Surface conditions can add significantly to the amount of resistance to overcome when winching a vehicle. Winching a 4,000-lb. vehicle over a hard surface will require about 400 pounds of effort, while winching over grass or gravel will require approximately 1,320 pounds of effort. Mud [...]
Under normal operation, all tires heat up, and since air expands with heat, the air pressure in the tire will increase. This is anticipated by the tire manufacturer, and though a hot tire’s air pressure might exceed the cold pressure limit, you should not bleed-down [...]
To make the most profit on motor club calls, use the right service vehicle. In his article “Making $$$ with Motor Clubs” in the Tow Times March issue, Dan Messina advises: “Use the vehicle that is the least expensive to run the call. If you [...]
One of the best strategies towing and recovery operators can take to prevent secondary crashes at accident scenes is to limit their time on scene, says Tow Times safety writer Patrick Gratzianna. This is not permission to cut corners, but rather a reminder to work [...]
When installing light bars on a tow truck,here’s a tip from Tow Times Troubleshooting columnist Jon Wickham: “It’s not enough for the body of the light bar to be bolted down in order for the light bar to be properly grounded. The individual ground wires [...]
Tow Times safety editor Patrick Gratzianna comes clean in the Tow Times November issue: you need to clean up your mess. In Gratzianna’s Safety Meeting column (“Clean Up Your Mess!”) he notes the importance of maintaining a clean shop, truck and tow scene. Lastly, he [...]
Editor’s Note: Tow Times maintenance editor A.P. McDonald provides tow truck winter-proofing tips, Alaskan-style, in the Tow Times October 2012 issue. Although you may not operate in minus-50-degree temperatures, these tips can be helpful to keep your fleet going strong this winter. Here’s an excerpt [...]
With extreme hot weather comes the need to make sure your tow truck’s coolant levels are constantly maintained. Coolant loss should be promptly investigated. Leaks that leave puddles or visible drip trails may be easy to locate and correct with a fix as simple as [...]
Among the ways researchers have found that first responders can improve the ability of motorists to see and recognize emergency vehicles includes using retro-reflective material to outline an emergency vehicle with “contour” or “edge” markings, especially on large vehicles. Get more tips about visibility and [...]
Once your winch cable is connected to a disabled vehicle, moving your tow truck under load is discouraged due to lack of control and possible shock loads. Read many more winching tips from safety columnist Patrick Gratzianna in the June issue of Tow Times.
