Why do Vehicles Have Tow Ratings

We have all seen the truck commercials with bold claims andflashing graphics but what are they all getting at. What is all this towing ofhuge boats up hills and pulling stumps out of the ground? Well this is not toshow the diesel fuel pump or diesel injectors are working, no this is togive an idea of what the truck can haul. Most commercials show a “Do Not Attempt”warning to keep people from destroying the truck once they buy it. The fact ofthe matter is that trucks can really only haul a specific kind of weight atvery specific speeds.

Most trucks have a towing rating that can handle towing acar or truck behind it but what are the dangers of going over the tow rating?First off is the danger of extended braking distance, while some trailers havetheir own braking system most use free spinning wheels. The added weight of thetrailer means more work for the brake system to handle and that translates togreater stopping distance. This means that the driver must think differentlythen he normally would. Also it means that the brakes will heat up and begin to“fade” faster. Brake fade is when the heat cannot be dissipated and the padsbecome molten. When this happens the braking ability drops to almost zero.

The next huge issue for towing capacity is what the frame ofthe truck can handle the added weight. Now must trucks are built with a verysturdy frame that can handle a good 10,000lbs more than the trucks weight. Whenthis weight is increased the stress on the “back bone” of the vehicle can bepushed past its rating. Exceeding the rating can cause the frame of the vehicleto bend or even break.

The ratings given by the manufacturer are there for a reasonand they do give a bit of flexibility but should never be exceeded. There aremany other issues that can arise when the tow rating is exceeded which can notonly be dangerous but also kill your gas mileage!

Auto Repair Shop Hourly Rates and Auto Parts Prices

Wouldn’t this be a nightmare seeing auto mechanics expanding out and opening auto parts stores combined with their auto service centers and their own tow truck service? It sounds kind of like a tongue twister if you sit back and think about this. Just the idea of a team of auto mechanics coming together and controlling prices for their parts and labor with tow truck service resulting in sky rocketing auto repair bills for you and me. That is the part that sounds like a night mare to me! Let me explain to you what I am talking about here.

Lets say a auto mechanic opened his own auto repair shop with his own money. First of all he or she can charge what ever they want when it comes to auto repair shop hourly rates. Depending on his automotive skill level and ASE certifications he might just want to charge his auto repair customers a high price of $200.00 per hour for working on their car or truck! And to make matters worse he or she now decides to open his or her own auto parts store. Now he has control of the auto-parts prices which he will charge you as his auto repair customer which he can double along with his $200.00 per hour auto shop rates. Keep in mind that auto repair shops across this country do charge their auto repair shop customers any where from $17.50 per hour to $200.00 per hour depending on their moods or how high they are strung out on themselves. Can you imagine how much money a auto repair mechanic who owns his own auto center plus his own auto parts store could make in one day of automotive repair business? But now he wants to add his own auto and truck tow service.

Example for a Normal Auto Repair Shop

I’m thinking now about that credit card commercial a normal auto repair shop would charge you as follows: tow bill $45, diagnostic $25 (time spent on finding your problem), $60 for rebuilt starter, $17.50 for labor to install starter. With a grand total of $147.50 for everything. Now this auto repair bill seems just fine to me and you right?

Example for the Expanding Auto Mechanic Who Has Everything

Keep in mind this auto repair shop bill could be the real thing! This is where the money is when you have your own auto repair shop, auto parts store and your own tow truck service. Here we go again! Tow bill $250-diagnostic time-$200-New starter-$400, 1 hour labor to install starter $200. With his grand total of $1,050.00 for everything. These prices could be you.

Which auto repair shop would you see yourself taking your vehicle into when your car or truck will not turn over with a bad starter motor. The auto mechanic could charge you either $147.50 or $1,050,00 depending on his location and how bad you need your vehicle fixed! I would guess with these prices he could call it a day after a few cars come into his auto service center and buy his auto parts after being unhooked from his tow truck. With all of this said keep in mind these examples could be you if you happen to stroll into his auto mechanics shop who owns his own auto parts store along with his own tow truck service!

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