When have you admitted failure and called a tow truck?

[Clb]

Absolutely. I'd show up in the wife's car, people would be like "well sure, but how will you get it out if here?"



I made damn sure to use all my 100 & 200 mile tows every year

The good ole days, chimerica sux


Eta
Thinking about it, I think I saved more in gas riding on the wrecker than the annual fees....
Thanx Matt

 

[AKnate]

Decent friends with a tow outfit, so have used them a couple times.

Last retrival one was maybe 5-6 years ago. State bought firewood for someone hard up (heating assistance program).
How that works is the customer has to find a supplier that is part of the program and then the state issues a check.

Told them all I had wasn't seasoned, they said it didn't matter, no one else would answer, they were cold, newborn kid, pipes were going to freeze up...

I move my schedule around, get it cut and the truck loaded within a day or two.

Get there and driveway isn't plowed. Like hadn't been plowed for weeks. Not even tracks busting a trail.
House is down a slope so driveway is probably 8-10% grade and there's probably a foot of snow.

Lady comes out smoking a cigarette with newborn in arms. (Wtf) I ask where it's going and she tosses me a shovel and demands the wood be put near the door. Then got snarky and pissed when I told her I wasn't shoveling her driveway.

Should have left then, but a boyfriend, brother, hell maybe both shows up with a lifted Toyota/Nissan/Datsun SUV of some type (I forget what it exactly was) and says he can just pull me out if I get stuck.

I throw chains on, get down the driveway just fine, dump the wood, then get stuck trying to get out. No more weight in the truck means no traction.

Spend a bit maneuvering and making headway till I get buried. Busted my chains and clutch is hot to the point it's stinking pretty bad.

Boyfriend disappeared, it's getting dark. Knock on the door and she went and hid somewhere.

Called for a tow.

The welfare rat had the audacity to go on Google Reviews a few days later and leave a scathing review in how the wood didn't burn well, I had a bad attitude, my truck making noise was disturbing, etc.

Ever since then, if it's not plowed/a reasonable driveway, tough shit, on to the next one.


Had one not so long ago that threw a fit I couldn't get the wood in her backyard, claimed every other person did it. Couldn't understand how my 8ft+ wide truck couldn't fit through her 6ft wide gate.

 

[87manche]

Nope, just when shit dies on the side of the road

Of course, I've bought project cars and called tow trucks to them home as well

you know AAA is checking for plates and a current registration now?

I mean, half the reason I kept them was to tow non running projects a few times a year.

 

[Provience]

you know AAA is checking for plates and a current registration now?

I mean, half the reason I kept them was to tow non running projects a few times a year.

I dropped aaa several years ago when I quit doing that stuff regularly

Plates and registration is a dumb thing to check though

 

[Provience]

Actually, I dropped premium and the wife bought back a standard.

Totally forgot I used her short tow when the project f350 shit 2 tires while flat towing a couple years ago

Guy didn't care that it was 2 old junk fords on the side of the road, 1 very not together or running, and please ignore the tow bar in the bed...."yeah, just quit running. No, not out of gas"

 

[87manche]

I dropped aaa several years ago when I quit doing that stuff regularly

Plates and registration is a dumb thing to check though

they check to make sure that it's registered to you because picking up new cars that don't run isn't roadside assistance.
guy had an app to take a photo of the plate and all for AAA.

 

[Provience]

they check to make sure that it's registered to you because picking up new cars that don't run isn't roadside assistance.
guy had an app to take a photo of the plate and all for AAA.

Dang!

What a terrible shift in policy.

Owning a tow truck still seems like a fun job

 

[bdkw1]

I used the AAA chase team a couple times to get home from the desert. Just need to drag it to the road and they do the rest

Then I got a tow rig and a trailer as it seemed to be a needed item.

 

[Russell]

When I rear ended another car with my hybrid tahoe and the crash sensors opened the high voltage contactors completely disabling the vehicle, I called a tow truck. It was -5 outside and I was freezing cold by the time my wife rescued me. The tow truck dropped the Tahoe off a couple hours later and I had it running 10 min later after resetting everything with my tech 2.

 

[AKnate]

When I rear ended another car with my hybrid tahoe and the crash sensors opened the high voltage contactors completely disabling the vehicle, I called a tow truck. It was -5 outside and I was freezing cold by the time my wife rescued me. The tow truck dropped the Tahoe off a couple hours later and I had it running 10 min later after resetting everything with my tech 2.

