Category Archives: Roadside Assistance Chicago

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Common Car Towing Questions

Published February 1, 2016 By Chicago Towing

Can tow trucks tow the car backwards?

Most tow trucks can hook themselves up to the front or the back of the vehicle that’s being towed. This is actually the ideal (and most widely used) method for vehicles with rear wheel drive, although front or all-wheel drive vehicles can also be towed from the back if the car’s front can be lifted with a pulley or dolly.

Can your car get towed if you’re touching it?

Absolutely not. In order to complete the towing job safely, the tow truck driver will need you to stand away from your vehicle. If you’re physically blocking the car from getting towed, If your car is being towed due to legal injunction, and you’re physically blocking it from getting towed, the driver might contact the police to escort you away – which may result in a fine or civil charges of obstruction.

How can I prevent my car from being able to get towed by a roll-back or flatbed tow truck?

These trucks get their name from their flatbed that tilts backwards so that vehicles can get rolled on to it for transporting. These trucks usually transport strangely shaped, damaged, or large vehicles – but also commonly tow regular cars. Since the flatbed’s driver needs to position the truck directly in line with the car so that it can be winched up, you can prevent one of these trucks from being able to tow you by parking somewhere there the flatbed truck can’t reach the front or back of the car.

8 Essential Safety Tips for Family Road Trips

Published December 27, 2015 By Chicago Towing

If you’re getting ready to embark on a long, family road trip, it’s best to ensure safety – and pleasure – if you develop and act on a checklist that you follow prior to leaving. In this blog post, I’ll list a number of the criteria that I’ve developed on my own checklist before a family vacation last summer. Feel free to add as you go – this list simply acts as a great initial structure to follow which will take care of all the safety essentials. Here we go.

Tip One – Keep your Phone Book Full

Make sure to program a bunch of contacts into your phone before leaving on your trip. You want to be able to have all the phone numbers of your family, doctors, neighbors, and even tow truck companies that you might need to reach in the event of an emergency.

Tip Two – Keep your Cell Phone on Hand

Make sure to always carry your cell phone, maps, and GPS navigation system with you during the entire course of your trip. Additionally, research the route you’re taking before you leave, so that you know you have the proper directions. It will save you alot of last minute ground work.

Tip Three – Make sure your vehicle is Happy

Before leaving, check the fluid levels of your vehicle, and inspect its tires, hoses, and belts. You want to be certain that all aspects of your car are working correctly before you leave, so there’s no nasty surprises. If you get stuck on the road always have an emergency number for an expert roadside assistance company.

Tip Four – Back up Car Gear

In the event of an automobile malfunction, you want to be prepared. Make sure to bring an inflated spare tire with you, as well as a jack and a lug wrench – you would need both these tools in the event of a tire blowout, or a damaged tire.

Tip Five – Make sure your tires are full.

You’re going to want to check the air pressure of all 4 of your tires, according to the specifications in your vehicle’s owner’s manual. Driving with under-pressured tires can result in dangerous sidewall blowouts, and a level of poor traction that can make drivers totally lose control of their cars.

Tip Six- Gear for Light and Darkness

Always carry a flashlight and flare. If you’re stranded on a dark road this can be a lifesaver. Additionally, make sure to carry protective eye gear like sunglasses.

Tip Seven – Emergency Provisions

Always carry at least a gallon of drinking water, a bottle of aspirin or ibuprofen, a warm blanket, any eye-drops you may need, a roll of paper towels, a change of clothes, a warm sweatshirt or jacket, and any medication that you might take,

Tip Eight – Mind your Body’s Clock

It’s important to get at least 8 hours of good restful sleep before embarking on your trip. This ensures that you’re alert, awake, and have the ability to drive safe, with full awareness of the traffic around you. This will help prevent any of the careless mistakes that often result in accidents for driver’s that can’t maintain a level of steady alertness on the road.

Preparing Your Vehicle for Winter

Published December 21, 2015 By Chicago Towing

The harsh weather of winter can be rough on vehicles. It’s important, for your own safety, and the safety of your car, that you prepare for the icy road that lies ahead of you. The intense cold of winter can take its toll on the internal mechanics of cars. If you don’t want to be caught unprepared, it’s important to inspect and repair your vehicle before it gets as extremely cold as it normally does in the middle of winter. Here’s a list of tips you can follow to keep your vehicle prepared and ready.

Have Ice Tools Ready

Leave ice scrapers and snow brushes inside the house if an overnight storm is predicted. This will allow you to remove ice and snow without having to open your car, which, when frozen, can be quite an arduous task. By keeping window and lock de-icers inside the house, you can rest assured that you’re fully prepared to uncover your vehicle from the frost.

