Ontario’s Premium Towing Archives - Page 2 of 4

Safety Tips For Towing A Trailer

As summer ends, more and more Canadians are towing their trailers back from their camping sights. That means the roads are more crowded and there are more dangers and chances of being in an accident. Whether you are towing a camper or a boat for a little vacation or are towing a trailer, safety should always be of top priority. The use of correct towing trucks, hauling tools, and the right techniques are key to a safe towing process. Substandard equipment and unskilled tow drivers can lead to more accidents and property damage. However, strict adherence to law and safety guidelines will lead you to a hassle-free towing experience. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you need to tow a trailer, the following tips will help you and make the job easier.

Take Your Time

Speed thrills but kills. Speed is one of the leading causes of road accidents. When you have a trailer on your back, you need to slow down more than your normal driving speed. Overspeeding can make your trailer sway and whip. Slow down if you find that the trailer is swaying, but never apply your brakes suddenly. If you are driving down a slope, lower your gear and minimize your speed. Similarly, when going uphill lower the gear and switch on your flashers, and keep moving slowly. These cautious driving practices will minimize the chance of you getting into an accident.

Stay Within Capacity

Each vehicle has a specific towing capacity, never exceed your vehicle’s towing limit and the load restrictions of your trailer hitch. Exceeding these limits can cause various problems including;

Handling difficulties
Brake performance
Damage to the engine
Damage to the drive-train and suspension

To avoid any problems, make sure to include any extra cargo or passengers you are carrying when calculating the load.

Distribute The Load

Distribution of your cargo weight is as important for safety as staying within your maximum towing capacity. Unequal cargo distribution can pull your trailer or vehicle to a particular side and make steering difficult. This can also damage your vehicle and trailer hitch. Make sure to pack your trailer in a way that the weight is equally distributed on both sides of the trailer. The general rule is to place 60% of weight in the front half of the trailer and tongue weight should not be more than 10-15%.

Inspect Your Trailer

Be sure to inspect your trailer before towing. Check your trailer’s lights, make sure it is tied correctly to the tow vehicle, check the connections manually. Ask someone to assist you in inspecting running lights, brake lights, hazard lights, and turn signals.

Maintain Your Trailer And Vehicle

Before hitting the road, make sure to inspect both your trailer and your vehicle and ensure they are performing correctly. Transmission, steering, front-line alignment, and your suspension all should be in proper working order. Moreover, check your tires for cold pressure and ensure that all your wheels are set at the correct pressure. It is advisable to increase the pressure of the rear tires of some tow vehicles, but don’t exceed the limit stamped on the tires.

Get The Right Equipment

If your vehicle doesn’t come with a built-in tow hitch, talk to a tow professional and get a hitch that is attached to the vehicle’s frame and not to the bumper. Make sure the hitch ball you buy is the same size as the couple on your trailer. Use strong safety chains to connect the trailer to the hitch. This will ensure that your hitch won’t dig into the pavement if your trailer becomes unhitched and causes significant damage.

Consider Two Mirrors

Trailer towing can significantly increase a vehicle’s blind spots. Making it difficult for drivers even in ideal situations. Adding two mirrors farther apart can provide a clear view of the entire length of the vehicle. This helps drivers to overcome any blind spots and decreases the chances of collision. These mirrors also make sure that you can see other vehicles and obstacles on the road. Therefore, the use of two mirrors should be the top consideration of every driver, towing a trailer.

About Us

Ontario Towing is a premium towing and roadside assistance company, providing services in Ottawa, Orleans, Kanata, Gloucester, and surrounding areas. Our exceptional services have enabled us to establish a satisfied customer base. If you are looking for a towing company that can tow your car, trailer or boat safely, or for any roadside assistance service, contact us. Ontario Towing, stationed in Ottawa, provides exemplary towing, car lockout, and roadside services. Their diverse suite, including mobile tire aid, gas delivery, and extensive towing options, supports Ottawa and its adjacent areas seamlessly.

How To Get Your Car Or ATV Unstuck

For a burgeoning off-roader getting stuck is quite common. From an off-chamber obstacle of uselessly spinning tires in the air to a gravitational pull towards a muddy or sloppy pit, you face several dangerous situations while off-roading. No matter how careful you are, physics, and limitations of friction will surely get you at some point. Getting stuck in the mud or sand can be quite frustrating. Fortunately, there are several ways you can get out of the situation. The easiest and safest way is to call your roadside assistance provider. Ontario Towing is always ready to lend a helping hand whenever you are stuck or need any type of emergency roadside assistance. However, in some areas getting professional roadside assistance is practically impossible. Don’t worry, there are still many ways through which you can get your car unstuck on your own. The following blog enlists some of the ways you can try to get your car out of the mud, snow, or stand.

The Basic Principles Of Vehicle Recovery

Before you attempt to get your car unstuck, there are some basic principles for safe vehicle recovery practices you need to keep in mind. Here are some tips to follow;

While it may be tempting, avoid the idea of just forcing your way out of the mud. The continuous revving of the cars’ engine or useless spinning of the tires will only dig you further in the mud. Along with this, it will also destroy your tires, axels, drivelines, and transmissions.
If your car is thoroughly stuck, your ideal approach should be to increase the contact point of your tire and the ground. By practicing this you can use momentum to reach more solid ground.
Gaining momentum is key to getting out of soft mud. Once you start moving, keep going till you reach solid terrain.
Communication is key if you are helping a driver out of a bogged situation. You need to inform them clearly about what is happening to the driving wheels.
Unfortunately, no single method has been proven to be effective in getting a car unstuck. So, trial and error methods are inevitable in such situations.

Take Stock Of The Situation

To have the best opportunity to get your car unstuck. It is better to understand the situation and know the severity of the condition. If the wheels are deep in the mud or other slippery material such that the chassis or axle now rests on the ground you will have a hard time getting out of the situation. Other warning signs include more than one tire sunken in the mud or any other slippery material – especially the wheels. Similarly, if the frame of the car is teetering from its frame, enough to alter its weight distribution, thereby reducing the traction on the front wheels.

