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How to Turn While Towing
Driving and towing seems like a pretty straightforward and simple task, but there are many nuances involved that could make your life much harder than it should be. Whether you’re a seasoned driver or perhaps just a beginner, you ought to know everything there is about the mechanics behind taking turns with a tow truck and how to be as efficient as possible with your safe driving techniques
If you’re looking for some driving tips for turning,you have come to the right place. This article should give you a better idea of how trailers work and things you should keep in mind while on the road. Naturally, these aren’t hard-written rules you should live by, but you never know what kind of new advice you might stumble upon. Here are some things you should keep in mind:
Safe Towing Tips and Tricks
As a responsible driver, safety should always be your number one priority. No matter how easy it is to maneuver your vehicle, you should always keep your safety and the safety of other participants in traffic in the back of your mind.
Plan Out the Turn
This may seem somewhat over the top and a bit dramatic, but planning out every aspect of your maneuver will significantly lower the chances of failure. It only takes a couple of minutes to plan out your maneuver, and it can save you from having to pay for damage caused by reckless driving. It’s not about the speed but rather about the precision.
Take Significantly Wider Turns
One of the first rules you will learn as a tow driver is to take significantly wider turns than usual because the outside edge of your trailer should clear all obstacles and hazards while turning. In simpler terms, your trailer will always cut a sharper corner than your vehicle, which is why it’s important to take wide turns and increase the chances of making it around the corner unscathed. When it comes to safe driving techniques, this one is a must-know.
Use Your Mirrors
Most drivers are aware of the importance of the mirrors on their vehicles, but many aren’t. There is no unique philosophy behind this tip, or any other tips towingfor that matter; it all comes down to using common sense and training. Ensure your mirrors are always properly adjusted and don’t hesitate to double and triple check your corners before you make the turn.
Train in Your Spare Time
If you’re a professional driver, chances are you don’t have much time to spare, but it’s also safe to assume that you already know how to turn while driving. However, if you’re relatively new in this industry, take a few hours off your free weekend to practice some turns. Put a couple of cones on an abandoned parking lot and spend a couple of hours practicing. This is, arguably, one of the best methods you can use to improve your driving skills.
Size Matters
While similar principles of driving apply to almost any trailer, the size of the trailer itself matters a lot. If you’re struggling to figure out how to turnwhile towing, start with smaller trailers and work your way up. If this isn’t a possibility, make sure you know everything there is about your trailer, its size, and best practices with similar-sized trailers.
Do you have any other advice to share with us? How do you deal with turns while towing? Leave us a comment and let us know! If you’re interested in reading similar guides, read some of our other articles!
The post How to Turn While Towing first appeared on Phoenix Towing Service.
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Top Misconceptions about Towing
There’s a range of common myths, misconceptions, and stereotypes about towing companies and towing services widely held by the public today. In this blog entry, the towing experts here at Chicago Towing will detail some of the top forms of these misconceptions, and dispel them.
Towing Companies Tow Illegally Parked Vehicles Only
Many people wrongly assume that towing companies mainly focus on parking illegally parked vehicles. However, although many municipalities tow illegally parked vehicles, the main trade of towing companies is much more altruistic. Towing companies mostly rescue people stranded on the side of the road by providing roadside assistance service – and provide a range of other, non-towing related services as well, from vehicle jump-starting to fuel delivery.
Towing Companies Aren’t Available 24/7
Many people think that if their cars break down in the middle of the night that they will have to wait until towing companies open up in order to receive service. This is a myth! Professional towing companies, like the expert team here at Chicago Towing, specialize in providing service to our customers on a 24/7 basis, 365 days a year, even during holidays. This is to ensure that you get the service that you need, when you need it!
Towing Companies can’t Tow Large or Unique Cars
Many people think towing companies stick to servicing SUVs or sedans, but this is another misconception! Towing companies can provide expert towing services to a wide range of vehicles, from RVs and campers to semi-trucks and motorcycles. We even tow busses, antique cars, and exsotic vehicles here at Chicago Towing!
