If your car is not running or for some reason you are unable to drive it on public roads, you must need some assistance. The car may break down, get into an accident or damage a wheel in a large hole: there may be different reasons for calling a tow truck.
From this article you will learn in which cases it is better to call a tow truck rather than continue driving on your own, and how to do it better and safer.
What Is A Tow Truck And How Does It Work?
A tow truck is a special vehicle designed to tow damaged or faulty vehicles that are unable to move on their own. The tow truck’s job is to transport the damaged vehicle from the scene of the accident or breakdown to a service station or other destination.
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| Photo by G-Man Towing |
The tow truck’s work process includes several stages:
Arrival At The Call Location
The tow truck arrives at the location specified by the customer or received from the dispatcher. The tow truck driver assesses the situation, inspects the damaged vehicle and decides on the towing method.
Preparation For Towing
The tow truck driver takes measures to safely tow the vehicle. This may include tying the vehicle to the tow truck using special belts or cables, as well as installing additional devices to hold the vehicle on the tow truck during transportation.
Lifting The Vehicle
If the vehicle is unable to move on its own, the tow truck uses a hydraulic or mechanical system to lift the vehicle. This allows the car to be lifted off the ground and held in place by the tow truck's special mounts.
Transportation
Once the car has been lifted, the tow truck begins transporting it to its destination. This could be a service station, a parking lot, or another location specified by the customer. During transportation, the tow truck ensures the safety of the car and its surroundings.
Unloading The Car
Upon arrival at the destination, the tow truck lowers the car to the ground and releases it from its mounts. If necessary, the tow truck can also assist the customer in placing the car in the desired location.
The primary use of tow trucks is to assist motorists in the event of a breakdown, accident, or other situation where the car cannot continue moving on its own. This could be due to mechanical breakdowns, accidents, theft, or any other circumstances that require the car to be transported. Tow trucks can also be used to remove cars from restricted areas, remove improperly parked cars, or transport cars participating in sporting events or exhibitions.
It is important to note that tow trucks are usually driven by professional drivers who have experience and knowledge of safe vehicle transportation. This ensures that the towing process is carried out safely and efficiently.
Introducing Well-known And Practical Towing Devices
To transport damaged cars in a completely safe way, a series of devices have been designed that make towing and transporting the car very easy and do not cause any problems. In this section, we introduce efficient and famous towing devices.
Integrated Towing Device
This specialized towing device is used to transport heavy vehicles such as trucks, buses, etc. This efficient and powerful device is used to help further stabilize additional axles and trailing arms. So that moving heavy cars with all kinds of towing vehicles is not a problem, these giant trucks have extraordinary and amazing power and can move many times their own weight.
Wheel Lift Towing Device
This tow truck works just like a chain tow and the only difference is the use of metal rods instead of chains. In order for the car to be removed from the ground by means of a hydraulic lift without causing the slightest damage to the bumper, metal bars are placed under the two front or rear wheels. This device has a relatively affordable price. But compared to other towing devices, its safety is less.
Hook Towing Device
In the past, people used this chain towing device to move and transport cars. But later, the experts found out through careful examination that using this method puts a lot of pressure on the car, and using a chain in it causes the car bumper to be scratched and cracked.
We can say that using this device may damage the car's actuator. After obtaining the necessary information and conclusions, the experts used this method only to transfer paper and unused cars. As a result, the selection of types of car towing is done according to the weight and model of the car.
Flatbed Towing Device
One of the most common and efficient towing vehicles in the world are these narrow trucks. In order to transfer the vehicle in the up and down direction in the best way, the back part of this machine consists of a long and flat surface and a smooth and inclined hydraulic surface. With this ramp, you can easily drive the car behind the truck. This tow truck is also used to transport damaged cars on the road.
The high and unique security of this device has made this device used to transfer zero and dry factory cars. One of the features that separates this device from other devices is that the boat can also be moved with this device.
When Do You Need A Tow Truck?
The Car Is Broken And You Can't Drive
Even a minor malfunction can be a reason to stop driving and turn the car into real estate. The generator can fail, the drive belt of the water pump can break. The ignition coil or one of the engine sensors can fail.
