Tag Archives: roadside assistance

Winter Vehicle Equipment and Supply Checkup

Canadian winters can be challenging for even the most seasoned driver. Weather and road conditions can be unpredictable, which makes advanced driving skill vital. Drivers must have the ability to maneuver quickly and adjust their speed promptly. In winter conditions, this can be difficult. Without the proper equipment and control, it can be impossible.

The first rule is to be aware. Always drive a bit slower in winter conditions. Stay alert and aware of your surroundings and maintain control. This means maintaining control of your vehicle and your emotions.

To keep your car winter-ready, have your battery, belts, radiator, hoses, tire pressure, lights, brakes, exhaust system, heater, wipers and ignition system checked. Do this BEFORE the first storm.

Maintain enough washer fluid to last you through the winter. Washer fluid should be able to withstand -40 degrees Celsius.

Before your start your journey for the day, remove the snow and ice from your car. Skipping this step will ensure that ice goes flying into the windshield of the person behind you, possibly causing an accident.

Keep your gas tank above a quarter tank.

Check the tread on your tires. Be sure to check your spare tire with every oil change.

All season tires may be suitable in some areas, but winter tires are required in the northern-most parts of Canada. They improve traction on snow, ice and slush.

Be sure your car is equipped with: an ice scraper, shovel, traction sand, jumper cables, road flares, flashlight with extra batteries, fire extinguisher, extra blanket, non-perishable food items, candle and tin can and matches. These items will be required if you are stopped for more than an hour.

With holidays, family vacations and the warmth of a roaring fire, winter can be the greatest time of year. Being stranded on the side of the road is certainly not what we envision for ourselves. Be sure this doesn’t happen to you and always be prepared.

Roadside Assistance Essentials when Faced with Cold Temperatures

Chances are, at some point in your life, you will experience a breakdown. Cars are extensive machines that occasionally, and for some models not so occasionally, malfunction. This leaves you stranded, hopefully, in optimal conditions. For some, you may have a breakdown in the dead of winter, in an isolated location. Fortunately, a roadside assistance company can fix most “break-downs” on the spot. The most important thing you can do to speed along the process of roadside assistance is “be prepared.”

The first thing to prepare is a kit that remains in your car at all times. Aside from winter essentials, there are assortments of tools that can help you get out of a bind, quickly. You will first need a manual for your car. These typically give step-by-step instructions on easy repairs, tire issues and mechanical troubleshooting. You will also want a small tool kit, including a wrench, hammer and screwdriver.

Always keep a first-aid kit and essentials kit on hand. Roadside assistance personnel can be magical with automobile issues, but they are not medical professionals, nor are they boy scouts responsible for keeping you fed and warm while fixing your car. Every car should have a days worth of water on board as well as food bars for long waits. Extreme weather conditions may require you to stock a warm blanket and/or extra clothing. Waiting in snowy conditions, in a car that will not start can get cold, quickly.

Be sure to have your own set of jumper cables. This one tool can prevent even having to call roadside assistance. Periodic checks of spare tires, jacks and other tools to change a flat can be your saving grace on a long, winter trip.

Winter Weather Driving Tips

Extreme winter weather can mean dangerous automobile travel. The risk associated with driving in winter weather can decrease if you are aware of proper safety rules and techniques to follow when driving in ice or snow.

(1) Always avoid driving when you are fatigued, have been drinking, are disoriented, on medication, or in an emotional state.

(2) Use appropriate accessories and tires on your car. Refer to your owner’s manual to see what tires or chains are suitable for your automobile.

(3) When warming up your vehicle, never do it in a garage or enclosed area.

(4) Check your tires on a regular basis and maintain a minimum of a quarter tank of gas. This prevents the gas lines from freezing in extreme temperatures.

(5) Never use cruise control when it is raining, snowing or there is ice on the road.

When driving in the snow:

(1) Try not to make quick moves. Accelerate and brake slowly and never accelerate or brake when in a turn.

(2) Maintain a slow and predictable speed. Give yourself ample braking and stopping distance.

(3) The four-second rule is increased to eight-seconds in rain or snow.

(4) Avoid stopping on a hill and avoid powering up a hill. Try to get enough inertia before getting to the hill. When over a hill, reduce your speed and go down slowly, with as little brakes as possible.

(5) If you do not need to go out, don’t. Keep enough supplies in your home to prevent having to leave on bad weather days.

Roadside Assistance Program

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We understand accidents can happen anytime and anywhere. That’s why our Roadside Assistance is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days of the year. Join our Roadside Assistance Program today to receive priority service. The program is free to join and has no monthly fees. Give yourself a peace of mind this winter season.

What to keep in Your Winter Car Emergency Kit

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For those who live in areas with extreme weather conditions, you are probably aware of the risk of accidents and being stranded. Emergency kits should be prepared for carrying in the car year-round, but the winter months will require additional supplies.

