The Benefits of Property Management Towing Services

Posted on May 31, 2019 by Zores

Are you a property owner who is dealing with unauthorized or illegal parking on your commercial complex? Or maybe you want to provide your guests and staff with safe and convenient parking lot and roadside assistance? If so, a property management plan is exactly what you need.

Continue reading to learn what property management towing and roadside assistance services can do for you, and how to get started.

Property Management Towing Indianapolis Indiana — Property Management Towing & Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484

Property Management Towing and Roadside Assistance

Commercial property owners often have to deal with unregistered, illegally parked, or abandoned vehicles on their private lots. Furthermore, many companies want to have convenient cost-free solutions arranged for their guests, clients, customers, and employees in the case of a roadside emergency.

For these reasons and more, you may want to consider incorporating a property management plan into your company’s daily operations. Check out some of the most common property management towing services you can expect, below.

Primary Property Management Services:

⛔ Parking Lot Violation Tows

⛔ Reserved Parking Tows

⛔ Handicap Parking Tows

⛔ Unauthorized Parking Tows

⛔ Overnight Parking Tows

⛔ Abandoned Vehicle Tows

⛔ Fire Lane Tows

⛔ Collision Tows

⛔ Breakdown Tows

⛔ 24 Hour Tows and Roadside Assistance

Choose Zore’s for Property Management in Indiana

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 to learn about our property management towing services and options. Our fully-trained and certified tow truck operators provide a wide range of towing and recovery services for property management purposes, including all-inclusive 24 hour roadside assistance and towing for guests, patrons, and employees at no additional cost to them, as well as, 24/7 towing for parking lot violations like fire lane parking, illegal use of handicap spaces, abandoned vehicles, and more. And when we tow unauthorized vehicles from your lot, THERE IS NEVER AN ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU! Instead, all fees are the vehicle owners’ responsibility.

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Do You Need Roadside Assistance Insurance?

Posted on April 23, 2019 by Zores

Whether for yourself or for your teenage drivers, roadside insurance is something that many car owners think about. You never know when you will find yourself stranded on the side of the road in need of automotive repair or intervention. But is insurance coverage for roadside assistance service really necessary? After all, there are roadside assistance companies that operate on a 24 hour basis in virtually all counties in the state.

Continue reading to learn what you need to know about roadside insurance coverage, including what it is, what it does, and whether or not you need it in Indiana.

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Roadside Assistance Insurance

Roadside assistance insurance coverage is just that; insurance coverage for roadside repairs and support. As a beneficiary, you would have a separate insurance policy for such services, or it can be supplemental to your existing policy. Either way, it is coverage that you must pay extra for on top of your existing cost of coverage.

So how much does roadside assistance coverage generally cost? The answer is not so straightforward. The cost of such coverage depends on various factors, namely the extent of coverage you choose. Other factors include your insurance carrier, driving history, make and model car, age, and more. Check with your insurance carrier to learn your options for roadside assistance coverage and pricing.

Benefits

The most obvious benefit of having roadside assistance insurance is the fact that you will never have to worry about being stranded in your car in the middle of nowhere. It also provides peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are protected and supported at all times when on the road, regardless of time or day. Such assistance will help when you lock your keys in the car, run out of gas, get a flat tire, get stuck in a ditch, wreck and need a tow, and much more.

But Do You Need It?

The question of whether or not you need roadside assistance coverage all depends on your personal lifestyle and preferences. If you are frequently traveling long distances, or have a time-restricted schedule, a roadside assistance plan might make financial sense. Also, if you have teen drivers, a policy like this can give you great peace of mind. But for most others, a roadside assistance policy is not always cost-effective. It may be financially wiser to simply outsource Indianapolis roadside assistance services in the rare times that you need it.

24 Hour Roadside Assistance in Indianapolis

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for 24 hour roadside assistance and 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.

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Do Not Use a Hitch-Mounted Carrier Lift with a Trailer Hitch Adapter

Posted on April 15, 2019 by Zores

If you have a hitch-mounted wheelchair or scooter lift that you wish to install on a vehicle, it is not recommended to use it with a trailer hitch adapter. There are many hazards that can arise from this arrangement, such as asset damage, vehicular damage, and even traffic accidents. Continue reading to learn why you should not pair a hitch-mounted carrier with a trailer hitch adapter, and what you can do instead for optimal safety and performance.

Why It Won’t Work

Why should you not use your hitch-mounted carrier with a trailer hitch adapter? Well, hitch receivers with a 1¼ inch opening are not designed with the proper tongue weight capacity to support the total weight of the carrier and the asset it is holding. For this reason, it is vital that you are fully aware of your vehicle’s limitations before you choose a particular carrier or lift.

