How to Check Your Car Before Going on a Long-Distance Road Trip

Everyday errands and daily commutes are not something we put a lot of thought into, but before leaving on a long distance drive, it is important to pay closer attention to the condition of your vehicle. Not only will this guarantee a streamlined and time-efficient journey, but it will also ensure your safety as well as the safety of your passengers and other drivers on the road.

Continue reading to learn how to check your car before going on a long distance road trip, plus what to do in an emergency roadside situation if something happens along the way.

24 HR Roadside Assistance Indianapolis Indiana 317-247-8484
24 HR Roadside Assistance Indianapolis Indiana 317-247-8484

Road Trip Safety Starts With a Car Inspection

A key element of road trip safety is the pre-trip car inspection. It is important to ensure that your vehicle is well-equipped to deliver safe and smooth driving from start to finish. Although it is encouraged to examine as many areas and systems as you like, when performing a pre-trip vehicle inspection, focus on mirrors, horn, windshield, lights (interior and exterior), tires, strange sounds, and warning lights on the dashboard.

Mirrors and Horn

Your car mirrors will play a large role in the safety of your commute when traveling long-distance. Not only do you want to ensure that your mirrors are in good condition, meaning they are free of chips and cracks, but you also want them to be clean, clear, and properly positioned so that you are able to see around your vehicle when in the driver seat. Additionally, check to see that your horn sounds loud and not muffled in any way. Your horn can be an essential safety tool on the road.

Windshields

There are a few elements to inspect when it comes your car’s windshields. First, be sure that your front and back windshields are free of cracks and chips. If your windshield has damage, you must repair the damage before leaving on a long distance road trip. Too many hazards can arise from a cracked or chipped windshield, especially at high speeds.

Also, be sure that your windshield wiper fluid is filled all the way and you have an extra bottle in the trunk for re-fills. Last, be sure your windshield wipers are in good condition. They are easy and inexpensive to replace, so you might want to upgrade regardless. Quality wipers make a world of difference in bad weather or unexpected splashes.

Lights

When it comes to inspecting your car lights, be sure to cover the interior cabin lights as well as the headlights and taillights. Also, be sure your turn signals, reverse lights, hazard lights, and marker lights are working. If your lights are dimmer than they usually are, you might need to inspect the car battery or alternator. You might also want to throw in a set of jumper cables in your trunk in case your battery dies on the road.

Tires

The quality of your tires will impact your gas mileage, drive stability, road traction, vehicular performance, and even steering. Before you leave on a road trip, check both tire pressure and tire tread. Use a tire pressure gauge to check the tire pressure in each tire. Use a penny to test the thread depth. Stick a penny inside a groove, upside down. If you see Lincoln’s head, your tire tread is too low. Be sure to check each tire!

New Noises

Before leaving on a road trip, it is important to listen to your vehicle. Start by turning your car on and listening for any strange or new sounds while the engine sits in idle. Then take your car for a short drive and listen for any other sounds that are out of the ordinary. Strange noises, either new or existing, and diagnosed. Sometimes, weird noises in your vehicle are a sign of a more serious mechanical problem.

Illuminated Warning Lights

Sounds are not the only warning sign of an underlying mechanical issue in a vehicle. Pay attention to your dashboard before leaving on a long-distance road trip. If any warning lights are illuminated, it is encouraged to have them diagnosed before hitting the pavement. You do not want to run into any roadside emergencies or serious breakdowns in the middle of your trip!

If you ever breakdown in or around Central Indiana, do not panic. You have a qualified roadside emergency response team on your side! Just call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for 24 hour roadside assistance and towing in Indianapolis, Indiana, and its surrounding counties.

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DIY Roadside Assistance Tools to Always Have in Your Car

How to Tell if it is Time to Change Your Car Battery

Although we are still in the midst of the fall season, winter is soon ahead, making now the perfect time to prepare our vehicles for cold, wintry weather commutes. One important responsibility is car battery maintenance. When the weather turns inclement, you do not want to be stuck on the side of the road all because a simple and highly-preventable auto part has failed. Before you are ever faced with such as dilemma, be sure your car’s battery is in good condition. Not sure what to look for?

Continue reading to learn how to tell if it is time to replace your car battery, and what you should do if you are ever in a roadside emergency predicament in Indiana.

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

Old and Defective Car Batteries Show Symptoms

Whether your car battery is old or defective, you will be able to spot the signs by simply taking a closer look. Here are the top indications that it is time to change your car battery:

Car Battery Age – How old is your car battery? Did you know that they are not designed to last long, which means that an old battery will soon be a dead battery? If your car battery is between 5 and 6 years old, you might be getting close to replacement time.

