Category: Towing Tips and Suggestions

A motorcycle, truck, car, or any other vehicle may break down anywhere and any time. However well your vehicle might be maintained, ultimately it is a machine and a machine can stop working correctly, or not at all, at times that you least expect. During those times it can be very useful to have a professional towing service available that can safely and easily tow your vehicle without causing any damage.

What is important to understand is there are various kinds of tow trucks, with each of them intended for specific types of towing vehicles and needs. There are 4 main categories they can be divided into:

Flatbed Towing Trucks

This type of tow truck is one of the more commonly seen and probably the one that is used most widely also. It comes with a flatbed or long platform on the rear, and that is what holds the vehicle into place. Hydraulics are used for moving the flatbed up and down t town the car easily. When a vehicle is functional it can be driven easily onto the ramp or if it isn’t functional it can be pulled up to the ramp quite easily. Normally a flatbed tow truck is used to tow vehicles that sustained serious damage or are high-value cars.

Heavy Duty Towing Trucks

When a car needing to be towed is a big vehicle such as a semi-truck or truck, then a heavy-duty towing truck is needed to do the job. It needs to have the capacity for carrying heavy loads and has been built with greater stability and strength that is needed to carry large vehicles.

Hook and Chain Towing Trucks

It is one of the oldest types of tow trucks and most likely one of the first ones. As suggested by the name, it comes with a big hook for cradling the vehicle that is being towed along with a long chair for lifting it off or the ground or onto its back wheels. However, it places the towed vehicle under a great deal of pressure and therefore isn’t the safest towing truck around. It is the preferred type of tow truck for towing lighter weight motorcycles or towing goods.

Wheel Lift Tow Trucks

A wheel lift tow truck is an upgrade of the hook and chain two truck. They are similar but a metal yoke is used rather than a hook and chain. The pressure placed on the towed vehicle is reduced by the metal yoke and reduces the potential of damage as well. A hydraulic lift is used to raise the vehicle off after the metal yoke has secured it. However, it is not recommended for high value or heavy vehicles.

Winch Out Tow Trucks

At times the need to tow will arise whenever a car gets stuck in the snow, mud, or even broken pavement. You just need to have a lift and get back onto stable ground Leahy’s Towing is here to help. This is where having a winch out tow truck can help. It can lift a vehicle and get it back out on the road give us a call today!

If there is one thing every car owner in the world fears, it is having their car breakdown when they least expected it. While breakdowns are quite frequent and can happen at any time without warning, there will often be warning signs that let you know there is a mechanical fault with your vehicle. The important thing is to watch out for these signs.

There are three ways you can prevent some of the most breakdowns. These are:
– Attentively listening for suspicious noises
– Visually inspect your vehicle’s elements
– Periodically servicing your vehicle

Check Engine Oil Level Regularly

As a car owner, you should check your car’s oil level regularly to ensure it is at the optimum level. A vehicle’s oil consumption will vary depending on three factors:
– Type of vehicle
– Age of vehicle
– How often the car is used (highway or city mpg)

Check a vehicle’s oil level isn’t that complicated; here is a guide on how to do it:

– Find the dipstick in your engine and pull it out. Make sure the engine is cold before checking the oil level.
– Using a lint-free cloth, wipe the dip stick and insert it back into the pipe
– Pull it out again and check where the film of oil is on the stick’s end (it must be between the add or full markers)
– Put the dip stick back to its place, and that is it.
If the level is below the add line, then it is time to add oil to the engine. It is worth noting that you do not add engine oil through the tiny tube you pulled the dipstick. On the engine block, there should be a screw-off cap that might be labeled “Oil Cap.” Unscrew the cap and fill up.

Pro tip: Always check oil levels every 2,000 kilometers and before long trips.

Caution: It’s essential that you check your engine’s oil level on flat ground and when the engine is cold to avoid the liquid being fluid.

Always Listen to Your Vehicle

As a driver, it is imperative that your ears attentive to any sounds or noises your vehicle makes. Always remember that any sounds your car makes will not magically go away and are often a sign of premature wear.

Car sounds and noises that signal tell you it needs repairs:
• Brakes grinding, growling or squealing: This is a sign that your brake shoes or pads are nearing their end and need to be replaced
• A clicking or popping sound when you turn: This is a sign that one or both your vehicle’s constant velocity joints on the front axle need replacement.
• Whining or howling: Your front-wheel or rear-wheel bearings are no longer doing their job. If the whining in rear-wheel drive vehicles only becomes louder when you step on the gas, there is a chance your differential is leaking fluids and needs to be checked ASAP.
• Rhythmic banging, clunking or tapping under the hood: This is a sign that there could be a serious problem with pistons, valves or connecting rods.