If you notice that one or more control lamps on the dashboard light up while driving and you don’t understand what they mean, stop. Study the manual and find out what they mean. If you don’t have a paper version of the manual, look it up online or call a car service center.
Do the same if you hear new unusual sounds while driving or the engine is running: clanking, knocking, grinding. Look under the car: if some liquid is leaking out of it and there seems to be a lot of it, you should not drive the car.
An experienced driver will be able to quite accurately determine the source of the problem and assess the risks of possibly continuing the trip. A beginner is better off playing it safe: a tow truck within the city limits can save you from repairs worth several tens or even hundreds of thousands.
The Car Was Damaged In An Accident
The traffic rules prohibit operating a car with a broken bumper or headlight, and they may issue a fine for this. Usually, inspectors don’t pick on this, especially if you show documents about the accident and don’t drive the car with damage for a long time.
If the accident is not serious and only the body parts are damaged, then a tow truck is not necessary. But if there are doubts about the condition of the car's chassis, suspension or brake system, then it is dangerous to drive under your own power, and finally you need to use towing service.
Crumpled body parts can interfere with the rotation of the wheels, and a deployed airbag will not allow you to control the car normally - this is also a good reason to call a tow truck.
The Tire Is Flat
Not all cars are equipped with a spare tire. And not every driver can install it without outside help. If you notice that one of the wheels is flat and there is no way to install the spare, you should call a tow truck.
After driving on a flat tire, it almost always has to be changed. Buying a new tire will obviously be more expensive than a trip to the tire shop on a tow truck. And most importantly, it is safer on a tow truck.
The manufacturer does not recommend or prohibits towing the car. You should not tow a car with an automatic transmission, in extreme cases, limit yourself to towing no more than 50 km. You cannot tow the cars with a CVT and electric system, for them - only a tow truck.
How To Choose A Tow Truck?
Truck towing may be required in various situations, such as breakdown, accident, malfunction or the need for long-distance transportation. In such cases, it is important to choose the right tow truck that can ensure safe and efficient transportation of your vehicle.
In this section, we will tell you how to choose and order a tow truck quickly and cheaply.
Determine The Type Of Truck
Before you start looking for a tow truck, determine the type of truck you have. This includes things like weight, dimensions, and axle type. Also note that some tow trucks may only fit certain types of trucks.
Assess The Weight Of Your Vehicle
The weight of your truck is one of the key factors when choosing a tow truck. If your vehicle weighs more than 20 tons, you will need a specialized heavy-duty tow truck. If your vehicle weighs less than 10 tons, you can choose a medium-duty tow truck or even a small tow truck.
Pay Attention To The Type Of Tow Truck
There are several types of tow trucks, each designed to perform specific tasks. Before you call a tow truck, you need to decide on the type of tow truck you need.
The choice of tow truck depends on the weight of your car, its size and axle type. If you do not know what kind of tow truck you need, ask for help from specialists.
Preparing A Vehicle For Transportation
Before loading your car onto a tow truck, there are a number of things you need to do.
First, make sure your car is securely fastened to the ground. If your car is on a slope, chock the wheels.
Second, open all the doors and trunk of your car to make it easier to access.
Third, turn off all electrical devices in your car to avoid short circuits.
Loading A Car Onto A Tow Truck
Once the vehicle is prepared for transportation, you can begin loading it onto the tow truck. To do this you need:
Position the tow truck next to the vehicle so that its winch is directed towards the vehicle.
Look for the winch hook attached to the vehicle's towing device or to a special eye on the vehicle body.
Turn on the winch and slowly lift the vehicle off the ground.
Move the car onto the tow truck platform and secure it there using special belts or chains.
Disconnecting The Vehicle From The Tow Truck
After arriving at the destination, you must disconnect the car from the tow truck. To do this:
Disconnect the winch hook from the vehicle's towing device or the eye on the vehicle's body.
Lower the vehicle to the ground using a winch.
Turn off the winch and disconnect it from the vehicle.
Close all doors, trunk and hood of the car.
Walk around the vehicle to make sure it has not been damaged during transport.
By following these simple rules, you can use a tow truck to transport your vehicle safely and effectively.
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