Towing Acronyms for Vehicle Manufacturer Specifications

Regardless of your experience and expertise in towing, it is important to review and understand the most common acronyms for vehicle manufacturer specifications in the industry to ensure you are well-prepared for safe travel. Continue reading to learn some key towing acronyms, and share your knowledge with your fellow towers.

Indianapolis Towing & Recovery 317-247-8484

Indianapolis Towing & Recovery 317-247-8484

Common Towing Abbreviations:

Before you can understand what these terms mean, you must be familiar with the meaning of the term, “gross” first. Gross refers to the total weight without deduction for tare, tret, or waste. See the bottom of the blog for these three definitions.

ATM – Aggregate Trailer Mass

The acronym, “ATM” stands for “Aggregate Trailer Mass”, which refers to the total mass of the trailer (see GTM) when carrying the manufacturer-recommended maximum load.

GCVW – Gross Combined Vehicle Weight

The acronym, “GCVW” stands for “Gross Combined Vehicle Weight”, which refers to the combined weight of a trailer and the towing vehicle, including all passengers, as well as, fuel, equipment, and the cargo on the trailer.

GTM – Gross Trailer Mass

The acronym, “GTM” stands for “Gross Trailer Mass”, which refers to the weight that is transferred to the ground by the trailer wheels when coupled up to the towing vehicle and when carrying the maximum load recommended by the manufacturer.

GTW – Gross Trailer Weight

The acronym, “GTW” stands for “Gross Trailer Weight”, which refers to the total weight of a trailer, including the weight of the cargo. It is the same as “gross vehicle mass”, or “GVM.” See below.

GVM – Gross Vehicle Mass

The acronym, “GVM” stands for “Gross Vehicle Mass”, which refers to the total mass of a trailer and its load combined.

GVW – Gross Vehicle Weight

The acronym, “GVW” stands for “Gross Vehicle Weight”, which refers to the total weight of the towing vehicle, including all passengers, as well as, fuel, equipment, and the cargo on the trailer.

GVWR – Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

The acronym, “GVWR” stands for “Gross Vehicle Weight Rating”, which refers to the maximum recommended weight of the vehicle or trailer when it is fully loaded in adherence to the manufacturer’s recommendation.

TWA – Trailer Weight Allowance

The acronym, “TWA” stands for “Trailer Weight Allowance”, which refers to the maximum weight your vehicle can safely and properly tow. It is also known as “maximum trailer rating” or “tow rating.”

Central Terms to Know:

In Cab This refers to the space inside the tow vehicle cabin.

Tare This terms refers to the empty weight of the trailer.

Tret An allowance for waste, after a deduction for tare.

Spring Center This terms refers to the distance between the center of one set of springs to the center of the other set of springs when mounted on a trailer chassis. This measurement is usually essential for the axel assembly, which ensures that the axle is mounted centrally across the trailer.

Call On Our Indianapolis Towing Pros, Anytime!

Zore's Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

Indianapolis Towing & Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for safe and affordable Indianapolis tow truck services you can trust. Our licensed and insured tow truck operators provide punctual and prompt tow truck services, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week! We also provide numerous community services, roadside assistance services, wrecker and recovery services, and much more. Call 317-247-8484 to request a free estimate, anytime!

Zore’s Inc. Offers Professional Towing and Recovery Services You Can Count On

Whether you are a private citizen who requires some roadside assistance, or a township that requires accident clearance, we are the professionals with a reputation for excellence. Trust us with all your towing and recovery needs, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week!

Tow Truck Service Indianapolis Indiana

Indianapolis Towing and Recovery 317-247-8484


Zore’s Inc. is a licensed, family owned and operated company based out of Indianapolis, Indiana. For more than 75 years, we have served the Hoosier communities with professional towing and recovery services at the most competitive prices around. We provide a wide range of towing services and emergency vehicle assistant for any motorized commodity, regardless of size, scope, or condition. That includes cars, trucks, motorcycles, SUVs, vans, buses, RVs, campers, trailers, boats, semi-trucks, airplanes, mobile homes, construction equipment, and more.

Towing, Recovery, and More

All of our drivers are highly-trained, fully-certified, and experienced tow truck operators that use a high-tech GPS navigational system to get to their locations fast. This means you can count on us for prompt and professional service when you need it most. No matter where you are, we can find you and provide you with the assistance you need. Ensuring the complete safety, convenience, and satisfaction for our Hoosier communities is our primary objective, and we continue to work around the clock to provide the highest standards of excellence in terms of professionalism, service, and support for all clients.

We are Eager to Help You

Our fleet, coupled with our advanced technology, also makes us a top-choice for municipal traffic accident and quick clearance, controlled rolls, water recovery, storm damage clearance, and much more. In fact, as proud members of our surrounding communities, we enthusiastically work side-by-side with local law enforcement departments to provide towing and recovery needs and disaster cleanup and clearing services.

We also provide comprehensive roadside assistance services, including help with lock outs, flat tires, jump starts, fuel delivery, and more. And for private and commercial lots, we offer 24 hour property management, which includes towing and roadside assistance for staff, customers, illegally parked vehicles, and abandoned vehicles.

