 

 

There was a court case where a Rolls-Royce was towed like this.  The owner was awarded repair costs and rental costs because the dealer had to special order the parts from the UK.

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

2 hours ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

As long as they don't unbalance our universe, I'm good with both of them, but I don't know that I'd say EITHER of them is balanced.

 

2 hours ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

Are any of us?

Compared to THOSE two, yeah. Compared to the rest of the world, maybe not. Maybe Alpo's right, (DON'T tell him I said that), they balance each OTHER out.

Edited March 7 by Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

SHHHHHH!!!!

 

Don't let them know that we know.

[watab kid]

a couple years ago i had a flat in a blizzard , the tow truck put rear on dolley and hooked and lifted front to move it , 

 

when wife had a camper issue a while back they put that on the flatbed , both worked out just fine