Check Your Radiator’s Water Levels Regularly

Radiators are an essential part of an engine and are responsible for cooling down it down. To accomplish this, they are generally filled with antifreeze and water. To ensure there are no leaks, and just as a precautionary measure, check the water level in your radiator after every 1,000 kilometers.

Tips on how to check radiator fluid level:
The great thing is that most cars today have a translucent overflow tank next to the radiator which makes it easy to check your coolant level. Most overflow tanks have markings on the side which tell how high or low the levels are.

For older vehicles that don’t have a visible fill and overflow tank, you will have to check the level of your coolant by looking into the radiator. The great thing about older versions is that they are less sensitive to how much coolant you have in the radiator. With these radiators, simply remove the cap and peer into the radiator to see if the level is okay.
Pro Tip: Never check radiator coolant levels while the engine is hot. If you’ve been driving for a while, give the engine up to an hour to cool down first. Check the fluid level on a flat, level ground for more accurate readings. If you break down Leahy’s Towing are the tow trucking specialists that you need. Give us a call today!

It’s not every day that drivers wind up getting towed or have to call for professional roadside assistance. Given that, quite a few common misconceptions plague the towing industry. Some of this might have to do with the rage people can feel when their vehicle is towed after they park illegally. On the other hand, towing services should also be remembered for how many times they save the day, since they offer a variety of services that save drivers money, time, and so much more. Keep reading to learn some of the specific misconceptions that drivers, possibly including yourself, have.

Towing Costs Too Much

Towing services aren’t usually overpriced, particularly if those services are being offered by genuine professionals. Towing fees account for most of the expenses involved in maintaining and operating a tow truck. There are two primary factors involved in determining cost. The first is how hard it is to recover the vehicle as measured by level of risk. The second is how much distance is going to be covered during the tow.

A Towing Company Only Does Towing

Most towing companies do plenty of other things besides towing vehicles. They might offer things like jump-starting dead cars, offering vehicle lockout solutions, changing tires, and much more. The phrase of ‘roadside assistance’ can cover quite a few different things, which is good, considering how different reasons there are for vehicles to wind up disabled or stranded on the roadways.

Towing Is Impossible In Rural Areas

A lot of drivers thank that towing services aren’t possible in they’re in a rural area. The fact is that licensed towing experts and teams, like the ones working at Leahy’s Towing, are willing to drive to you wherever you are so they can answer your problems and prayers once you contact them.

 

Do You Know What You Should Do When You Run Out Of Gas All Of The Sudden?

Few situations are more frustrating than when you’re driving down the road and suddenly run out of gas. This unpleasant surprise won’t just ruin your mood but can quickly destroy your whole day. It’s even worse if you’re heading to something that’s important to you and all of the sudden this mishap happens. It’s in circumstances such as these that you need to call a towing service. They can provide you immediate assistance when your vehicle runs out of gas when you’re not close to anything.

Refueling Or Towing Services

If you ever discover that you’re stuck on the side of the road on the way to somewhere, then you should contact reputable towing services available in Harrisburg. Someone in their mobile fleet can get to your spot just as quickly as you contact them, so you’ll at least know you have the peace of mind from knowing help is on the way. You might be thinking that you just want fuel and not to get towed, but most towing services offer refueling options as part of their service package, so you can fire up the engine and drive away on your own after they stop by.

Pull Off The Road

As soon as your car starts running out of gas, the very first thing you should do is to get off the road. It’s best to get onto the shoulder, but if you are in the midst of a highway lane, remain calm. Activate your blinkers or hazard lights to warn others.

Identify The Closest Gas Station

Whether it’s through GPS or Google Maps, finding the closest gas stations isn’t as hard as it used to be. If you can’t contact someone that offers towing services, then try to head to the closest gas station and use a gas container to do your own refueling.

Phone A Friend

If you don’t know about any towing services, it’s okay to phone a friend to come help you. Depending on where you’re stuck, you might need to get creative on how you handle the situation you find yourself in.