You Can Count On Us 24 Hours a Day and 365 Days a Year!

Zore's Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

Zore’s Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

We are among the most trusted and dependable wrecker companies who service over 30 counties in Indianapolis and throughout Central Indiana. Best of all, our certified tow truck operators are always on-duty, working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, even on national holidays. Call us at 317-247-8484 for prompt, 24 hour towing and roadside assistance that won’t let you down!

3 Ways to Achieve Better Gas Mileage

Gas expenses are not cheap. In Indiana, these prices are currently averaging around 2 to 4 dollars a gallon! On top of our day to day cars, trucks, and mini vans, many Americans have other machines, equipment, and commodities that operate on gasoline fuel. If there were ways to effectively manage our gasoline consumption when driving our vehicles, we could save in other areas of fuel expenses. Fortunately, there ARE ways to improve and regulate your fuel consumption!

Continue reading to catch up on three simple and convenient methods to using less gas and getting more mileage per tank.

Indianapolis Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484

Indianapolis Roadside Assistance & Towing 317-247-8484

Change the Way You Drive

Many people are unaware that the way you drive your car can affect the amount of gas it uses up per mile. Avoid aggressive driving, such as sudden stopping and starting. Although bumper to bumper traffic and road rage can certainly make this difficult, try listening to some music or think soothing thoughts to relieve the stress you feel during traffic jams. The aggressive driving makes your engine work harder, thus using more fuel at one time. By driving slower, emptying your trunk of heavy items, and avoiding long idling, you will see a drastic difference in the amount of fuel your vehicle uses between fill ups.

Car Pool Every Chance You Can

There is never a good reason to not car pool when the arrangement can easily be made. Carpooling helps everyone involved! Combining trips and taking turns driving is a fantastic way to cut back on fuel usage. A person can try posting a flyer at their school campus or sending a memo at the office. Getting a car pool group together can greatly benefit people financially, as well as, promote a healthier environment!

Proper Vehicle Maintenance is Crucial

The most important part involved in car ownership is routine scheduled maintenance and vehicle care. This is also the most effective and promising way to manage your fuel consumption over a long period of time. Regular oil changes, engine cleanings, inspections, tune-ups, tire rotations, and more are all a part of caring for your vehicle, internally and externally. These checks all contribute to increasing the car’s lifespan and performance. Increasing and caring for the car’s performance influences the amount of fuel it consumes per drive. Staying on top of these regularities is important and worthwhile.

Indianapolis Emergency Roadside Assistance and Towing

Indianapolis Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484

Indianapolis Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 to request professional and dependable Indianapolis roadside assistance you can afford. We serve all of Central Indiana with 24 hour roadside assistance and towing, 7 days a week and 365 days a year! Request a free estimate, today.

Important Advice for Safe Towing

Towing a car or truck safely requires experience and knowledge because there are several potential issues and dangers that can arise during a routine haul. It is important to know the proper procedures and safety precautions required to perform a successful tow, as well as, how to use towing equipment since it can cause serious injury if handled improperly. Furthermore, a beginner should always be accompanied by someone who has experience towing vehicles and other commodities. And this is just the start; there is much more to safe towing! Continue reading to learn important safety tips when it comes to towing a car or truck with your own equipment.

Indianapolis Towing 317-247-8484

Indianapolis Towing 317-247-8484

Safety Chains

Whether you are towing an SUV, jet ski, trailer, or car, safety chains are a must-have for every job. They are the ties that keep the connection solid between your truck and your haul. It ensures that your cargo will not get separated, potentially damaging other drivers on the road. Safety is the main reason why the use of safety chains is also the law.

Never tie these chains to the bumper of your towing vehicle. This can cause the bumper to come right off! They need to cross under the tongue of a trailer instead, for proper connectivity. This way if the hitch comes undone, the trailer will still not separate. In order to make safe turns while towing a cargo, be sure to add a little slack to the chains. Manufacturer’s instructions define the proper procedures and safety precautions for hooking up tow chains. Be sure to refer to them as often as possible to reminders about safe towing.

Towing Capacity

Never exceed the tow capacity of your vehicle. This means towing a haul that weighs more than the vehicle itself. This action can quickly damage your vehicle’s drive train. An inflicted drive train is a dangerous situation; especially when it comes to uphill driving. Life threatening accidents and injuries can occur of a load is lost as a result of a damaged drive train. Be sure to brush up on your vehicle’s tow capacity and how to calculate your load weight accurately.

Turn Signals and Brake Lights

An area that is commonly overlooked by novice towers is light synchronization. When you hook up a trailer to your vehicle, your brake lights are not visible; instead, the ones on the back of the trailer are. It is important that these brake lights and signal lights are in sync with the actual brakes and other components. This allows other drivers to share the road safely while you tow. Lights that should be synchronized include hazard lights, brakes, turn signals, flashers, headlights, and fog lights. Don’t forget that this particular safety tip is also the law.

Where to Get Reputable Towing Service in Indianapolis

Zore's Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

Zore’s Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for safe and affordable Indianapolis tow truck services you can trust. Our licensed and insured tow truck operators provide punctual and prompt tow truck services, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week! We also provide numerous community services, roadside assistance services, wrecker and recovery services, and much more. Call 317-247-8484 to request a free estimate, anytime!