Road Mileage – How often to you drive your car? If you drive it a lot, or over long distances, you will need to replace your car battery much sooner than the average commuter. However, not driving much at all can also have the same effect. Driving charges car batteries, so if a car sits for long periods of time, the battery can atrophy.

Engine Turn Over – How many seconds does it take for your engine to start up after you turn the ignition key? This length of time can tell you how your car battery might be doing. If the engine starts to take longer, or seem to struggle, to turn over, then it might be a dying battery.

Additional Signs to Look Out For:

⚠ Dimming Headlights and Interior Lights

⚠ Headlights Brighten When the Engine is Revved

⚠ Visible Corrosion on Battery Terminals and Cables

⚠ Slowly Operating Power Windows

Where to Get 24 Hour Towing and Roadside Assistance in Central Indiana

Call Zore’s Inc. at 317-247-8484 for friendly 24 hour towing and roadside assistance in Central Indiana. We open a family-owned and operated business for 90 years, so you can trust us for prompt and professional service. We are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year, so our certified tow truck operators can be there for you anytime, any day! Request free estimates, anytime.

Indianapolis Towing & Recovery 317-247-8484

Zore’s Towing Offers 24 Hour Roadside Assistance and Recovery Services Throughout Central Indiana

You never have to worry about being stranded on the side of the road, without a single soul to help you with your car troubles. We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. That means we are always standing by to take your call and deliver outstanding roadside assistance service at a great price.

Indianapolis Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484

Indianapolis Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484


Zore’s Towing is a family owned and operated company that has served the Hoosier communities with safe and affordable service since 1927. And for the past 90 years, we have earned a reputation for trusted service at a fair price! Our certified and experienced tow truck drivers and wrecker operators are on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, and fully-equipped to deliver safe and professional towing, recovery, and roadside assistance services regardless of time or day. We even work on National Holidays, which means there is no bad time to give us a call. And since our drivers are radio dispatched, you can count on us to respond to your location promptly.

Fully-Equipped To Get You Back On the Road, FAST!

At Zore’s Towing, we make your safety and your personal time a priority, and aim to get you back on the road as soon as possible. We retain a full fleet of trucks and wrecker equipment, as well as, the latest technologies and advancements in the industry. All of these assets allow us to provide service for all make and model vehicles, regardless of size or condition. We offer a wide range of roadside assistance services. Whether you have a flat tire or a dead battery, we are here to help. Count on us to pull you out of a ditch, retrieve the keys locked inside your car, deliver fuel when you run out of gas, replace your windshield wipers, and much more!

Our Services Include But Are Not Limited To:

☑ Flat Tires
☑ Tire Changes
☑ Fuel Delivery
☑ Battery Service
☑ Dead Batteries
☑ Jump Starts
☑ Rolling Starts
☑ Unlocking Doors
☑ Towing
☑ Overheating Engines
☑ Engine Trouble
☑ Wiper Replacement
☑ Extrication/Winching
☑ And More!

Emergency Roadside Assistance and Towing

Zore's Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

Zore’s Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

Call our Indianapolis headquarters at 317-247-8484 anytime to request professional and dependable roadside assistance anywhere in Central Indiana. Our friendly staff is waiting by the phones, ready to help you get back on the road, safe and sound. Request a free estimate, today.

Looking for Affordable Towing Service in Lawrence, Indiana?

Zore’s Towing offers fast and friendly tow truck services throughout all of Indianapolis! And for a price you can afford!

Indianapolis Towing

Lawrence Towing 317-247-8484

Zore’s Towing has been providing exceptional wrecker and recovery services in Lawrence, Indiana for more than 75 years. We are the town experts on anything and everything towing-related. Whether you have a flat tire, or need your car towed to the nearest repair shop, we are the pros for the job. Regardless of the scope or size of your towing needs, Zore’s Inc. has the team and the technology to get it done safely, and in a convenient time frame.

In fact, our number one goal is to deliver convenience to our clients in every possible way! We offer a wide variety of wrecker services for all motorized vehicles, and even houses and airplanes!!

Lawrence Indiana Towing

Tow Truck Service Indianapolis Indiana

Tow Truck Service Lawrence Indiana 317-247-8484

Whenever you need it, we offer roadside assistance services, such as flat tire replacement, fuel fill-ups, and lockouts. But we also offer light, medium, and heavy duty tows, from small cars and motorcycles, to large boats, trucks, planes, and more! As a locally-owned and operated towing and recovery business, we want to give Lawrence, Indiana residents a break from high towing costs. Which is why we offer economy-based prices for all our services!

