What can be more inconvenient when you are on the road than your car breaking down. You want to take care of the situation as soon as possible that is why you think of towing your own vehicle. Before you do anything like that, think again. Towing is a dangerous thing, and if you do it wrong, you can damage your vehicle forever. We have listed some reasons why towing your own car is never a good idea and why you should leave it to the experts. Improper Towing Rating Knowing what the tow rating of the car you want to tow is crucial for safe towing. Towing rating is the weight a vehicle can tow without getting damaged. If you don't know this information, you can get overloaded and damage the car when you try to use it for towing. It can cause exploding tires, brake failure, heat exhausted transmission, and many more. Improper Tongue Weight Levels The tongue weight is the weight of the towing vehicle that gets supported by the tow ball. The tongue weight affects the steering of the car because if there is too much tongue weight, you will have a hard time steering your vehicle. If the load is just too much, your vehicle can sway while you are driving it. There should be a balance with the weight, and the weight should be at the perfect level for towing to be done correctly and safely. Improper Tow Bars Another essential equipment when towing vehicles are tow bars. Each tow bar has its own rating, and it is important to use one that is appropriate for your car. Many vehicles use the same tow bar, but it is never safe to assume that your car can use just any kind of tow bar available. Using the wrong tow bar may cause safety hazards and cause damage to the vehicle. Non-Adherence to Towing Regulations There are unique laws and regulations for towing for each state. Most states require the use of safety chains and taillights. Other states mandate special side mirrors and rear view options for towing. They also prescribe the maximum towing weight for certain types of vehicles. If you are unaware of these regulations, you may find yourself in trouble for not adhering to these rules. You will risk the safety of your car and risk yourself from facing legal issues when you try to tow your own car. Improper Braking Systems The braking system of a towing vehicle needs to work more when lugging another vehicle. They have added physical momentum which makes it harder for their brake systems to perform its fullest. This will cause your vehicle to take time to slow down when you are towing another car. Towing vehicles are mandated by the States to have special added braking systems to ensure they can handle the vehicle lugged to them without causing accidents and damages. Car owners and even amateur towing services who don't know this information risk themselves in getting in a crash. Nothing is more inconvenient and annoying than your car breaking down on the road unless your vehicle is old and in a run-down condition. You will be caught unprepared, and it can also be affecting other drivers on the road.
To make the matter worse, you need to get the service of a tow truck to get your car out of the way, and it will cost you money. Good news is, you can save money on tow trucks if you come prepared. Check with your credit card company Some credit card companies offer added benefits such as complimentary roadside assistance, to attract possible clients. This is good news because you don't have to worry about paying in case your car gets in trouble on the road. Other credit card companies will have a certain number of callouts before you get charged, but this is still a good market strategy because you don't always get towed after all. Always check with the credit card company if they have this perk before applying because you don't know when it will come in handy. Get the right auto insurance There are auto insurance plans that let you add features such as breakdown coverage for a small amount. They will base your coverage on different aspects such as the type of your vehicle and where you live. If you have collision insurance, chances are you can add towing services to your plan for only a small amount of dollar monthly which can help you save money on towing costs. Shop Ahead When your car is in the middle of the road and is broken, you will choose just any towing truck available to get the situation straight. However, this can be one of the reasons why you pay higher for towing vehicles. Even before you need it, you should look for a towing company that can handle the job well yet offers their service at an affordable price. Even if you don't think you need, it is still vital that you know who to call when the unthinkable happens. Planning will help you compare the prices for each service and get the best value for your money. Join an auto club You can also consider joining an auto club to save on towing costs. Some auto clubs provide a wide range of auto services to cater to your every car needs, including towing coverage. Before you can avail of their service, you first need to be a member. There can also be membership and other fees when joining an auto club, but they are often way cheaper than a towing service. Aside from learning more about your cars in the club, you can also get a lot of additional benefits when you join one. If you are thinking of joining an auto club, look for a club that promotes safe driving and will help you with various auto concerns you may have. What is more inconvenient than your car being towed when you are on the road? It will always be a great hassle to wait for the tow to come to your aid. It can be frustrating, especially when during the towing process; your car gets more damages. You may not know it but towing a car can add to the damage that the vehicle already has. That is why it is important to make an effort to make changes to your car to make sure that safety is not compromised. This would also aid the towing company to avoid unwanted damages. Here are three crucial ways to ensure that your vehicle doesn’t get damaged during the towing process: Release the emergency brake Always put the brake on before your vehicle gets towed, after all, your car doesn’t need to move when towed. However, this can also cause damage to your car if done using the conventional two wheels on the road approach. It is safe to tow two wheels on the road when taking off the brake. This will ensure that o damage was incurred to your brake. For manual transmission cars, it is okay to tow them on any wheels with the brake off. When your vehicle is being towed using a flatbed, brakes are not an issue because no wheels are on the road, but you still have to make sure it’s off when your car is lifted. Roll Up Windows This aspect is usually ignored during the towing process. Always make sure to roll all your windows up when getting towed. This will stop dust and other dirt from entering the vehicle which can cause risk of damage and will require intense cleaning. It will save your vehicle from the unnecessary need for upholstery once the towing process is done. Take PhotographsThis is something always recommended even by authorities. This will not be a hassle since most of us own a smartphone that can capture photos of the vehicle before being towed.
Taking photographs of your vehicle will provide you with protection in case damage is incurred while the towing company is in the process of towing your vehicle. Though it will not prevent damages from happening, it can serve as evidence that the damage was not present before the towing process. Call Towing of Cincinnati when you need a fast, professional, and safe tow. |
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March 2019
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