How to tow the tow vehicle, when the tow vehicle needs towing.
Yes, you read that correctly. I needed to have my truck towed to the shop. Oh, I was not happy!
I jumped in the big white truck one morning to go to the grocery store. The truck drove just fine in a straight line, but every time I turned a corner, the truck jumped and bounced as if one of the wheels wasn’t turning. I drove the truck home immediately.
As a retired truck mechanic, I started through the list of diagnostics that I would follow on any vehicle brought to me with this behavior. Eventually, I eliminated everything except the rear differential. But I didn’t take the cover off the differential (and drain all of the stinky differential fluid out) and inspect it because I didn’t have the specialized tools needed to repair it, even if I found the problem. I simply called the nearest Dodge dealer and scheduled an appointment. And then I called AAA for a tow.
While on the phone with AAA, I described the problem and said the truck could not be towed with the rear wheels on the ground. Because of the front axle’s 4×4 transfer case, just to be careful, I asked that they send a flatbed truck rather than the usual tow truck. The person on the phone did not understand why I was asking that, and did not guarantee that’s the type of truck that would arrive. I was cordial, knowing I would simply refuse to let a regular tow truck haul my truck away.
But, look what showed up!
The driver of the flatbed tow truck said his dispatcher got the call from AAA and knew absolutely that a flatbed was needed, so that’s what they sent. The driver thanked me for asking for a flatbed and for describing the issue with my truck so well.
He and I had a great time chatting about trucks. He loved my truck. He said he hardly ever tows a Dodge RAM pickup … but that one of the common problems requiring a tow for them is the differential.
With my truck up on the bed of the tow truck, I took a photo from behind, looking at the rear wheels, spare tire, rear axle, differential, and lots of other details. [No that is not a mouse on the left side, just part of the device that holds my truck to the bed of the tow truck.]
Below … the cover of the differential.
And off she went to the Dodge dealer. The work was done within two days and my truck was back home on the third day. The screw that holds the center alignment pin for the spider gears inside the differential had backed out, allowing the center alignment pin to drop, so the spider gears were out of alignment and would not turn in tandem … so the two rear tires were not allowed to turn at different (differential) speeds when the truck was turning a corner … so the outer tire on a turn had to skip or skid around the corner. The mechanic inspected everything in the differential, found no other damage, replaced the center alignment pin, and inserted a new screw (this time with a dab of the proper grade of loctite on it, which Dodge does not do with new trucks). While my truck was in the shop, I had them do a number of other things … service the front axle’s 4×4 transfer case, replace the engine exhaust manifold bolts, and a few other things needed for preventive maintenance on my truck that has 70,000 miles on its odometer.
My online research showed that, just like that tow truck driver said, problems with the rear differential are somewhat common with Dodge RAM pickup trucks with about that many miles on them. One might think I would dump this truck in that case, but every vehicle has its weak point/s. When I worked for FedEx, I maintained a fleet of 50 trucks, bumper to bumper … all Fords. Two common failures with those Fords trucks were starter motors and automatic transmissions. I replaced LOTS of Ford starters and got so I knew which FedEx drivers started their engines the most so simply changed out those starters before they failed. And I got so I could rebuild a Ford C6 transmission in my sleep! Does that mean Ford trucks are bad? Not on your life.
It was kind of a funny profession … being a truck mechanic … or any vehicle mechanic. If things didn’t break or wear out or leak, then I wouldn’t have had a job. So the fact that things in this world do break or wear out or leak is a good thing! As well, I was trained to look for things that were wrong … broken, weak, worn out, leaking, etc. Maybe it’s a funny way of looking at life … purposefully looking for what’s wrong. And maybe that’s why now, since I don’t do that work fulltime any more, I so much enjoy looking for what’s “right” … people and things that are enjoyable and interesting and fun.
Anyway, the truck is now back home, safe and sound, and ready for more adventuring. My next camping trip is planned and I’m just about ready to go. Vroom, vroom!