Year-round Supplies
1. Roadside assistance phone number.
2. Battery powered portable radio with extra batteries.
3. Distress sign, or white towel to tie on your antenna.
4. A Compass
5. Emergency flares, and emergency warning triangles
6. Disposable camera for accident scene pictures
7. Jumper Cables
8. Extra Fuses
9. Empty Gas Can
10. Mini Fire Extinguisher
11. Flashlight with extra batteries
12. Jack with your spare tire
13. GPS (often available on cell phones)
14. Fix-a-flat
15. Bottled Water
16. Food Bars
17. Emergency $20 bill
18. First Aid Kit
19. Umbrella

Additional Supplies for Winter Months
1. Blanket
2. Chains or Snow tires
3. Sleeping bag in extreme climates
4. Matches and Survival Candles
5. Metal Cup
6. Snow Shovel
7. Windshield Scraper

Although many of these supplies may seem unnecessary or frivolous, temperature under freezing can quickly affect your family. If you are stranded and need to find help, you will need proper food and water. If you are not found within hours, you will need to be able to warm yourself and your family. The above supplies will ensure that you will have the required supplies to survive 24-48 hours in extreme conditions.

Picking A Road Service Program

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Deciding you need a roadside assistance program is not a decision to make while stranded, out of gas, or with a flat tire. Before you end up locked out or your car, make this protective decision and add some insurance to your peace of mind. You insure your car from accidents and your home from floods, but what about nails in your tire or dead batteries? Who can solve make those problems easier on your peace of mind? Dr. Hook has the solution for your roadside fears.

When deciding on a roadside assistance program in Winnipeg, be sure to browse our checklist of what you should consider.

(1) Check you vehicle warranty. Some companies offer a roadside assistance program that terminates with the vehicle warranty. Be sure to shop around for another program before your warranty runs out. If your manufacturer does not offer a roadside assistance program or doesn’t offer service in Winnipeg, start your comparison-shopping immediately to prevent unforeseen events.

(2) Be sure to compare the prices per year and beyond. Some companies may offer discounted pricing the first year or a free first month, then double or triple the price in the coming years. Be aware of these deceitful sales tactics. Dr. Hook is a reputable towing company with no sales tricks up our sleeve.

(3) When comparing cost, be sure to compare benefits. Some companies offer only lockout protection, while others offer the entire package. Some may be 9am to 5pm and others, such as Dr. Hook, are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

(4) Find out how many towing vehicles and what the estimated response time is. Dr. Hook has an entire fleet of heavy, medium and light duty trucks, as well as GPS dispatch and many more benefits.

(5) Call Dr. Hook and see exactly how we can compare to your current roadside assistance company. We will certainly meet and exceed the currant roadside assistance program you are with.

It’s Important To Maintain Tire Pressure

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At the onset of each Winnipeg winter and spring, many drivers may notice a change in the air pressure of their tires. “Check tire pressure” lights flash for many due to the change in weather and the cooling or heating of air pressure. Other than the changing of months, many people ignore their tires, until they hear the flap of a flat.

Luckily, many cars are outfitted with an information valve that will report the air pressure in the tires directly to their instruction panel. Although this is a time saving device, air pressure should still be checked and appropriately filled or released with every gas fill-up.

Benefits of Maintaining Tire Pressure

1.  Maintaining proper air pressure helps slow wear and tear and increases the life of your tires.

2.  Having equal air pressure in your tires ensures fuel savings and increases gas mileage.

3.  Cars with proper tire pressure are proven to have better handling and steering control.

4.  Properly filled tires prevent car accidents caused by improper handling, tire blow-outs, and improper tire wear.

How to Maintain Tire Pressure

1.  Find the recommended air pressure for each of your tires. This information can be found in your owner’s manual, or the informational label on the doorframe of your car.

2.  Check the pressure of each tire with an accurate tire gauge.

3.  If the pressure is too low, locate an air-filling station at the closest gas or service station. Add air pressure accordingly. Add air in 5 second spurts and check with the tire gauge to be sure not to overfill.

4.  If the air pressure is too high, or you happen to overfill, gently press the valve stem and release the appropriate amount of air.

Caution

-Never overfill your tires. A drastic overfill will result in the tire exploding causing potentially deadly harm to yourself and damage to your automobile.

-Make sure all tires have the same air pressure. The only exception to this rule is if the front tires and back tires are recommended to have different values of air pressure.

If you have the misfortune of a flat tire, our Roadside Assistance team can help.

Is Synthetic Oil Worth the Extra?

