CHP busts 'unusual,' definitely 'NOT legal or safe!' metal pole truck tow

With all the talk in trucking about predatory towing and outrageous invoices for cross-town halls, what about towing work that's done way, way too cheaply? 

That's what happened on Tuesday morning when an "alert citizen called Golden Gate Communications Center to warn" California Highway Patrol "about an unusual vehicle combination traveling on a San Francisco freeway," according to a CHP post on Facebook. 

"We typically see people tow vehicles using a tow truck, but this big rig driver elected to tow another big rig tractor using nothing more than a metal pipe," CHP wrote. 

Well, nothing more than a metal pipe and a chain of course, expertly wrapped around the frame of an International and passed a few times through a hole cut in the pole. Apparently the combination worked and hit highway speeds, though the gap between the International and the Volvo being towed probably did hurt miles per gallon (good thing the Volvo was one of those areo trucks like the International, or it could have been worse). Even wilder -- the combination came safely to a stop. 

Not happy to leave well enough alone, CHP intervened. 

"We know not everyone is an expert in tow truck operations, but the alert citizen was right to warn us about this rolling hazard," CHP wrote. "Towing another vehicle with a pipe and some chain is NOT legal or safe!"

 

Units from the CHP-San Francisco Area and Golden Gate Division Commercial Operations Unit intercepted and stopped the combo, and found out more about just how unique that combination really was. 

 

Troopers were "shocked to learn that in addition to the improvised towing rig, the truck's brake chambers were dragging on the ground; a clear indication that they weren't working," CHP said.

 

CHP alleges this truck had inoperable brakes with chambers dragging on the ground. Perhaps they were simply pots and pans?

The driver of the improvised tow truck got a citation and "actual tow trucks" came and dragged them off, CHP concluded. "A big thank you to the alert driver who picked up the phone and called 9-1-1 so that we could remove this dangerous vehicle from the road before anything bad could happen."

Here two fully outfitted purpose-built tow trucks do the job one driver's improvised "ingenuity" accomplished with just one, a chain and a metal pipe.