Tow Trucks Take their Time
In actuality, towing companies make efficient service and fast-arrival windows their priority! This is an ideal for customers who find themselves broken down or stranded in poor weather, on the side of the road, or in dangerous areas. Chicago Towing prides ourselves on rapid-arrival times, ensuring that you will swiftly receive custom-tailored service at the direct location of your vehicle, as soon as you need it.
The post Top Misconceptions about Towing appeared first on Towing Blog – Chicago Towing.
What to do during Sudden Brake Failure when Driving
Brake failure – especially when it occurs in the middle of driving, is a major safety risk – and one that unfortunately can occur suddenly when car mechanical operation is overlooked for a while. In this blog entry, the towing and vehicle recovery experts here at Chicago Towing will detail exactly what to do if your vehicle’s brakes suddenly fail while you’re in the middle of driving.
Remain Calm
Make sure to stay even keeled and try not to panic – this is vital to keep you and those around you safe. By staying safe, you can act well under pressure. Just breathe deeply and try to be aware of your surroundings and regain as much control of your vehicle as you can to get it safely off the highway or road.
Keep your Car On
Don’t turn your car off, even if it seems like a good idea to slow it down – this can cause it to skid further by disabling your steering or even fully locking your steering. This will cause you to have LESS control of your car. Keep the engine running until you’re fully stopped. Also, keeping your car on will make it easier to bring it safely to the side of the road.
ctivating Hazard Lights
Turn on your hazard lights to let other drivers on the road know you’re broken down – especially at night! If there’s people around you, also honk the horn to warn the people around you to steer away from you.
Turn Down the Shifts
Try to downshift your car gradually, one gear at a time – don’t downshift to the 1st gear of the car at once, as this can cause skidding. If your car is automatic, removing your foot from the accelerator will help it shift. This will help you get your car to a safe distance where you can safely activate the emergency brakes.
Trying Brakes Again
Try applying steady and hard pressure on the brake pedal and see if you can get at least one half of your dual brakes to slow the car down – sometimes, only one half of the brakes have failed. Be careful doing this and don’t press TOO hard, just steadily and firmly.
Careful Emergency Brake Application
Emergency brakes will slowly slow down your vehicle – but they must be engaged carefully in order to keep as much control of the car as possible, since they are separate from the normal hydraulic based braking system you’re used to. They will take longer to slow your vehicle down.
Calling for Assistance
Once your car is in a safe area, fully stopped, or off the road, call your trusty towing provider like the expert roadside assistance team here at Chicago Towing for rapid assistance and instant, convenient solutions!
The post What to do during Sudden Brake Failure when Driving appeared first on Towing Blog – Chicago Towing.
How to Avoid Car Accidents
In this blog entry, the towing and vehicle recovery experts here at Chicago Towing will detail the top reasons that car accidents occur, and the best ways you can stay safe driving and avoid them.
Lackluster Vehicle Maintenance
If your car is in poor condition and hasn’t been maintained well – including issues such as worn down tires, regularly overheating engines, radiator issues, shock problems, or broken car mirrors – you shou;dn’t take in on the road as it can be dangerous. Ensure your tires and engines, and other vehicle parts, are working properly before driving.
Rear End Collisions
This common accident occurs when people don’t have a good amount of distance between the car behind or in front of them. Its common that the rear driver is liable for this accident, as they’ve driven too close to the front car. Make sure you leave a time distance of 3 seconds to pass through the same area as the car in front of you, and that your brake lights are working properly.
Red Light Accidents
Crossing through a red light is a common cause of car accidents. Always follow all traffic rules and make sure nobody is approaching the intersection as you cross it – and be careful approaching yellow lights! It’s not a bad idea to be careful and aware when crossing green lights as well.
Weather Condition Based Accidents
Rainy, snowy, and slippery roads can cause accidents due to hydroplaning. Worn out tires make this more of a risk. Thick fog is another common weather based issue that causes accidents. You can avoid these issues by ensuring proper maintenance of your vehicle, checking that your tires are in safe condition, and driving slowly in bad weather.
The post How to Avoid Car Accidents appeared first on Towing Blog – Chicago Towing.
Automotive Transmission Issues
Transmission failure is one of the leading issues that cause drivers to call our expert roadside assistance team. In this blog entry, the roadside towing experts here at Chicago Towing will detail the top signs that indicate a car’s transmission is experiencing failure.
