For families with young children, experiencing a roadside emergency is more than inconvenient—it can be frightening, confusing, and emotionally overwhelming. A sudden breakdown or accident can leave parents scrambling to stay calm, keep their children safe, and navigate an unfamiliar situation. For towing professionals, these moments of helping families through roadside emergencies present an opportunity to go beyond the job of recovering a vehicle. With the right tools and training, operators can provide reassurance and peace of mind when families need it most.

At Collins Manufacturing, we understand how crucial it is for towing professionals to have equipment that not only performs flawlessly but also streamlines the recovery process. Our lightweight, durable, and easy-to-use towing equipment is designed with real-world roadside scenarios in mind, including those where children are involved. With Collins dollies and accessories, towing professionals can complete recoveries more efficiently, allowing more time to comfort families and help restore a sense of normalcy.

How Your Towing Operations Can Excel at Helping Families Through Roadside Emergencies

Here’s how towing companies can make towing easier and more comforting for families with young children, and how Collins equipment plays a pivotal role in the process.

1. Prioritize Fast, Smooth, and Safe Recoveries

Every moment counts during a roadside emergency, especially when young children are involved. Parents are often anxious, and children may cry, ask lots of questions, or feel overwhelmed by flashing lights and unfamiliar uniforms. The quicker and smoother the towing process, the better for everyone.

Collins dollies are engineered for quick deployment and tool-free operation, allowing operators to efficiently set up and recover vehicles. The Hi-Speed Dolly system, for example, is lightweight but strong enough to handle today’s heavier family vehicles like SUVs and minivans. Fewer steps in the recovery process mean less time on scene and less distress for the family.

2. Use Equipment That’s Quiet and Non-Invasive

Noise can be startling to children, especially in a high-stress situation. Towing equipment that bangs, clanks, or grinds during setup can heighten a child’s fear and add to the chaos. That’s why using well-designed, precision-engineered equipment is so important.

Collins Manufacturing’s dollies and mounts are built with quality craftsmanship and low-noise operation in mind. Many of our customers have praised how Collins dollies engage smoothly and quietly, reducing unnecessary disruptions and keeping the scene calm.

3. Keep the Area Safe and Organized

Children are naturally curious. In a roadside situation, they might wander close to moving parts or get too close to traffic. Towing professionals need to work fast and maintain a clean and organized setup to ensure the safety of everyone nearby.

With Collins’ compact storage and dolly mounts, operators can keep their gear tidy and out of the way until it’s needed. Our tunnel boxes and storage solutions make it easy to access equipment quickly without spreading tools across the ground, reducing the risk of injury and giving parents one less thing to worry about.

4. Take Time to Reassure Parents and Children

A critical part of managing these calls is empathy. Families with children need reassurance that help has arrived and everything will be okay. A towing operator who is calm, kind, and professional can significantly impact a child’s memory of the experience.

Because Collins products are user-friendly and intuitive, operators spend less time troubleshooting equipment and more time being present for the family. With quick setups and confidence in the gear’s reliability, operators can take a few extra moments to kneel down to talk to kids, explain what’s happening in simple terms, or offer parents helpful information about the next steps.

5. Adapt to Larger Family Vehicles with Ease

Many families drive larger vehicles—SUVs, vans, or crossovers—which can be more challenging to recover. Some towing equipment on the market isn’t suited for these vehicles and can require multiple trips or extra adjustments.

That’s where Collins’ adaptability shines. Our dollies are available in various sizes and are engineered to easily handle heavier, bulkier vehicles. This minimizes complications during a tow and ensures that even the largest family vehicles can be moved safely and quickly, without the need for additional equipment or delays.

6. Avoid Complications with Low-Clearance Vehicles

Families often drive newer models with low ground clearance for improved fuel efficiency and safety. Unfortunately, these vehicles can be challenging to tow using traditional wheel-lift systems and may be at risk of undercarriage damage.

Collins dollies are ideal for low-clearance vehicles. They lift wheels off the ground without scraping or straining sensitive vehicle components. This ensures the safety of the family’s car and helps towing professionals complete the job confidently and without added liability.

7. Minimize Scene Time in Dangerous Conditions

Roadside emergencies can occur in hazardous environments, whether on a busy highway or the side of a snowy mountain road. Families with kids are especially vulnerable in these settings. Reducing the amount of time spent at the scene is crucial.

Because Collins towing systems can be assembled and deployed in just minutes, the family and their vehicle can promptly be secured and removed from the dangerous area. This gives everyone peace of mind and protects the family and the tow operator.

8. Build Trust with Better Tools

Parents may hesitate to hand over their vehicle or be separated from their car. Having professional-grade towing equipment like Collins dollies sends a clear message: This company knows what it’s doing.

Operators equipped with Collins gear appear more organized, capable, and trustworthy, especially to stressed parents watching every move. Our polished, well-maintained systems instill confidence that the vehicle (and by extension, the family’s livelihood) is in good hands.

Collins’ Towing Equipment: Empowering Towing Operators to Support Families

Helping families through roadside emergencies is one of your team’s most important roles. In many ways, towing for families with kids is as much about customer service as it is about vehicle recovery. The right equipment gives operators the freedom to do more than just move a vehicle—it gives them time to support the family, answer questions, and calm scared children.

At Collins Manufacturing, we believe equipment should serve both the operator and the customer experience. Our industry-leading dollies and accessories simplify towing, making it faster and safer for everyone involved. When your equipment works flawlessly, you can focus on what matters most—helping families feel secure during a difficult moment.

Visit collinsdollies.com to learn more about our complete line of towing products and how we’re making a difference in roadside service.