QuestionQUESTION: I recently had my Blazer 4 x 4 towed from the front with a dolly under the rear wheels. During the tow one of the rear tires sustained damage (dragging along the ground left the tire with a flat spot) from coming in contact with the ground. In addition, there is a humming noise now coming from the drive train / trans axle. I'm assuming the vehicle was is park (due to flat spot on the tire) during the tow, but I'm not really sure. Would the noise coming from the trans axle be related to this improper tow?
Please elaborate.
ANSWER: What's the point of using a dolly if it doesn't keep the tire off the road? This was clear incompetence on the part of the tow operator and he definitely should be held accountable for any damage to the transmission or transfer case. The rear end could also have been damaged. However, the fact that the tire was flat-spotted indicates that he did correctly set the parking brake after placing the truck on the dolly. So, yes, he could have caused damage to the drivetrain, but the only way to know for sure is to let a pro look at it. Make sure he (the tow operator) knows that you will be holding him responsible: you're lucky the truck didn't come off the dolly altogether.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: The roadside assistance company has no problem paying for a tire, but says the damage can only be to the tire as it absorbed all the damage.
Should they be replacing 2 tires (tires had 7,500 km on them) to maintain similar tread depth/size on each side or will one suffice?
Further, the parking pin was not broken so how would damage to the drive train occur if the tire didn't turn and break the parking pin. Would it have been from the constant bumping and dragging of the tire trying to force the shaft and gears?
Answer The Parking pawl is located in the transmission. That means that all stresses on it have to pass through the transfer case. The transfer case is a fairly primitive device, compared to the transmission, but it still has plenty of parts inside that could be damaged. I wouldn't worry about the difference in tread depth on the tire, that's not going to affect anything, but DO NOT LET THEM OFF THE HOOK. Don't sign any kind of waiver or document claiming that they have satisfied all possible claims against you. I would pay the money to have the drivetrain inspected by someone that you trust, and then I still wouldn't let them off the hook. Unless you sign a document to the contrary, most states give you a minimum of two years to come after them for damages. And, if you were dealing with these schnooks via AAA or some other agency, complain to the agency and threaten their consumer complaints people. Most AAA tow operators count on that business and want to make those customers happy. If you're not happy, you've go to let everyone involved know. But get that drivetrain looked at, 'cause without some kind of specific claim they can't reasonably be expected to do anything. Oh, and the only acceptable way to tow a 4WD vehicle, in this day and age, is on a flatbed rollback.
