Towing Services For Broken Down Vehicles: What You Need To Know

Do you have a vehicle that has broken down unexpectedly and don’t know how to get it back up and running? Towing services are available to assist with the issue of getting your disabled vehicle safely from one place to another.

This blog post will provide you with essential tips and relevant information about towing services for broken down vehicles, so you can make an informed decision on what tow service is best for your needs.

Whether your car or truck needs a jump start at the side of the road due to dead battery, or if it completely broke down on the highway – let’s explore all options for taking emergency action when needed!

Types of Towing Services for Broken Down Vehicles

When you need to tow a broken down vehicle, there are various services available such as flatbed towing, dolly towing, wheel lift towing and tilt deck towing.

Flatbed Towing

Flatbed towing is a common type of tow service used when a vehicle has suffered an accident or breakdown and can no longer drive under its own power. This form of towing involves the car being loaded onto the back of a flatbed truck, which then straps it securely so that it can be transported safely on the road.

Often comprising more than half of all tow companies’ vehicles, flatbed trucks are considered safer due to their larger size and increased stability for transporting cars damaged by accidents or those unable to move on their own after breaking down.

This also results in less damage occurring during transit as opposed to jerkier forms of tire-based modes such as dolly or wheel lifts.

Dolly Towing

Dolly towing is a type of towing service commonly used for broken down vehicles. It involves placing the car onto a tow dolly, which consists of two wheels connected by an axle with adjustable arms that securely attach to either the front or back tires of the vehicle while it is towed away.

As it does not require lifting up and carrying the entire car, it offers a lower entry cost compared to other more traditional methods that involve utilizing a flatbed truck or crane hoisting services.

The dolly also provides additional flexibility in terms of being able to transport cars with different sizes, weights and wheelbase lengths as well as all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive vehicles.

When selecting dolly Towing, however, there are important considerations such as ensuring sufficient clearance between the ground and bumper height when loading onto (or off) the tow dolly ramp – any difference may cause issues when navigating sharp turns or uneven surfaces.

Wheel Lift Towing

Wheel lift tow trucks are used to transport disabled vehicles from one place to another. This type of tow truck involves lifting either the front or reasr end of the vehicle, leaving half of the wheels on the ground.

As a result, wheel lift towing is an ideal method for transporting vehicles which have been involved in accidents or those that have completely broken down due to mechanical issues.

The process begins by securing chains around some parts of the car’s frame where it will be lifted off partially from the ground and then towed away with a separate power supply vehicle hooked up at its rear part.

Wheel lift tow trucks tend be more suitable for shorter distances where you don’t immediately require access to a flatbed variation as they provide much more flexible capabilities when negotiating tight corners or other difficult geographical angles during transportation compared other types such as flat bedding options.

Tilt Deck Towing

Tilt deck towing is a type of towing service designed for disabled or indisposed vehicles, such as those with brake problems, flat tires, or any other kind of mechanical issue. This method is commonly used by tow truck services as it allows them to load the vehicle onto their truck and transport it from its current location without further damaging it.

The process involves placing the floor board on a slant – thus creating an angle – in order to access and easily load both the front and rear portion of the car onto the bed. Once loaded up, straps can be placed around each tire so that nothing falls off during transportation.

Not only does tilt deck towing provide secure storage for your vehicle while being relocated but it also takes significantly less time than regular wheel lift towing, which makes this service great for emergency situations where you don’t have hours to spare.

Tips to Prepare Your Disabled Vehicle for Towing

To ensure a smooth towing process, make sure to secure any loose items inside the vehicle, provide clear directions for drivers if needed and disable all security alarms beforehand.

Learn more for an effortless tow experience!

Secure loose items

Before towing a disabled vehicle, it is essential that any loose items inside the vehicle are secured to prevent them from flying around and potentially causing damage or injury during transit.

Even small objects such as coins, electronics, documents and car accessories like bike racks should be tightly fastened in place before hooking up the vehicle to a tow truck. This is particularly important with large bulky items like bikes or skis which can easily become projectiles if not securely attached.