Now that you’ve read all of this, you should have a good idea as to the importance of contacting a nearby towing service should your vehicle wind up running out of fuel. Leahy’s Towing is in your Harrisburg neighborhood. It’s not usually a good idea to try and solve this by yourself if you’re in a rural area without help. However, contact a towing service if you are stuck like this, call us.

 

Since a tire has a lifespan of 10 years the United States Department of Transportation recommends that car owners replace the tires on their vehicles every 5 to 6 years in order to stay safe. This applies to all types of vehicles from sedans to vans, trucks to buses, and even farm equipment. However, most car owners are unable to tell exactly how old their tires are. Fortunately, there is a way to check the date when your tires were manufactured according to DOT date codes explained in a guide prepared by our towing experts here at Chicago Towing.

What are DOT Date Codes

DOT date codes appear on all commercially manufactured tires to allow car owners to identify the date on which the tires were manufactured. This information is useful to keep track of a tire’s age in order to know when it is time to have it replaced. Because tires deteriorate naturally over time even when not in use, DOT date codes will allow you to determine how long they had been kept in storage before being installed on your vehicle. This is vital information that will help you decide when it is time to buy a new set of tires. DOT codes also play an important part in the insurance process as it can help identify possible tire malfunction that often leads to accidents.

How to Read DOT Tire Date Codes

DOT tire date codes are imprinted on the side of every commercial tire and contain letters and numbers clearly marked ‘DOT’. The remaining characters contain details of the size of the tire, where they were manufactured, the tire manufacturer’s unique code, and the year and week they were manufactured. The most important numbers are the four digits at the end of the code which denotes the date when the tire was manufactured. For example, a code that reads ‘0812’ means that the tire was manufactured during the 8th week of the year 2012.

How to Make Your Tires Last Longer

It is advisable to have your tires replaced after a period of between 6 and 10 years from the date of manufacture. However, there are certain steps you can take that could help your tires last longer. As extreme weather conditions can have a detrimental effect on tires, we recommend parking your car in a climate-controlled garage if you live in a very hot or cold area. In any event, it is vitally important to regularly carry out visual inspection of your tires for any signs of tread wear, white rubber or hairline sidewall cracks, especially if the tires are more than five years old. At the first signs of wear and tear, you should have your tires replaced as soon as possible and Leahy’s Towing can help you stay on the safe side. Give us a call to see when you can come in for a check.

If you are using an electric car, you already know the many benefits of using it, ranging from low operational costs and good for the environment because it doesn’t release emissions. Because of these and other benefits, more and more electric cars are being produced with improved performance. The demand for electric cars is growing, with many people choosing them over normal cars.

Just like any other type of car, electric cars will have issues once in a while. It is common to find people with electric cars calling towing and roadside assistance in Harrisburg.

You should have a couple of options when it comes to towing service providers so you can call any time you have a problem. You don’t need to have a whole list. You should find a towing company that will be able to help you any time you need it, especially instances where you have no other option. The towing service company you choose should be reliable and dependable.

Running out of battery

You should call roadside assistance if you are driving to somewhere important and the battery of your car runs out. Car makers have done a lot in improving the quality of battery on electric cars over the years, and the batteries are lasting way longer. However, this has not been done in a large scale manner and there are a number of areas you can find a recharge spot for electric cars. When the battery of the car runs out, people have a hard time recharging it.

The Battery Breaks Down

There might be a point when the battery of the car runs out, but this is not as worse as the batteries breaking down. It is much easier to deal with a battery that has run out than one that has broken down. Newer electric cars come with better batteries, but the older electric car batteries tend to decay and break down, and this means they have to be replaced at one point.

Issues with Brakes

Electric cars have brake issues like normal cars. The brakes of the car can wear out and become exhausted with time. You will need to replace rotors and pads. These cars come with special braking systems controlling and restricting excessive amounts of degradation. There will be a point when you will need your brakes to be repaired or replaced, no matter how advanced it is.

Issues with Tires

Electric cars have heavier engines when compared to combustion engines because of the batteries. This results in more pressure and force on the tires, which causes wear and tear which raises the risk of having a flat tire. All types of cars can have issues with tires, there is no exception.

In a Nutshell

An electric car needs roadside assistance too when you have a car problem in Harrisburg. You should make the right call on a towing service company when you have the above problems. They will ensure your car is back to good health.

Many people with a truck and a trailer often get tempted into transporting a broken vehicle or a vehicle that has been in an accident. Why Not?