Make sure Windshield Wipers are Operating

Effective windshield wipers should be able to clear the windshield in three swipes. If this isn’t happening, and cleaning the blades doesn’t help, you should replace the blades. Winterized blades prevent snow from jamming within the center of the blade itself and are ideal for snowy conditions. Refill washer fluid frequently. You don’t want to wait until you’re out of fluid to notice that your windhield is caked with frozen salt. You additionally want to utilize the defroster to keep the fluid from freezing inside the cold. The inside of the windows should be kept clean to reduce the forming of surface fog, as well as speeding defogging. By using the air conditioner with the heat on, you can quickly defog windows.

Make sure that your antifreeze is really freeze proof

Engine coolant or antifreeze should also be tested to make sure that it’s protected from freezing. If it looks old or has been there for over two years, change the antifreeze to restore the working order of the car’s rust inhibitors and water pump lubricants. By performing a professional power flush, you’ll remove any dirt that may cause water pump trailer.

Change engine oil

As it gets colder, the thickness of oil becomes crucial. Oil without a “W” in it’s thickness rating (like 5W-30) could make the engine crank up too slow. By checking your car’s owner’s manual for the recommended oil thickness for cold weather you can be prepared. Automotive transmission fluid should always be full, not leaking, and should never looked singed, brown, or burnt. Transmissions are strained in the cold – make sure to change your transmission oil before it gets cold to prevent problems.

Make sure lights are in working order

High beams, brake lights, and turn signals should be working properly, and headlights should be able to be aimed correctly. For maximum visibility- and safety – keep the lights clean.

Let your Tires tread well

All tire treads should have at leas ta 2/32’’ depth in their grooves. If the tire tread is wearing differently between the edges, sides, and middle groove, check the tire pressure. If one side is wearing faster than the other, it’s time for your car’s wheels to be realigned. The deeper the grooves of the tread, the better traction you have in snow or ice. Tire chains are also recommended.

Check your brakes and exhaust system

No matter the climate, brakes should be checked at least twice a year to ensure safety. This maintenance is best done before Winter and Summer, just to avoid working in extreme temperatures. Exhaust systems should also be inspected and primed – these systems can be extremely dangerous when not working correctly – especially if one’s stuck in snow or ice. By regularly checking your car’s systems, you’re ensuring your safety, and the lasting longevity of your vehicle, no matter the weather.

8 Great ways to avoid being towed in Chicago

Published December 9, 2015 By Chicago Towing

Even if it seems like a rare occurrence, it’s actually not that rare that cars find themselves getting towed. Here’s eight great tips for avoiding ever having to deal with getting your car towed in Chicago.

Try not to park in common towing spots

These spots vary from place to place – but in most areas, blocking active driveways, intersections, and curb ramps is a sure way to get towed. Many areas also have laws determining how long you can keep your vehicle street parked. It’s worth it to become familiar with the laws regarding parking, driving, standing, and stalling in your area. As a ground rule though, never park by

Bus Stops
Loading Zones (usually marked with yellow)
Blue Zones (if there’s not a disabled person marker on your vehicle)
Red zones (curbed painted Red)
Tow Away zones during normal commuting hours.

2. Always Read Street Signs

It’s important to read these carefully, especially when you’re in commercial areas with high traffic. Police and traffic officers tow illegally parked cars much more often, and with a much greater number in high traffic areas – which also often carry much more parking restrictions.

3. Be aware during commute hours.

During crowded evening and morning commutes, many cities bar parking on many streets. A certain parking space could be completely legal at 2pm, but would get your car towed at 3pm. You have to be aware of what the parking ordinance for that space is – even when you’re at a meter. The usual peak commute hours are from 7am to 9am and from 3pm to 7pm.

4. Call a tow company yourself.

Don’t rely on city services to tow your car if it breaks down. Call a private towing company in Chicago or roadside assistance agency yourself.

5. Pay all outstanding traffic tickets.

In some areas, cars with delinquent parking tickets can be booted or even towed – this can happen even if your car is in a perfectly legal parking space. If your car gets booted, you’ll have to pay an extra cost to remove the boot. Booting and towing, added with tickets and time penalties add up to a lot of money. You can avoid this if you pay your parking tickets.

6. Avoid getting parking tickets in the first place.

Set an alarm on your phone to remind you that the meter is about to expire.
Keep a bunch of quarters for meters in your car.
If it’s offered in your area, buy a prepaid parking card.
Mark your calendar with the street cleaning schedule and no-parking times for the areas that you frequent.

7. Keep current vehicle registration.

All police have the right to tow and potentially impound your car if your registration isn’t current when you’re stopped by a police officer.

8. Always keep your driver’s license current.

If you’re ever stopped by police while you’re driving, and your license has expired or is otherwise illegible or not current, the police have the right to tow and impound your vehicle if nobody else is available inside the car to take over the wheel.