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So my new job relocated me to CA from NC and included car shipping. I was nervous about it, but it simplified much of my move to have my truck shipped. When the hauler arrived, I was horrified to see they had strapped my truck down so tightly the entire bed was askew! It popped back into alignment after they loosened the straps.
Now yesterday while adjusting my clutch I saw a crack in the frame rail near the steering box. Not saying they caused it, but suspicious about possible damage nonetheless.
Cracks near the steering box are common, I highly, highly, HIGHLY doubt they caused any damage. It was just tied down unevenly. Probably flexed the frame no worse than if you were to drive over a curb.
Smart people that know what they are doing secure a vehicle to a trailer by the rims with "tire straps" or secure just the axles with axle straps. That way the suspension/body can flex all it wants too during shipping and not cause any damage....but to late now.
If you talked to the hauler right then and brought up you concern about the truck and how it was tied down, I am sure his answer would be "but we do it like that all the time". Then if you called the shipping company and talk to them some more about it, you would get the "Well you signed the waiver...right?" Was there any type of prior to shipment insp on your or their part?
If the crack in the frame rail looks brand new, you might have a case. But I am sure the towing company will scream to high heaven that is was not their fault. Regardless if they secured your truck to the trailer improperly.
I bet this is going to be a hard lesson learned on your part. Good luck with smog test, maybe the truck it is old enough to not have much done to it.
Lesson learned- when are nervous people will mess something up, you are never disappointed. Obviously once I get her painted it is enclosed trailers for long haul shipping and with a company thay knows classics.
As for smog- she is a 73 so I beat the visual inspection by one year! Score on thay one.
And for the crack- comforting to know thay location is a common spot. I found a shop out here that I really like so far. They welded up that three inch split for $25 as soon as I brought my truck over. Can't complain! The shop is Sounds of Speed if anyone lives out here, I'm impressed with them so far.
It looks like that car hauler has no idea how to strap down a vehicle. You secure the truck by the axles, not the body.
There is no way he caused the cracks around the steering box. As others have said, this is a common place for cracks if a vehicle was used hard over the years.
I restored a 76 Bronco that someone seemed to have lots of off road fun with and there was some severe cracks around the steering box that needed welded and repaired.
Yes that is a common place for the frame to crack. I found cracks in the frame of my 1979 F150 4WD when I removed the steering box for a rebuild. The cracks radiated from the the steering box bolt holes and were about 3 inches long. I also notice that over time, the steering box mounting bolts had become loose, so that likely helped cause the cracks. There is a lot of pressure on the frame from the steering box.
The hauler likely didn't harm your truck, but he should have known better.
Having had my "Company" move me every few years i have gotten pretty good with the insurance part of 3rd party moves (They call themselves professional movers, yet i have never oped up everything and said; WOW!, nothing is broken) Anyways, if you compnay regularly uses this moving companies services odds are they have a contract of sorts and that in all that paperwork you were covered for some sort of insurance (i know there so many things they have you sign that most get inot auto pilot), but i would look into it. Most will write off a claim under 350 dollars... at least mine do. By write off i mean that you say it happended and there is no investigation .. they just pay you. At least that money would help getting the frame repaired at a good shop, or in part to buy a new welder.
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