When Is It Time to Upgrade Your Towing Equipment?

How Do You Know When It’s Time to Upgrade Your Towing Equipment?

You should upgrade your towing equipment when your current gear can’t safely handle the complexities of modern vehicles, like heavy EVs or low-clearance luxury cars. Other critical indicators include increased maintenance costs, visible structural wear, or a lack of safety features, such as ratcheting systems that prevent operator injury and vehicle drops.

Considering the Complexity of Modern Vehicles

Vehicles have dramatically changed over the last several years, and towing has changed right along with them. The rapid adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), in particular, has been a catalyst for many towing operators to upgrade their equipment.

We’ve seen how traditional towing equipment struggles to meet the demands of EVs. These vehicles are considerably heavier than traditional cars due to their battery cells. They also tend to lack a true neutral gear for traditional two-wheel towing.

When you’re forced to turn away calls for EVs, AWD trucks, or wider SUVS, you’re losing revenue to a better-equipped competitor. Upgrading your fleet to a system like the Collins Hi-Speed® G7 or G7X Super Dolly® ensures you have an industry-leading 5,120-lb capacity and 104” of usable width needed for today’s recoveries.

Prioritizing Operator Safety and Reducing Liability

Towing remains one of the most dangerous occupations. It’s an industry with a fatality rate that’s nearly 15% higher than that of other industries. While much of that stems from drivers failing to move over or slow down, outdated equipment also plays a role. If your current gear lacks modern safety mechanisms, an upgrade isn’t just an investment – it’s a necessity.

Based on client results, we’ve found that upgrading to towing equipment with a safety ratchet system significantly reduces the risk of physical harm from slipping grips or unexpected vehicle drops. Our dollies can also protect you from long-term workers’ compensation claims. We use high-strength, lightweight aluminum to make the lightest dollies on the market. This reduces ergonomic strain, protecting your employees’ health and improving their daily efficiency.

Evaluating Equipment ROI and Operational Efficiency

Another way to determine when to upgrade your towing equipment is by analyzing your operational costs. Older equipment often requires more frequent repairs, leading to more downtime. Reviewing your maintenance logs can provide you with accurate insight into the condition of your equipment. If the cost of keeping a specific set of dollies in service is approaching the cost of a new, low-maintenance set, the financial choice is clear.

Modern towing equipment is designed for minimal maintenance. For example, the Collins Hi-Speed® G7 Dolly features self-lubricating bushings and zinc plating that resists the harsh corrosion that’s caused by road treatments. By reducing the time your equipment spends in the shop, you increase the time it spends generating revenue on the road.

Improving Customer Satisfaction with Specialized Towing Services

Your reputation in the community depends on providing damage-free service. If your current towing methods cause customers to cringe as you load their vehicles, or if you’re seeing an uptick in insurance claims for frame or body damage, it’s time to upgrade your towing equipment.

Our team recommends starting with the Collins Carrier Dolly, an optimal solution for high-end vehicle recoveries. With this dolly, you can easily glide a vehicle onto a flatbed damage-free. This makes it ideal for exotic cars and police evidence tows.