Got in an Accident :(
 

Sunday I decided to pick up a car in Minnesota. I've done this quite a few times over the years (Minnesota seems to have better deals). This time though I decided to flat tow a car with a tow bar. I called the guy and he thought the tires were fine so I went to get it. After a bit of monkeying I got the tow bar onto the car. One of the tires was severely weatherchecked. We changed the tire and drove home. Flat towing took some getting used to but after a while I got the hang of it. I made it 70 miles okay until the steer tire blew on the car I was towing up on the passenger side. Lost control of the truck and wound up getting hit by a semi :eek: The semi hit the driver's side of my truck at 65 mph. I managed to stay on the road until the truck swung back around and went off the road on the right side of the interstate. Luckily for me and everyone else no one was hurt. Needless to say I think my truck's car towing days are over. Also I am never flat towing anything again. I've towed a lot of car trailers without any troubles. The car I was towing faired okay, it has a good sized dent on the hood but other than that it made it unscathed. My homebuilt brackets for the tow bar held up very well, they didn't get bent at all. The tow bar is wrecked but didn't come unattached from the truck. All in all it has turned out to be quite an expensive unadventure. The car came home but the truck still needs to be towed back. There will be a lot of stuff getting sold after this :Bawling:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3395/...6662a03c0b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1279/...7bb10f43a6.jpg

I'm glad you are okay. But like that car you were towing.

Good luck on the paperwork, etc.

oh my goodness. :( Sorry there was damage...but it's good no one was hurt or killed.

Best part is that everyone is OK. The truck looks pretty good for a 65 MPH hit! Flat towing is OK for 10 miles or under anything over that warrants a rental trailer from U-Haul or the like! Too many things can let go on those vintage cars what have been sitting for who knows how many years.

Wow...glad you are okay....just ruins your day, though, to have something like this happen to you.

Glad you came out of that unhurt.

Won't the insurance pay for everything? Hope so.

Love the car you were taking home with you. :)

Glad that you are okay! I bet you are sore today though! Like Walt said, I'm surprised there wasn't more damage to your truck.

I checked everything before I left but yes indeed a trailer would have been the way to go. I've seen quite a few vehicles flat towed so I figured I'd try it but most of them are newer with better tires I assume. The truck's door didn't get that pushed in but the frame is bent something fierce from dragging along the car (a 57 Chevy).


I sure hope insurance will pay out. I only have liability so I should think the semi-driver should fare okay but I'll be selling a few things to cover my tow cost.

Thought you said the semi driver hit you? Wont his insurance cover the damage he did to you?
Ive flat towed nearly a million miles its as good as any other way.
Good luck it looks like at least ya got a good story to go with that car.
I like the car too!

Phil-

The good news is that you've walked away from this alive.

Sorry to hear about the old Ford truck. I know you loved that truck.

Nice score on that 57!!!! Does it have an inline 6?

I'm still jonesing pretty hard that you sold the old GMC pick up. I would have loved to had that truck.

Phil, even though this is an expensive accident, please be thankful that you didn't die in this accident.

Omg
 

Glad you're okay...nice '57...grew up w/ '56 & '57.

I bet you had adrenaline overload as soon as you came to a stop after that. So glad you're okay. That's a beautiful car.

Glad you're ok!!

That is amazing. Glad you were not injured. It did not even break the glass on the car. Happened pretty quick huh? If the chassis ain't bent on the truck could ya not keep towing with it?
I gotta sell some stuff myself or I would be asking about that 57.

Is that Hwy 29 or 94?


Glad you made it without bodily injury.

Bet you will be sore for a few days. Someone upstairs was looking out for you!

I love that 57 chevy you have there. I took my drivers test in a red and white 57 chevy back in 1963. loved it.

So glad no one wad hurt. Not too often there is no injures when you tie up with a semi.

