What a Driver Must Do to Tow another Car Safely

There are many reasons why you might have to tow another vehicle with your own vehicle. Whether taking a cross-country road trip with your RV and primary vehicle in tow, moving to another state for work, or helping a friend transport their broken-down vehicle to their auto repair shop, the most important factor is safety. There are certain protocols that you, as the driver of the vehicle towing the other vehicle, must take in order to protect both people and cargo on the road.

Continue reading to learn some vital driving safety tips for towing another vehicle with your own.

24 Hour Towing and Roadside Assistance
24 Hour Towing and Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484

Safety Tips for the Driver of the Towing Vehicle

✅ Use Extreme Caution

Always drive with superior care and caution. Never exceed 16 miles per hour on the road, and be sure to stay alert of all surroundings, both in front of you, beside you, and behind you. Driving too fast with another vehicle in tow can create too much inertia, or force, that can easily turn into uncontrollable momentum. As a result, your vehicle might have trouble coming to a stop on demand.

✅ Utilize the Clutch Properly

When pulling away for the first time with the other vehicle in tow behind you, it is vital that you operate your clutch properly. Being gentle with the clutch, pull out delicately, and at a very slow pace. If you are not using a vehicle with a manual clutch, just be sure to pull out slowly and carefully. If you pull out abruptly, you can snap the towrope or towing pole that connects your car to the towed one. As a result, the towed vehicle can whip forward and smash into the back of yours, or worse, come off on the road and smash into another person or vehicle.

✅ Be Slow and Gentle When Braking

Never slam on the brakes, or brake suddenly, when towing another vehicle with your own. This can cause the same type of problems with pulling out too fast, as mentioned above, but it can also cause massive damage to both vehicles. Give yourself several hundred feet to brake slowly, before coming to a stop, turning, or yielding. Apply the brakes gradually and gently to avoid sudden braking. Likewise, use your turn signals far ahead of time to warn drivers around you.

If the Driver is Sitting in the Car Being Towed…

In the case that you are utilizing a towing method that allows the driver to sit inside their own car while your car tows it, there are certain precautions they must take as well. They should remain fully alert, watching all braking and turn signaling. This allows them to actively steer and brake in coordination with the other vehicle, as needed. Also, they should keep constant tension in the towrope or towing pole to reduce jerking and similar abrupt movements.

Indianapolis Indiana Towing and Recovery Services You Can Trust

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for 24 hour towing and recovery services, or roadside assistance in Indianapolis and throughout Central Indiana. Our friendly staff is waiting by the phones, ready to help you get back on the road, safe and sound. We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, so you can always count on us. Request a free estimate, today.

Indianapolis Towing & Recovery 317-247-8484

6 Maintenance Tips for Your Personal Watercraft Trailer

Whether yours is a Wave Runner, Sea-Doo, Jet Ski, or some other type of personal watercraft, you likely have a trailer to get it from point A to point B. As the owner of a personal watercraft, you understand how important it is to take good care of your asset considering it’s an expensive and potentially dangerous piece of equipment. However, many personal watercraft owners tend to overlook the needs of the watercraft’s trailer. Trailers require maintenance too, and without proper routine maintenance, you can expect to run into some mechanical and operational issues down the line. Both of which can lead to serious accidents, injuries, and costly structural damage. Fortunately, all of these scenarios can be avoided with some regular watercraft trailer maintenance.

Continue reading to learn the top six maintenance tips you need to know when it comes to taking care of your personal watercraft trailer.

Indiana Boat Jet Ski Towing
Indiana Boat Jet Ski Towing 317-247-8484

Routine Cleaning

all trailers require some light routine cleaning in order to keep them in superior condition. This simply involves taking a microfiber cloth to the surface areas, eliminating dust and debris that accumulates over a period of a couple of days. For a deeper claim, opt for a degreasing agent or some other cleaner that safe for the type of metal your trailer is made of. This can remove rust and other surface blemishes, thus polishing up the exterior quite nicely. On a less regular basis but still on schedule, it is a good idea to use a mild soap and water solution on your trailer, and rinsed clean with a garden hose.

Lubrication

along with regular cleaning, a watercraft trailer also needs its mechanical and moving parts lubricated periodically. It is recommended to use a spray lubricant product, which is available at any local home improvement store or even at your local department store. Be sure to treat all exposed parts that are moving or mechanical, including hubs, hinges, bolts, springs, and a tongue jacket your trailer has one. If your personal watercraft trailer happens to have grease nipples, you can also treat them with the grease gun.

Wheel Bearings

Be sure to give your wheel bearings an inspection every once in a while. You might need to get them repacked. Talk to the manufacturer to see what your personal watercraft trailer requires in terms of wheel bearing and hub maintenance.