Not only do we offer the most competitive prices for towing and recovery services in Indianapolis, we provide prompt and professional support you can count on. And we do this 24 hours a day and 7 days a week!

Call Zore’s Towing Today!

Zore's Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

Zore’s Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 when you need fast, friendly, and affordable tow truck services in Lawrence, Indiana. We offer free estimates, emergency towing service, storm damage clearance, traffic accident clearance, wrecker services, and much more.

Our teams are fully-licensed and insured, with over 30 years of experience in the industry. You can trust us to get the job done right the first time, while providing sincere and polite customer support. Call 317-247-8484 for 24 hour towing in Lawrence, IN and its surrounding areas.

How to Change a Tire Using a Spare

A flat tire is a minor misfortune that almost every driver will experience at least once in their life. Especially for new drivers, knowing how to respond to a flat tire is an important part of responsible driving. Not only can it protect you from danger, it can provide you the confidence of managing your own unexpected car problems when the situation calls for it. If you are unfamiliar with the process of changing a tire and using a spare, continue reading to learn how with our simple guide.

Spare Tires

Flat Tire Service 317-247-8484

Flat Tire Service 317-247-8484

A spare tire is generally customary in all modern vehicles. It is possible for used cars to be sold without their spare, so always be sure to check your vehicle before hitting the road. You always want to have a spare tire on-board in case of an emergency. You can purchase spare tires at a reasonable price in any auto parts store or tire store. Be sure to ask an associate for help with matching the right spare for your vehicle’s make and model.

Often times, spares are found in the trunk, underneath the surface. Other times, they are in the den of the trunk or in a compartment on the side. Refer to your owners’ manual for instructions on locating your cars spare tire. Along with the spare, there is usually a car jack as well. If your car is not equipped with a car jack, be sure to purchase one, as well as a tire iron, for your vehicle and keep it in there at all times.

What to Do

If you get a flat or blow a tire while driving, it is important to not panic. Simply flip on your hazard lights and direct the vehicle slowly and calmly to the right side of the road. Be sure you are far enough on the shoulder to be safe from oncoming traffic.

Once you are parked, turn off your ignition and keep your keys on your person. Always check your mirrors for oncoming traffic before exiting your vehicle. If you are on the freeway, it is strongly recommended to exit your vehicle from the passenger side if it’s
possible to climb over.

Next, locate your spare and your car jack. Place these items next to the flat tire so they are in arm’s reach when needed.

You will first need to lift your car off the ground to have the ability to remove the flat and replace it with a spare. Refer to your owners’ manual for instructions on using a car jack. They are fairly easy to use so do not get overwhelmed with the process. Simply find a solid area to place the jack underneath, and then use the lever to crank it up.

Continue cranking until the tire is lifted 1 to 2 inches off the ground. This will give you just enough space to freely remove the tire. Do not lift the car too high, this can cause accidents and damage to your vehicle.

Now that your car is jacked up, you can use the tire iron, or your hands, to unscrew the bolts on your wheel cap. There are usually four to five of them. They may be stuck or difficult to release if your car is old, so if the tire iron doesn’t work, your best bet is a roadside assistance service. They have the proper tools and muscle-power to remove your tire bolts and attach your spare in no time at all.

When you have the bolts removed, put them in a safe place nearby, and gently pull your flat tire off. Put it to the side as well. Be careful pulling your tire off so you do not tip your vehicle over while it’s on the jack.

Slide your spare tire on, and then replace all the bolts. Be sure they are fastened securely.

You are now ready to release the jack and lower your car back to the ground. Place the old tire and the jack back into your trunk. And carefully get back into the driver’s seat and pull out onto the road.

Be sure to drive immediately to a tire supply retailer for professional tire service and replacement. A spare is only a temporary means and should be driven on as little as possible.

Indianapolis Roadside Assistance

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 professional roadside assistance services in Indianapolis and throughout Central Indiana. We provide friendly and affordable flat tire service, lost or locked key service, jump starts, dead battery service, and much more. Trust us for fast help at a reasonable price. So the next time you need help in a flash, call 317-247-8484 for Indianapolis roadside assistance you can trust.

Tips for Loading Towed Vehicles

Indianapolis Towing Company 317-247-8484

Indianapolis Towing Company 317-247-8484

Learning how to drive a towing vehicle is one feat, but learning how to properly load the towed vehicle is another. And one commonly overlooked in terms of towing safety. Not only can improper towing cause serious accidents and losses, improper loading of trailers can also cause these types of damages. When it comes to towing, don’t stop at learning the basics; instead, be sure to cover all towing safety hazards and precautions, as well as, proper connecting and loading methods.