Keep in mind, if you were to use your hitch-mounted carrier with a trailer hitch adapter, you are literally cutting your tongue weight capacity in half. For this reason, this combination should only be used on vehicles with stiff suspensions, such as full-size pickup trucks, truck-style SUVs, and large vans.

Hitch Class Ratings and Tongue Weight

Most often, cars and minivans have Class 1 or 2 hitches, while trucks and sports utility vehicles usually have Class 3, 4, or 5 hitches. Knowing your vehicle’s tongue weight, hitch class, and rating is an essential part of safely using a wheelchair or scooter lift. Usually, such lifts require at least a Class 3 hitch rating. How do you find your vehicle’s hitch class? Simply refer to the manufacturer label on the trailer hitch. If it is an old lift and the label is not clear, you can also measure the opening yourself.

As for tongue weight, see our blog, “A Brief Explanation of Tongue Weight (TW)” to learn what you need to know. Basically, tongue weight is the downward force that is applied onto a vehicle’s trailer hitch. In terms of a wheelchair/scooter lift, the tongue weight is measured by adding the total weight of the lift and the asset, together. Beware, an improper setup can lead to your carrier and asset bending downward toward the road and breaking off the trailer hitch.

Refer to your vehicle’s owners’ manual for manufacturer’s recommended tongue weight. If you cannot locate your manual, you can look up these values online, or you can adhere to the general rule of thumb, which is that your tongue weight should not exceed 10% of your gross trailer weight. See our blog, “A Review of Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings” to learn how to measure your vehicle’s gross weight rating, and how to apply it with your carrier.

Alternatives and Tips

Aside from hitch classes, tongue weight, and gross weight ratings, is also important to pay attention to the height of the hitch. Lower hitch heights can put your carrier at risk of scraping against sidewalks, curbs, and driveways. To avoid this, be sure to install a hitch height adapter. If you have not yet purchased a wheelchair/scooter carrier, start by measuring your wheelchair or scooter dimensions. Measure the length and width (from the outside tires), as well as the total weight of the asset, including the battery and any accessories (ramps, straps, etc.).

Indianapolis Towing Professionals

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for safe and affordable Indianapolis tow truck and roadside services you can trust. Our licensed and insured towing 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!

Indianapolis Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484 — 24 Hour Towing & Roadside Assistance (317) 247-8484

How to Test Tire Tread Using a Penny

Posted on February 11, 2019 by Zores

In last month’s blog, we discuss several methods of tire maintenance and care. You learned that colder temperatures cause tires to lose more air, thus requiring them to be inflated more frequently in the winter season. It is important to regularly check tire pressure to ensure that your vehicle is operating as safely and efficiently as possible. Furthermore, it is important that your tires have sufficient tread in order to maintain proper traction and maneuverability on the road. Not sure what good tire tread looks like? Just implement the age-old tire treat penny test!

Continue reading to learn how to use a penny to determine the condition of your tire’s tread.

Tire Tread Inspections

You can surely find a penny anywhere. If not in your home, certainly in your cup holder, glove box, pocket or purse, or even on the street! What we mean to convey is, pennies are not hard to come by, making them the perfect and most convenient automotive tool you can have on hand. So how can a penny give you vital information about the quality and condition of your tires? The answer has to do with the size of a penny. But before you can understand this, you must first learn how to implement the tire tread penny test.

Tire Tread Penny Test:

Vertically insert a penny in between two grooves of your tire so that the penny’s face is looking straight ahead.

Inspect Lincoln’s head position. If you can see Lincoln’s face, your tread is low, and you likely need new tires. If you cannot see the President’s head, your tire tread is still in good condition.

Consequences of Low Tire Tread

If you discover that your tire tread is low, it is wise to start thinking about tire replacement. Otherwise, you can be putting yourself and the mechanical operations of your vehicle, at risk. Not only do low tread tires have little traction on the road, they also cause slow or unpredictable braking operations. In wet conditions, low tire tread can cause your vehicle to spin out of control, or veer off the road. Furthermore, low tread causes reduced fuel efficiency, costing you more money in gasoline.

Need Emergency Tire Assistance?

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What To Do if You Drive into a Ditch

Posted on December 27, 2018 by Zores

If you drive into a ditch, there is a specific set of guidelines you should follow, regardless of your location or the time of day. Continue reading to learn the first 4 tasks to cover after driving into a ditch, including how to get out safely.

First and Foremost: SAFETY

Your first priority should always be safety. This is especially true for busy streets and highways. First, take a look at yourself and your passengers to confirm whether or not injuries were incurred during the slide off. If someone is hurt, including yourself, contact 911 emergency services immediately.