It’s also helpful for drivers to make sure they check all interior areas of their vehicles for additional loose items that may have overloaded pockets or storage compartments – cell phones tucked away in glove boxes, water bottles under seats – anything that could come lose during transport and cause problems must be either removed from the car completely or strapped down securely so it does not cause an obstruction while being towed.

Remove personal belongings

It is extremely important to remove all personal belongings from the disabled vehicle before towing. Items such as laptop computers, mobile phones, wallets and handbags should be removed or collected securely as these items can quickly be stolen by opportunistic thieves while your car is being towed.

Additionally, documents such as driver’s licenses, registrations and insurance papers must also be taken out of the vehicle for safety reasons. Similarly, any jewelry or high-value items shouldn’t remain in the car during a tow job as they may never get recovered if an accident occurs on route to the destination.

Even custom or aftermarket accessories like head units and GPS devices should not remain in a broken down car due to potential damage caused by weather conditions during movement. In short, the risks associated with leaving valuable items inside the vehicle are far too great considering how unattended it will inevitably become throughout its journey so make sure you collect all of your personal belongings prior to handing over control of your disabled car!

Provide clear instructions

It is vital to provide clear instructions when preparing a disabled vehicle for towing. By providing the tow operator with exact information about where the car is, as well as any special instructions regarding how or where the vehicle needs to be towed, you can ensure that it arrives safely and efficiently at its destination.

Clear instructions are also important because they help the tow operator understand any particular factors surrounding your breakdown such as difficult terrain, accessibility issues or other factors that need to be taken into consideration before attempting to move your vehicle.

Providing all necessary information prior to hand, such as contact details of who will pay for the tow or if there are special regulations governing its movement on public roads, will help ensure that no issues arise during transit and avoid unwelcome delays and potential legal problems along the way.

Disable the alarm system

When towing a broken down vehicle with an active alarm, it is absolutely essential that you first disable the system. Failing to do so can create major obstacles for both yourself and the tow truck driver.

The last thing you want is for your car’s loud and irritating alarm to go off during the process- or shortly afterwards when dropped off at its destination. Additionally, depending on how far away you are from your disabled vehicle – such as if it’s located in a different city – this situation could result in legal consequences should someone not be able identify who owns it quickly enough.

To prevent this scenario altogether, before handing over your keys make sure that all personal belongings have been secured and removed from inside of the car; then locate where underneath either the hood or dashboard (typically indicated by an “alarm button”) control switch/button used turn ‘on ‘and’off’.

After disabling your alarmed system use a steering wheel lock while waiting or having towed; doing so will provide further insight into preventing any potential theft until finally resolved.

Ensure tires are properly inflated

Inflating tires to the right pressure is very important before any kind of towing for a disabled vehicle. When it comes to exercising caution when prepping up a car, checking tire pressure should be at the top of the checklist.

To ensure optimal performance and safety during towing, it’s important that tires are properly inflated according to their maximum PSI rating (pounds per square inch) which can usually be found imprinted on each sidewall.

It’s also essential to check the tire pressure sticker inside the driver’s door jam as this provides specific information about what level of inflation is recommended for your particular make and model.

Going even one pound above or below this mark could potentially lead to loss of control while driving leading an accident or another dangerous situation due to reduced traction in certain road conditions.

Towing trailers? Don’t forget that you have two sets of tires and both need pto be checked! Make sure they’re all at least 10 pounds higher than normal regardless if it’s long-distance tow or not.

Conclusion

Towing services for broken down vehicles can be a lifesaver in many situations. They can get your car to the repair shop quickly and safely, eliminating time and stress from the process.

When choosing a towing service provider, it is important to consider factors such as reputation, response time, pricing, availability, and variety of services offered. It is also beneficial to have an experienced tow truck driver or company on call for emergency roadside assistance needs like jump starting a battery or replacing tires.

Towing services are available 24/7 around Tucson for common issues like accidents, breakdowns and flat tires so that you don’t have to worry about getting stranded out somewhere! Ultimately having reliable professionals on call for vehicle emergencies will save you considerable hassle if your car ever stalls on the side of the road!