Gear Shift Issues
If your car won’t shift into the right gear, it’s likely due to transmission issues. You might experience a delay in gear engagement after shifting from drive to spark (with automatic transmission cars.) If your car has manual transmission, this issue can be seen in a delay between revving your engine and the speed of the vehicle increasing (your car will accelerate slower than expected.) This phenomenon is known as slipping transmission.
Strange Sounds
If you’re hearing strange and unfamiliar sounds coming from your vehicle – like humming, clanking, or a buzz, it’s likely due to a failed transmission. Transmissions are complicated pieces of machinery with many moving parts – and wear on a single one of these parts can cause strange noises. These sounds indicate the potential of a transmission failure. Automatic transmission issues cause buzzing or humming, while manual transmission failures cause clunking.
Fluid Leakage
Transmission fluid is essential for lowering the friction in your vehicle and stopping it’s engine from overheating. Transmission fluid leakages increase the chances that your transmission will overheat or completely fail. If you see bright red liquid under your car, it must be brought to a transmission shop as soon as possible. If there’s leaking black or dark brown fluid that has a burning smell, it indicates that your transmission is overheating and that the transmission fluid has been burnt – meaning that the transmission must be fully replaced.
Burning Odor
Like mentioned above, a burning odor indicates that transmission fluid is beginning to overheat, likely because of a metallic part breaking down, or sludge or debris within the clutch. Transmission fluid must be flushed out after 100,000 miles – neglecting to do so will cause this burning smell. This smell is reminiscent of burning rubber, and may be accompanied by smoke.
The post Automotive Transmission Issues appeared first on Towing Blog – Chicago Towing.
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3 Reasons Why Tow Trucks Get So Busy in the Spring Time
While Winter is certainly one of the busiest times of the year for tow trucks, Spring is far from being an incident-free season for drivers on the road. Yes, the weather has improved so there are fewer risks when driving, yet the impact that the long winter has on your vehicle often rears its head come Spring time.
This leads to a surprising amount of vehicle breakdowns, with all kinds of issues causing drivers to require roadside assistance. As a result, tow trucks get very busy during Spring time, so let’s take a closer look at some reasons why this happens!
1. Better Driver Conditions Means More Drivers on the Road
This one is surprisingly simple – Spring brings better driving conditions so people tend to drive more frequently compared to winter. Icy and snowy conditions have subsided for the most part, so people can drive longer without any risks, leading to a notable increase in vehicles on the road.
As you can image, more vehicles mean more possibility of breakdowns, whether from long-term issues that developed over winter or general auto accidents like a fender bender or getting locked out the car.
2. The Effects of Winter
Winter is a harsh time for any vehicle. Beyond the inherent risks of driving in ice, snow, sleet, and rain, the extreme conditions can wreak havoc on various parts of your vehicle. These problems sometimes don’t rear their heads until spring, where the changing conditions and/or increased use of your vehicle cause the issues to become very apparent.
For example, the low temperatures in winter force the car battery to work harder than normal, and when the temperatures rise in Spring the fluids in the battery evaporate much quicker, increasing the chances of the battery completely dying.
Similarly, constant changes in temperature between Winter and Spring cause tire pressure to fluctuate, leading them to be over or underinflated. When this happens, tires are susceptible to bursting, with many people needing to call a tow truck in spring for a tire change.
These are a just a few examples of the various auto issues that start to develop in winter and come to head by the Spring time. Always make sure to get your car checked and serviced for Spring time!
3. Spring Break
One of the busiest times of the year for travelling, Spring break sees students across the country head home or away on vacation while schools take a short break. Colleges have different dates for Spring break, so for most of Spring time you will find a lot of students driving on the road, often across long distances as they head home for vacation.
Tow trucks often find themselves assisting students that are travelling during Spring break, often in vehicles that aren’t in the newest condition. These breakdown issues can be something minor like a failed tire or something more serious with the engine, which can often happen when making a long-distance drive.