If no one is hurt, put your parking brake on to prevent further sliding or movement. Do not step out of your car until you are sure there is not oncoming traffic. In fact, it is wise to get out of the passenger door (or whichever door does not face the street).

Sometimes, you do not need to get out of the car if it can simply be driven back onto the road. But for larger and steeper ditches, driving out might present more of a challenge. In this case, move onto the next guideline below.

Second: Change the Load Weight

If your car is not driving out of the ditch, you may need to alter the load weight. This means changing around your cargo to allow better inertia. If you do not have much cargo, then this may not be a necessary step. If you do have cargo, take out as much as you can, and then try to drive out of the ditch, Lighter weight sometimes helps give a vehicle the boost it needs. On the other hand, if you are stuck in snow or mud, more weight is better.

Third: Improve Traction

Things like rock, gravel, sand, and dirt can make your tires spin in place, rather than spring you from the ditch. If this is your problem, try adding some extra traction behind each tire. Use anything that can work, including floor mats, wood boards, cardboard, paper, and even clothing. For front wheel drive vehicles, place the items in the front of the tires.

Fourth: Call for Roadside Assistance

If none of the above methods work for you, your best option is to call a 24 hour roadside assistance service for prompt and professional towing recovery. They have the resources to pull your car out of a ditch, safely and conveniently.

Who to Trust for Dependable 24 Hour Roadside Assistance

Indianapolis Towing & Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for affordably-priced 24 hour emergency roadside assistance in Indianapolis and its surrounding counties. We offer 24 hour service, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. Regardless of your roadside assistance needs, we are fully-equipped and always on-duty to help. Choose from fuel delivery, lockout service, jump starts, and more.

Tips for Driving on a Spare Tire

Posted on October 3, 2017 by Zores

Most vehicles manufactured today come with a compact spare tire, but not all, so it is wise to invest in one if your vehicle is without. Flat tires never happen when you expect it, so a spare can truly come in handy when you need to get back on the road fast. Not all spare tires are the same, but they all perform the same duty: to get your vehicle to a mechanic or tire shop as safely and effectually as possible. There are a few rules to driving on a compact spare that every car owner should know in case the situation ever arises. Understanding and following these proper guidelines protects you, your passengers, and other drivers on the road. Continue reading to learn some helpful tips for driving on a compact spare tire and more.

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Spare Tires

Spare tires are specially-designed to be smaller and more compact in order to conserve space and weight inside vehicles. Because they are smaller in size, and have narrower tread and reduced tread depth, they are not meant for long-term use. In fact, most owner’s manuals will limit driving on a spare to under 50 miles; but more accurately, a spare should never be driven on longer than it takes to get to a tire store or service station. They are intended to be temporary means of regaining mobility of your vehicle in order to seek out tire replacement services. Not only is extended driving on spares unsafe, it is damaging to a vehicle’s driveline and more.

Here are some important tips for driving with a spare tire on:

• Refer to owners’ manual for manufacturer instructions
• Always maintain cold tire inflation pressure of 60psi
• Check tire pressure regularly and before each use
• Inspect the tire and tire sidewalls for punctures, nicks, and other damages before each use
• Never exceed 50 MPH – Avoid highways, but if you have to, drive in the right lane with hazard lights on
• Keep at least 3 car lengths driving distance between other vehicles
• It’s best to store spare tires in the vehicle’s trunk or cabin – or on the outside of the vehicle (SUV’s)
• Drive and maneuver carefully
• Be sure to learn how to change a flat tire!
• Call a local roadside assistance company if you have trouble with your spare tire

A local well-established roadside assistance company offers a wide range of services. Aside from flat tire changes, they generally offer towing, jump starts, lockouts, and more. Be sure to call a trusted roadside assistance company with extensive experience and good customer reviews. This will ensure you get the best service at the fairest price.

Indianapolis Roadside Assistance

Indianapolis Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for prompt and professional roadside assistance services in Indianapolis and its surrounding counties. Since 1927, Zore’s Towing has been family owned and operated company passionate about safe wrecker and recovery service.

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

Posted on January 8, 2016 by Zores

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

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.

How to Patch a Flat Tire Using a Tire Plug Kit

Posted on April 28, 2015 by Zores

Roadside Assistance 317-247-8484

Flat tires happen to the best of us, no matter how well of a driver we may be. Snow, ice, fog, and other uncontrollable weather can reduce our vision on the road, so driving on hazardous paths, like construction zones and high-traffic areas, can lead to nails and other damaging shrapnel in tires. Fortunately, a nail in a tire is not a costly repair if you choose to take your vehicle into a tire center or auto shop. But a hole in a tire can repaired on your own, and it’s easier than you think!

