The problem being this: I'm a relative newcomer to Central Florida, and despite having 4 cars moved here over the past 5 years, two from Charleston SC; two from here in Fla. I have a Rambler I bought nine days ago that seems to made of immovium. So far, three, at least, carriers have been unable to retrieve this from the lot where it is located. I'm out a thousand dollars in fees so far. I've hauled inop cars 500 miles before. I've dragged inop cars 20 miles on chains behind a Crown Vic. I have DRIVEN what were supposed to be inoperative cars fifty miles or more in pitch black night. Now. for some reason, a Rambler is so set in the Florida concrete as to be immovable. All I have for towing now is a Volkwagen Jetta; not opportune for the purpose.
You don't say whats stopping the carriers . 4 flat tires or new trees or 10 old refrigirators and deepfreezers in the way that were'nt there when the old photos of the car were made 5 years ago
A steel bed roll back, a helper winch truck should overcome any quagmire. My Pops used to tell me "Ya can't win every time"
You are out a thousand bucks so far. https://www.homedepot.com/tool-truck-rental/load-n-go-truck-rental/?BZID=18799034 One example of a truck rental for a fairly short time or distance. Big enough to swing by the UHaul or other trailer rental place if you want a trailer too. Rope or chain if it needs to be dragged into an area for loading. I know not all of us can DIY a car/carc*** collection, but a good local tow company should be able to handle this. Sounds like you hit the lazy, inept or thieving companies so far.
Nothing blocking the car in; from what I gather it does have 4 flat tires but honestly I've pulled cars like that out of muddy bottomland in Virginia. If It were closer I'd pull the wheels and have tires put on. There's a whole industry of no hables pulling 50 ft trailers that don't know **** about retrieval. Last delivery I had was one. Fortunately he DID know what he was doing and, while incapable of speaking English, was able to understand me and accepted my help. If I had my old GMC Sierra I'd go get it gladly.
That big Ford is going to do a LOT of work for the money you are already out. Cheaper than buying an older truck, beating it up for a day or two and then flipping it unless you are a GOOD salesman. The language thing is because the margins/pay is so low a gringo would starve. Can't expect offshore rates for onshore work. Lots of eastern European long haul drivers too. I can feel your frustration, I know it's annoying. Gotta look toward getting the new one home without getting burned further.
I'm not real interested in getting involved in your problem, but I have to suspect there are other issues with the vehicle then just having 4 flat tires. These 'other issues' could well be things you may, or may not be aware of. For instances, 4 flat tires can be a PITA, but for most in the car hauling industry, 4 locked tires (that don't roll) could easily be a deal breaker. Most are not able to deal with getting non-rolling vehicles on or off their trailers, or they didn't know the problem and their time frame or estimate does not them to spend the time and effort to do your job. They are running a transport business, not a recovery business. There is a big difference between the two in both equipment and cost structure. It sounds to me like you are trying to have a transport company do the job of a recovery company. It sounds to me like you need to go do a personal inspection of the vehicle and get the real, full story. it may be unqualified businesses you are hiring, or there may be serious real reasons the car is still there.
Go rent a truck and trailer and go get it. Enterprise rents pickups you can tow with and U-haul rents trailers or dollies.
Today fuel price & time a 100 mile tow with out no favors Legit Place looking @ I say 1k -1,500 Had to have a vehicle towed just a few weeks ago 2 miles , was charged $300 I did not have time to call or use my own R-B
@gene-koning hit the nail on the head I had a job one day, a plumber thought it good to park his loaded van close to the newly developed home in the yard, down hill from the road. It had sunk 4 inches. There was a small gang of workers there wanting to tell me what to do. I told myself Nuh uh... I made them pull whatever they could off, then kept mine on pavement. Took a bit of wrestling pulling winching jerking and so on. The way they wanted me to do it would have me roll over. I won got it up and out. My truck never tracked straight, afterward.
In your other thread it was also suggested to rent a truck and trailer, so I ***ume that you have an issue doing such, all good. But a 1000 in fees implies more than one place went to get the car, did the first place give you a reason they wouldn’t transport it? That would be my first question. ***uming another place(s) then went, did you inform them of what they were up against?
I'd have to agree that if there different outfits have gone and looked at it there are more problems thann flat tires that the seller should have aired up anyhow. That list of problems can be a driveway that the truck you hired cannot get into or as someone said a soft yard that you cannot back a truck and trailer over and need a lighter vehicle to tow the Rambler out to the street where it can be loaded. Plus a lot of haulers aren't equipped to haul a non opt car. I'd say cut your losses and rent a truck and triailer and go get it.
Never did hear where it was and where it was going. Maybe hire a wrecker to retrieve it and help load onto a transport? Fly in, rent a U-haul and flat trailer and bring it home?
Problem is that the guy in charge of the lot keeps ****ing with the drivers who go there. Car is all by itself, hard ground (as hard as Florida gets, anyway), and I have paid the towing company up front. Three years ago this distance and weight of a car would have been $300-400. Now it's a thousand. No way I'm getting that back; so forward is all I got. A contract is a contract.
Three years ago diesel fuel was almost half of what it is now so things have changed. The big rigs are looking at $1 or more per mile just in fuel cost! I don't think you're going to find anyone thats willing to move that car for less than $5-600, even if they're local to Ormond and travelling that way. I have in the past used Hagerty to pick up an inop car and bring it to me though as part of my towing service they offered. I don't even think it was on my policy at the time they just contracted a local wrecker to come get the thing and bring it to me.
Just got off the phone with the dispatcher; wish me luck; they're supposed to pick it up and have it to me tomorrow. If somebody rented rollbacks they'd make a fortune. U-Haul can track their trucks by GPS; so renters couldn't just run all day doing hauls (the ac***ulated mileage would give them away).
Yeah, back in Charleston (and Lynchburg, while I was still there), I was fortunate to have good contacts. I don't know anyone down here, don't even know where any good salvage yards are.
Wife called me a little while ago and the car is in the driveway now. Pictures to come on a new thread.
The Jalopy Journal