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Regular or unleaded? Cream or sugar? Low-fat or Skim? The choices we have during the day are endless. Some of these choices may not have a large impact on our lives, such as sugar or splenda, while others do. There are options that we know nothing about, take a stab in the dark and hope for the best. One of these “guesses” is our oil. Synthetic oil is an option given out at most oil-change service stations today. While we are aware the cost is higher, and of course, the salesman/mechanic is pushing the synthetic, what are the actual benefits or drawbacks of synthetic oil?

How does synthetic oil affect the seals in my engine?

The myth that synthetic oil damages the seals of an engine is untrue. Both synthetic and petroleum oils have obstacles to overcome with the seals in your engine. The additives of the oil are what control the seal’s shrinkage, wear, hardening, and swelling. Both synthetic and petroleum oils contain these additives.

Synthetic lubricants are not readily available?

When synthetic oils first were introduced, only two companies manufactured synthetic oil. Today they are readily available and manufactured by almost every major oil company in the world.

Don’t they create sludge?

Synthetic oils have been tested and proven to resist sludge more so than petroleum oils. Synthetic oils have a higher flashpoint and can withstand oxidation and evaporation loss better than petroleum oils. This makes them more resistant to sludge in extreme conditions.

Do they void the warranty?

No major automobile manufacturer has a ban on synthetic oils. Many automobiles with high performance engines come standard with synthetic oils in them. Some owner’s manuals are even suggesting the use of synthetic oils.

After addressing the major concerns and myths surrounding synthetic oils, the question left is: “Is it worth the extra cost?” That is for the consumer to decide. Since the risks are evaluated and determined to be none, the benefits must be evaluated. The benefits of synthetic oil include improving fuel economy, reducing engine wear and tear, higher engine reliability and increasing the prevention of breakdowns and mechanical problems. Is the higher cost worth these benefits?

Know How To Jump Start Your Vehicle

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When faced with the dilemma of a dead battery, drivers need not fret. If you, unfortunately, do not have roadside assistance and a jump-start is required, the first step that a stranded motorist need take is finding the assistance of a working car.

Hopefully, your automobile is well equipped with your essentials for this dilemma. A few things that should be kept in your automobile at all times includes jumper cables, heavy duty gloves for hand protection, a flashlight with charged batteries, and the manufacturer’s owners manual. The owner’s manual will likely have a summary of the steps to follow for a proper jump-start for your automobile.

The Jump

1.  Protect your clothing and hands with gloves that should be kept in the trunk of your car.

2.  Open the hood of your car. Most models have a button under or near the steering wheel. Press the button, and at the hood of the car, release the latch. Use the lever/stick near the latch to keep the hood open.

3.  Be sure the working (donor) car is off yet near the dead car.

4.  Consult your owner’s manual for specific information regarding your automobile.

5.  Most cars have a positive (+) and negative (-) terminal on the battery. Affix the clamps accordingly in this order: dead car positive (+), working car positive (+), working car negative (-), the last negative should be clamped onto a piece of metal on the engine of the dead car. This will create a proper “grounding” for the jump-start.

6.  Start the working car. Wait 1-2 minutes. Start the dead car.

7. Unhook the cables working in reverse order.

8.  If the car is started and the battery light is showing on the instrument panel, it is time to seek a mechanic. There may be additional problems with your alternator or other mechanical parts.

Caution:

-Never jump-start a frozen battery.

-Never jump-start a cracked, broken or leaking battery.

-Be sure that the battery has the appropriate fluid levels in the cells. If water is required, add it accordingly.

-Once contact has been made with the battery and the cables, do NOT allow the metal parts of the cables to touch. This will create a spark.

-After a jump-start, allow the car to run for 10-20 minutes (driving or idling) to initiate a proper battery charge.

Why Us?

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Well, that answer is easy….not simple, but easy.  First and foremost, Dr. Hook has a proven reputation for having a give-and-take relationship with our community.  We happily take the honor of being known as the best, and we give back everything we can to our community.  We contribute back to our community through numerous different programs including Teddy Bear Picnic, Children’s Festivals and Events, United Way Semi Truck Pull, Relay for Life, and many more.

Secondly, we are known for our safety measures to protect our employees, our customers, and the public.  We make sure all of our employees are trained to the fullest extent, and continue this training on a daily basis.  We are certified and insured through numerous different industry leading training programs, and were recently a huge part of the passing of the “Move Over Law” for Tow Trucks, further protecting the public.  Our staff wears additional clothing and equipment, including reflective vests, hard hats, and safety glasses, to push our safety measures even further.

Third, we are the “big dog”.  We are the largest, and most professional towing company in the area and always provide first class service.  Our fleet is large, and in-charge, and consists of more than 10 Heavy Duty Trucks, numerous Medium and Light Duty trucks, over 12 Tilt Deck Trucks, a Trailer Division, and an Air Cushion Recovery Division, all being operated by certified and insured operators.  Add our GPS Dispatch Technology and Roadside Assistance Program, and you have your answer.

That is why we are the Best!