Two-Vehicle Snatch Method

Once you have got the stock of the situation, it’s time to try and get the car unstuck. Most commonly people will try the two-vehicle snatch method first. This method can be quite effective if executed in a proper way with the use of proper tools. For this method, the recovery vehicle must have 4×4 traction and have lock differential in function. Similarly never use your tow ball, rope, or chain to attach both the cars as they can snap and move in a dangerous projectile. Lastly, any out lookers must be aware of the possible splash where the car recovery is taking place.

The Dig Method

The digging method is pretty much self-explanatory. Take a shovel (you will find it in your packed emergency kit) and start digging as much excess mud as you can from around your tire. If you don’t have a shovel try using your hands or any other helpful material you can find in your surroundings. In theory, digging will give you more room to gain recovery momentum helping you to drive your way out of the mud, sand, or snow.

About Us

Ontario towing provides reliable 24/7 towing and roadside assistance services to its clients in Ottawa. If you find yourself stuck on the road due to a flat tire or mud, contact us now and get yourself out of the daunting situation with ease. Serving Ottawa and surrounding regions, Ontario Towing delivers exceptional towing, car lockout, and comprehensive roadside solutions. Their vast array of services, ranging from mobile tire fixes to gas delivery, ensures top-tier assistance for every motorist.

Tips To Ready Your Motorcycle For Riding

If you are a rider then it’s time that you relive your passion for motorcycle riding. The joy of biking across curvy roads on a two-wheeler is unmatchable. But before you get on the road and start your ride there are a few things you should take care of. While the excitement of bringing your motorcycle out of your garage and on the road is running high there are a few things you need to do in order to ready your motorcycle for a smooth riding experience. It is important that you prepare your bike for every season, preparing your bike for the ride will help ensure your safety. If you and your motorcycle are not fully ready for riding, you may run into problems with your motorbike and end up having to wait for roadside assistance. So, to avoid any of this from happening it is important that you follow some of these tips to ready your bike for riding. In this blog post, we outline some of the tips that will help you prepare your bike for riding.

Clean Your Bike

Cleaning your dirt-ridden motorcycle is the first step in getting it ready for a ride. As your motorcycle has been hibernating in your garage for months it should be a necessary ritual for you to clean it before riding it again for the season. Cleaning your motorcycle will not only embellish your ride but will also help you detect wear and tear, any loose bolts and nuts, and any potential damage. Before you start your ride, remove all the blocks or covers you have placed on your bike. Then lower your bike on one stand and dust off all the grime and dust from the windshield and fairings, now wash away all the protective sprays and coating you have applied to protect your motorcycle. Take a close look inside the exhaust pipes and airbox to ensure that no critters are hanging out down there. Lastly, carefully wipe down the motorbike’s frame, rims, brake rotors, and chains to remove all the rust and corrosion from your bike.

Check The Fuel System

Your fuel system can make or break your ride. When your bike is left standing in your garage for an extended period its fuel filter weakens so you must check the fuel system of your bike before running the engine. Hence you need to examine the fuel tank, fuel lines, and fittings for leaks and cracks and replace the fuel filter. Your fuel will be in a good condition if you use a fuel stabilizer, but make sure that you check for gunk and stratification by opening the filler cap. If your fuel is in good condition you can move to the next step, but if not then you will have to drain the tank and its fuel lines before starting the engine. It is also important that you clean and check your bike’s carburetor. Add a fuel system cleaner the next few times you fill your tank.

Change The Engine Oil

Many motorcycle experts believe that you should change your bike’s engine oil and filter before storing and after taking it out of storage. It is important to change your bike’s engine oil after storage because during the long months of standing in the garage, oil separation can cause condensation build-up harming your automobile. Therefore your bike must be well oiled before riding.

Check The Tires

Once your bike looks pristine it’s time that you take a moment and closely inspect the tires of your motorcycle. Your bike has been standing in your garage for so many months putting all its weight on its tires, this leads to flat spots and stress marks. It is important that you inspect the tires and change them if it’s necessary. Riding with overinflated, under-inflated, or damaged tires can lead to horrible accidents. Hence it is important that you first do a visual inspection of your motorbike’s tires to detect any punctures, cracks, and bulges and then check the tire’s pressure by using a pressure gauge to ensure that the tires are in good riding condition.

About Ontario Towing

Ontario Towing offers reliable and expert roadside assistance to its customers in Ottawa, Kanata, Orleans, Gloucester, Barrhaven, and surrounding areas. For more information on our services, visit our website or contact us today for personalized care. Ontario Towing, headquartered in Ottawa, is a leader in superior towing, car lockout, and roadside support. With a wide range of offerings, including mobile tire services and gas delivery, they extend their expertise across Ottawa and its neighboring communities.

How To Tow A Car With Another Car

Towing your car with another car is a far worse situation than waiting for a tow truck. Many people believe that it’s better to tow a car with a tow truck than with another car. But sometimes in life, there are scenarios in which you are stuck in a remote area and can’t get help from a tow truck company or your towing company is unable to track you down. In situations like these, you have to improvise and may have to tow your car with another car in order to get to a safe place. There are some things that you should know before attempting to tow your car with another car. Here are some of the things that you need to check:

Tow rating of your vehicle
If your vehicle has a tow hitch installed
Determine if the car you are towing has 2WD (2-wheel drive) or 4WD (4-wheel drive)
See if the vehicle you are towing is automatic or manual
Check if your vehicle is 2WD and if it is a front-wheel-drive (FWD) or rear-wheel drive (RWD) vehicle.
You can determine all of this by checking your car’s manual.

There are different methods you can use to tow a car with another car. In this blog post, we will discuss the different methods that can help you to tow a car with another car.

Few Simple Guidelines

So, before we jump into the details of different methods of towing a car with another car, there are a few simple guidelines that you should follow.

The most important thing is that the tow vehicle must be larger and heavier than the car being towed since the towing vehicle will require more braking and engine power in order to move and stop two cars.
Then the second step is to make sure that there is no one in the car being towed. As it is illegal as well as very unsafe for a passenger to be in a towed vehicle. This also applies to pets.
The next step is that you need to turn on the ignition of the vehicle being towed so that the steering wheel doesn’t lock up.
Lastly, if you are towing a vehicle at night, switch on the parking lights of the vehicle being towed so that motorists and other vehicles following can see it.