Plaza Towing has been serving the roadside and vehicle transporting needs of Coachella Valley since 1969. With locations in Palm Desert and Indio, and a fleet of over 30 tow trucks, Plaza Towing is able to handle every roadside service challenge and meet every towing need. Offering light duty towing, medium duty towing, heavy duty towing, specialized trailer transport, and private party impounds, one or more of our tow vehicles are always out on the road providing quality service to both individual and commercial customers somewhere in Coachella Valley. Readily available 24/7/365, contact Plaza Towing to get a truck dispatched to your location either now, or at a planned time of your choosing. Reach us online, or call us now at (866) 775-4314!
The post 3 Reasons Why Tow Trucks Get So Busy in the Spring Time appeared first on Plaza Towing.
6 Ways to Avoid Breakdowns When You Drive a Classic Car
Whether you are looking to enjoy the scenery while driving your classic car or planning a road trip, you will need to make sure that your car is prepared. Although all types of cars should be prepared before the road trip, classic cars particularly require you to do a little bit more work.
Here are 6 ways to avoid breakdowns when you drive a classic car:
Tune-Up
A simple tune-up can go a long way when it comes to preventing classic car breakdowns. It is a great way to prepare your vehicle for what it will endure. The following are some things you should take care of:
• Look for clogged air filters and issues with the fuel system.
• Change the oil and filter.
• Check the spark and also check for any suspicious oil or carbon deposits on the plugs.
Check the Tires
The correct tire pressure helps minimize wear. If your classic car has been in storage for a while, then it is highly recommended that you check tires for flat spots. Replace cracked or worn tires. Check the air pressure of your spare tire as well. There is no point in having a backup if it is not even ready to be used.
Check for Worn Rubber
Check the status of belts, seals, and gaskets. Any cracks or wearing will require replacement. This quick step will help you prevent having to replace a broken belt while on the road.
Check the Brakes
Check the brakes and make sure that the level of fluid in the master cylinder is correct. Check all the wheels of your classic car for brake fluid leakage. Owners of new vintage or classic cars usually don’t know when the brake lines or pads were last changed.
Check All the Cooling Systems
You want to make sure that the engine of your car is running cool. It is recommended that you flush the cooling system and replace it with new fluid. You should also make sure that the radiator cap fits tightly and there is no debris in the radiator pads.
Take the Car Out for a Road Test
Before you go on a road trip, it is highly recommended that you take your classic car out for a road test, driving both highway roads and city streets to get the vehicle in various road conditions. This will help you determine whether the car operates in every condition and what may possibly go wrong so you can tweak it before your trip. If you know that your trip will take your classic vehicle over certain types of terrain, then test the vehicle first on that type of terrain to make sure that it will be able to handle it.
No one wants to worry about the risk of their vehicle breaking down while on the road. Properly preparing your classic car before going on a road trip will help you prevent breakdowns and make your journey so much better.
Plaza Towing has been serving the roadside and vehicle transporting needs of Coachella Valley since 1969. With locations in Palm Desert and Indio, and a fleet of over 30 tow trucks, Plaza Towing is able to handle every roadside service challenge and meet every towing need. Offering light duty towing, medium duty towing, heavy duty towing, specialized trailer transport, and private party impounds, one or more of our tow vehicles are always out on the road providing quality service to both individual and commercial customers somewhere in Coachella Valley. Readily available 24/7/365, contact Plaza Towing to get a truck dispatched to your location either now, or at a planned time of your choosing. Reach us online, or call us now at (866) 775-4314!
The post 6 Ways to Avoid Breakdowns When You Drive a Classic Car appeared first on Plaza Towing.
Have a More Enjoyable Road Trip by Doing These 6 Things Before You Go
Going on a road trip is something everyone should experience at least once in their life. Nothing quite compares to hitting the open road in search of adventure, although it always helps to do a bit of planning before your trip to ensure its fun and enjoyable for everyone.
Here are 6 things to do before you head on your road trip for even better experience:
Make a Flexible Plan
Part of the fun of a road trip is driving into the unknown, which is why you shouldn’t focus too much on creating a tight plan with a packed itinerary.
Yes, you want a rough destination to travel towards and probably have a few things you’d love to check out on the way, but other than that try to remain very loose and flexible with your plans.