Well, towing a vehicle as a Do-It-Yourself project; especially to an amateur comes with several dangers, which can easily be avoided by seeking the services of a professional.

Below are a few reasons why you should really consider the services of a professional, even if you have a truck and trailer.

• The Risk to Yourself and Others

Towing is a dangerous business, regardless of what you think. If you do it wrong or forget to account for anything, you or those close to you may pay the price. In other words, one wrong move can put you or others at risk.

For example, if you attempt to load and tow a vehicle on a busy street, and you ignore following proper precaution, you may cause other problems, such as accidents, property damage, and more. You should note that towing need emergency signs such as lights, hazard triangles, etc. to warn other drivers.

• Proper Towing Equipment

Owning a flatbed and a truck only does not qualify or make you ready for towing. Safe towing needs much more than those you have at hand.

Professionals do not only have the best vehicles designed for towing, which can quickly and safely load vehicles; but own other accessories amateurs do not own. Without some of these towing accessories, be assured that you may cause damages to your vehicle.

• Towing Capacity

Not all vehicles are rated for towing. Others vehicles come with a low towing capacity, which makes them ineffective for towing heavier vehicles. For this reason, if you tow a heavy vehicle exceeding your towing limit will only damage your transmission.

Professionals come with vehicles with high towing capacity, which means that they can tow heavy vehicles with ease. When it comes to the heaviest, professionals offer the benefit of multiple truck type to accommodate the weight.

Due to experience, they know the right truck that fits a particular tow, without doing the math. However, knowing the exact weight of a vehicle you want to tow is a challenging task, if not impossible.

• Driver Error

One quality that makes a towing service successful and professional is the driver’s knowledge of towing. Therefore, if you are an amateur, you may not be familiar with the driving style needed for towing. Note; the driving style differs from other or normal driving tips.

Some of the differences include:
• Maintaining a constant speed rate
• Taking into consideration the length of the trailer the vehicle is pulling
• Acceleration and braking should be slow

Leahy’s Towing are the tow trucking specialists that you need. Give us a call today if you need a tow!

If you try starting your car and it doesn’t start, it could be a sign of a problem, with some issues being common culprits, such as dead battery or even more costly problems. To save yourself stress going online to try and look for the problem, here are some possible reasons why.

The battery is dead

The battery is the heartbeat of a vehicle, and it will be hard to start it if it is not charged. Dead batteries could be caused by a faulty alternator or leaving the interior or exterior lights on.

If this is the problem, you can fix it by using a jumper cable to connect to another vehicle. Before turning on the engines, make sure the jumper cables have been properly secured to the battery.

After the vehicle starts, consult a professional immediately so they can check the condition of your battery.

Below are some things you need to avoid if you want your battery to remain charged;
Ensuring you have turned off all lights before tuning the car off
Applying anti-corrosive solutions on the terminals and keeping them clean
During drastic changes in temperature, avoid leaving your car outside, e.g. strong cold front

Bad Starter

The starter also known as the solenoid is the spark connecting the battery to the engine. If the start is not turning over, the engine is not going to run.

A common sign you have a problem with your starter is hearing a clicking noise when you turn the ignition. You need to keep in mind that a faulty starter and a dead battery will have the same symptoms.

To tell the difference between the two, check the strength of the battery. Do this by turning the headlights on and off. There are times when the battery has enough juice to power the lights but not enough for the engine. This is why it is best to get a professional who will be able to inspect it thoroughly.

Possible signs of a faulty starter:

A clicking sound when turning on the ignition
The engine attempting to turn over but not able to complete ignition
The exterior and interior lights are turning on but the car is not starting.

Faulty ignition

The ignition switch can cause the car not to start. The ignition guides the starter to turn over the engine.
If you think the switch is defective, try the above battery test and then contact a professional. Having a defective ignition switch will end up costing you a little more than a starter or battery. This is why it is a good idea to first explore all possible problems.

Empty gas tank

If you have explored all the previous option, consider checking whether you remembered to fill up
Maybe the solution to your problem could be filling your gas tank. If the engine doesn’t have enough gas to turn over, it is not going to start. If you filled up and there is low fuel, it could be a sign of a gas leak, which is a more serious problem.

You should consider having a gallon tank of gas in your car to avoid possible embarrassment. You should properly secure the gasoline because it can emit fumes than can fill the exterior of the car. If you have a tank of gas in your vehicle, don’t smoke around it. Should you break down and need a towing company give us a call.