I have flat towed my car and pickup all over the US. Over mountains in CO, OR, UT. In fact every where. But the main things is to make sure all tires are in very good shape, and respect the power that towed vehicle has.

Sorry about your truck, but really hope nothing happened to the car. Couldn't tell from the pix, but doesn't look like any dents at all in that classic.

Boy am I glad I wasn't the one pulling that setup! Too bad you had the accident, hopefully you learned a lesson on properly matching towing vehicle with the load.

Good luck with the '57, hope it turns out nicely for you.

Jim

Yea flat towing an unfamiliar car for long distance at highway speeds is just asking for trouble. Either trailer or at least a tow dolly is way to go.

I bought a '69 Wagoneer many years ago. It was drivable, though radiator pretty plugged, so I was more worried about overheating than anything. I get it home. As I'm giving it closer exam, I grab a tie rod checking for play and the tie rod end separates in my hand. There was a close one.

Another time I was flat towing a '72 Bronco and it started fishtailing some. I get out to check and whole right front wheel, brake drum, etc was missing. Went off into some farmers field I guess, never found it. Bearing had failed. I went and rented a tow dolly and got it chained down to come the rest of the way.

Other adventures, but too old to want to try them again, just to save a couple bucks.

Whew! your guardian angel was workin hard! I'm glad you are ok.

So glad nobody was hurt! I love your "new" car!

Glad that no one got hurt! Sorry about the damage ...

I've had a few towing adventures too. I was luckier though. We tend to quickly develop respect after receiving an education.

My first adventure was towing a heavy ag implement with a 1/2 ton pickup. Pulled off the road onto dirt to let traffic pass and hit the brakes. Instant jacknife! No damage to anything though.

Had a tire,wheel and axleshaft unscrew itself from an axletube once. Lucky again, I got stopped before it came completely out. Now I usually use trailers for cars and pickups. For anything that my vehicles can't handle, I usually hire a heavier tow vehicle.

Glad you weren't hurt!

Jennifer

The 57 has a V-8. I still have to pick up the other car (the parts car). That one will be trailered. I am very grateful I didn't wind up seriously injured or worse. It could have turned out much worse :( I feel pretty down about the truck. I've had it a long time and always had a dream of one day fixing it up. The frame is just too bent to save and the cab is pretty messed up. It still moves but sorta crabs around.

It was 94.

Yeah I was a little sore today. I still went and worked. I drive milk truck picking up can milk. Below is a picture of one of the can trucks so you can get an idea what it is like. The one I drive is similar.

http://xe8.xanga.com/67cf2b60c0d3523...m187157916.jpg

I have to lift the milk cans into the truck. They weigh 100 pounds a piece. It wasn't real easy today but I managed. Luckily I have tomorrow off, I am sorta sore at the moment.

The hood has a good sized dent but other than that it is okay. I got a parts car I have to pick up yet so it'll be all fixed.

Yeah I think next time I'll be towing with a 3/4 ton or bigger truck and no more tow bars. The only thing that is going to be towed on all fours is a car trailer. This was my first time towing with a tow bar. I had sold of the old diesel pickup I had (which towed like a champ). Was figuring on buying a dually at some point but now everything is up in the air. I have no idea how much I am going to be liable for. There is a lot of my stuff up for sale on Craigslist right now. My brother hit someone with his car and he lost his licence (no insurance).

Good grief! Glad you're ok, sorry for your troubles.

patty

Phil my boy, you are one lucky son-of-a-gun , the big guy upstairs has better plans for you I think. I think you should put that 57 up for auction on here. Everyone is drooling over it,(Me included) I have a 56 chevy 6500 1 1/2 ton truck I bought when I was seventeen, I really like that truck. Take care young man, and drive safe. >Thanks Marc P.S. you must pick up milk in Amish country, only ones I know still use cans.

Hit like that, you are a lucky son-of-a-gun. Glad you are ok.

Like you, I like dragging automotive treasures home. A trailer with a winch is the perfect tool for doing that.