Help! Need To Haul My Truck Home.

TopDog20 · Feb 19, 2019

brian991219 said: ↑

Let us know how you make out, I have yet to find a wrecker for rent cheaper than hiring a transport company once you factor in the deadhead cost to get to the truck, lost time and other miscellaneous expenses.

Do you have another truck to use the tow hitch rental? No one rents complete wreckers, heck most folks can't find a rental tow hitch easily.

Ryder or Penske rental tractor is going to require a $5,000 or more deposit plus cost $125-150 a day and mileage.

Do you know how to tow a tractor without damage, it is easy but does require some skill and knowledge to avoid mistakes.

Also, be prepared to pay the shop your truck is at storage, most garages charge daily rates if you leave a vehicle there and they don't get the repair, our fee is $75 a day, and don't expect them to be very helpful loading any parts that are removed, they may even make you have a local wrecker tow it off property. Many shops will not let a non-licensed wrecker load on their property due to liability and injury concerns. My shop, well former shop, requires proof of workers compensation insurance to allow a tow company load in our yard, otherwise there is a gate fee to move it to public property where we are not liable for injury.

Not giving you a hard time, I sympathize with the position you are in, just pointing out stuff I have learned over the last 30 years in the towing, trucking and repair business.

Best wishes and good luck.
Click to expand...

Trust me, I only have two options....... Option 1: I have applied for a loan at my local banks
if that doesn't come out positive than Option 2: bring truck home.
I do have a friend who's boss has a wrecker that he will rent me really cheap. I do have another truck to use and I have two friends willing to go with me (one of my friends has used wreckers before to bring his trucks home) Of course I would much rather have this mechanic shop fix my truck.. obviously that is the best option. However, If I don't have the money and I still owe my truck to the bank, than I have no other alternative but to bring the truck home.

S M D · Feb 19, 2019

Have you tried financing the repairs or buying a new motor via finance? I’m sure freightliner will sell you a 25k engine. Steep but without issues you shoukf be able to pay it off fast. The rates should be coming back up a little soon

ZVar · Feb 19, 2019

TopDog20 said: ↑

Trust me, I only have two options....... Option 1: I have applied for a loan at my local banks
if that doesn't come out positive than Option 2: bring truck home.
I do have a friend who's boss has a wrecker that he will rent me really cheap. I do have another truck to use and I have two friends willing to go with me (one of my friends has used wreckers before to bring his trucks home) Of course I would much rather have this mechanic shop fix my truck.. obviously that is the best option. However, If I don't have the money and I still owe my truck to the bank, than I have no other alternative but to bring the truck home.
Click to expand...

Option 3. Sell truck as-is and either move on with life or get a different truck in the hometown.

Ruthless · Feb 19, 2019

TopDog20 said: ↑

Trust me, I only have two options....... Option 1: I have applied for a loan at my local banks
if that doesn't come out positive than Option 2: bring truck home.
I do have a friend who's boss has a wrecker that he will rent me really cheap. I do have another truck to use and I have two friends willing to go with me (one of my friends has used wreckers before to bring his trucks home) Of course I would much rather have this mechanic shop fix my truck.. obviously that is the best option. However, If I don't have the money and I still owe my truck to the bank, than I have no other alternative but to bring the truck home.
Click to expand...

I got the guys phone number if you want it @TopDog20

TopDog20 · Feb 19, 2019

ZVar said: ↑

Option 3. Sell truck as-is and either move on with life or get a different truck in the hometown.
Click to expand...

Nope! that is not an option. Thanks for the comment anyway.

TopDog20 · Feb 19, 2019

Ruthless said: ↑

View attachment 268421

I got the guys phone number if you want it @TopDog20
Click to expand...

Ruthless, I would appreciate that, thank you!

Ruthless · Feb 19, 2019

TopDog20 said: ↑

Ruthless, I would appreciate that, thank you!
Click to expand...

Pm sent

25(2)+2 · Feb 19, 2019

Lease company is set up with lowboy to haul and the fifth wheel puller setup on a daycab, both were there last night when I pulled the live haul trailer down for repairs.

I called a friend who broke down out east with a Volvo, air ride front axle, and the 5th wheel tow wouldn't work right for that, they got towed back by wrecker.

Quite a few Cascadias have air ride fronts, too, something to be aware of.

brian991219 · Feb 19, 2019

25(2)+2 said: ↑

Lease company is set up with lowboy to haul and the fifth wheel puller setup on a daycab, both were there last night when I pulled the live haul trailer down for repairs.

I called a friend who broke down out east with a Volvo, air ride front axle, and the 5th wheel tow wouldn't work right for that, they got towed back by wrecker.

Quite a few Cascadias have air ride fronts, too, something to be aware of.
Click to expand...

Good point. You can tow air ride front axles from the rear, but there is more work. You need to plumb air to the truck to keep the steer axle inflated, something not every driver is equipped and able to do. Same with the brakes, they should also be plumbed to be fully legal, however this gets overlooked quite often.

Also, especially on the Cascaias but good idea for most aerodynamic trucks, you need to secure the cab fairings for rear tows, otherwise they have a habit of breaking off.

25(2)+2 · Feb 19, 2019

brian991219 said: ↑

Good point. You can tow air ride front axles from the rear, but there is more work. You need to plumb air to the truck to keep the steer axle inflated, something not every driver is equipped and able to do. Same with the brakes, they should also be plumbed to be fully legal, however this gets overlooked quite often.

Also, especially on the Cascaias but good idea for most aerodynamic trucks, you need to secure the cab fairings for rear tows, otherwise they have a habit of breaking off.
Click to expand...

Used to be marked that way on some I have seen, but not lately. Those fairings are easily damaged.

Log in or Sign up

Forums

Find Trucking Jobs

Help! Need To Haul My Truck Home.

TopDog20 Bobtail Member

Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

Wait, employers can't reach you!

S M D Road Train Member

ZVar Road Train Member

Ruthless Road Train Member

TopDog20 Bobtail Member

TopDog20 Bobtail Member

Ruthless Road Train Member

25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

brian991219 Road Train Member

25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

Wait, employers can't reach you!

Log in or Sign up

Useful Searches

Find Trucking Jobs

Help! Need To Haul My Truck Home.

TopDog20 Bobtail Member

Wait, employers can't reach you!

S M D Road Train Member

ZVar Road Train Member

Ruthless Road Train Member

TopDog20 Bobtail Member

TopDog20 Bobtail Member

Ruthless Road Train Member

25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

brian991219 Road Train Member

25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

Wait, employers can't reach you!