There is likely to be a few delays, pitstops, and detours along the way, so give yourself plenty of time to do whatever the day brings you. Over planning is only going to make the trip more stressful and less spontaneous!
Set a Budget
Road trips are more affordable than most other types of travel, but that doesn’t mean its going to be cheap. By setting a budget, you avoid overspending and won’t need to worry about how much money you have, giving more time to enjoy the trip.
Be sure to set aside cash for essentials like gas, food, and accommodation, unless you plan on camping or sleeping in your vehicle!
Give the Vehicle a Good Clean
Nobody wants to travel long distances in a car filled with trash, so make sure you give it a good clean before heading out. Plus, mess will quickly accumulate on your trip so by cleaning it before hand it means just some minor cleaning each day to keep the inside nice and clean.
This is especially true if sleeping in the car – nobody wants to share their bed with all kinds of junk!
Get the Vehicle Checked
The last thing that you want in the middle of a road trip is for vehicle problems, so take it to get checked by a mechanic before you leave. Have them check fluids, tires, brakes, and electronics to make sure no issues arise.
Make Sure to Buy a Map
Yes, Google Maps is a fantastic tool for road trips and it should be part of your navigation setup. You may also have GPS built into the vehicle but it’s still a good idea to purchase a physical map just in case there are connection issues or problems with the devices.
Also, checking out the map and finding hidden gems on your route only enhances the road trip experience, so grab a map and some pens and mark down places you may want to check out alone the way.
Prepare for the Worst
Nothing beats the peace of mind knowing you are safe should the worse happen on the road, which is why you should always have some emergency plans in place. Pack a medical kit, join a roadside assistance program, bring some repair tools in case something breaks down, and make sure your insurance is up to date!
Plaza Towing has been serving the roadside and vehicle transporting needs of Coachella Valley since 1969. With locations in Palm Desert and Indio, and a fleet of over 30 tow trucks, Plaza Towing is able to handle every roadside service challenge and meet every towing need. Offering light duty towing, medium duty towing, heavy duty towing, specialized trailer transport, and private party impounds, one or more of our tow vehicles are always out on the road providing quality service to both individual and commercial customers somewhere in Coachella Valley. Readily available 24/7/365, contact Plaza Towing to get a truck dispatched to your location either now, or at a planned time of your choosing. Reach us online, or call us now at (866) 775-4314!
The post Have a More Enjoyable Road Trip by Doing These 6 Things Before You Go appeared first on Plaza Towing.
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6 Vehicle Maintenance Tasks You Should Do In The Fall
Fall has finally arrived, meaning summer is the rear-view mirror and the days are set to cooler and shorter as we head towards winter. This presents the perfect opportunity to conduct some regular vehicle maintenance, with the changing seasons having various effects on our vehicles.
Winter has many challengers for drivers and their vehicles, which is why its so important to be prepared ahead of time during the Fall!
Here are 6 vehicle maintenance tasks you should check off your list this Fall:
Get an Oil Change
Your oil level may be okay for now but the colder weather does make oil more susceptible to freezing while the engine will neutrally be colder, so you need to be well-lubricated to remain in top condition for the coming months.
Remember, oil needs to be changed every 5,000 miles and you’ve likely clocked up a large portion of these during the summer months, especially if you’ve done some traveling. It’s always good to have a fresh oil change during the fall to ensure everything is working well into winter.
Make Sure Heaters and Defrosters Work
As you can imagine, your heaters are going to be on more often during Fall and into winter, so always check to see these are working as expected, especially if you’ve not turned them on throughout the summer.
Similarly, check defrosters to ensure they are working – the last thing you want is a frozen windshield that you need to get out and scrape in a cold fall morning!
Check Battery
A combination of colder weather and using heaters more often means the vehicle’s battery is under more strain come the fall. So, it’s a good idea to take the battery to get checked and replaced, if necessary. You can also clean the connections to ensure the wire is properly connected.
Check Lights
If you haven’t checked all your lights by the end of summer, then now is the time to do so. Fall means shorter days and longer nights, so your lights are going to be used more frequently and you’ll want to make sure they all work.
Check everything including headlines, brake lights, emergency lights and taillights to ensure they work, and no bulbs need to be replaced. Consider cleaning them too as there may be a build-up of dust, dirt, and dead bugs from the summer months.
