Tag Archives: Chicago Tow

Different Kinds of Tow Trucks

Published August 23, 2016 By Chicago Towing

There’s three main kinds of tow trucks commonly used, but five common categories of equipment. The three main kinds of trucks are used for different crisis or labor scenarios like emergency towing, and determine what kind of tow truck that a service will send out. The three main kinds of tow trucks are:

Hook and Chain or Sling Trucks

Hook and chain tow trucks are rarely used today because, due to their design, damage is often sustained to the bumpers or front end of the cars. This truck works by looping a chain around the frame or axle of the vehicle, which is then wound up with a boom winch. Sometimes the sling truck is used on towing vehicles that have suffered an accident, or are missing one or both of the rear wheels, since the car can’t be securely towed by another kind of wrecker truck.

Flatbed, or slide trucks

These trucks are fit with beds that can be hydraulically positioned at an incline, and slid down to ground level – the truck is then driven onto the bed, or pulled on to it with a truck mounted winch. This is the most common and popular kind of tow truck used for emergency towing.

Top 7 Towing Myths DEBUNKED

Published March 17, 2016 By Chicago Towing

There’s a ton of misinformation out there being hawked by scam towing companies and blogs alike. Here’s a list of the most common towing misconceptions.

Myth One : You can increase a vehicle’s towing capacity by upgrading its hitch.

Untrue. A trailer’s hitch does not cancel out the maximum capacity rating of your vehicle – however it does maximize it. You should never tow more weight than your hitch is rated for.

Myth Two: Tongue weight makes up ten percent of the towed weight.

Untrue. The safe amount of tongue weight is somewhere between ten to fifteen percent of the trailer’s weight – depending on a range of criteria, including the load distribution and the position of the trailer’s axles. Often too much of the load is placed at the trailer’s front – which puts way too much weight on the tongue. If a heavy tongue is a concern for you, make sure to install a rated weight distribution mechanism, which can allow for more towing weight on your vehicle. The tongue prevents the trailer from swaying fast – this sort of sway can also be canceled if you increase the tongue weight, or place sway control devices on the trailer hitch.

Myth Three: All towing extensions work on truck campers.

Untrue. Hitch extensions have to have the right capacity of tongue weight for your truck – shorter extensions can handle weight better than longer ones, as a general rule.

Tips for Driving in Heavy Fog Chicago

Published January 20, 2016 By Chicago Towing

Driving in fog can be incredibly dangerous – not only does the moisture make vehicles more likely to skid, but your visibility is drastically reduced. If you find yourself having to make an automobile trip in heavy fog, try sticking to these tips – they are great safety boosters.

Use your low-beam headlights

While the seemingly obvious thing to do is use high beam headlights, this isn’t actually the best safety method, as the high beams simply illuminate the fog in front of you, making it harder to see traffic. Using your low beams light on your vehicle is a more effective way of spotting traffic.

Use the line in the pavement as a safety guide.

If the fog is exceptionally thick, try using the white line on the right side of the road as a navigation guide. Don’t look at the center pavement line, as doing so will lead you to be closer to oncoming traffic then leaning to the non-highway side.

Use your Fog Lights

If your car has specialty fog lights, you can illuminate the road in front of you, as well as making you and your car more easily spotted by other drivers. Rear fog lights can be effective in helping motorists behind you spot your vehicle’s course.

Drive Slow!

This is an essential tip. If you’re having problems seeing the road in front of you, don’t drive fast under any circumstances. Monitor your speedometer in order to regulate how fast you’re going, as thick fog that obscures the landscape around your car makes it more difficult to determine your vehicle’s velocity by sight alone.

Don’t stop – for any reason!

If you can’t see where you’re going, you may be inclined to stop on the road until the fog clears. If you need to stop, you need to find a spot far away from traffic, and make sure your lights are turned off. If you leave your lights on, it might make other motorists think that where you’re sitting is the direction of traffic, which could cause an accident.

Emergency Roadside Services

Chicago Towing Service is designed to assist you in an emergency when the vehicle you are either driving or riding and your vehicle becomes disabled in any weather conditions in Chicago, IL.

