Sometimes cars break down. If you haven’t had a car break down, just wait and it will happen eventually. It’s a certainty of life because vehicles are complicated and the more complicated something is, the more it can go wrong. Breaking down of your vehicle is something we don’t want to happen, but when it does, we have a savior in the form of a tow truck. Tow trucks and towing services are our best friends when our cars break down.
Typically, a tow truck will come in four different types:
1. A boom, while not normally used for towing, is used when a vehicle is in a ditch, culvert, or has fallen onto an embankment. This is used when the tow truck cannot safely back up to the disabled vehicle.
2. Hook and chain is another type used by many towing services. This wraps around the frame of the vehicle to allow a boom winch to lift the car where it will rest against the rubber mats. This allows the vehicle to be towed on one axle. The problem with this is that they can scratch your bumpers, which is why many towing service companies choose different methods.
3. The wheel lift is the successor to the hook and chain. This technology uses a large metal yoke that fits over the front or rear wheels and locks around them. The tow truck then lifts the vehicle so that it only rests on one axle, usually the rear. If the vehicle is front-wheel drive, the front wheels are raised. If it’s rear-wheel drive, the rear wheels lift.
4. Flatbed cranes place the entire vehicle in the back of the truck so it can be transported without towing. Rather, it is carried away from where it broke down.
The only problem with a towing service is that it can be expensive. The farther you have to take the car to the shop, the more it will cost you. A good tip is to research towing companies and keep a list of which companies are in certain areas of town and how much they cost per mile. That way, you can check the list if your car breaks down and choose the closest towing service company to you. You can also do the same for mechanics so your vehicle doesn’t have to be towed very far.
This will save you a lot of money on towing fees because most towing companies will charge a certain amount per mile to transport your vehicle. The further you go, the more you pay and you haven’t even started repairing your vehicle yet!
Towing service companies and their tow trucks are a big sight when we break down. When we need someone to pick us up and take our cars, they provide an essential service. Just do your research to avoid paying too much.