One of the guys at work used to make fun of me for coming in with a warm coat, gloves, bonnet (whatever you English call it... watch cap, beady?). Plus I kept bibs, a sleeping bag, basic emergency gear like flashlight, jumper cables, tow strap, fire extinguisher, first aid kit in the trunk.

50 mile drive each way and heater wasn't all that great, plus never know.

He kept his car in a heated garage and had auto start. Would come in like it was 70* outside and not -20*

Called one day almost crying, his car broke down and he was freaking out he was going to freeze to death .

Next day he came in looking like he drove a dog sled in to work

 

[87manche]

One of the gays at work used to make fun of me for coming in with a warm coat, gloves, bonnet (whatever you English call it... watch cap, beady?). Plus I kept bibs, a sleeping bag, basic emergency gear like flashlight, jumper cables, tow strap, fire extinguisher, first aid kit in the trunk.

50 mile drive each way and heater wasn't all that great, plus never know.

He kept his car in a heated garage and had auto start. Would come in like it was 70* outside and not -20*

Called one day almost crying, his car broke down and he was freaking out he was going to freeze to death .

Next day he came in looking like he drove a dog sled in to work

when you've almost frozen to death because shitboxes you make sure you have shit in the car in the winter.
we have "reliable" cars these days and I still make sure that bibs and blankets go into cars in october.

 

[AKnate]

when you've almost frozen to death because shitboxes you make sure you have shit in the car in the winter.
we have "reliable" cars these days and I still make sure that bibs and blankets go into cars in october.

Even more so if not near town or it's late at night and nothing is open or knocking on a door might get you shot.

Probably not so much in the L48, and it's getting better here, but there are lots of places without phone coverage, even along main roads.

At work we are supposed to keep a gear bag with bibs, coat, gloves, etc with us. Most winters gets down to -50* and some blows it'll be -70* with the wind

 

[87manche]

Even more so if not near town or it's late at night and nothing is open or knocking on a door might get you shot.

Probably not so much in the L48, and it's getting better here, but there are lots of places without phone coverage, even along main roads.

if 17 year old me had frozen to death someone would have found me in the morning. the glorious days of the pre cell phone life.

 

[arse_sidewards]

When I rear ended another car with my hybrid tahoe and the crash sensors opened the high voltage contactors completely disabling the vehicle, I called a tow truck. It was -5 outside and I was freezing cold by the time my wife rescued me. The tow truck dropped the Tahoe off a couple hours later and I had it running 10 min later after resetting everything with my tech 2.

Speaking of which...

I assume the police explorers don't have an inertia switch. Anyone know?

 

[Gbkeith]

One of the gays at work used to make fun of me for coming in with a warm coat, gloves, bonnet (whatever you English call it... watch cap, beady?). Plus I kept bibs, a sleeping bag, basic emergency gear like flashlight, jumper cables, tow strap, fire extinguisher, first aid kit in the trunk.

50 mile drive each way and heater wasn't all that great, plus never know.

He kept his car in a heated garage and had auto start. Would come in like it was 70* outside and not -20*

Called one day almost crying, his car broke down and he was freaking out he was going to freeze to death .

Next day he came in looking like he drove a dog sled in to work

Are you Amish or Quaker or something? What’s your ethno-linguistic background?

 

[DWT]

Never been on a hook that cost money ever. Had to call someone, sure, but never a tow truck.

 

[toyotajeep]

Sad to say twice. Could have solved the issues other ways, but I have AAA and the car was easy to access.

Both times were Pontiac cars. One was a rear end that exploded. The other time was a wheel bearing.

Would do it again. Wasn't worth inconveniencing others for the pride factor.

 

[Filthy McChevy]

I've had AAA Plus for 40 years. Used it a lot, Got myself unstuck myself a lot of times too. I have a homemade wrecker, a tow dolly, a former u haul universal towbar, and a car hauler trailer too but when I got 2 flat tires at the same time in road construction 95 miles away AAA towed me home and didn't even ask to see my card. And when my wife calls out of gas or with a dead battery or flat tire I tell her to call AAA. It's a no brainer.

I could write a book of related stories. My favorites (not) are when I get called to save unprepared people. It's easier to be antisocial.

 

[Provience]

Are you Amish or Quaker or something? What’s your ethno-linguistic background?

French Canadian from New England


The ultimate in Yankee

 

[Captain Call]

12mi from cedar city 1999. 400m in a 79 spit the crank out. That oil spot was there for years. On the hook to cedar.

