Have you ever been in a situation where you plan to dine at a completely new place, but suddenly you realize that you are in a mess and need to call a 24/7 towing service in Doylestown or nearby anywhere…?
It is rare that a trustworthy towing service will show up for you suddenly out of nowhere.
You have to make sure that your car gets out of this mess in the same great shape that it was minutes ago.
Buckle up, as we share safety checkpoints to help secure your car while it's being towed to another vehicle.
The towing vehicle will heat up due to the friction aroused by pulling an extra load.
To prevent a meltdown, you need to make sure that the vehicle’s cooling system works optimally to safely tow your car to it.
Water Pump
Radiator, including the fluid
Housing
Cooling Fan
Initially, have a helper stand beside the trailer while you test the brake lights.
Make sure they are working in good order.
Obviously, when towing, you need more stopping distance, and having broken brake lights could be hazardous.
Also, when towing, don’t ride the brakes, if you do, you might overheat them or jackknife your car.
While driving downhill, ask the driver to keep a minimum speed, using brakes as necessary.
If you’re towing a trailer, some of them come with their own braking systems, that connects to your vehicle.
Although, it takes skill to handle the brake system, because, this system reduces stress and strain on the towing vehicle’s brake system.
If your vehicle gets unhitched on the road, the only thing keeping them together will be the safety chains.
Make sure to use sufficient quality of chains when towing.
The thickness of those chains helps to determine if it will help the trailer against drifting, while still allowing smooth turns with your vehicle towed.
You may see that light-duty trucks often use 5/16 inch thick chains, while some of the medium-sized duty trucks prefer ½ inch thick chains.
It is equally important to consider the towing vehicle’s suspension component.
Make sure to inspect heavy duty springs and shock absorbers, in a good shape before towing.
Light duty shock will lose grip of your car, leaving it to sag in the back, whereas heavy duty ones will keep your vehicle stable and level while towing.
Take a look at the hub bearings too.
Even if they might look small in size, but can do greater damage if not taken care of properly.
If even one falls off, the wheel can flip-flop, damaging the brakes and potentially causing the wheel to exit the car.
#Tip: A side note, springs, and shock absorbers make your ride much comfortable.
Tires come with a proper measurement of load rating and inflation readings.
Make sure to pay attention to these small details as they are very important.
A silly mistake most individuals do is they check the tires on the towing truck but they do not check the tires on the trailer.
Trailer tires are most likely to wear out from age rather than highway roads.
Tires that are five or more years old require professional inspection for signs of age-related failures.
#FunFact Every tire manufactured after 2000 has a DOT alphanumeric code on its sidewall. Last four digits inform you of the manufacturing date. For example, 4208 tells you that the tire was manufactured in the 42nd week of 2008. |
You should check with the towing service provider for the vehicle’s maintenance history.
Check if the fluids have been changed more often, including motor oil.
Your car is nothing but a dead weight for the towing vehicle, which only adds to friction and increased heat because the engine runs faster than normal.
Consider asking the service provider for synthetic motor oil and transmission fluid for added protection.
Oil filters also need to be changed periodically for optimum performance.
You are now fully equipped to safely tow your car or call a 24/7 towing service near you, in both cases you know which precautionary steps are required.
Some last minute tips for you or the driver that is towing your vehicle -
Rest before starting the journey.
Be confident while a heavy object is towed at your back.
Take breaks wherever necessary.
Turn slowly.
Keep a safe distance for braking.
Keep an emergency kit ready at all times.
A&G Customs for all your automotive needs - Are you broken down on the side of a street, been in an accident or need to recover an abandoned vehicle, we will safely collect you and the vehicle in our tow truck.
Article Source: https://www.evernote.com/shard/s510/sh/06569f8d-1c3e-4630-849c-66d10ca771fb/aaf675f6010f6bd894dee3abf2081334