Now we will discuss the different methods you can use to tow a car with another car.

Tow The Car With A Chain

This is one of the methods you can use to tow a car with another car, but towing a car with a rope or chain should be your last resort and should only be done for short distances at low speeds and on local roads. You should never tow another car with a rope or chain on a highway. If you are going with this method, then it’s essential to know how to tow a car with a chain or rope. Never use an old rope or chain to tow a vehicle. Old ropes are thin and frayed and old chains can become cracked and rusty, they can easily snap under the stress of towing a vehicle and create a potentially dangerous situation. Make sure that the chain or rope you are using is neither too long nor too short as this can also cause problems while towing. Lastly remember that when towing a car with another car using chains and ropes don’t stop too quickly as the car being towed will be in neutral and will not be able to stop and will slam into the tow vehicle, causing damage to both cars.

Tow The Car With A Dolly

Using a tow dolly is a popular method to tow a car with another car, a tow dolly is like a small trailer. A tow dolly keeps the front tires of the towed vehicle off the ground helping to reduce the driveline wear on the car being towed. The key benefit of using a tow dolly to tow a car with another car is that it does not push the vehicle being towed into the tow vehicle when brakes are applied. These tow dollies are lightweight so you can easily rent them from a storage or moving facility. However, in any case, it is better to call a professional towing company to help you out rather than experimenting yourself as you might end up damaging both vehicles.

About Ontario Towing

Ontario Towing is known for its professionalism in providing the best roadside assistance services. We have experienced staff who work day and night to ensure customer safety and ease. For more information visit our website or contact us today. In Ottawa, Ontario Towing stands out with its premium towing, car lockout, and roadside aid. Their service palette, spanning mobile tire interventions to long-distance towing, comprehensively caters to Ottawa and its environs.

Tips To Safely Tow A Trailer

If you are planning on buying a trailer and planning to tow it out to the lake or the wilderness for a bit of fun, there are things you need to know first. Towing a trailer can lead to certain issues if not done right. Minor details like adding a couple of hundred pounds to your rear can make profound changes in the rig’s stability. But by following a few simple guidelines, you can stay on track and tow the trailer with the utmost ease and safety. Towing a trailer can be scary at first but if done right you will feel confident and comfortable behind the wheel. In this blog post, we will discuss the basics you need to know to safely tow a trailer.

Hitch Your Vehicle Correctly

In order to drive safely, you need to hitch your vehicle safely. Make sure your hitch is on, locked in, and your cables are connected and working properly. Pay attention to your weight distribution. Look at your tow vehicle and trailer, you should observe a nice flat plane between the two. If it is tipping towards the hitch, or tipping away from it, then it is not well balanced. The best way to check for weight distribution is to go to a truck scale and have them measure the weight on all tires. This will give you an idea about the weight distribution of each tire on your vehicle.

Check Your Visibility

It’s important to check your visibility while driving your vehicle with a trailer. If you don’t have a rearview camera for your trailer, your rearview will be limited to the side mirrors of your tow vehicle. In that case, install side mirror extensions that will give you a wide-angle view along with your normal mirror view. To drive safely you need to make sure that you can see behind your vehicle with the trailer. Compromised vision can lead to an accident.

Check Your Brakes And Brake Controller

Before you get on the road make sure that your brakes and brake controller are working properly. A brake controller controls the brakes of the trailer, it turns on the brakes of the trailer when you hit the tow vehicles’ brakes. There is a setting in the brake controller that will allow you to set how hard it applies the trailers’ brakes. You can test the brakes by driving at 10mph and then apply the brakes as you would for a normal stop. The trailer should tug back at the vehicle just a tiny bit before you come to a full stop. But if you don’t feel the trailer tug, or worse, you feel it pushing you, then you need to turn the brake controller setting higher. If your stop is super jerky then you need to lower the brake setting.

Know Your Height

It’s important that you know the height of your trailer. As you would not want to hit the bottom of a sign while traveling on the road or scrap your trailer’s top while going under a bridge. Hence, it is important that you measure the height of your trailer to avoid any passage marked with a lower clearance than that value.

Final Word

Towing a trailer can be a difficult job if you follow the above-mentioned tips you will be able to tow your trailer safely. However, you are not alone on the road. You can still get into an accident. In that case, you will need a professional towing company to safely tow your vehicle.

About Ontario Towing

Ontario Towing is known for its professionalism in providing the best roadside assistance services. We have experienced staff who work day and night to ensure our customer’s safety and ease. For more information visit our website or contact us today. Ontario Towing, operating from Ottawa, offers unparalleled towing, car lockout, and roadside care. Their holistic suite encompasses services like mobile tire adjustments and gas delivery, ensuring top-notch support throughout Ottawa and nearby regions.

Different Types Of Tow Trucks

A vehicle breakdown when you least expect it is challenging and frustrating. Depending on the location where your car has broken down, you might have to call for towing services or roadside assistance. Apart from towing broken down vehicles, tow trucks are used to transport impounded, disabled, improperly parked, and scrapped motor vehicles from one point to another. Tow trucks are also used to recover damaged vehicles in an accident. They safely tow these vehicles from the accident area to a repair workshop. You call these towing companies whenever you are stuck in the middle of the road with a broken car and they help you get your vehicle to the automobile repair center. There are several different types of tow trucks available, and depending on your needs and situation, it is essential to choose one that works for your vehicle.

Flatbed Tow Truck

This is one of the most widely and commonly used types of towing vehicles in the world. A flatbed truck has a long empty bed with a flat top. They have hydraulics that move the flatbed upwards and downwards. What makes flatbed trucks easy to use is that you can simply drive your vehicle up the ramp, or have it pulled up. They are mostly used to transport damaged vehicles. One of the best things about flatbed tow trucks is that it keeps cars entirely off the ground. Flatbed towing is more like carrying the vehicle than towing it. They are also called tilt trays, slide, and rollback trucks.

