Jax Truck Center. Tow your own truck and save money on your high wrecker bill! How to properly and safely hook up your truck to a protote wrecker boom.
I do this for a living and use the exact same model of pro tote. Only difference is I only use two chains from the front drive axel all the way to the boom and I use a pair of vice grips to hold the bumper in place. Also a suggestion to drivers using this, secure the steering wheel first before lifting the truck and add a ratchet strap through the steering wheel and over the seat belt then back through the steering wheel. Attach both ends to the bottom of the seat. Trust me it helps keep those steers from shifting. Just thought I could help
Thanks for your input Jay! I have used the two chain option also and it does work great. I have found, though, that for truckers that don't do this every day it breaks it down and simplifies the process. Dealing with four chains instead of two has it's benefits of shorter and lighter chains making it easier to work with. Keep on Truckin' Jay!! Stay safe!
I am a tower and I have no problem with guys using these, but do it right. This guy knows what he's doing, but here are some other pointers. 1: release all the air out of the rear air bags then chain them up, if it's easy just pull a line of one of the rear bags. You can plug it back in once the truck is out of air. 2: the rear axle chain should be longer so you can hook the frame right above the axle, the way it's done in the video could cause damage to the breaks so just a heads up on that. 3: tie your steering wheel like he tells you, but get a ratchet strap and run it from the seat base through the bottom of the wheel, this is to be used as a safety. 4: fold in your mirrors. Volvos push them forward towards the hood, the rest backwards. 5: secure your fairings, use ratchet straps three per side, 2 on bottom big fairing and one 1 on top per side 10 or 12 ft length recommended.
I'm not a Tower, but your Extra Tips made Damn Good Sense. Going to have an old '74 International Paystar 5000 transported on a trailer more likely 220 miles to my land. P.s. Thanks for sharing.
I didn’t have a clue about using this towing method!! After seeing this video you made it so easy to understand and tow our own trucks now!! Appreciate it brother!!
Excellent video, professional advice! I can see this guy knows what he does. I need it to see a good video like this, I’m going to use it in a couple of weeks and it’s definitely my best pick. Thank you and keep doing videos like this where people can understand them and get benefit from it
i have used this video to explain to my drivers how to use my protote 9 max. there are a few points to ad 1 safety chains and 2 steering wheel securement should have an additional strap thru the steering wheel to the bottom of the seat. and a light bar for directionals and brake lights and driving lights! but this is the best example of how to i have seen explained.
So I drove a 30 ton wrecker for 10 years. You missed several major steps. First you dump the air ride suspension before hooking up the axle chains. Then after lifting the truck to your transport height, check how tall the truck is now (never assume it's ok). Most states require 4 points of Securement, so that 2 lift chains and 2 safety chains. I know it's obvious but you did not say to make sure the front wheels are straight, not just the steering wheel is centerd. Then lastly two lights are a good idea, even if not required by state laws. Bare minimum put the hazard lights on
Dean T also tie down cab extenders off with ratchet straps or they will break off. Being towed from the rear causes the extenders to act like a parachute n can cause major damage
Ok, good. We have a couple of heavy operators in here. I did this for years and did a few things different. First, never rely on the rear axle as a pull point. First, dump the air bags and chain up the front tandem as shown here. Run the chains under the axle and clip the top of the frame. Use a length of angle iron that leaves about six inches of it outside of the chains. If the truck being towed shifts, I'm not sure those nipples will stop it. There are a couple other thing as well. Anyway, The idea here is good and I've seen them used several times so I guess they work but if I had my $150k rig one the line and no knowledge of towing, im pretty sure I would call a towing service with a professional driver/operator to do the job. Thats just me though.
Woww thank You very much for Your tutorial, Im in process to buy a model 10 equipment but I had a lot of questions in how to tow, now I thank God I found You, thanks again
solid operation, the only thing I dp differently is I hook the rear axle chains to the frame then under the axle and back to the boom. i usually use one chain per side and go from the frame in front of the front axle, holds both axles up that way. oh, and definitely dump the air suspension on both trucks during the hook up process, especially when unhooking...