Continue reading to review some important tips about safely loading a trailer before you tow it.

Trailer Loading Physics

Loading a trailer takes some rudimentary understanding of physics, namely inertia. Inertia is the theory that objects in motion tend to stay in motion, whereas objects that are stationary tend to stay still. This idea can directly relate to the items loaded in a moving trailer or vehicle. Even if the brakes are initiated properly, trailers and their cargoes will still want to continue moving in the direction they have been. This is why it is important to position them in the trailer correctly, to avoid tipping accidents and other damages caused by imbalanced cargo.

There are several wrong ways to load cargo into a trailer. Too much weight in the front, or top-heavy loads, can cause a trailer to dive forward, and the towing vehicle’s front end to raise off the ground, when the brakes are applied. However, too much weight in the back can cause the trailer to violently sway, leading to traffic accidents and cargo damages. Weight distribution plays a major role in towing safety, and can make or break a towing journey. Here are a few tips to remember when loading cargo in a trailer that will be towed:

• Read vehicle’s owners’ manual for weight capacity.
• Glue mats down to the floor of the trailer to increase friction and reduce slipping.
• Distribute and spread cargo out as evenly as possible.
• Always place heavy items on the bottom and lighter items on top.
• Keep loads as low as possible for flatbed tows.
• Use straps and ropes to tie down large cargo items.
• Do not let anything protrude from the back of the trailer.
• Use a public scale to weigh your trailer after loading it.

Tips for Unloading:


• Always park on level ground.
• Use cement blocks if you must unload on an incline.
• Utilize ramps and dollies to reduce exertion and back injuries.
• Move heavy items slowly.

Zore’s Towing in Indianapolis

Indianapolis Towing

Indianapolis Towing 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for fast and friendly tow truck services in Indianapolis and its surrounding areas. Our towing company retains an extensive fleet of towing trucks and equipment, allowing us to provide a wide range of tows for all vehicles and commodities. We offer 24 hour towing for all Indianapolis counties and neighborhoods. Call 317-247-8484 if you want reliable towing service at a reasonable price.

How to Safely Operate a Vehicle that is Being Towed With a Tow Strap

Indianapolis Towing 317-247-8484

Indianapolis Towing 317-247-8484

Breaking down, running out of fuel, and getting stuck in a ditch are just a few scenarios that call for a friendly tow. One common method for towing vehicles with other vehicles involves using a tow strap. Tow straps are towing ropes that connect one vehicle to another for the purpose of relocating them short distances. Whether to the nearest auto shop or simply back onto the road, tow straps can be a convenient and quick solution for car to car towing.

During the process of using a tow strap to pull another car, each vehicle must be “manned” by a person. Someone must of course drive the car doing the towing, while another person must operate the vehicle being towed. Continue reading to learn the proper techniques to safely navigating a vehicle that is being towed by another, and who to call for professional towing services near you.

Tow Strap Towing

Once both ends of the vehicles are securely fastened with the tow strap, the towing can begin. But there are still three important rules to always follow when towing with a tow strap:

1. Never Tow an Unattended Vehicle
2. Do Not Drive Over 15 MPH
3. Focus on SMOOTH Driving

With these rules in mind, the driver in the towing vehicle can go ahead and begin to slowly press on the gas and move forward until the strap is taught. Once the strap is taught, the towing vehicle can slowly accelerate and begin driving forward. They must keep a safe distance between other vehicles, allow ample time for turning and other maneuvers, and avoid braking suddenly to prevent jolting and jerking the other vehicle.

As for the vehicle being towed, it is important for the person inside to know what they are doing, and to do it right. The person inside the vehicle being towed must pay close attention during the entire hauling period and actively operate its brakes and steering wheel. It is their job to steer the wheel along with the direction of the towing vehicle, and watch intently for its brake lights and turn signals. All while doing these tasks, those inside a car being towed by another car must maintain the right amount of resistance in the tow strap by keeping a proper distance between the two vehicles.

No Tow Strap?

If you don’t have a tow strap, don’t trust a pal to tow your car, or happen to be alone, simply contact a local wrecker service for safe and professional towing assistance. You can get fast and affordable roadside assistance or towing service anywhere in the state! Just be sure to hire a licensed company with an upstanding reputation and years of experience.

Zore’s Towing

Zore's Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

Zore’s Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for fast and friendly roadside assistance and towing in Indianapolis you can afford! We offer a wide range of towing services and roadside assistance services at the most competitive prices in town. Where or when never matters when you call Zore’s Towing, since they provide towing and roadside assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and all throughout Indianapolis! Call 317-247-8484 the next time you need a tow in Indianapolis, IN and its surrounding counties.