I can't see how a dolly on two wheels and the other two off the ground could hurt anything. The wheels aren't turning...
Feeling sick about this, and angry
Hi all,
A little advice would be appreciated for our situation.
Bought the wife a brand new 2013 Outback three weeks ago, loaded up, and she managed to spin out and hit a guard rail this AM because of some ice on the road. Fine, it happens, it's why we have insurance, and the car won't always be pristine and new... as long as she's OK, it's OK.
However, I am having quite another feeling about what happened after that. She felt concerned that the back was wobbling; I didn't see it or drive it, so I can't be more specific. When she told me this, I told her to have the car towed under our insurance policy to the collision center... no point risking more damage. She called the insurance company, who called a tow truck company, and I suddenly realized that AWDs need to be towed on flat beds. I figured the insurance company and the tow truck company would know this, but thought it would be prudent to call and confirm.
When I called the insurance company, they said the tow truck had been dispatched, but hadn't arrived there yet. A flat bed truck had not been sent, the insurance and towing companies reported. I started searching the internet while on hold and became very concerned about not towing on a flat bed... so I demanded this of the insurance company. They agreed, talked to the tow truck company, told them not to tow with the regular truck, and told them to send a flat bed. The tow truck company dispatched a flat bed.
In the meantime, the original tow truck driver arrived and convinced my wife that he'd use dollies so towing on his truck would be OK. I wasn't able to get a hold of my wife to warn her, so she took his word.
They towed our car on a dolly 20+ miles at highway speed to the body shop. I haven't confirmed that they did it with one set of wheels up (and the other on the dolly) rather than one set on the dolly and one on the ground. I presume the latter would have left the transmission smoking, and they wouldn't be that stupid.
I called Subaru's corporate HQ who said that the ONLY recommended way to tow the 2013 is on a flat bed. They said that it was a serious risk/problem to tow the way they did, even with one set of wheels in the air and the other on the dolly. Local dealer's service manager confirmed.
I went ape-you know what on the insurance company and they agree the situation was unacceptable. Questions for you all:
1) Does anyone know if towing with one end up and the other on the dolly is safe/acceptable? Subaru says the only way to tow is on flat bed, but I want to understand why, and if the towing company's choice could at all be deemed a reasonable alternative.
2) Is there any chance that immediate testing of transmission fluid etc would show no problems, but that problems could emerge years later from this?
3) I have demanded that the insurance company pay for transport to the dealer (properly), and that they pay for the dealer to check transmission fluid and diagnostics. I have demanded that the insurance company stop working with this tower. Does this seem like a reasonable course? What would you do in this situation?
Thanks for reading...
A little advice would be appreciated for our situation.
Bought the wife a brand new 2013 Outback three weeks ago, loaded up, and she managed to spin out and hit a guard rail this AM because of some ice on the road. Fine, it happens, it's why we have insurance, and the car won't always be pristine and new... as long as she's OK, it's OK.
However, I am having quite another feeling about what happened after that. She felt concerned that the back was wobbling; I didn't see it or drive it, so I can't be more specific. When she told me this, I told her to have the car towed under our insurance policy to the collision center... no point risking more damage. She called the insurance company, who called a tow truck company, and I suddenly realized that AWDs need to be towed on flat beds. I figured the insurance company and the tow truck company would know this, but thought it would be prudent to call and confirm.
When I called the insurance company, they said the tow truck had been dispatched, but hadn't arrived there yet. A flat bed truck had not been sent, the insurance and towing companies reported. I started searching the internet while on hold and became very concerned about not towing on a flat bed... so I demanded this of the insurance company. They agreed, talked to the tow truck company, told them not to tow with the regular truck, and told them to send a flat bed. The tow truck company dispatched a flat bed.
In the meantime, the original tow truck driver arrived and convinced my wife that he'd use dollies so towing on his truck would be OK. I wasn't able to get a hold of my wife to warn her, so she took his word.
