Towing/Flat-bedding services question

[Porsche virgin]

The short version of my story:

I was at an SCCA autox on Saturday. I stopped to get gas, and the 911 refused to start. I checked/replaced what I could (battery, relays, etc.), but no luck.

I ended up getting flat bedded home ($$$$$!!!!!).

I'm sure that I'm not the first person to have his/her P-car die at an autox or track day. I'm a bit leery of using AAA the 911, and I'm probably not alone.

What do you guys do? Does PCA have a service?

Thanks in advance.

[tcar]

Used AAA flatbed a number of times.

No problems at all. Very careful.

The flatbed truck was cleaner than my car.

Have Premium.

[KaptKaos]

AAA Premium rules. End of story.

[cashflyer]

I have AAA Premium.
I used them recently when my pickup had a flat.
Rollback driver damaged my truck and ruined my tire (tire was flat, not blown).
I complained to the shop* and also noted the damages on the towing receipt.

Filed a complaint with my local AAA office, who told me "We are unable to hold the responding towing facility responsible for the damage you have claimed." I tried appealing to higher levels within AAA and got no results.

My point is that AAA does NOT govern or exert any control over their towing vendors. It's luck of the draw, and you take it in the arse if they fuch-up your vehicle.



*shop:
Elliott's Towing / X-Press Auto
Ladysmith, VA

[Porsche virgin]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

I have AAA Premium.
I used them recently when my pickup had a flat.
Rollback driver damaged my truck and ruined my tire (tire was flat, not blown).
I complained to the shop* and also noted the damages on the towing receipt.

Filed a complaint with my local AAA office, who told me "We are unable to hold the responding towing facility responsible for the damage you have claimed." I tried appealing to higher levels within AAA and got no results.

My point is that AAA does NOT govern or exert any control over their towing vendors. It's luck of the draw, and you take it in the arse if they fuch-up your vehicle.

This is sort of my problem. I had plenty of time to talk to the flatbed driver on my way home. He said the AAA doesn't pay the services they use well--they are supposed to make up the difference in volume.

Anyway, I just figured that the PCA or some classic car club would have higher standards for deciding who to subcontract the recovery work out to.

[id10t]

Never had an issue with AAA and my 356. They send a flat bed when I tell 'em, and don't question it. Heck, last time I got stuck they were willing to send a flatbed from Savannah, Ga. I'm in the Gainesville, Fl. area....

[Laneco]

We have AAA and have used it to tow assorted cars. There is only one company in Medford that is a AAA tow certified - Dick's Wrecker. I have their phone number written on my card. I call them and tell them what they will be towing. Usually they just send out a guy within 30 maybe 35 minutes and don't even make me call AAA.

This would not work if there were competing AAA wreckers in my area.

Be nice to the wrecker guy. Some people treat the fellas like a lower life form. Treat them good - their job is pretty hard. They'll take care of your car and it's OK to tip them. They make **** for wages. $10 or $20 is nothing to you, but it's lunch for a couple of days to him. It's a small, small world. I've managed to get the same wrecker driver a couple of times and he always remembers me. Never damages my car - even when I broke CV in the spyder and had it towed (a little too much throttle out of a stop light...).

angela

[Bill Douglas]

You are using a place called Dick's Wrecker to tow the car. Make sure there are no communication problems in regard to what you want done with the car LOL.

[tcb646]

I have AAA Premium. Had to have my viper green '72 Targa flat-bedded 3 weeks ago. Driver scraped the front valence while off-loading it. I called AAA and they said to get an estimate. My shop said over $800 to remove, re-paint, replace. I was shocked. AAA said no problem and sent me a check in the return mail. I asked if there was any dispute over how the damage happened and they said it happened while in their care--there could be no dispute. Couldn't have been a more pleasant experience.

[Brian 162]

AAA or CAA in Canada is the way to go. In the last year they flat bedded my non running 911 from the upholsterers shop to my house without charging me.
Last summer a brake line broke in my suv on a Saturday. They sent a flat bed in 20 minutes.
Last Thursday I was driving to Sarasota Florida to help a co-worker pick up a boat he purchased. While driving through Beckley West Virginia on Interstate 79 the fuel pump crapped out on his GMC 1500 pick up. The flat bed showed up in 30 minutes and towed it to a garage.
Bottom line AAA is the best $80 you can spend.

[Porsche virgin]

Great. Thanks for all the information. I really appreciate it.

AAA Premium it is!

[Rick Lee]

Always tip the towtruck driver well before he drives off with your vehicle. I had to get my bike flatbedded from the very end of Coronado Island to San Diego BMW a few weeks ago. Driver did a great job and I was happy to hand him a $20, though BMW paid for the tow.

[m21sniper]

I had to have my 928S towed a few months after i got it several years back, and the AAA driver that showed up was very careful and handled it like a pro. It probably helped that i'm a 'car guy' and he REALLY loved the "Scarface car". He treated it like his own baby.

I have no complaints.

It helps to make sure you are very cool with the tow driver. Be a dick, and yeah...it could get ugly as he drags that beloved P-car onto the truck...

[tcar]

Another alternative is to insure w/ Hagerty and get the towing package.

I used them. They actually called around to find the 'best' towing company here. Were wonderful.