As a tow truck driver.

Flatbeds cause more damage, period!

Flatbeds require winching, and chaining down of your vechicle, even if the
proper points are used, the frame is stressed a great deal.  Ive seen many
bent.  Furthermore low clearance items such as exhausts fairings, etc. can
easily get ruined.  This is a HIGH stress experience for your vehicle.  In
fact Porsche manuals (newer) reccommend against using a flatbed.

A wrecker, using a wheel-lift, (what 99% have these days), only touches the
front or rear tires.  It is as if the car is driving along normally.  The
weight distribution is the same as if all 4 tires were on he ground.  ANY
vehicle (except true AWD) can be towed with a wheel-lift!

When a owner requests a flatbed he ties up a valuable truck needed for AWD's
and wrecks. And usually he/she will WAIT.  Furthemore, many companies have
switched to flatbeds because their cheaper, not because their better.

So when going for full service request a wheel-lift!!!!

Matt

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Rodgers" <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2002 6:34 PM
Subject: Re: long-distance towing

> I don't let anybody tow my vanagon.
>
> I saw a really beautiful baby blue Jaguar XKE convertible absolutely
ruined by
> two idiots.....one that did the towing, and the other that permitted it.
That
> XKE  flexed sufficiently to cause the doors not to close properly. After
seeing
> that episode I swore no towing at least with one end off the ground. I
know,
> doesn't sound reasonable, given how vehicles drive across ditches, curbs
etc,
> but I saw what I saw, and I know that vehicles flex, and I don't want my
rig
> flexed out of shape so the doors don't quit fit right. I tow with all
wheels on
> the ground or fully loaded on a flatbed.
>
> I turned down an authorized AAA tow and sent back and got a flatbed. Only
way to
> go. Why should I tow, when all the real towing competitors have the
flat-bed
> service?
>
> Go for full service!!
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>
> Ben T wrote:
>
> > In a message dated 9/12/02 8:05:28 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
> > dan@OFFTHEHILL.ORG writes:
> >
> > << Speaking of tools to carry on roadtrips: I've got regular ol' AAA
> > coverage,
> >  but I'm wondering if there are any long-distance towing plans out
there --
> >  AAA only covers 100 miles; my auto insurance offers an optional plan to
> > cover
> >  $50 of fees (ooh, ha).
> >  Is there anything out there which will cover a flatbed back to Mass if
my
> >  trusty Vanagon breaks down in say, upstate New York? >>
> >
> > Dan,
> >
> > I've heard of people having the AAA tow truck put the vehicle down. Then
> > calling for a second tow as permitted. Thereby getting 200 mile charge
free
> > tow. I can't remember if you can do more than two tows per breakdown
though.
> > The critical part is the vehicle has to be brought down first and a
second
> > call to the AAA dispatcher must be made to comply with AAA regs.
> >
> > Whenever I've needed a tow for my Syncro, they've always given me a
flatbed
> > for proper towing. I don't know what they do about 2wd vans.
> >
> > BenT
> > http://hometown.aol.com/bentbtstr8/myhomepage/index.html
>