Car problems, like thunder, can strike at any time, often leaving you stressed and stranded. Be it a flat tire, an accident, or a breakdown, knowing how recovery and car towing work can save your day. This process is all about specialised tools and skilled professionals with a solid understanding of safety.
Getting your car towed involves several factors. First, you need to get a basic idea. Then, it is also vital to know how to select the best towing services in Melbourne.
What are the Basics of Towing a Car?
Car towing is a process that involves moving an improperly parked or disabled vehicle with a tow truck. Tow trucks can be of various types. This includes hooks, flatbeds, wheel lifts, and chain trucks. Each of these trucks has a different purpose to ensure the ultimate safety of the vehicle. But you also have to be mindful about choosing the right towing service in Melbourne.
Flatbed Trucks
These are the most common types of tow trucks. They have a huge flatbed that can be slid back and incline.
This allows the vehicle to be winched or driven onto it. This process is the safest for a vehicle being towed as it removes the vehicle from the ground completely. This leads to minimum damage to the tires and reduces the scope of transit damage.
Chain and Hook Tow Trucks
Chain and hook tow trucks use a chain and hook to lift the rear or front off the surface, towing the vehicle on the two remaining wheels.
This method of car towing, although effective, can potentially cause severe harm to your vehicle, especially to the suspension or the bumper. Thus, it is not as popular with regular passenger cars but used for wrecked or damaged cars.
Wheel-Lift Tow Trucks
Wheel-lift trucks come with a metal yoke which is placed below the rear or front wheels of the car to take it off the surface. This method does not cause as much harm to the vehicle and is often used for short distances.
What is the Recovery Process?
The process of recovery is all about getting a car from a dangerous or tough situation. This involves situations when the car is stuck in water, sand, or mud or has suffered an accident. Recovery needs special tools and exercises needed for standard car towing.
● Winching
This is a common recovery process that involves a powerful winch to pull a car out of a difficult situation. This process demands strength and control to ensure a car is shifted without causing any more damage. Winches are often put over tow trucks and have tools to manage a range of scenarios for recovery.
● Rotator Recovery Vehicles
Rotator recovery vehicles are used for further complex recoveries. These are heavy-duty trucks with rotating arms. These arms are designed to move and rotate cars in challenging situations. Rotator recovery vehicles are used especially in recovering a vehicle post-accident, where cars are often stuck in out-of-reach places or have been overturned.
Choosing a Car Towing Service
There are various factors to consider while selecting the perfect towing service in Melbourne. To begin with, it is highly essential to look into the history of the company. This goes in direct line with their reputation, ratings, and reviews. This will ensure your car is treated with proper care and receives high-quality services.
These are the few most essential considerations to think about before choosing a car towing service:
● Reputation
A car or any vehicle is one of the most expensive investments and something very important for a person. Therefore, looking for a company with a good track record and reputation is super essential. It will mean that the company has a good record with its previous clients and will be able to provide the care your vehicle deserves.
● Availability
Look for a company that is on call all the time. They should be able to offer assistance whenever needed. This will save you in emergencies in case you have been stranded in the middle of the road with nothing else to watch out for.
● Equipment
A car towing service must have the right sort of tools. Before contacting a service, you should ensure they have the necessary tools and equipment that your car will need. This includes trailer hitches, dollies, and a proper towing vehicle that fits the demand of the car and the situation.
● Insurance
A reputable company offering car towing service in Melbourne needs to be entirely covered by insurance. This will protect you and your vehicle in case of a severe accident or any other serious problem.
● Permits
Having the necessary permits is another essential aspect of choosing a towing service. You must check if the company you are picking has the right certificates and permits for the job they have taken up.
● Experience
Like their reputation, their experience has the same importance. Carefully consider the kind of training a company has before choosing them. Car towing is a tough job and needs professional work.
● Cost
Before picking a service for your car, ensure you are aware of the costs. Instead of waiting for an emergency, you can check out a few of the popular services and tally their quotes to get the best price in the market.
Conclusion
You should be cautious before choosing the right car towing service that fits your demands. Proper research would ensure that you pick a service that checks all the boxes and provides you with a good service without causing more harm to your vehicle.
