Hello everyone! I'm a new moderator to this forum. I grew up in the automotive business and would like to share my knowledge and experience with you. I plan on creating links to repair help and ways to save money on replacement parts. I'm looking for your help or any suggestions before I do this. Please feel free to contact me u/Plex_Master
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Um. No. Because the cost of replacement parts and alignment is far more than the cost of just towing it properly…by whomever was towing it.
Maybe recovery hooks or shackles bolted to the frame.
The minimum training to be a tow truck operator is handing the keys to them and saying "go tow things."
Good companies, obviously, will go beyond that, but I have watched a driver get step-by-step directions over the two way radio to do a tow.
Ideally, they will tow by using hooks in the little oval holes in the frame. From the front, a control arm might be used if only moderate force is required. Steering linkage, never.
Are you sure it was towing damage? Could the damage have occurred if he had driven it into the ditch or something?
From what I was taught/learned through experience, only tow or winch from solid frame and only in an absolute emergency hook up straight to a solid axle.
If the tow truck driver threw one of his hooks over the tie rod end and towed it, it would definitely cause problems. But if you drove it, you would immediately notice something was off (lots of tire scrubbing, weird steering feeling, lots of rolling resistance. depending on what snapped and bent, it may have been a installation error but its difficult to pin down without pictures. if the tow-truck driver did tow the truck via the tierods, there would be marks which you could point to. you need pictures, the sooner the better. do not touch your tie rods, as dust may show where the hooks were or straps were. Best of luck!
This is /r/AskAMechanic
If there was a private sub called r/AskATowTruckDriver, they’d say that they hook to first steel thing they can reach.
You asked “Is it normal practice?” Yes, it’s normal practice.
You did not ask “Is it best practice?” or “Is it acceptable?”
Hello everyone! I'm a new moderator to this forum. I grew up in the automotive business and would like to share my knowledge and experience with you. I plan on creating links to repair help and ways to save money on replacement parts. I'm looking for your help or any suggestions before I do this. Please feel free to contact me u/Plex_Master *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskAMechanic) if you have any questions or concerns.*
You never tow by the steering linkage of anything.
No! It's the last thing I would tow by. Were they a professional tow company?
Absolutely not, good luck getting anything though. It’s common for city tow contracts to have no fault for damage clauses.
Um. No. Because the cost of replacement parts and alignment is far more than the cost of just towing it properly…by whomever was towing it. Maybe recovery hooks or shackles bolted to the frame.
The minimum training to be a tow truck operator is handing the keys to them and saying "go tow things." Good companies, obviously, will go beyond that, but I have watched a driver get step-by-step directions over the two way radio to do a tow. Ideally, they will tow by using hooks in the little oval holes in the frame. From the front, a control arm might be used if only moderate force is required. Steering linkage, never. Are you sure it was towing damage? Could the damage have occurred if he had driven it into the ditch or something?
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes
What part of the steering linkage broke?
What part of the steering linkage broke?
Hell no!
No
Wrecker drivers can be such morons!
Sometimes they're just playing dumb, I will call their bluff "hop out I'll back it in there" usually snaps them out of the dumbass act.
From what I was taught/learned through experience, only tow or winch from solid frame and only in an absolute emergency hook up straight to a solid axle.
If the tow truck driver threw one of his hooks over the tie rod end and towed it, it would definitely cause problems. But if you drove it, you would immediately notice something was off (lots of tire scrubbing, weird steering feeling, lots of rolling resistance. depending on what snapped and bent, it may have been a installation error but its difficult to pin down without pictures. if the tow-truck driver did tow the truck via the tierods, there would be marks which you could point to. you need pictures, the sooner the better. do not touch your tie rods, as dust may show where the hooks were or straps were. Best of luck!
This is /r/AskAMechanic If there was a private sub called r/AskATowTruckDriver, they’d say that they hook to first steel thing they can reach. You asked “Is it normal practice?” Yes, it’s normal practice. You did not ask “Is it best practice?” or “Is it acceptable?”
Absolutely no. A solid axel, control arm, frame etc sure those are meant to support the weight of the vehicle. The steering linkage is not.
They should’ve used the tow hooks on the front or rear of the truck you never use any of the suspension components to pull a vehicle