Continue reading to learn how to remove a nail from a tire and repair a hole using a
tire patching or plug kit.

Tire Plug Kits

A tire plug kit can be purchased at most automotive stores or stores with an automotive section or department. They are generally inexpensive, ranging anywhere in price from $10 up to $50 or more, depending on the brand and size of the kit. For anyone with an emergency car kit, a tire patching kit is a smart addition. In fact, many store-bought emergency roadside assistance kits contain tire patching tools and products.

There are various brands and styles of tire patch kits, but most should or generally include a needle-hole applicator tool, a reaming tool, a set of repair strips, and rubber cement. Larger tire patching kits may include additional items and parts. But the mentioned accessories should be all you need for a simple nail removal and hole repair. Here is a list of the tools you will need for both tasks:

• Socket Wrench
• Car Jack
• Knife
• Pliers
• Tire Patch Kit

Here’s How to Get Started:

1. Lift the vehicle off the ground with the car jack.
2. Remove the damaged tire.
3. Use pliers to pull out the nail or other shrapnel.
4. Apply a few drops of rubber cement to the reaming tool.
5. Widen the hole using a twisting motion with the reaming tool. Do Not Over-Ream!
6. Remove a plug strip and insert it into the needle-hole plug tool so that its length is even on both sides.
7. Apply the rubber cement to all areas of the repair strip and the tip of the plug tool.
8. Insert the plug all the way into the reamed tire hole.
9. Now remove the plug tool.
10. Cut off any remaining portions of the plug.
11. Allow the rubber cement to dry completely.
12. Re-attach the tire.
13. Re-fill the tire with air.
14. All Done!

Zore’s Towing and Roadside Assistance

Zore’s Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 when you need 24 hour emergency roadside assistance in Indianapolis, Indiana. If you have a flat tire, we can promptly arrive and repair your tire for an affordable price. We also offer 24 hour towing and recovery services for abandoned, stuck, wrecked, or illegally parked vehicles all throughout Indianapolis and its surrounding counties. Call 317-247-8484 today for Indianapolis roadside assistance services you can trust.

How Long Can I Drive on a Spare Tire?

Posted on October 13, 2014 by Zores

Spare Tire Services 317-247-8484

Spare tires and “donuts” have truly come in handy for thousands of drivers all over the country. When a tire goes flat, having a spare can mean the difference between walking ten miles to a service, and getting back on the road within a few short minutes. Many drivers are guilty of driving on a spare tire or donut longer than the owner’s manual suggests; but just because it is common behavior doesn’t mean you should do it too. Continue reading to learn how long you should drive on a spare tire, how fast you should go, and what to do in the case of a blown tire.

Spare Tires and Donuts

Manufacturers know that spare tires are used infrequently, so many are changing their designs to a smaller space-efficient “donut”. Spare tires and donuts are very different from standard tires, and they require different driving methods and techniques when being used. Whether you have a spare or a donut, there are important guidelines to follow to protect yourself, other drivers and passengers, and your vehicle.

Never leave your spare tire on longer than the owners’ manual or manufacturer’s instructions state. This can lead to a whole heap of complications. Spares and donuts are meant to be temporary tires, because in fact, they are temporary tires! They are not as durable as ordinary tires, and weaken at a much faster rate. You see, a standard tire contains layers of steel and polyester fibers beneath the rubber. These layers are called plies and are where the real strength comes from. For space and weight-saving reasons, spares do not contain as many plies as ordinary tires; therefore, they deteriorate quicker. With half as many plies as regular tires, spares lack sufficient puncture-resistance and corning ability too.

Temporary tires, being smaller and narrower, make much less contact with the road. A smaller contact patch means reduced traction and ABS control. Stopping distance is increased and handling can become unpredictable. And don’t try to tow a trailer, or anything for that matter, because spares do not retain the same loading strengths and qualities as standard tires. Driving on a spare can also create a load of mechanical problems and problems with the differential.

With all this in mind, most manufacturers suggest using a spare tire for a short, emergency amount of time, while never exceeding 50 miles per hour. Avoid highway and interstate driving if you can; but if you must remain on the interstate, always drive in the far right lane with your hazard lights on. Perhaps you just need a tow, and don’t want to mess with a blown tire? In this case, call a local Indianapolis tow truck service for roadside assistance or towing.

Zore’s Towing

Towing Indiana 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for prompt roadside assistance or tow truck service in Indianapolis, Indiana. We are highly trained, licensed, and experienced wrecker operators that provide towing services 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Our towing company has been family owned and operated since 1927, providing exceptional towing service at a competitive price. We are friendly, fast, and affordable. Call 317-247-8484 for professional towing services in Indianapolis, IN today.