Boom Tow Truck

A boom truck is equipped with a hydraulic arm that is called the boom. It uses that hydraulic arm to tow vehicles. This boom reaches out past the end of the vehicle, and grabs the vehicle that needs to be towed. Heavy-duty boom trucks are like a smaller version of cranes. Some boom trucks have a fixed boom whereas some have adjustable and moveable hydraulic arms. Older boom tow trucks used the traditional hook and chain method to tow a vehicle. But now the latest boom trucks use a belt and slings to tow vehicles which is a bit safer method.

Wheel-lift Tow Truck

A wheel-lift tow truck uses a mechanism similar to the hook and chain method. The only difference is that they use a metal yoke instead of a chain which minimizes the risk of damaging the vehicle. The metal yoke goes under the front wheels of the vehicle and lifts the vehicle. The truck tows the car while the back wheels remain on the ground. Since no chain is in place, there is much less chance the front bumper will get damaged.

Integrated Tow Truck

An integrated truck uses two mechanisms. When a boom and wheel-lift are combined we get an integrated tow truck. Integrated trucks are used for small purposes where a full boom truck may not be necessary. They are also called self-loaders because the integrated trucks can control the interior of the vehicle. This way operators can tow the vehicle without even exiting the tow truck. Integrated trucks can also be used for heavy-duty towing, as the arms of these trucks are heavily embedded into the core of the vehicle, which makes them more capable and stable.

Final Word

Tow trucks can be classified into different categories depending upon their sizes, power, function, and capacity. Now that you have a better understanding of what the different tow truck types are, you can decide which one you may need. If you ever need a tow truck you need to explain the whole situation clearly and ask for the towing truck that fits your needs.

About Ontario Towing

Ontario Towing is known for its professionalism in providing the best roadside assistance services. We have experienced staff who work day and night to ensure customer safety and ease. For more information visit our website or contact us today. Ontario Towing, an Ottawa-based firm, excels in premium towing, car lockout, and adept roadside assistance. Their wide-ranging solutions, from on-the-spot tire services to gas deliveries, consistently serve Ottawa and its surrounding territories.

Things You Should Keep In Mind Before Getting Your Motorcycle Towed

When we talk about towing, most of us automatically think about towing a car or a larger vehicle such as a jeep or a SUV. Many people don’t know that motorcycles are also often towed especially during the riding season. Some bikers get into accidents while others find themselves facing technical issues. In events like these, the bike has to be towed to the rider’s house or to a mechanic. Similar to car towing, there are several technicalities involved when it comes to towing a bike. Some people even say that bikes are at more risk of damage since they are more delicate and are supported by two tires instead of four. With riding season just around the corner, many people are preparing themselves and their vehicles for long rides. In addition to helmets, elbow pads, knee pads and other safety equipment, it is also important for you to familiarize yourself with the towing process and keep a towing company’s number handy. In case you have to get your bike towed, there are a few things you should be familiar with. This blog post lists all the important aspects of getting your bike towed.

Required Equipment

Whether you are riding an ATV, a heavy bike or a cruising bike, towing it will require certain specialized equipment to ensure that the bike is safely docked. Not docking the bike properly or carelessly moving it up the ramp can lead to further damage. The equipment needed to safely load and dock your bike include:

Ramp

Carrying the bike or loading it onto the truck via ropes is a very bad idea. There is a high probability that during the inefficient loading, the bike will fall and will endure more damage. In addition to this, the ropes can lead to further breakages, cracks and scratches on the bike. With the help of a ramp, you can ensure that there won’t be any slip-ups. Some companies also tend to use wooden planks to load the vehicle. Since the planks are not specifically designed for loading, they can break in between loading and cause major damage to the vehicle.

Adequate straps

One of the most essential pieces of equipment to properly tow a bike is straps. Your towing company should use high quality straps that can hold down the motorcycle firmly, keeping it from moving. Some companies use bungee cords or regular ropes. However, these are inefficient at securing the motorcycle completely and leave room for movement that can cause damage to its paintwork.

Chocks

The safest way to tow your motorcycle is by hiring a trailer with pre-fitted chocks. However, if the trailer doesn’t have chocks, you can always ask the company to bring portable chocks to place them in front and behind the tires to prevent the motorcycle from moving back and forth. They help reduce the stress on the straps and keep the bike steady on the trailer.

Bikes Endure More Damage Than Cars

You should always keep in mind that it’s much easier for a bike to fall than any other vehicle with four or more wheels. Hence, while towing a motorcycle, there are many other factors that have to be kept in mind. If you are not hurt and were not in an accident, you should join the trailer driver to ensure that the speed is appropriate and it will not lead to your motorcycle falling from the trailer. No matter how properly you secure the motorcycle to the trailer, there will still be some amount of movement left. Hence, the speed of the towing vehicle should be adjusted such that the motorcycle doesn’t move a lot.

Do You Really Need A Motorcycle Towing Service?

If you are in the middle of nowhere and your motorcycle stops suddenly, you must call for a towing service. There may be a nice passerby that may offer you help but without adequate equipment, having them tow your vehicle might cause more damage to it. Keep in mind that not all towing services offer motorcycle towing, so having a company that you can contact that is available all the time is crucial. Moreover, some towing companies only offer their services in certain localities.

About Us

Ontario Towing is one of the most reliable and experienced towing service providers near you. Hire us to get professional and risk-free roadside assistance to get yourself back on the road. To get in touch with us, click here. From Ottawa, Ontario Towing provides outstanding towing, car lockout, and roadside services. Their expansive roster includes mobile tire solutions and gas deliveries, positioning them as a go-to resource for Ottawa and its adjacent areas.

What Can A Long-term Shutdown Do To Your Car?

Has your car been sheltering in your driveway for months due to one reason or another? Whether you were too busy to take your car out or didn’t have anywhere to go, it is important to understand that your vehicle can develop a bunch of costly issues if you don’t exercise its motors every now and then. Experts say that even if you don’t have anywhere to go, you should drive your car for at least 20 minutes each week. This will help keep its battery charged and prevent rust from building up on the brakes and calipers from seizing up. Some of the most typical problems that your car could develop if you were to leave it unattended for a few months include:

Drained Batteries

A cars’ batteries are usually charged by the engine when the car is turned on. Hence, vehicles that are left dormant for days could experience a drained battery, requiring you to jumpstart your car. Car batteries don’t only drain when you leave the lights on. They lose more charge and voltage when it sits without being used. To prevent this issue, all take your car for a little drive around town, even as little as 10 miles and over 50 mph speed.

