Winter Preparedness for Motorists

Winter is working it's way through the United States, and it will soon be cold in most places. With the cold weather, comes a change in precipitation - often leaving roads icy, snowy, and dangerous. Without a doubt, we recommend that people stay home if they can. Keep your fridge stocked, your pantry full, and make sure you have toilet paper. The essentials, you know?

If you know that once the weather turns sour, you will be forced out into the cold, make sure you have a few essentials in your car. We recommend a first aid kit, so that if you find yourself in an accident, you can quickly patch up any wounds you have incurred while you wait for help.

We also recommend that you stick a blanket in your car, to wrap yourself in. If your car stalls, or you are involved in an accident, and stranded for some time, cold temperatures can be your enemy. Stay inside your car if it is safe to do so, and wrap up in your blanket. Hopefully you left home in good shoes, a coat, and with a hat. Staying warm is important.
Also, stash half a dozen bottles of water in your car, so you'll have something to drink. A box of granola bars, or other shelf stable snack can be good to keep on hand, too. Hopefully you don't ever have to wait long for rescue, but even a couple of hours can seem much worse without water and a snack.

The level of your preparations should account for the travel you will be doing. If you'll be in areas with low cell reception, and a high probability of having to walk for help, you'll want matches, hand warmers, and possibly a signal device. If you're going to be in good cell reception, and only having to call for assistance, then you won't need as many things to keep you safe and ready for the worst.

Make sure you charge your cell phone before you leave, so you can call for help if you need it.

If you're stranded in the Oklahoma City area and need a tow truck to come rescue you and your car, remember to call Walker's Roadside Service at 405-626-0910. When you need a tow, call a pro!

Calling For a Tow Truck - Are They Licensed?

In our industry, towing and roadside assistance, we see many fly-by-the-night providers pop up. People offer towing on flatbed trailers, with bumper pull tow dollies, and sometimes with just a chain or strap. They offer these services at a cheaper rate than calling a tow truck costs.

But what is the cost of choosing this type of provider? First and foremost, should anything happen to your car, this fly-by-the-night operation will not take any responsibility for repairs. They are not licensed by the state, so no one is there to enforce their liability, and they are often not insured for commercial use of their vehicle/trailer/bumper pull set up. This lack of insurance will leave you footing the bill for a potentially costly repair.

Since these fly-by-the-night operators pop up with little regard for the regulations the tow industry is under, they are also not seeking licenses to, in fact, operate a business. So they are not a licensed tow provider, they are not a licensed business, and they really start giving the towing industry a bad name. The owners and operators that I know pride themselves on following the licensing requirements, carry proper insure, and also seek regular training to stay up to date on the best procedures for towing the latest model cars.

When you find yourself in need of a wrecker, make sure you call someone with the proper licensing, equipment, and training. You want to get your car home or to the shop in one piece. Facing a costly repair because some fly-by yanked it around is going to put you out even more than the original reason you needed a tow.

Remember, if you're in Oklahoma City and you need a tow, call a pro! Call Walker's Roadside Service and we'll help get you going as quick as possible. You can reach us at 405-626-0910

We Offer AAA Battery Service

Nothing like posting "old news" to the blog, but for those of you that didn't already know, we offer AAA battery service.

Didn't know AAA tested and sold batteries? They actually offer a top of the line battery with a excellent warranty.
                                         

We try to make life as easy for you as possible. Just give us a call at 405-626-0910 and one of our technicians will come to your location (home, work, pretty much anywhere). The process starts with a battery test, which usually takes about 10-15 minutes. If your battery fails, our technician would be more than happy to swap it out for a good battery - that he already has on his truck - as quickly as possible for you.

AAA batteries come with a fantastic warranty and they are a quality battery. We use them in all of our vehicles - both personal and business.

So, next time you try to start your car and it just won't crank, call us! We'll come help get you going again. 405-626-0910

1984 Ford Mustang

Our driver, Matt, hauled this 1984 Ford Mustang the other day. When he sent me the picture it was like a nostalgic stroll down memory lane. Not because I've ever liked this model of Mustang particularly, but because it made me think back to the cars I dreamed of owning when I was younger.

I've always loved automobiles, and I've always dreamed of which car I would drive next. In my younger years, I wanted a Toyota Celica or a Dodge Challenger. Then, after another turn in life, I longed for a Dodge Ram 3500 Dually. Of those three, I've only gotten kind of close (for about 2 1/2 years, I drove a Dodge Ram 1500).

