Automotive breakdowns are not uncommon; however, when faced with such a situation, most people want to get away from traffic and reach the repair shop near them as soon as possible. In these times of frustration, anger, and worry, people often make wrong decisions and take the first opportunity they get to self-tow their car. The decision makes complete sense at the time, but unfortunately, most people regret it once they see the consequences of self-tow on their vehicle.
Hauling your vehicle yourself can go wrong in so many ways. Sure the option seems quick and inexpensive, but problems start the moment you begin to pull your car with the help of another vehicle.
Attempts at Do-It-Yourself towing can be highly unreliable and dangerous, especially if you compare it with safe, reliable, and professional towing services offered by expert local tow companies such as Action Towing.
Below are some of the most common reasons why you should not tow your vehicle yourself.
Potential Risk Involved
Most people, who are enthusiasts of solving their own problems, don’t realize that towing or hauling a vehicle is not a one-person job and is a specialized task that inexperienced people should not try.
Improper towing can severely damage your car and harm people on the road. Moreover, contrary to popular belief, pulling your own vehicle does not have the same success rate as professional towing services.
It is important to remember that professional towing companies have years of field experience, knowledge, and necessary tools to safely and precisely do their job. In contrast, DIY towing involves a bunch of inexperienced people that risk damaging your car as well as others on the road.
Unsuitable Towing Rating
Towing rating is the maximum towing capacity a tow vehicle can safely haul down the road. Understanding the towing score is crucial to determine whether a tow truck can carry a specific car over a distance without damaging it. However, most amateur towers are not aware of this information and end up overloading and harming the hauling vehicle. If the maximum tow capacity is exceeded, it can damage the towing car’s exterior, explode tires, cause brake failure, increase heat transmission, and much more.
Professional tow trucks are made to haul vehicles and are equipped with the right towing tools and setup. This equipment helps determine the truck’s maximum vehicle capacity that is necessary for a safe tow.
Incorrect Tow Bars
The most important tool that is required when towing a vehicle is a tow bar. All tow bars have their own maximum towing capacity, and overloading them or using an improperly designed and unfitted towbar can create many problems, such as overheated transmission, broken suspension, and failing brakes.
Improper Braking Systems
While towing a car, due to the additional weight behind it, the tow vehicle’s momentum shifts, which hinders its brake’s proper functioning. Inexperienced drivers don’t take this into account and often end up in a terrible accident where they can’t stop their vehicle in case of an emergency.
Special Driving Method Required
Towing demands specialized driving techniques, which are different for towing vehicles depending on their maximum towing capacity and the towing route. Professional tow truck drivers know how to change their driving methods to meet these demands. These techniques can include wider turns to prevent harming curbs, cautious driving while towing downhill or uphill and applying brakes at the right time to adjust with the shifted momentum.
If you’re towing your vehicle yourself, chances are you’ll lack knowledge of these specialized driving techniques.
About Leader Towing
Action Towing is an expert vehicle towing company based in Edmonton, Alberta. We have professional truck drivers who can pull off any kind of towing job efficiently. For more information on Edmonton’s quick and accessible towing services, kindly visit our website or contact us today