Tire Issues

Tires are at a high risk of flat spots if they are not moved for more than two weeks. In some cases, if you are lucky, your tires may be fine after sitting idle for a month. However, after that your tires will flatten and meet the road’s surface due to low tire pressure and the vehicle’s weight. If your tires are not rotated regularly pressure will accumulate on the one spot causing the tires to flatten which could be dangerous on the road. While driving your car periodically can help, sometimes the damage is irreparable.

Animal Or Pest Infestation

Animals and pests usually look for quiet and undisturbed areas to lay their eggs or have babies. There have been cases where stray cats, rats, and rodents have made a home in an automobile used less frequently. Cats can bring their babies to your car, birds can build a nest while rodents can make it a permanent home. These animals can chew on the wires of your car leading to severe and expensive issues later on.

Faulty Brakes

Another common problem in dormant cars is faulty brakes. Since most expensive cars are made of cast iron, the brakes corrode very quickly. Not driving your car regularly can cause the brakes to rust. As opposed to this, when you drive, the rotating pads scrape off the corrosion, cleaning them right up.

How To Deal With Dormant Car Issues

The best way to prevent your car from developing issues that require replacement or certain parts and expensive repairs is to take your car out for a drive at least once a week. However, if your car has already developed certain issues, it is best that you do not continue to drive it. Instead call a roadside assistance service. The professionals will help you understand what needs to be done to deal with the issue. They will also transport your car to a qualified mechanic. Ontario Towing is one of the most reliable and experienced towing service providers near you. Hire us to get professional and risk-free roadside assistance to get yourself back on the road. To get in touch with us, click here. Ontario Towing, located in Ottawa, specializes in superior towing, car lockout solutions, and comprehensive roadside assistance. Their wide array of services, including mobile tire aid and long-distance towing, covers Ottawa and its adjacent communities seamlessly.

What You Need To Know About The Towing Process And Why

You drive your car daily on the road but never know when something might happen with it. On a bad day, you might suddenly find yourself stranded on the road. It is such an unexpected and troubling situation that many people don’t know what to do. Most of the problems you face in such a situation are due to your unawareness of the entire towing process. You must have some level of knowledge and information about how towing is done and the different types of services a professional towing company offers. In this blog we talk about why it is important for you to have some knowledge of the towing process and how it can help you in unprecedented situations.

To Identify Which Service You Need

If you have no knowledge on how different towing processes are carried out, you can’t be sure of which type of towing service you need to hire. For instance, do you need a towing service, a recovery truck, a winching service, or a tilt deck tow truck? The answer to these questions becomes easier if you have some basic knowledge to figure out what suits your situation the most.

To Identify Any Mistakes Of Towing Staff

If you know what is going on during the towing of your car, you can figure out if the towing experts are doing something that you don’t want them to do with your car. For instance, whether you want them to tow your car or load it on a truck and transport it to your destination. You should be able to differentiate between the different services a towing company offers. It can also help you, if you know a bit more than just the basics, to identify if the staff is doing something wrong while towing your car.

Avoiding Any Damage To Your Car

The most significant advantage of identifying the experts’ mistakes is that you can prevent yourself and your car from receiving any damage during the towing process. You must know what the towing staff is doing and what may go wrong while your car is being towed.

Avoiding Inappropriate Towing Solutions

When you have some knowledge about the towing process, you can see which solution is the most appropriate and which one is inappropriate or may prove to be unnecessarily costly. You might ask the towing experts to come up with some alternative that might be more appropriate in your specific case.

How Much You Need To Know About Towing

The more you know about it, the better position you are in when the towing staff is towing your car. At the very least you should know the difference between different towing services. Knowing this will help you make the right decision at the right time. Having some basic knowledge about the towing companies near you is also critical. Hiring the best towing company avoids so many problems and mitigates several risks. Ontario Towing is the most reliable and experienced towing service provider near you. Hire us to get professional and risk-free roadside assistance to get yourself back on the road. To get in touch with us, click here. Ontario Towing, based in Ottawa, delivers exceptional towing, car lockout, and roadside help. With offerings like mobile tire services and long-distance hauls, they are a trusted resource for Ottawa and surrounding areas.

Safety Tips For Towing Your Vehicle

Have you ever had your car breakdown in the middle of nowhere? In situations like these, your first natural instinct may be to try a bunch of different techniques like jump-starting the battery, checking the spark plugs and checking the battery connections. However, such actions seldom work especially if you don’t have prior experience. So the last option you are left with is to tow your car or get it towed from professional hauling service. Getting your car towed by an experienced tow truck company or pickup trailer is the safest option but if you find yourself stranded in a remote location where it is difficult to arrange a pickup trailer, you might end up having to take the services of an inexperienced company. Unusual incidents like this can happen at any time so it is best to be prepared. In this blog, we have discussed some pointers that can help you safely tow your vehicle.

Knowledge About Your Vehicle

Every job requires the use of certain tools and expertise for completion. Before you perform any towing task it is important that you read your car’s manual to check the tow rating of your car. Normally sport utility vehicles and large trailers have tow hitches pre-installed but unfortunately they are excluded in normal passenger cars. You should know whether the car you are towing is a two-wheel or four-wheel drive vehicle and check its engine transmission.

Crucial Aspects You Should Consider

First, make sure your towing vehicle is big enough to tow the towing vehicle so that it can easily accelerate, decelerate and can perform engine brakes. Secondly, make sure nobody is sitting in the car that is being towed except for someone on the driver seat to position the car on the road and hit the brakes when needed. Shift the gear of the car being towed to neutral and turn on the ignition switch to prevent the auto-locking feature. If you are towing a vehicle at night or during hazy weather turn on the hazard lights of the car being hauled to alert other fellow drivers.

