Car Towing
February 5th, 2012Even the best car will break down at some time or another – it is the nature of the beast. When it does, it probably won’t happen at a convenient time or under favorable circumstances. A tire blows, the engine dies, there’s a pileup – and bingo, it’s towing time.
To start off, car towing is not something one should try without proper experience and equipment – especially valuable cars are involved. Improper car towing can result in a lot of damage and personal injury.
Towing experts are specifically trained for their jobs; they have years of experience and also appropriate equipment for such work. They also need to be experienced auto mechanics who can handle contingencies like the need for jump-starts and on-the-road repairs. Furthermore, they are insured against unforeseen mishaps.
In other words, it is worth the extra expense to engage the services of a reputed towing company when it comes to having one’s car towed. The job takes much more than a lot of willingness, a do-or-die attitude, and a sturdy car or even truck. Cars are relatively light and wieldy by nature and tend to shimmy around a lot during the towing process – unlike the dead weight of a construction material or a boat.
The towing vehicle needs special cooling systems, extra suspension, and must have calibrated gear ration and engine power. It must essentially have a four-wheel drive and exceptionally efficient brakes.
Such a vehicle will also have a towing rating, the specified weight of which it cannot exceed (if this rating is stretched, the towing vehicle’s braking capacity is compromised, and serious consequences can result). It also requires specifically manufactured towing gear, which includes a tow bar, trailing-wire harnesses, safety chains, winches and hitches.