Sometimes cars break down. If you have not had a car break down on you, just wait and eventually it will happen. It is a certainty of life because vehicles are complicated and the more complicated something is, the more that can go wrong with it. Having your vehicle break down 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 used for towing normally, is used when a vehicle is in a ditch, culvert or fallen over an embankment. This is used whenever the tow truck cannot back safely towards the broken down vehicle.
2. The hook and chain is another type used by many towing services. This loops round the vehicle’s frame to allow the car to be drawn aloft by a boom winch where it will rest against rubberized mats. This allows the vehicle to be towed on one axle. The problem with this is that they can scratch bumpers, so many towing service companies are choosing different methods.
3. The wheel-lift is the successor to the hook and chain. This technology uses a large metal yoke that fits to the front or back wheels and locks around them. The tow truck then draws the vehicle up so that the vehicle only rests on one axle, usually the back one. If the vehicle is front-wheel drive, the front wheels are lifted up. If it is rear-wheel drive, the rear wheels are lifted up.
4. Flat bed tow trucks put the entire vehicle on the back of the truck so that it is transported without having to be towed. 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 is going to cost. A good tip is to research towing companies and to keep a list of what companies are in certain areas of the city, and how much they cost per mile. That way you can look at the list if your car breaks down and choose the towing service company that is closest to you. You can also do the same with mechanics so your vehicle does not have to be towed far.
This will save you a lot of money in towing fees because most towing companies will charge a certain amount per mile to transport your vehicle. The farther you go, the more you pay and you haven’t even started to get your vehicle repaired yet!
Towing service companies and their tow trucks are a great sight when we break down. When we need someone to pick us up and take our cars away, they provide an essential service. Just do your research to avoid paying too much.