Towing A Car With A Tow Strap

This is not the safest method to pull a car to your desired destination. But you can use this method to cover short distances. Don’t use any old chain or weak rope for this purpose. Use a proper tow rope that has a length of at least 4-5 metres so that the car being tugged will have sufficient time to stop. Make sure that the tow strap is not delicate, old or damaged. If the strap is damaged it won’t be capable of bearing the load and may cause serious implications for others travelling on road. Most tow straps come with an (on tow) indication which needs to be displayed on the rear of the car.

Use Of Tow Dolly To Pull Vehicle

Various methods are used to tow the cars. One popular method is the use of a mini trailer-like structure called a tow dolly. In this method, the front wheels of the vehicle are elevated above the ground and are fixed on a dolly whereas the rear wheels are continuously in contact with the ground. Normally it is considered good for cars to have a front-wheel-drive option but effective transport depends on the weight, size and wheelbase of your car.

Utilizing Tow Bars

The most common method used to carry a vehicle is by using tow bars. There are two variations, RV mounted, which is a tow bar that is inserted into a trailer hitch, and A-frame trailer which connects to a trailer hitch via a coupler. A coupler fits safely and pivots on the tow vehicles’ tie ball to ensure safe connection.

Hiring A Tow Trailer

Pulling a vehicle requires certain skills and experience. Professional towing companies hire and train staff to prevent your car from being further damaged. So employing a towing trailer is by far the safest option to tow a car. The vehicle is overhauled inside the trailer and it is hooked.

Important Driving Tips

When on the road there are certain rules and restrictions you must follow. When towing a car you need to be even more attentive as a slight blunder can result in serious injury to others on the road. Drive slower as the additional pressure on your vehicle will curtail the braking system of your car. Avoid immediate braking when pulling a vehicle with your car. Keep an eye on the road and beware of other drivers and use proper turn signals. To ensure security check the quality of your tires before starting your journey.

About Ontario Towing

At Ontario Towing, we offer reliable and expert roadside assistance services to our customers in Ottawa, Kanata, Orleans, Gloucester, Barrhaven, and surrounding areas. Contact us today for more information on our services. Headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario Towing stands out with its premium towing, car lockout, and expert roadside services. From mobile tire assistance to long-distance towing, they cater diligently to Ottawa and its neighboring locales.

Tips and Tricks To Avoid Hydroplaning In Rainy Weather

Driving in rainy weather can be quite tricky. You might experience skidding on the wet road and lose control of your car. Even if this happens for a split second, it can lead to a dangerous accident. Statistics show that most weather-related accidents happen on wet pavement while it is pouring. Approximately 5700 people lose their lives every year and more than 500,000 people are injured due to crashes that happen on wet pavement. Hence, it is imperative that you take extra care while driving during the rainy season. Wet pavement can lead to hazardous accidents. In this blog, we will talk about hydroplaning, how to stop and what should be done if your vehicle happens to skid off the road.

What Is Hydroplaning?

Hydroplaning refers to a condition when your vehicles’ tires lose contact with the road and start to skid. This happens when there is a thin layer of water on top of the road and your tires try to roll on top of it. This type of condition can occur any time a tire can not channel the water fast enough to sustain good contact with the road. This problem does not only occur when there is standing water on the road. It can also cause a driver to lose control of their car during heavy rainfall. The grooves on tires are designed to offer space for water to go and eject when the tire rolls. When a driver is driving at a safe speed, the tires don’t lose their traction with the asphalt. However, if the tires on your car are old and their treads have worn out, they will not be able to surpass the hydroplane and develop traction with the road.

How To Avoid Hydroplaning

You have to be very careful while driving in the rainy season. Along with taking care while driving, you have to ensure that your car is in good condition. Some of the things you can do to avoid hydroplaning are:

Avoid Overspeeding

The first thing you have to take care of is the speed of your car. Make sure you are driving 35 mph or slower. At these speeds, the chances of hydroplaning are low since your cars’ tires can get more traction at lower speeds on wet pavement. When you travel at a slower pace you give yourself more time to react to sudden traffic slowdowns, standing water, debris on the road, and disabled cars.

Stopping Distance

In the rainy weather conditions there is a higher chance of your car skidding. Therefore it is best to keep enough stopping distance between you and the next car. As a driver, you have to leave at least 50 to 60 meters of distance between you and the next car.

Don’t Use Cruise Control

Cruise control can cause the car’s tires to spin faster if it hydroplanes. Hence, it is important to avoid cruise control in rainy weather. Go slow and keep the controls in your hand.

Avoid Sudden Acceleration

If you have to speed up, don’t put sudden force on the accelerator. Slowly and gradually increase your speed. Sudden acceleration, as well as sudden deceleration, can result in skidding.

What To Do If You Hydroplane?

Although this might not seem like the right course of action, the only way to gain control over your car if it hydroplanes is by withdrawing your foot from the gas and waiting. Steering or trying to press the brake will prolong the skidding process. Usually while hydroplaning, your car will only skid for a split second before regaining traction. However, if you are not able to control the car and it goes off-road, don’t worry. You can always call roadside assistance to help come and get you out of the situation. At Ontario Towing, we offer reliable and expert roadside assistance services to our customers in Ottawa, Kanata, Orleans, Gloucester, Barrhaven, and surrounding areas. Contact us today for more information on our services. Ontario Towing, operating in Ottawa, provides top-notch towing, car lockout, and adept roadside support. With services spanning from mobile tire solutions to long-distance hauls, they remain a cornerstone for assistance in Ottawa and nearby regions.

What If There Was No Tow Truck Company Around To Assist You?

If you own a car or a vehicle, you might have needed the services of a professional tow truck company. Just recall the convenience with which they got you out of trouble. Who came to rescue you when your car broke down in the middle of the road? It was a nearby towing company. Imagine if there were no towing industries, and no tow truck companies anywhere to offer you roadside assistance. Of course, it is horrifying to think of what you would need to do if there were no one with the expertise, equipment, and knowledge to get your car back on the road. After you have been in an accident or have faced a problem you can’t fix, you need a professional to help you out. Let us now discuss what would have happened if there were no professional towing companies.

