Is it typical for a tow truck driver to break into a car before towing it?

[sohcrates]

There was an older Altima in front of work today that was getting towed for illegal parking. The tow truck driver lifted up his back end, then threw a slim jim in and popped open the door, then sat in the car and straightened out the wheel and took off the handbrake, then towed it.


I guess it just never dawned on me that tow truck drivers have to break into a car to be towed.

I suppose it's so you don't trash the car when you tow it though...

 

[Mr N8]

They don't even need to get in the car. He should have lifted the front end, since the Altima is FWD.

 

If you got your car towed, wouldn't you rather have the driver take off your handbrake before towing it? I saw a TV show about repo companies on TLC, and they're experts at using slim jims, since they have to get in and out so quick with the property.

I use a slim jim at my job, but since I hardly ever get dispatched to an unlock, I'm not too great at it. GM cars are the worst.

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: jumpr
If you got your car towed, wouldn't you rather have the driver take off your handbrake before towing it? I saw a TV show about repo companies on TLC, and they're experts at using slim jims, since they have to get in and out so quick with the property.

That show was awesome. Nothing like repo'ing someones boat when they are just taking a break at the dock.

 

[NetWareHead]

Originally posted by: MogulMonster
They don't even need to get in the car. He should have lifted the front end, since the Altima is FWD.

He would still have to get into the car since the handbrake locks the rear wheels.

 

Originally posted by: minendo

Originally posted by: jumpr
If you got your car towed, wouldn't you rather have the driver take off your handbrake before towing it? I saw a TV show about repo companies on TLC, and they're experts at using slim jims, since they have to get in and out so quick with the property.

That show was awesome. Nothing like repo'ing someones boat when they are just taking a break at the dock.

I know; I wish I'd taped it. I love how they just screech into a parking lot, clamp up the wheels, pull out the FWD car by the rear wheels, put it down, and clamp it up by the front wheels. It takes like 45 seconds. So cool.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Originally posted by: NetWareHead

Originally posted by: MogulMonster
They don't even need to get in the car. He should have lifted the front end, since the Altima is FWD.

He would still have to get into the car since the handbrake locks the rear wheels.

Tow truck drivers and companies don't care. They will pick up the car by the drive wheels and tow it, the wheels locked by the parking break will hope and skreetch untill the brakes go out and then the take off at 90mph down the high way.

One of the advantages if you have a AWD car is, they can't tow it without a flatbed, or taking a long time to get it off the ground to put the dollies under the tires. Gives you more time to load your gun. The only time i ever pulled a gun on someone was when a tow truck tried to take my truck that was legally parked at my old apt complex. they liked to grab cars and go, then claim they were parked in reserved spots.

 

[Kevin]

Originally posted by: minendo

Originally posted by: jumpr
If you got your car towed, wouldn't you rather have the driver take off your handbrake before towing it? I saw a TV show about repo companies on TLC, and they're experts at using slim jims, since they have to get in and out so quick with the property.

That show was awesome. Nothing like repo'ing someones boat when they are just taking a break at the dock.

The best was when they had to steal 45 Kias/Daewoos...

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski

Originally posted by: NetWareHead

Originally posted by: MogulMonster
They don't even need to get in the car. He should have lifted the front end, since the Altima is FWD.

He would still have to get into the car since the handbrake locks the rear wheels.

Tow truck drivers and companies don't care. They will pick up the car by the drive wheels and tow it, the wheels locked by the parking break will hope and skreetch untill the brakes go out and then the take off at 90mph down the high way.

One of the advantages if you have a AWD car is, they can't tow it without a flatbed, or taking a long time to get it off the ground to put the dollies under the tires. Gives you more time to load your gun. The only time i ever pulled a gun on someone was when a tow truck tried to take my truck that was legally parked at my old apt complex. they liked to grab cars and go, then claim they were parked in reserved spots.

you pulled a gun on him?????? holy sh!t youve got some balls

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski

Originally posted by: NetWareHead

Originally posted by: MogulMonster
They don't even need to get in the car. He should have lifted the front end, since the Altima is FWD.

He would still have to get into the car since the handbrake locks the rear wheels.

Tow truck drivers and companies don't care. They will pick up the car by the drive wheels and tow it, the wheels locked by the parking break will hope and skreetch untill the brakes go out and then the take off at 90mph down the high way.

One of the advantages if you have a AWD car is, they can't tow it without a flatbed, or taking a long time to get it off the ground to put the dollies under the tires. Gives you more time to load your gun. The only time i ever pulled a gun on someone was when a tow truck tried to take my truck that was legally parked at my old apt complex. they liked to grab cars and go, then claim they were parked in reserved spots.

hahaha that's tight