Currently, I enjoy driving my Toyota Sequoia. It accommodates my current seating needs, as I have lots of little people in car seats.

What is your dream car? How close have you gotten to owning your dream car? Was it what you expected it to be?

Preparing for Fall & Winter

As summer comes to an end, I think it's important to go over our cars and make sure they are cleaned out, cleaned up, tuned up, and prepared for the change in weather. I recommend getting your battery, alternator, and started tested if they are 3+ years old. If you are a AAA member, you can request battery service and they will send someone to your location to test your battery, alternator, and starter.

Your local mechanic should have the resources to test your alternator, starter, and battery as well. Often times part stores offer these services, as well.

I also highly recommend a tune up - make sure your plugs and wires (or coil packs) are all in good repair. Make sure your radiator, water pump, and hoses are all in good condition. Check your antifreeze levels - make sure your system is filled with a good quality antifreeze, and at the correct dilution so your "water" doesn't freeze.

Replace your cabin air filter and check that your heater turns on and blows warm air. It might not be cool enough just yet for the heater to be on, but the morning you need it, you want to know it's ready to go.

Whenever going over your vehicle I recommend checking your oil, changing it if it's time, and checking the tire pressure in all 4 tires. Double check that your spare is holding air and at the right pressure too - a flat spare doesn't help anyone!

Last but not least, pick up an auto safety kit. Find an out of the way spot to stick it and have the peace of mind of knowing you have a few first aid supplies and your own jumper cables. Here's a kit I recommend:

AAA 76-Piece Excursion Road Kit

Happy Trails!

Selecting a Tow Company

If you find yourself in need of a tow, it's important to pick a company with the knowledge to tow your car correctly. While the cost of the tow will likely play a large part in your decision, you might want to ask a few more questions of the company you call. Below are a few things to talk to the dispatcher when calling a company to come tow your car.

1. Is your state license to tow current? I don't know about all states, but in Oklahoma, tow companies have to have a license through the Department of Public Safety. This license has to be renewed annually, and to get and hold a DPS Wrecker license, companies have to maintain insurance coverage.

2. Describe, in detail, the reason for the tow. It helps the company, and essentially the driver they send out to help you, to know in advance what's wrong with your car. If it's something simple such as the car won't start, the tow driver won't need as much equipment to load your car as he would if it's a broken ball joint, or collision tow.

3. Communicate clearly with dispatch about whether or not you are with the car. Tow companies understand that you don't want to wait with your car for an extended period of time. Most of their drivers are on a time crunch and also cannot wait with your vehicle for you to get there. By communicating your intentions clearly, the dispatcher can instruct their driver on when you will be available for the tow.

Tow providers are an important part of the community, clearing roadways and parking lots of broken down, damaged vehicles. They take a lot of pride in helping the communities they serve, and they are always looking to get stranded motorists moving again.

Fall Car Care

Fall, pumpkin spice treats and cooler temperatures are just around the corner. (Can you hear me fan-girling right now?) With the cooler temps comes time to do some fall maintenance for your vehicle to keep it running smooth. Here are 3 tips to help you prepare for the coming fall and winter seasons.

1. Check the air pressure in each of your tires and even your spare. As a roadside service and towing company, we run into motorists with flats all of the time. Some flat tires are unavoidable, but some can be prevented by checking your tire pressure regularly. There is no worse feeling when your stranded than to have someone come change your flat tire than when they get the spare down and it's flat too. No one thinks about their spare very often - it's hidden out of sight, and unless you get a flat, you don't need it. But just because you haven't had a flat since 1982 doesn't mean it couldn't happen today, tomorrow, or next week. When was the last time you checked on your spare tire?

2. Change your cabin air filter. Not all vehicles have a cabin air filter, but if yours does, changing it will improve the air quality inside your vehicle. As you prepare to switch from the air conditioner to the heater, now is a great time to make sure you have a fresh cabin air filter for the coming months.

3. Replace your windshield wipers and switch your windshield washer fluid to the low temp type. Your standard blue windshield washer fluid freezes at roughly the same temperature as water. If you get the low temp type, you'll be able to wash your windshield on even the really cold mornings that are on the way.

A few simple steps today can save you from a headache and costly bill tomorrow.

Be safe and remember to slow down, move over for all vehicles stopped on the side of the road.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”