How damaging is towing a 4x4 auto '04 Tacoma with the rear wheels down?

  If the axle was cocked and the driveshaft compressed, they could
screw up the axle input shaft, the driveshaft and U-joints, and the
tailshaft and bearings in the transfer case.  Much potential for
expensive problems down the road.


  I doubt they're going to be very helpful unless you go to great
lengths to prove what happened.

  Remember the rule on insurance:  When you're paying in those regular
monthly insurance premiums "You're In Good Hands" and they're "Like a
Good Neighbor" - but once the situation is reversed and they start
paying out money on claims, suddenly they are no longer your friend.
Dr. Jekyll turns into Mr. Hyde.  My brother could write the book on
that one...

  Get it in writing on the repair paperwork that they towed the truck
interstate with the rear wheels on the pavement, and document which
tow company and the name of the driver who did the tow, and find out
who their liability insurance carrier is (and all the policy numbers).
You can find this all out now fairly easily, but in a few years it
will be impossible to get the details.

  And be sure to save the notes and/or tape of your conversation when
the tow driver admits he towed your truck wheels down without dropping
the driveshaft or using dolly wheels.

  You might want to go over the situation with a local lawyer and see
if there are any other steps you should do now - and whether it would
be smart to have him send out a letter to let all the companies
involved know what you're doing and why.

  Your insurer might decide to be on your side, throw in a
transmission overhaul now and send the tow company the bill for their
big screw-up, or they might dig in and fight you, and I won't even try
to guess which way it goes.

  If they do nothing about it now and the truck suffers an early
transmission failure, you can pull out your paperwork as proof and
reopen the collision claim with your insurer.  And if^w when they balk
at paying out any more money, you have all the information you need
already collected and lined up if^w when you have to sue them for the
additional repair expenses.

  Then again, they might decide to add in the transmission costs now
and push the repair costs up to the point where they total the truck,
and the way they figure the 'current value' you usually end up losing
money on the deal.  This is a high-stakes chess game either way, and
they get to decide which way is better for them.

     --<< Bruce >>--

--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
Spamtrapped address:  Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.