Hey guys. A friend of mine who goes to another college tells me that the cops on campus (among others) are threatening to tow his truck (I think it is a 2000 Blazer 4x4) for some reason. IDK why because he doesn't have any tickets (I know there is more to the story, but I haven't heard it yet. I am sure I will soon. There is always more to the story with him.). This has also made me curious in case I need to make my truck untowable for some reason. I have gotten threats also in the past but not from cops. Long story. Is there a way of making these 4x4s as difficult as possible to tow? I would think that backing into a parking space with the truck in Park (automatic trans), in 4HI, with the wheels turned all the way to whatever way the car CAN'T go, with the parking brakes set 100% (also making sure everything is locked up) would make it difficult enough. Taking it to the extreme (and I mean EXTREME) level with a multi-pronged Club on the wheel, with an alarm with a starter disable set, with fuses for important stuff needed to move the car pulled and hidden, slim jim-proof door locks maybe even locking U-Joints and boots on all 4 wheels would probably make a cop or a tow truck driver's job VERY difficult. What should I tell my friend? Any advice? By the way I personally have only done the backing into a space, turning the wheels, brakes set 100%, trans in park, alarm set with the Club in dangerous areas. I haven't tried anything with the 4WD yet. I might look into making the doors slim-jim resistant for additional security. Obviously haven't tried locking U-Joints or boots on all 4 wheels or pulling fuses (nor am I looking at doing all that). My friend doesn't have an alarm or a Club yet, but he is looking to upgrade to an alarm with a remote start soon. My friend and I have seen Parking Wars on TV. He is insane enough to claim to have installed a power inverter and have power tools in the trunk to cut parking boots off. Frankly I don't blame him, but I think that is over the top for most places (except on a college campus where they ticket, boot and tow as much as on Parking Wars). Good thing I don't live on campus and the landlord for my apartment is generous with parking.

 

What I have heard from various sources is that the tow truck driver doesn't care about the condition of the vehicle he is about to tow. All they care about is getting the job done. If they damage your vehicle while towing they pass it off as existing damage, etc.

Case in point was a video of a bagged truck that the owner thought was 'untowable' as you put it. When the truck is laying rocker, there's no way to get any tools/machinery under it. What did the tow company do? They hooked straps to the underside of the fenderwells and lifted it out of the way. I can't seem to find the video of it though. Anyone else?

 

If I am in a dangerous parking lot, I will actually take photos of the truck from all sides with my phone as well as the inside at different times. If a tow truck driver does any damage to MY truck, I could prove it and I would definitely take legal action against him and the owner of the parking lot to no tomorrow.

 

There is probably really no way to do it. Between wheel dolly's and\or flatbeds with winches. If they want it they will get it.

Since it`s the police that want it, offering any advice would go against forum rules anyways I believe.

 

Then if it will go against the rules of the forum, let's not push it. Never mind then. I'll just use my standard methods to make the truck tow resistant and make the doors slimjim resistant so when I am in PRIVATE parking lots, they can't easily tow it.

 

yeah theres really no way to do it. They will send a flat bed with a winch. they will drag it to where they can get to it and drag it onto the bed. It wont matter what way the wheels are turned or if its in park with 4x4 engaged. If they want it they WILL get it.

 

I used to be a recovery specialist and manage a tow company that had the police contract as well as several schools & complexes. Don't even try it. There is not a car or truck I couldn't tow. Even if there were no wheels, I can get it. A flat bed truck will get anything parked. I do it all with no damage either. The easiest way is to actually drag the flat bed under the towed vehicle by leaving the deck just above the ground and the flat bed in neutral. The truck winch will suck the truck right under the towed vehicle. Very easy to do. Wanna make it hard, park it sideways with others cars blocking the front and rear. The downside is that they will probably winch one end sideways till they can get it properly. The other way is to sit in it... you cannot tow it with people in it. Either way, the harder it is, the more your gonna pay. If this is a school, they may have assigned parking, regulations pertaining to your grades, etc. Just fix the problem and he can rest easy. Why have it towed if you don't have to?

 

Sorry I started this thread then. Not trying to start any trouble with anyone (especially recovery companies). I already told my friend not to f*** with the campus cops (I think it is security actually. I think it is a private college. SUNY (State University of New York) schools have actual state troopers for their security and they have full police powers) and his truck will be fine. I told him that if he is really concerned, make sure there isn't any conditions that would cause the campus cops to tow it away, but still use his best judgement at securing his truck and valuables from crooks breaking into it since motor vehicle theft is a problem where he goes to college and break-ins for both cars and dorms are also a problem. He still hasn't told me the whole story, but I am sure I will hear it someday. He is just like me and doesn't cause any problems where he goes and has no tickets or arrests, so the mystery deepens....

 

They jack the side, slip dollies under the wheels, roll it out, no problem. Seen it done.

 

Concrete.... lots of concrete.... goodluck driving though....