15 Oct 20 Safety Tips for Your Tow Truck Equipment

Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind for your tow truck equipment.

1. Inspect your winch cable often, if you notice breaking strands or pinching – shorten your wire rope to a fresh point or replace the cable. Use hooks and clamps that are rated for your wire rope.

2. Keep your cable clean and lubricated, if you do lake recovery or any water source really, pressure wash the winch cable and re-oil it.

3. Inspect your wrecker body mounts, winch mounts, stiff leg mounts for broken bolts, cracked welds, or stress fractures. Fix any defects that you notice before using your equipment.

4. Inspect your chains and hooks, make sure the pins that secure the hooks are not bent or falling out. Make sure the chain has no bent links, stretched links, or hammered links. Replace the chain if you notice any defects.

5. Know your equipment rating and know the load you are trying to winch, bring in extra equipment if needed. Overloading shortens equipment life and may cause injury.

6. When using a snatch block and connecting both winch lines to each other watch the longest line, if you forget and are watching the load the line will be drawn into the snatch block and often it shears the cable and sends it flying back to the source, which is where you are.

7. Always keep 3 – 5 wraps of cable on your winch drum, also from time to time you may have to rewind your drum to keep the cable from bird nesting. Often cable gets drawn in after a winch job without a load and then later on another job gets loaded and pinches.

8. When towing a truck from the front, disconnect the driveshaft to protect the transmission. Block the wheels front and back, take the vehicle out of gear to take the tension off the driveshaft and set the wheel brakes if any, some trucks have the park brake on the driveshaft, if so release that brake so you know the tension is gone.

9. When towing a  trailer, run a service brake line to the trailer to aid you in controlling the load behind you.

10. When towing a truck use a light bar so traffic knows of your turning and stopping intentions and aware of your total length in the dark. On trailers, run a line to the trailer lights.

11. When pulling a truck from the rear, secure the steering wheel, cap the stacks, and if a roof faring is installed you may have to keep your speed reduced to avoid damage. If it’s an electric model, fold it down and secure it before hitting the road.

12. When securing the axles for a rear pull make sure you do not route your chains around the s-cam bracket but between it and the axle or under the axle. Chain pressure could lead to cam binding or bending.

13. When running light cable or air hoses for transport, route cables and hoses away from painted surfaces where possible. Best to secure under the towed truck.

14. When supplying air to a truck or tractor use a ball valve and fitting at the air compressor versus using a Schrader valve in the air tank. When using the compressor method cover or plug the compressor fitting so that dust, gravel, and other debris cannot collect in the compressor while in transport.

15. When removing a vehicle from an accident scene, secure or remove any loose material that may cause a traffic hazard. Take it slow and watch the load, often after a few miles of shaking and bouncing new items will show up that will be a hazard. Pull over and re-inspect the load.

16. If you have to cage the brakes on a truck before you can transport it because of air leaks, block two different sets of wheels front and back, then proceed to cage the brakes.

17. It’s best not to work under a lifted truck if you must do so place blocking under the wheels and lower the truck onto them, and block the wheels on the ground front and back of the about to be towed vehicle.

18. If you have remotes for your wheel lift, boom and winches do not leave the remote in your pocket or on the ground where accidental activation could occur while you are working under a truck or between the two units. Instead set the remote on your truck until you are ready to use it.

19. Inspect the suspension on your tow truck for sagging or wear, the rear suspension sees the most abuse. Inspect the axle housing where the suspension attaches for cracks if you have air ride check your loaded and empty ride height to see if it’s still in specs.

20. Use care when you are getting in and out of the truck or on and off the bed, use steps and handles, avoid jumping off equipment. Always be aware of the traffic around you, look and think before you make a move.