Posted on by vrummer

Wedge and Rollback Tow Trucks: What Is Carrying Your Car When Things Run Downhill?

The rollback tow truck has saved thousands, if not millions of people’s days (and sometimes lives…). When your car breaks down you have a few options 1. Just walk away and leave it there. 2. Repair the vehicle where it sits. 3. Get it towed (it is usually a rollback that saves you here). When the rollback comes, the operator will back the truck up in line with your vehicle’s tires. Next, he will use hydraulics under the bed to slide the bed back and tip it to the ground.

They’ll find 1 or 2 secure points on the vehicle’s frame with which he will pull the car up the bed, using the winch that is present on almost all of today’s rollbacks. Once the vehicle is placed well on the bed, he will use tie-downs attached to the vehicle’s frame, wheels, or tires to makes sure it stays secure in that position on the bed.

Next, they will use the same under-bed hydraulics to raise your car back up and slide it forward.

Towing isn’t the only way rollbacks can save the day. Often, they may bring what your car needs to you. Be it a new battery, gas, or a spare tire service, your local tow company can probably help you out of a jam. Additionally, they may use that strong winch to pull your car out of the mud or snow.

No matter how they help, at the end, they’ll ask for payment, be it cash, credit, or AAA card.

Posted on by vrummer · 2 Comments

The Top 3 Cheap EVs you should go test drive NOW

Many in the automotive industry agree, EVs will be most or all of our transportation future. While the cars I suggest in this article may not be fast, they are very environmentally friendly and practical. They are also, as the title suggests, cheaper than you may expect.

#1: The Chevrolet Bolt- Pictured above is, in essence, a Spark with batteries and electric motors slapped under it in place of a motor. That said, It is a decent value. While It is on the expensive side, starting at $37k, it has an impressive range of about 259 miles. The Bolt could be an even better deal at the dealer, since the model will soon be refreshed, meaning that dealers will have a bit of stock left over that they’ll be eager to get off their lot.

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#2: The Tesla Model 3- Tesla’s budget-oriented sedan keeps a profile similar in appearance to that of the Model S, its upmarket cousin. It, too, is a good value if you believe the Model S is priced well. While the 3 is about half the price, starting at $40k, it suffers only a 50 mile range decrease, with a range of 322 miles. It also would be a go-to on this list if you like touchscreens, as there is a massive slab in place of a traditional center stack that controls a large number of the car’s functions like A/C, audio playback, and others.

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#3: The Nissan LEAF- One of the all-time best-selling EVs, the LEAF is very popular. It starts at around $32k with a maximum range of 226 miles. The only foreign automobile on this list, the LEAF comes hails from the Land of the Rising Sun.

My personal pick would be the Bolt because, as you’ve probably figured out if you read my other posts, I’m a Chevy guy. I welcome your arguments in the comment section.