Tires

T will he tires on your trailer make the most contact with the ground, which means they experience a higher level of wear and tear. For this reason, it is important to regularly inspect your personal watercraft trailer tires to ensure they are properly inflated and without any defects. Look for problems like bulging sidewalls, cracked sidewalls, tread wear, and tire blowouts.

Hitch

Your hitch system to your personal watercraft trailer is one of the most important components considering a connects your trailer to your towing vehicle. Regularly inspect your hitch set up to ensure the hitch ball, trailer hitch coupler, safety chains, and wiring systems are all properly connected and operational. If you want us to check to see if your hitch ball is properly level, simply drop a few dollops of water on the very top. Watch how the water droplets fall, and this can give you an indication on whether your hitch ball is tipped up, down, or tilted forward.

Lighting System

Last, inspect your trailer’s lighting system to ensure the brake lights, turn signals, hazard lights, taillights, and parking lights are all connected to your towing vehicle’s lighting system and operational. Before each use, it is important to check the lighting system to ensure all of the lights are probably working. You will get pulled over by law enforcement if your lighting system on your trailer is not synced up with your towing vehicle.

Going a Long Distance? Choose Professional Towing Service for Your Boats and Watercrafts!

Central Indiana Long Distance Boat Towing Services You Can Trust

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for long distance boat towing services in Indianapolis and throughout Central Indiana. Our friendly staff is waiting by the phones, ready to help you get back on the road, safe and sound. We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, so you can always count on us. Request a free estimate, today.

Indianapolis Towing & Recovery 317-247-8484

Important Information About Transmission Fluid Leaks

When it comes to your car’s transmission, there is nothing more important than ensuring it maintains proper fluid levels. After all, transmission fluid is one of the seven vital automotive fluids that every vehicle needs to operate safely and efficiently. One of the most common causes of lost transmission fluid is a leak.

Continue reading to learn what you need to know about transmission fluid leaks, including common facts like how to detect them, and what to do if your car has one.

24 Hour Towing and Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484
24 Hour Towing and Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484

How to Monitor Transmission Fluid

There are many factors that determine how often you should monitor a vehicle’s transmission fluid levels. The frequency of transmission fluid checks primarily depends on the make and model of the vehicle, however, there could be several other more specific factors that you need to know. For instance, most instructions tell you to leave the car engine on while checking the transmission fluid; but, if you are driving a Honda, the engine needs to be turned off. 

If you drive a Dodge model, you have to put in neutral while applying the emergency brake in order to check your transmission fluid. With all the different guidelines and variables that apply to each make and model vehicle and transmission, it is strongly suggested to always refer to your vehicle’s owners’ manual for the right information. You can also contact a local auto shop for professional advice you can trust.  Many mechanics offer free fluid checks, so be sure to take advantage of this when it is time your vehicle is in the shop!

Transmission Leak Dangers

Minor leaks can easily go unnoticed to an untrained eye. In fact, many drivers on the road have automotive fluid leaks and don’t even realize they are there; but it is never safe to drive with a leak, especially if it’s coming from the transmission. Although minor leaks are not likely to impose an immediate danger on the road, they will lead to more severe damages to other car parts, which can cause serious car accidents and injuries, or cost you thousands of dollars in needed repairs and part replacements. These damages are costly, but can fortunately be avoided by not operating the vehicle until it is repaired.

Transmission Leak Detection

The most common sign of a transmission leak is seeing the actual transmission fluid seeping or puddling beneath a car. Transmission fluid is dark red in color. When clean, it is a light pink or red, but when dirty, it will appear burnt orange or brown. If you detect a leak in your transmission, do not continue driving the vehicle. If you are on the road, pull over and contact a 24 hour roadside assistance company. They may be able to patch up your leak and replace your fluid well-enough to get you home or to the nearest mechanic. Otherwise, they can tow your vehicle for you. If you are at home, and notice the leak on your driveway, you should not drive your car. Instead, contact a tow truck to have your car towed to your auto repair shop of choice.

Where to Get Fast Towing and Roadside Assistance in Indianapolis, Indiana

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for 24 hour roadside assistance and towing in Indianapolis and throughout Central Indiana. We are fully-equipped with the right fleets to assist cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, construction equipment, trailers, vans, semi-trucks, airplanes, and much more. Since 1927, we have a provided a wide range of towing and roadside assistance services, and for the past 90 years, we have earned a reputation for trusted service at a fair price! We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, so you can always count on us. Request a free estimate, today.

Indianapolis Towing & Recovery 317-247-8484