 

[Lbhsbz]

I've never had to call a tow to get unstuck, but I've called for a tow plenty of times on the side of road...fuel pump was dying and would only run for about 2 minutes at a time...20 minutes to get home, didn't wanna turn it into 2 hours, so I called a tow. POS S10 ZR2 that I bought after some mexican shop put an engine in it and a radiator...but failed to reinstall the radiator mount bushings....pulled out of a parking lot on a 104° day...fan clutch working it's ass off sucked the whole radiator back about an inch, fan caught the shroud and send shrapnel through the radiator....20 miles home wasn't gonna happen under it's own power in any reasonable amount of time. I shoulda called a cab and left the POS there, but I towed it home...tow truck wouldn't shift outta first gear, so that was a fun ride...probably coulda made it faster pushing the S10.

 

[DozerDan82]

AAA...cheaper than a truck & trailer.

Yup. I have called in a flat tire in the yard. Picked up something in a tire on my way down to my fathers, was parked in his side yard (shells) when I saw it went flat, debated for a few minutes and then decided I pay for AAA for this, might as well use it. Guy was cool and tipped him $20 for his 20 minutes of work I didn't have to do. Spare was already in the bed of the truck, I was just being lazy with out a real jack on hand.

 

[vetteboy79]

Didn’t have much choice here

Did the revolver shackles save your life?

Oops, wrong guy

 

[AKnate]

French Canadian from New England


The ultimate in Yankee

Me too

 

[Pony_Driver]

when you've almost frozen to death because shitboxes you make sure you have shit in the car in the winter.
we have "reliable" cars these days and I still make sure that bibs and blankets go into cars in october.

Pretty much any vehicle here get a single and double space blanket, tea lights, and a way to start a fire. It might not be comfortable, but you should survive. I also don't live in the middle of nowhere. If I lived in some of the places you guys do, I'd have a lot more stuff.

 

[Ranchtruck]

Have had to call a friend to bring a spare rear diff chuck to me 2.5 hours away. By the time he got to me I had the busted one out & ready to slap in the replacement. That was a cold night on top of a hill with the snow and wind. I always travel with a pretty good tool set.

I had a truck I was flat towing lose a rear wheel bearing and spit out the axle shaft on the highway. Dragged it to the next exit, hid it behind a car wash and went axle shopping. Found a 1958 9" in a mom & pop junkyard to replace the dana 41 and swapped it out behind the car wash the next day. Made it the 500 miles home though it leaked oil like a sieve and had to be topped off.

I've dropped the tank & done a fuel pump in Jeffery City WY when it quit. Had a used spare under the seat just in case. Made it 2100 miles on my trip and it broke down 70 miles from my destination.


I guess I've been lucky so far to never need a tow.

 

[Russell]

One of the guys at work used to make fun of me for coming in with a warm coat, gloves, bonnet (whatever you English call it... watch cap, beady?). Plus I kept bibs, a sleeping bag, basic emergency gear like flashlight, jumper cables, tow strap, fire extinguisher, first aid kit in the trunk.

50 mile drive each way and heater wasn't all that great, plus never know.

He kept his car in a heated garage and had auto start. Would come in like it was 70* outside and not -20*

Called one day almost crying, his car broke down and he was freaking out he was going to freeze to death .

Next day he came in looking like he drove a dog sled in to work

I usually carry all kinds of cold weather gear with me now Nov through March. Bibs, heavy parka, toque, mitts, sorrels heat packs etc. I had a pretty good jacket, gloves and a toque with me when I crashed, but after running around outside dealing with the guy I hit, the cops and looking my vehicle over trying to get it to start again I got cold and then got really cold sitting inside the vehicle afterwards. I missed having my bibs and boots, and swore I wouldn't make that mistake again.

 

[Aggie06]

Got stuck in some deep ruts on what I thought was an all weather road. Water concealed how crappy it was. I was around 300 yards off the main road. My truck was on its frame rails, so I called a tow truck to get me out. Took whatever length of cable he had on his winch plus some straps to get me out.

 

[east_beast]

Nope, just when shit dies on the side of the road

Of course, I've bought project cars and called tow trucks to them home as well

This. But I'm pretty decent of realizing my limitations as a wrencher and they're numerous.

 

[Rerock]

A place i used to wheel was just inside of AAA's mileage radius of my house. Great!

Load up the Jeep, drive over, and if I broke it then have AAA flat bed it home for me.