5 Things Tow Truck Drivers Should Have Along
Tow truck drivers help people out of some pretty uncomfortable situations, and they need to be outfitted with the right tools. Here are some of the things that drivers should have on their trucks in order to be able to help stranded motorists.
1. Floor Jacks
Having a specialty floor jack (and jack stands) is a great value-added service that tow truck drivers provide. The factory jacks that come with automobiles are often pretty flimsy and difficult to use. It tends to take a long time to jack up a vehicle with the factory jacks, where a floor jack can do it in a couple of quick seconds.
2. T Bars and Chains
Sometimes, a tow truck will have to have an extended reach in order to pick up a vehicle. It's important to have chains that can attach the stranded vehicle to the stranded vehicle across a certain distance.
The T bar is also a very helpful and convenient tool. It allows the tow truck to simply pick up the front or back end of the vehicle so that the truck driver can be on his or her way.
3. Inflatable Bags
Inflatable bag tools are one of the latest items for helping motorists who have stranded themselves by locking the keys in the vehicle. In many cases, these modern tools replace the antiquated "Slim Jim" or simple straight tool for unlocking locked doors. While the Slim Jim requires a lot of precision and can take a lot of time to implement, the inflatable bag makes it very quick and easy to get into a locked vehicle. The tow truck driver simply puts the inflatable bag in a corner of the door and adds pressure to open the door to the point where it can be unlocked.
4. Wrench Extensions and Other Lug Nut Tools
Tow truck drivers encounter a lot of situations where log nuts are fused onto the wheel through rust and time. Having a long bar and other tools helps put more pressure on the lug nuts to allow them to loosen.
5. Battery Service Tools
Modern tow truck drivers also respond to lots of situations where a car battery is dead or is not working. Conventional traditional tools include jumper cables and, more recently, a jumper box. But other tools can be helpful as well. A battery terminal cleaning set allows the technician to see if the battery will start if the connection to the terminals is improved.
Sometimes companies skip these extras, and their towing services are not as effective. These are very helpful additions to have in a modern tow truck for emergencies.