People Would Abandon Their Cars

If there were no tow truck companies to help people get their cars going again, there would be piles of cars on the roadside. People would abandon their cars on the road after failing to attempt to fix the problem themselves. Most of the time, when a car meets an accident or stops otherwise, it requires professional help. With no professional towing companies around, things would be pretty inconvenient. There would be nothing you could do but to leave your car right there and try to get a lift from someone or call for a cab.

Helpless Travellers Getting Robbed

Due to car failure, people stranded on the road would become easy targets for thieves, robbers, and burglars. Stranded travelers would suddenly find themselves at the mercy of criminals and law enforcement agencies, with no experts to help them fix their car and get them back on the road. The more time they spend on the road, the more chances of something happening to them. Professional towing companies play a huge role in helping drivers and their families get back on the road so that they can reach their homes safely.

Families Dying Of Weather Conditions

Weather is another element that will play its part freely without any obstruction. Without expert help, there is a high chance you will be stranded on the road for a long time. Considering Calgary’s weather conditions, there is a high chance that bad weather will kick in out of nowhere making it difficult for you to reach safety.

Starvation And Dehydration Causing Sickness

People traveling on the road don’t have unlimited food and water supplies. They may have a couple of water bottles and some snacks with them when they hit the road. When their car breaks down with no towing company around to help them, what will happen to them? They may starve, dehydrate and become sick. Their lack of food and water will hinder them from fixing their car themselves, even if possible otherwise.

DIY Will Be The Only Option

When you live in a world where there are no towing companies, doing it yourself becomes the only opinion. Having said that, it does not infer that DIYs are a good option. If the world didn’t have any professional towing experts, people would be left with no other option than to try to fix the problem themselves. When someone with little to no experience tries to fix something with their car it usually results in severe damage, wastage of the car’s components, and permanent damage to the car. Ontario Towing is one of the most reliable and professional tow truck companies in Ontario. We offer a complete range of services to ensure we have got you covered no matter what situation you may find yourself in. To contact us, click here. Ontario Towing, rooted in Ottawa, offers elite towing, car lockout, and specialized roadside interventions. Their comprehensive suite, featuring mobile tire repairs and extended-distance towing, ensures reliable service throughout Ottawa and its surrounding areas.

Questions Frequently Asked About Roadside Assistance

Car insurance is as important as insuring your house. If you have invested thousands of dollars into your car, it is a good idea to get your car insured in case you meet an accident or have to hire a tow truck company or roadside assistance. Even though roadside assistance services are highly convenient and provide cost-effective services promptly, many individuals find it daunting. They are reluctant to call a tow truck or winching service provider. However, most roadside assistance services nowadays are very convenient. All you have to do is call their toll-free number, and a team of experts will be on their way to help you. The best part is, your car insurance covers roadside assistance costs, so you don’t have to worry about paying a hefty amount from your pocket. In this blog, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions about roadside assistance services to help you make an informed decision.

What Is Roadside Assistance?

Roadside assistance encompasses a list of services that you can avail of if you are stranded on the highway due to your car breaking down or are experiencing other car troubles. Roadside assistance companies provide several services. These include:

Car lockout services
Emergency towing
Jump starting a dead car battery
Gas delivery
Flatbed towing
Mobile tire service
Long-distance towing
Accident recovery
Scrap vehicle transport
Winching services
Vehicle assessment

Can Roadside Assistance Be Called If Your Car Has Broken Down?

If you are traveling on the highway or are at home and your car breaks down or does not start, you can call roadside assistance service. The company will send a team of mechanics to assess your vehicle, help you identify the problem, and fix it. If you are traveling on the highway and don’t exactly know where you are, the roadside assistance team will come out looking for you based on the details provided. However, this will add to your expense.

How To Contact A Roadside Assistance Provider

Roadside assistance services can be contacted via their toll-free number or using their website. However, if for some reason you cannot contact the service provider, you can ask your friends or family to contact the service provider on your behalf. Do not let the term ‘roadside assistance’ confuse you. It is a service that you can call to fix your car whether you’re at work, at home, on the side of a road, or in a parking lot.

Does Insurance Cover Roadside Assistance?

Yes, most insurances cover roadside assistance. However, they cover only certain services provided by roadside assistance. These include towing services, winching, jump starting your battery, accident recovery, and a few more. Insurance services do not cover services like gas delivery since that can happen due to your negligence.

How Much Does Roadside Assistance Services Cost On Average?

The cost of roadside assistance services that you avail of depends on the condition of your vehicle, the distance they have to travel, and the services you need. Since you cannot predict when and where you might have trouble with your car, we cannot precisely provide an estimate about the cost of the services you avail. The greater the distance they have to travel, the higher the expense will be. Similarly, if your car breaks down in an off-hand locality or a remote area, the cost of service will rise.

About Us

Ontario Towing is a professional towing company based in Ottawa, Ontario. We provide our customers with the best towing services in Ottawa and surrounding areas. Our tow truck services include 24-hour emergency roadside assistance, car lockout, mobile tire service, jump starts, gas delivery, flatbed towing, parking enforcement, long-distance towing, and more. Ontario Towing offers 24-hour emergency assistance and towing services. We use our fleet of light, medium, and heavy tow trucks to take care of various towing services and recoveries, ranging from light and medium to heavy-duty vehicle towing, including boats and trailers. We aim to excel above other towing service providers with the extensive range of services we provide. At Ontario Towing, we offer reliable and expert roadside assistance services to our customers in Ottawa, Kanata, Orleans, Gloucester, Barrhaven, and surrounding areas. Contact us today for more information on our services. Serving Ottawa, Ontario Towing is renowned for its premium towing, swift car lockout response, and proficient roadside aid. Their holistic approach includes mobile tire services and long-distance towing, making them a trusted ally in the region.

Things You Should Know About Winching A Car

One thing you can never be certain about is the ever-changing Canadian weather. Especially during winter, when bright, sunny morning skies can turn into nights of snowstorms. Highways and roads are usually covered in inches of snow or frost during the bitter weather conditions of winter. These slippery roads reduce the friction between your vehicle’s tires and the road’s surface, which can cause your car or truck to go off-road. Vehicles that become stuck in the snow, mud, sand, or a ditch after going off-road is a common occurrence. Even experienced drivers can be caught off guard under such extreme driving conditions. A single mistake can lead to dangerous situations that can cause injuries or fatalities. This is especially true when you are driving on poorly lit roads with multiple twists and turns. In this situation, contacting a local car winch services provider is the best way to get your vehicle recovered from a ditch. Continue reading to understand what a winch is and how it works.

