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

I had a thread a couple of weeks ago after my Truck was wrecked Christmas Eve. It happened in Kentucky. I live in Ohio. My insurance company arranged for the truck to be towed back here. I've just found out it's got a little more than 200 miles more on it since I left it in the tow yard in Kentucky. It's about that far from there to here so I assume they towed it with the wheels down. My manual says don't do that or major transmission damage can occur. The truck had extensive rear damage (I thought it was totaled), The frame was bent, right rear spring trashed and rear axle cocked, so I wouldn't be surprised if some wear was put on the shaft, axle and transmission by moving it too..

I'll call the insurance company Monday and see what I can do. I'm sure they will say it's no big deal and try to blow it off. That transmission should last till I'm in my grave but with what's happened I'm afraid it's life has been shortened. Probably nothing I can do but I'd appreciate some opinions nevertheless.

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.

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