Clean or Replace Windshield Wipers
You may not have used your windshield wipers during the summer but that’s probably going to change come fall. Wipers need to be clean and unbroken, otherwise they won’t clear the windshield properly and could cause a huge safety risk when driving in the rain.
So, check the windshield wipers for signs of wearing or any cracks, replacing immediately if they appear damaged.
Check Tires
Tires need to be in good condition for fall and winter because the road conditions are more hazardous. Check the pressure levels and get them filled with air if too low, while also inspecting the treads for signs of wearing, replacing if necessary.
Plaza Towing has been serving the roadside and vehicle transporting needs of Coachella Valley since 1969. With locations in Palm Desert and Indio, and a fleet of over 30 tow trucks, Plaza Towing is able to handle every roadside service challenge and meet every towing need. Offering light duty towing, medium duty towing, heavy duty towing, specialized trailer transport, and private party impounds, one or more of our tow vehicles are always out on the road providing quality service to both individual and commercial customers somewhere in Coachella Valley. Readily available 24/7/365, contact Plaza Towing to get a truck dispatched to your location either now, or at a planned time of your choosing. Reach us online, or call us now at (866) 775-4314!
The post 6 Vehicle Maintenance Tasks You Should Do In The Fall appeared first on Plaza Towing.
Don’t Expect a Towing Company to Do These 4 Things
We all have preconceptions about things that we’ve never used before. The towing industry sees this more than most, as not many people ever need to use the services of a tow truck company, instead hearing stories about you can and can’t expect from the service.
A lot of people know what to expect from a tow truck company. If you need roadside assistance, whether from a crash or car troubles, you can call a tow truck company for help. They can conduct repairs onsite or tow the truck away as needed, while also offering other types of roadside help such as getting a driver back in the car after locking themselves out.
On the other hand, there are some things that you shouldn’t expect a towing company to do. Some are misconceptions that you might have heard about towing companies; others are simply services that they don’t offer that you may have thought they did.
To give you a peace of mind on the road and avoid any confusion in the future, don’t expect a towing company to do these 4 things:
Overcharge You
This is perhaps the biggest misconception about a tow truck company – that they overcharge you for the service. While there are probably a few bad apples out there, most towing companies stick to fair pricing models, otherwise they won’t find much success as a business.
Now, towing services can seem expensive but that doesn’t mean you’ve been overcharged. When you break down the cost of roadside recovery, the fees charged make a lot more sense. For instance, costs include hiring the truck (an expensive vehicle to operate), distance travelled, the tow operator’s etc.
Make You Pay Upfront
Again, a few towing companies may request cash payment up front, but this doesn’t mean you should expect them all to do this.
A good towing company understands that most customers are in an emergency situation and require help first and foremost, so it shouldn’t be hard to find a towing company that will invoice you the bill after assisting you.
Ignore Your Call Because It’s Night
This is another common thing that some people think but don’t expect a tow truck company to turn away your call because it is night-time. Companies know that auto accidents can occur at inopportune moments, so always need to be available 24/7.
Not Assisting Non-Damaged Vehicles
Tow truck companies can assist with much more than just vehicle recover. In fact, a common misconception is that you can only call for assistance if the vehicle is damaged in some way – this is simply not true!
Tow truck companies can assist with all kinds of roadside problems, such as bringing fuel to standard drivers, helping the driver gain access when locked out of the car, or even just a standard battery jump.
Plaza Towing has been serving the roadside and vehicle transporting needs of Coachella Valley since 1969. With locations in Palm Desert and Indio, and a fleet of over 30 tow trucks, Plaza Towing is able to handle every roadside service challenge and meet every towing need. Offering light duty towing, medium duty towing, heavy duty towing, specialized trailer transport, and private party impounds, one or more of our tow vehicles are always out on the road providing quality service to both individual and commercial customers somewhere in Coachella Valley. Readily available 24/7/365, contact Plaza Towing to get a truck dispatched to your location either now, or at a planned time of your choosing. Reach us online, or call us now at (866) 775-4314!
The post Don’t Expect a Towing Company to Do These 4 Things appeared first on Plaza Towing.
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