Assess The Situation

Ensuring the safety of those directly involved in winching a vehicle and those present nearby is an all-important aspect of a winching operation. A winch is a useful tool, however, if not done properly, it can lead to injuries and major damage to the car or truck. It can also be hazardous for passersby. Therefore, you must try to remain calm when you find yourself in this situation. It will help you stay in control and effectively assess the situation. Start by evaluating your options; you can either ask a stranger for help or try to reverse your vehicle out of the ditch yourself. Although strangers are often willing to help, it may lead to more problems and safety hazards. Contacting a heavy-duty towing service for assistance is the wisest option.

Before Starting The Winching Process

There are some important safety considerations you must make to ensure a smooth and safe winching operation:

Take your time to properly assess the situation, and act accordingly.
To protect your hands from any cuts or burns, wear a pair of heavy-duty gloves when using a synthetic rope or wire winch.
Make sure that the battery of the recovery vehicle being used can handle the additional load.
Always use a hook strap to pull the line away from the fairlead. Don’t try to put your finger through it.
Use D-shackles or a clevis to safely connect a winch to a car or strap.
Recovery straps can stretch and store a lot of energy which can cause serious damage. So, it’s best to avoid using them for safety reasons.
Make sure that the winches’ installation does not have any loose bolts.
Remain calm through the entire process and you will successfully pull out your car.

3 Ways Of Rigging A Winch

The following are the three ways you can rig a vehicle winch:

Single line
Double line
Triple line

Precautions To Take

Before starting a vehicle winching process, you need to make sure that you survey the surrounding area. This will help ascertain that there is no object between your car and the anchor that could interfere with the winch cable. Also, make sure that there are no bystanders between your car and the winch cable, only then proceed to operate the winch. If your car is stuck in a ditch, sand, mud, or snow and you don’t have a winch or know how to use one, we recommend contacting a tow truck company in Ontario that offers winch services.

About Ontario Towing

At Ontario Towing, we offer reliable and expert roadside assistance services to our customers in Ottawa, Kanata, Orleans, Gloucester, Barrhaven, and surrounding areas. Contact us today for more information about our services. From its base in Ottawa, Ontario Towing excels in delivering premium towing, prompt car lockout solutions, and skilled roadside assistance. Their extensive offerings, such as mobile tire fixes and distant towing, cater extensively to Ottawa and its environs.

What Is An Accident Recovery Towing Service?

We have all witnessed a regular tow operation at least once in our life. However, most of us have neither come across special recovery towing services nor do we know what they are. Any incident where a vehicle ends up in a collision or has gone off the road will require specialized tools and trained individuals for its recovery. Usually, large vehicles such as trucks and buses require this service. Not knowing whom to ask for help can leave you frustrated and possibly at risk, especially if you are facing an unprecedented situation at night or in the middle of a highway. Contacting a towing company for help might be your only saving grace. Vehicle recovery or recovery towing requires specialized tools and equipment to move the affected vehicles back to safety. In this post, we will discuss the different types of accident recovery towing and when you might need them.

Light Vehicle Recovery

Standard vehicles such as cars and minivans require this type of vehicle recovery towing to remove them from the accident location. Rescuing a car that went off-road into a ditch, is stuck in the mud, or slid into a ravine or mountain pathway requires proper knowledge and specialized tools for an effective process. Recovery towing experts are capable of handling and removing any material or object present at the incident location that can be dangerous. You might require light vehicle towing when you face:

A flat tire or a tire blowout.
Car breakdown due to engine failure or a dead battery.
Off road accidents.
Terrain blocks or dangerous roads causing a car to spin or slide off the road.

Heavy-Duty Recovery

Heavy-duty recovery and light-duty recovery primarily differ in terms of the vehicle’s weight that needs to be recovered. Large vehicles sometimes gain a lot of momentum on the road. This eventually causes the driver to lose control and the vehicle to swerve. This leads to the truck or trailer rolling over or sliding off the road entirely. It becomes extremely difficult to haul them from the accident location due to their heavy mass and thus require specialized towing capabilities to be moved back to safety. Heavier vehicles such as heavily-loaded buses, trailers, RVs, or tractors cannot be recovered using a typical tow truck. Special tools, proper training, and the right experience are necessary to safely recover heavy-duty vehicles, especially if they are far off the main road or are overturned. Heavy-duty recovery can be challenging as it involves the careful execution of many aspects such as ensuring everyone’s safety and the vehicle’s effective recovery. A reliable towing company has the right equipment and expertise to handle heavy-duty recovery. Heavy-duty recovery services typically include:

Machinery recovery
Semi-trucks recovery
Tractor-Trailer recovery

When Do You Need It

In some incident recovery situations, traditional or standard towing is not sufficient to safely recover a vehicle. You need an accident recovery service that uses specialized equipment in case your car has to be removed from a ditch or recovered from an off-road location. Typically, heavy-duty or large vehicles like trucks, trailers, and buses need recovery towing services because they often get inverted due to their high momentum or slide off the road if the driver loses control. Standard passenger cars might also require vehicle recovery towing services as these types of vehicles can swerve off-road or get stuck in a ditch as well, especially while it’s raining and the roads are slippery. You might also face a similar situation when you are driving on mountain pathways, unpaved roads, or ravines. In such situations, the driver should contact off road recovery services for vehicle recovery to get their vehicle back on the road.

About Ontario Towing

At Ontario Towing, we offer reliable and expert roadside assistance services to our customers in Ottawa, Kanata, Orleans, Gloucester, Barrhaven, and surrounding areas. Contact us today for more information on our services. In Ottawa, Ontario Towing provides unmatched towing, efficient car lockout, and expert roadside services. Their portfolio, encompassing mobile tire support to far-reaching towing, ensures comprehensive assistance for the region and its neighboring areas.