Identify a Professional Towing Company Chicago

Published December 18, 2015 By Chicago Towing

All professional towing companies in Chicago, IL:

Have tow trucks with a bed that tilts down to help loading and unloading (a rollback truck) or a wheel-lift truck – as well as knowing all the potential limitations, and all the advantages of their trucks.
Has equipment for loading your vehicle that’s proper. For a rollback truck, this would include a bridle with hook to hook slots in the frame, not simply a large “J” hook. Some vehicles, if they can’t be put into neutral, might need specialized equipment known as “skates” that can help load and unload the car.
Has the equipment for safely securing videos including ratchet straps, chains, and the proper type of hooks. All vehicles should be secured with at least four points. Sometimes wheel straps are needed, usually with high end cars. All professional towers have training with – and access to information detailing the proper methods of securing various makes of cars.
Has their trucks inspected annually, with a publically displayed, dated and signed sticker showing that the inspection occurred.
Meets all federal and state regulations including the public display of DOT number, company name, and place of origin – as well as all triangles, flares, cones, amber beacons, light bars, or fire extinguishers that may need to be used during transport.
Professional Towing Company drivers who have completed medical exams, carry “med cars” and if needed, have Commercial Driver’s Licenses which point towards a high level of training.
Stop at scales, as required when carrying loads greater than 10,000 pounds.
Carries insurance that covers their own vehicle, as well as “on-hook” and “garage-keeper’s” insurance that covers your vehicle while it’s in their care.
Has contracts or agreements with motor clubs and insurance agencies for direct payment, or no questions on reimbursement.
Has all safety vests and equipment to make themselves vehicle at any scenes of disability.
Have skills, training, certification, and experience about towing, recoveries, lock-outs, jump-starts, tire changes, and winching. The certification that can be obtained from organizations like the International Institute of Towing and Recovery, the Towing & Recovery Association of America, or Wreckmaster are all great ways of insuring a towing company’s professionalism.

Why use a professional towing company in Chicago?

A truly professional tower:

Can safely secure your vehicle to prevent any damage in the event of a sudden stop or accident.
Is unlikely to damage your vehicle during loading and unloading by improperly pulling on something, or by allowing a vehicle to row away.
Can tow vehicles with collision insurance to a body shop, and get paid by the body shop, so that the collision insurance pays for the tow and repairs as a single charge. If you’re getting emergency roadside assistance, the tower should be able to directly bill AAA or insurance agencies, or if you have the proper insurance coverage, provide you with an itemized invoice that you can submit for reimbursement.
Can accept checks or credit cards.
Can provide emergency roadside assistance: including tire changes, lock-outs, jump-starts, and recoveries. The company should additionally be skilled, and experienced in providing these services, as they require an element of talent, finesse, and understanding to undertake safely.
Maintains trucks to a high standard -(you don’t want to be left stranded because of a broken tow truck.)

The question that you should ask yourself is: would you rather entrust your vehicle to a skilled professional, or someone without the training and experience to safely service your vehicle without causing damage. The answer should be obvious. Always:

Verify the Chicago Towing company’s name, place of origin, and DOT number on the side of the truck.
Verify the commercial inspection sticker near the above information.
Inquire about all certification, experience, and training.
Look for required safety light bars, reflective clothes, or any other safety gear.
Look for equipment appropriate for winching, loading, unloading, and securing your vehicle.
Expect professional, courteous, timely service over the phone and in person.
Look for a professional looking business area.
Ask about “on-hook” and “garage-keeper’s” insurance.

Look out for Unprofessional towers who:

Put more emphasis on price over service and quality.
Don’t have insurance.
Don’t follow laws requiring signage, official publically displayed certification, safety equipment, lights, gear, truck inspections, etc…
Will claim that they don’t have to check at scales.
Don’t have special equipment to safely load, unload, and secure your vehicle.
Isn’t able to provide other services associated with towing, like lock-outs or recoveries.
Don’t have contracts or agreements with insurance companies, motor clubs, or body shops to provide direct billing or easy insurance reimbursement through a professional invoice.
Isn’t on the Trooper’s list with a file with rates and insurance.
Don’t leave beacons and lights on the scene of a disabled vehicle for safety.
Can’t always answer your call or provide you service at any time.
Can’t handle credit card or check payment.

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.