If you’re in the towing business, you know how important it is to get jobs done quickly and safely. But more than anything, you know how important it is to tow cars without causing any damage to them. Damaging a car while towing it can result in extensive financial and legal burdens.
The good news is that it’s unlikely for towing to damage a car. The bad news is that it’s still possible — even for professional towers. In this article, we’ll talk about some common types of towing damage, and how you can best set yourself up to prevent them from happening to you.
Common Types of Towing Damage
When you’re towing a car, there are two common types of towing damage that may occur: cosmetic damage and/or mechanical damage. Below, we’ll define and give examples of each of them.
Cosmetic Damage
Cosmetic damage is any damage made to the structure of a car, including its body, windshield, and tires. Usually, this includes things like scratches, dents, and dings. Although cosmetic damages don’t always affect a car’s performance, they do hurt its appearance and they are costly to repair.
In most cases, cosmetic damage occurs due to improper hook placement and fastening. When the towing hook is improperly positioned, it can either cause the tow truck to strike the car, or it can cause the car to be insecure and bump into various objects.
Mechanical Damage
Mechanical damage from towing a car is also usually caused by failing to put the car in neutral. When tires skid, the mechanical connections between the wheels and the transmission are also affected, causing skidding and eventually leading to extensive tire and transmission damage.
It’s also important to remember that different cars require different towing methods, especially with automatic vs. manual transmission vehicles. The appropriate towing position, weight, and speed should all be taken into consideration here. If you’re aware of all the specifications of the vehicle before you tow it, you can avoid causing devastating mechanical damage.
How to Prevent Damage to Your Car From Towing
So how can you avoid all this costly damage? Here are a few tips from our towing experts at Minute Man:
Put the Car in Neutral
As you may be able to guess, much of the cosmetic and mechanical damage mentioned above can be prevented by remembering to put the car in neutral before towing it. It’s a simple step, but it’s one that’s forgotten too often. Along with this, you should remember to do your research on the type of car and its specific towing needs.
Ensure Equipment is Properly Secured
By taking an extra couple of minutes to double-check your towing setup, you can save your business from spending thousands of dollars, upsetting valuable clients, and suffering lots of legal headaches.
Whether you’re working with a hook and chain, axle cradle, flatbed truck, or another towing device, make sure you know how it works. Taking the right steps to ensure proper handling can keep harm away while out on the road.
Invest in the Best Equipment
Simply put, if you want to have a successful towing business, you need to invest in the best towing equipment. A versatile, easily maneuverable device can help you get your jobs done quickly, efficiently, and without error. And as far as those go, the Minute Man XD Slide-In Wheel Lift is the best one on the market.
The Minute Man XD Slide-In Wheel Lift is a device that works similarly to a hook and chain truck, but without the high risk of damage. It works by connecting the device to the tow truck, then placing the wheel lift under the front or rear tires of the car, then hydraulically lifting the car’s two tires off the ground.
As a reliable, cost-effective, easy-to-use towing solution, the MinuteMan XD Slide-In Wheel Lift is perfect for the light-duty towing of small to midsize cars. It will help you pick up the most cars in the least amount of time — without causing even the slightest scratch.
Towing with the right equipment means you’ll never have to worry about damaging a vehicle again. The MinuteMan wheel lift can help you move vehicles efficiently and safely — for both products and people. Reach out to our team to get yours.
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