Missed a very important step which is air out the rear end before chaining the tandem and lifting makes everything much easier and safer to work with as well as giving you up to 8 more inches of clearance on rear wheels
Also need to tie down cab/bunk extenders. Towing truck from behind causes a lot of air drag n causes the extenders to flap n can cause cracks in fiberglass
No worries Shane! It is a lot simpler than the tow companies want you to think. You will save a ton of money doing it yourself. Thanks for the comment.
recommend one thing--I hauled a carnival rig with midway light towers 500 miles to West Virginia-(1970's)-there was a "pin" holding the two ton towers in place on the truck bed--the towers were on small wheels because they were pulled onto the truck sideway's up ramp's by a winch-I left Crown Point Indian fairground's with all five tower's-two on the truck--three on the trailer--I got down to the Kentucky Parkway--4 lane-about half way to Beckley West Virginia which was my destination-I looked in the rear view mirror(by habit0and noticed the front tower was slowmy "rolling" back and forth on the bed--I never eased off more gently on the gas-and slowly braked into the emergency lane--very lucky--almost lost the tower which would have landed on any one who happenedto be parked in the emergency lane--pure "lottery"-the spring clip or at least a wire had not been placed in a pin holding the tower in place preventing it from rolling siday';s off the bed-as the tower "jostled" intermittantly sidway's while driving--the pin actually worked it's way "up" and fell out --I found it on the bed- A real "near miss" on the highway--I am refering to that "bar" you use under the beam and piston--vibration could possibly cause it to slide out--strange thing';s happen--!!---from "Thomas Joyland Carniva"l---I was a "one shot" hiree for the trip-$150 including road money back then--had nothing to do on the farm that week---so I thought I would try "Carny" business for a break of routine-- those "little'thing's" which an mean a lot--disaster potential-enjoyed your video--stay aware
I'm still looking for a slack adjuster he's saying go-between and that's not a slack adjuster that is a tubing that holds the cam which the slack adjuster is fastened to I have set up I only use 2 Chainz hook it to the front axle bring it back under the rear axle and back to the pro tote and it works wonderfully
Good video. Just wanted to point out that tube you keep calling a slack adjuster is actually the S cam tube. The slack adjuster is the thing that slides onto the S cam shaft, located at the inner end of the S cam tube.
Grow up with my fathers tow company , why not have a long chain that goes under both tandem axles hooks the fame braved behind the fifth wheel frame and back to the tow bar ?, like it’s done with the standard tow truck ? I ran a Pete with a 750 Holmes for my father long ago
I’m Towing 30 Years With A Chain Lift. You Need Two Extra Safety Chains if The Initial Set Snap, (and They can And Do it. ), and Separate Anchorage just Incase, PS. Don’t Know if America Do Anti Speed Ramps , we Do in Europe, if The Truck Being Towed , Is Not High Enough, when it Hits The Ramps It’ll Jump Out Of The Chains, and it’s In The Hand Of God After That, BE SAFE AND FIT An EXTRA SET OF safety Chains. I’m Towing Since 1989. 👍🍀 Be Safe and God Bless all.
just like that, are you sure about that, dingo all right ok. how the hell is a renter going to remember all that crap, g dingo you earned your pay this week.
John Smith Hey John, thanks for watching. Remember to subscribe. Hey bud, if you watch the video at 11 minutes 42 seconds it starts explaining where that pin goes. Let me know what you think?
@@hotrodhog2170 No it isn't. Ratchet straps to the seat mount are safer, won't put stress on the steering column and can be removed without an air supply. I used a 5/8 nylon noose rope with a knot outside the door closed on the rope.
Guys thanks for your comments. I’ve been towing trucks with this boom for over 15 years and have used the seat belt method and have NEVER had any issues what so ever. I have heard of the ratchet method and it’s good too. Thanks for your comments. Safety is our top priority.
those r not slack adjusters they r cam tubes or cam savers the s-cam runs inside of it and the slack adjuster goes on the end of the s-cam towards the inside
