Backing into parking spots

[lanejudy]

Well, I am about to back my 1965 Mustang into a parking spot at our weekly Sunday morning Cars and Coffee gathering. That is the practice there. Primarily so you can open the hood and show off the engine. Not a lot of fun because my Mustang doesn't have power steering or a back up camera!

Obviously not enough practice since you don’t think it’s all that easy. If the Mustang isn’t your usual vehicle, you may want to practice on the other.

 

[tvguy]

That's when the dollies come into play. Tow truck drivers have seen it all.

Put all 4 wheels on dollies, pull it out of the garage, and then get it situated for a longer tow.

Will that be included with AAA or other roadside assistance? Probably not. I have found AAA and auto manufacturer or auto insurance roadside assistance to be almost useless. Calling a local tow company directly gets a much better response.

Pretty much all tow companies are AAA here. My classic car insurance IS different. Always a flat bed, and always a tow company I have never heard of.

 

[tvguy]

Obviously not enough practice since you don’t think it’s all that easy. If the Mustang isn’t your usual vehicle, you may want to practice on the other.

Or just pull in front first. LOL.

 

[kdonnel]

Pretty much all tow companies are AAA here. My classic car insurance IS different. Always a flat bed, and always a tow company I have never heard of.

While they might be partnered with AAA, I doubt they are all owned by AAA.

I recently had a horrible experience trying to get a tow using my auto insurance roadside assistance.

I finally gave up and pulled up Google maps and typed in tow truck. Called the company closest and they were there in 10 minutes.

Doing the same thing for random cities in California finds dozens and dozens of tow companies in each city. I promise you will get better service as their direct customer instead of an indirect customer via AAA or your auto insurance.

 

[tvguy]

While they might be partnered with AAA, I doubt they are all owned by AAA.

I recently had a horrible experience trying to get a tow using my auto insurance roadside assistance.

I finally gave up and pulled up Google maps and typed in tow truck. Called the company closest and they were there in 10 minutes.

Doing the same thing for random cities in California finds dozens and dozens of tow companies in each city. I promise you will get better service as their direct customer instead of an indirect customer via AAA or your auto insurance.

I doubt AAA operates any towing companies. Like UBER and LYFT they operate a dispatch network and local tow companies have contracts to be providers. I have had Allstate Motor Club for over 50 years and every tow I have ever had through them came from a Yellow Tow Truck with AAA logos and the name of the local tow company painted on it.
I got the dispatcher at that company really angry at me one time when the fuel pump went out on my mom's car. We left it overnight on the side of the road and I went back the next day to get it towed. Took three hours. I had a Highway Patrolman check on me, and I told him I had a tow on the way. I had my scanner with me and I was monitoring their dispatch channel. I listened to four different drivers offer to handle my tow and three were told no, to go off duty and the fourth told to go to lunch. I called the dispatcher who only THEN sent a truck adding a message to "Any Allstate members listening in on a scanner" . The driver said the dispatcher had a message for me that he could not repeat. Fortunately that Highway Patrolman happened by again and stopped, and asked the driver why it had taken hours. I didn't say a word. He apparently had his dispatch inquire as to what the delay was. I got a call a few days later from the Manager/Owner? of the tow company apologizing for the entire situation and he said that dispatcher no longer worked there. Apparently they are also a Highway Patrol contract towing company and they get dinged if they take too long to tow a car without calling the Auto Club back and asking that another tow company be dispatched.

 

[citruscurtis]

And it makes leaving the spot safer.

....well....in my lot...I look for backup lights... though in the newer models they are harder to see from the side.... and with the unsafe backup many seniors depend that you will see the lights and civility be offered by stopping and let them continue... unfortunately...it is a road rage parking lot because pedestrians doesn't care.... pedestrians???... evolved from driver's in the lot who were just pedestrians... but now angry....and please don't get me started on the 5 foot trucks in handicap parking ....