Interesting Facts About 18 Wheeler Tow Trucks

When it comes to emergency roadside situations, 18 wheeler tow trucks are a useful commodity to have around. They are commonly used for winching, roll-outs, traffic clearance, and many other forms of heavy-duty towing needs. Although they are tow trucks, they are often referred to as semis or semi-trucks. However, the cab and engine on these types of trucks are separate from the trailer, and the trailer does not have front wheels, so they are more accurately described as semi-trailers. The average length of the trailer on an 18 wheeler truck is around 53 feet, and some can be over 20 feet wide! But these lengths can vary. Continue reading to learn more interesting facts about 18 wheeler semi-trailer tow trucks.

Indianapolis Emergency Towing 317-247-8484

Indianapolis Emergency Towing 317-247-8484

18 Wheeler Tow Truck Facts

18 wheeler tow trucks are designed with a special motor that allows for constant operation. The engine is only stopped for routine service, like oil changes, or to abide idling regulations. Any other time, the engine remains running.

On the subject of oil changes, an 18 wheeler tow truck can house more than 15 quarts of oil at one time. They only require oil changes every 5,000 miles, unlike standard vehicles that require such services on a more frequent basis.

When an 18 wheeler tow truck needs to come to a stop, it requires 40 times more stopping time than a standard vehicle would! That means they must apply pressure to the brakes much sooner than a typical driver.

A large quantity of the total number of registered 18 wheeler tow trucks are in Texas, California, and Florida.
Drivers who operate 18 wheeler tow trucks typically log over 140,000 miles of driving each year!

Indianapolis Tow Truck Service

Zore's Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

Zore’s Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for prompt and affordable Indianapolis tow truck service you can trust. We offer 24 hour towing services for all make and model vehicles, as well as, a long list of additional services, such as container service, property management, and more. Call 317-247-8484 to request a free quote, today.

What is the Difference Between a Hidden Hitch and a Curt Hitch?

Regardless of the vehicle you drive, almost any car, truck, or SUV can be converted into a towing vehicle as long as you have the right parts and components. One of the primary accessories you’ll need to tow with any vehicle is a trailer hitch. There are many versions of tow hitches on the market, ranging in size, capacity, and function. But also, you must choose among various tow hitch brands, and there are many to choose from. Two of the most popular tow hitch brands are hidden hitches and Curt hitches. Continue reading to learn more about these two highly-reliable tow hitch brands so that you can make a decision based on your personal preferences.

Hidden Hitch® Trailer Hitches

Hidden Hitch Trailer Hitch Receiver on Amazon.com

Hidden Hitch 87579 Class 3 Trailer Hitch Receiver on Amazon.com

Hidden Hitch® has been manufacturing quality towing accessories for over 40 years. They are widely admired for producing superior equipment that passes all vital safety standards and comes with a lifetime guarantee. The build every receiver hitch with choice-grade steel, using heavy-duty hardware and precision welds. One of the most admired features of Hidden Hitch® receiver hitches is that they are custom-designed to match your exact make and model vehicle, right down to the year!

This ensures a perfect fit every time. And to make towing even more convenient, their hitches are designed with removable drawbars, so they are nearly indistinguishable when they are not being used. No matter what you plan to tow or the size of your trailer, Hidden Hitch® receiver hitches come in a variety of sizes, from Class 1 hitch receivers to Class 4 for heavy-duty towing. That’s a towing capacity of up to 10,000 pounds!

Price Range: $75 – $300

Curt® Trailer Hitches

CURT 12343 Class 2 Trailer Hitch on Amazon.com

CURT 12343 Class 2 Trailer Hitch on Amazon.com

Another admired industry leader is Curt® Trailer Hitches. Using stare-of-the-art technology, these innovative, custom-designed hitches are built to be reliable and rugged. Special features include a rust-resistant clear coat and open-back receivers, which make them much simpler to clean. Their sleek black powder coat finish gives them a dynamic look, but also helps make them even more rust-proof and scratch proof. And to get the look that matches your towing vehicle, they give you the option of choosing between circle or square tubes. They are also very easy to install and come with a lifetime guarantee!

Curt® trailer hitch receivers are available in Class 1 to Class 5 hitches, allowing for up to 12,000 pounds of towing capacity. They also manufacture a wide variety of towing accessories, such as hitch balls to T-connectors, and much more.

Price Range: $65 – $300

Factors to Consider When Choosing:

Vehicle Type
Towing Capacity Needs
Desired Visual Style
Price

Indianapolis Towing and Recovery

Tow Truck Service Indianapolis Indiana

Tow Truck Service Lawrence Indiana 317-247-8484

Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for prompt and professional tow truck service in Indianapolis, Indiana. For more than 75 years, we have provided trusted and affordable towing and recovery, as well as, 24 hour roadside assistance, and much more! Hoosiers all across the state have chosen Zore’s Inc. for quality assistance and friendly service. Call 317-247-8484 to request a free estimate for Indianapolis towing and recovery, today.