They towed our car on a dolly 20+ miles at highway speed to the body shop. I haven't confirmed that they did it with one set of wheels up (and the other on the dolly) rather than one set on the dolly and one on the ground. I presume the latter would have left the transmission smoking, and they wouldn't be that stupid.
I called Subaru's corporate HQ who said that the ONLY recommended way to tow the 2013 is on a flat bed. They said that it was a serious risk/problem to tow the way they did, even with one set of wheels in the air and the other on the dolly. Local dealer's service manager confirmed.
I went ape-you know what on the insurance company and they agree the situation was unacceptable. Questions for you all:
1) Does anyone know if towing with one end up and the other on the dolly is safe/acceptable? Subaru says the only way to tow is on flat bed, but I want to understand why, and if the towing company's choice could at all be deemed a reasonable alternative.
2) Is there any chance that immediate testing of transmission fluid etc would show no problems, but that problems could emerge years later from this?
3) I have demanded that the insurance company pay for transport to the dealer (properly), and that they pay for the dealer to check transmission fluid and diagnostics. I have demanded that the insurance company stop working with this tower. Does this seem like a reasonable course? What would you do in this situation?
Thanks for reading...
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Dolly towing is standard protocol for standard trucks towing AWD vehicles. Not a big deal none of the cars wheels are on the ground turning no different than riding on a flat bed.Hi all,
A little advice would be appreciated for our situation.
Bought the wife a brand new 2013 Outback three weeks ago, loaded up, and she managed to spin out and hit a guard rail this AM because of some ice on the road. Fine, it happens, it's why we have insurance, and the car won't always be pristine and new... as long as she's OK, it's OK.
However, I am having quite another feeling about what happened after that. She felt concerned that the back was wobbling; I didn't see it or drive it, so I can't be more specific. When she told me this, I told her to have the car towed under our insurance policy to the collision center... no point risking more damage. She called the insurance company, who called a tow truck company, and I suddenly realized that AWDs need to be towed on flat beds. I figured the insurance company and the tow truck company would know this, but thought it would be prudent to call and confirm.
When I called the insurance company, they said the tow truck had been dispatched, but hadn't arrived there yet. A flat bed truck had not been sent, the insurance and towing companies reported. I started searching the internet while on hold and became very concerned about not towing on a flat bed... so I demanded this of the insurance company. They agreed, talked to the tow truck company, told them not to tow with the regular truck, and told them to send a flat bed. The tow truck company dispatched a flat bed.
In the meantime, the original tow truck driver arrived and convinced my wife that he'd use dollies so towing on his truck would be OK. I wasn't able to get a hold of my wife to warn her, so she took his word.
They towed our car on a dolly 20+ miles at highway speed to the body shop. I haven't confirmed that they did it with one set of wheels up (and the other on the dolly) rather than one set on the dolly and one on the ground. I presume the latter would have left the transmission smoking, and they wouldn't be that stupid.
I called Subaru's corporate HQ who said that the ONLY recommended way to tow the 2013 is on a flat bed. They said that it was a serious risk/problem to tow the way they did, even with one set of wheels in the air and the other on the dolly. Local dealer's service manager confirmed.
I went ape-you know what on the insurance company and they agree the situation was unacceptable. Questions for you all:
1) Does anyone know if towing with one end up and the other on the dolly is safe/acceptable? Subaru says the only way to tow is on flat bed, but I want to understand why, and if the towing company's choice could at all be deemed a reasonable alternative.
2) Is there any chance that immediate testing of transmission fluid etc would show no problems, but that problems could emerge years later from this?
3) I have demanded that the insurance company pay for transport to the dealer (properly), and that they pay for the dealer to check transmission fluid and diagnostics. I have demanded that the insurance company stop working with this tower. Does this seem like a reasonable course? What would you do in this situation?
Thanks for reading...
Be sure to check the tire pressure on the car. Part of your wifes accident could have been contributed by over inflated tires. Subaru ships the tires at 40+PSI the dealers during their post delivery inspection are required to make sure all systems and tires are properly set this includes proper tire pressure.
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