| Author | Message | ||
     Froggy |
I saw this on another motorcycle forum I visit, made me sick.     According to the guy who posted it, he hired the tow company to bring the bike to a local shop, and the truck driver winched the bike onto the bed. After putting more straps on, he started the winch again to secure the load, the winch wouldn't stop, the owner ended up turning the key off in the truck. The bike is likely totaled, and the owner did not have insurance on it, so now he is going to have to deal with the tow companies insurance. Always make sure your tow truck operator knows what they are doing! | ||
| Shoggin |
Why use a 15,000lb winch to secure a sub 400lb load at all!? A couple 500lb tie downs are good enough for the rest of us. That sucks. I always see bikes on flatbeds with straps over the tank, the steering turned and on the kickstand??? Who's fantastic idea was that?} | ||
| Pwnzor |
Having been a AAA Tow dispatcher in my past, I know first hand that the majority of tow truck drivers are literally monkeys in a man suit. | ||
| Crusty |
That really is painful to look at. The two times I've had to have my bike towed by a tow truck, both drivers were experienced and knew what they were doing. Never underestimate the power of human stupidity. | ||
| Slaughter |
The one time I had to get a tow out, the driver let me secure the bike myself. He winched it up against the forward bulkhead, let me hold it vertical while he leveled the tilt-bed. I showed him how to soft-tie above the bottom triples to pull forward and soft-tie the rear down. He appreciated the insight - said he'd only hauled wrecked bikes before. | ||
| Greg_e |
And I bet the tow company isn't responsible and they normally claim no responsibility for damage or lost possessions. | ||
| Hootowl |
Having a "we're not responsible for damage" policy does not shield a company from liability, even if you sign something. In most states, when you entrust complete control of your vehicle to someone else, like at a car wash where they drive it through, or valet park, or, yes, having a vehicle towed, the company in possession of the vehicle assumes some amount of liability. In a negligence case like this (maintenance of equipment/operator error/carrying a vehicle without understanding how to properly do so without damaging it) the vehicle owner has solid footing. The towing company knows this. I'll bet they settle. The cost of the motorcycle isn't worth their time or effort. If indeed the bike is damaged. The XB frame has a weak spot engineered into the steering head so that it will break off in the event of a front end collision so as to avoid rupturing the fuel tank portion of the frame. Since the front end didn't pop off, it may be OK. Yours, Jeff Sea Lawyer | ||
| Greg_e |
As mentioned, I bet they value it at a very low level and total it. And then it is gone. | ||
| 86129squids |
Well, heck- I guess he'll make a Redneck Chopper custom out of it now. SOFA KING WE TODD ED | ||
| Shoggin |
Here's your check for $1500. Buy a seat rail for it and enjoy your salvage title  OR Get an estimate for the broken parts and have it checked for straightness. Have the tow co, write you a check for that. They wouldn't insurance claim an amount that low, heck probably not even for the replacement value either. Sure you don't hit the american lotto and get 'paid' for their ••••••• mistake, but you're made whole again and still have some re-sale in your bike. | ||
| Shoggin |
Really? I can't type •••••••?? what about dickhead? •••••••? Dirty Pleb? | ||
| Shoggin |
well, we know what works now! Muahahahaha.  | ||
| Greg_e |
I hope there was something really broken on that bike before the tow job, if it was just the flat front tire that caused the tow, that would be a real sad thing. | ||
| Pwnzor |
After looking at this again, I'll have to assume that the rider was hauled off in an ambulance... ...because NO WAY would he stand there and let somebody tie his bike down like that. Right? | ||
| Shoggin |
If I was standing there, the tow truck driver would be the one in the ambulance.  | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
The one tow I got when my X1 broke down on route 40 west of Memphis, They guy was happily talking to me as he was strapping it down with the kickstand down. I'm glad I stopped him when I did two more clicks on those straps and he would have popped something for sure. | ||
| Ourdee |
I am in a rollback this morning in a parking lot waiting for the next call. Been running since 8:00 Fri. morning. On call for the weekend. My tire tie down straps are good for 2500 pounds each. Trailer is the way to go for our bikes. I would rescue one broke on interstate. But, to the shop, ask them to pick it up. I would put mine on the rack on the rear of my Jeep before using the roll back. Just my opinion. Signed, another monkey | ||
| Buellerxt |
Those are sickening pictures, for sure. Ourdee, what is a rollback? A flatbed? | ||
| Ourdee |
A flat bed that tilts back and slides out. Fancy flat bed for loading and towing cars. My winch can bend a frame on a pick-up truck. I was loading a truck that was going to scrap, and I pushed the lever after it was snugged down. Not a toy. Hook that to an XB and there is not a safe way to know how much force you are putting on it, When you hook up a truck right you lightly move the winch lever and squat the suspension just a little. If you don't let loose of the lever, something is going to break. I picked a car up out of a ditch with it yesterday. Should have took a picture. Car was standing on it's nose when I got there. I didn't put a scratch on it. More fun than a barrel of monkeys. | ||
| 1313 |
Non-rollback loading method. |
