Happy Thanksgiving

 

Country Repair and 24 Hr Towing wishes our customers a great Thanksgiving because we appreciate them so much!

Award Winners

Country Repair has received many awards since it started towing. In 2000 it received the Cross Country Service Provider of the year, in 2005, 2006, and 2008 its operators received a Wreckmaster top 10, and in 2007 received the Donnie Cruise Memorial Award for Recovery Excellence. These awards are just a reminder to our customers that we are here for them and want to give our customers the best service available.

Tow Rate Schedule

LIGHT DUTY TOWING.....$50 HOOK....2.75PER MILE

DOLLIES.............................................................$25.OO

SKATES...............................................................$25.00

DRIVE LINE REMOVAL......................................$25.00

WINCHING/RECOVERY.......................$95.00 PER HR

SERVICE CALLS....$40.00....$2.00 PER MILE
AFTER 10 MILES

FUEL.......................................................2.5GL.....$9.00

MEDIUM DUTY TOWING.........$85......$3.50PER MILE

WINCHING/RECOVERY.........................$125 PER HR

HEAVY DUTY TOWING..........................$150 PER HR

WINCHING/RECOVERY.........................$225 PER HR

EXTRA MAN.............................................$95 PER HR

STORAGE................................$35 PER 20' PER DAY

Winterized Vehicles

How to Get Honest Auto Repairs

When you take your car in to the auto shop for servicing, you have every reason to expect to be treated with honesty and integrity. However, it’s pretty hard to know when you are lied to, over charged, or taken advantage of, when automotive care is not your expertise. So how do you know when you are getting honest auto repairs? It all boils down to the details.

What You Should Expect With Routine Maintenance
Taking your car into the auto shop for routine maintenance is always a good idea. It prolongs the car’s useful life, prevents larger repair bills, and it prevents you from having to deal with unexpected problems and expenses, or wondering whether or not you really need this repair. When you take your vehicle into the auto shop, the technician should tell you what services will be performed, how long it will take, and the cost. Honest auto shops want you to know these details and strive to perform the work as described.

What About Repairs?
Routine maintenance will extend the life of the vehicle, but like any other machine, eventually parts will fail and you will need repairs. An honest auto shop will provide a diagnosis of the problem, a description of the parts or services necessary to fix the problem, and an estimate of the time and cost. They shouldn’t start work without your authorization, and shouldn’t do anything outside of the scope of the agreement without your consent. Auto shops that deal with integrity will not have any problem being upfront and transparent in their dealings with you, and would be willing to show you broken and replaced parts, for example.

What About Additional Work?
When you bring your vehicle in for work, it’s not unusual to expect the technician to find additional problems. After all, the parts all work together to perform a task, so if one is broken or malfunctioning it will likely cause stress on another. Your repair technician should tell you what needs to be done, and it’s urgency. Some repairs might need to be done as part of regular maintenance and could be delayed, others might need immediate attention.

Bringing up needed repairs isn’t necessarily a sign that a repair shop is somehow dishonest. In fact, it may be just the opposite! A technician may bring up a needed repair because they have the necessary area accessible and a repair now can save you on labor. Another reason they may bring up needed repairs is that not having some things fixed could lead to unsafe driving conditions and they may be required to tell you of the danger. Other times, they may suggest repairs that could be of benefit to you such as ones that would provide better gas mileage or a smoother and safer ride.

In most cases, a shop will demonstrate honesty and integrity through their willingness to communicate and provide documentation about the work. It also takes a certain amount of trust from the vehicle owner, understanding the process and why a technician would make a recommendation.

Picking Your Teen’s First Car

Is your son or daughter’s sweet sixteen coming up? What about a high school graduation or other major milestone? All of these are great times to give your teen their very first car. If you’re in the market for the first time in a while, or if you’ve never shopped for a car for a younger driver, there are some special things to keep in mind while you’re looking around at your options.

Consider a New, Used Car
Purchasing a car that’s brand new leads to higher car payments along with higher insurance premiums. You can often find the same vehicle two to three years older for a fraction of the cost of the new model. Of course you don’t want to spend a lot on a car that’s decades old, but picking one that was made within the last five years or so is a great way to save some serious cash. As long as the car is still relatively new and has a reasonable number of miles on it, it should run perfectly fine for years to come.

Stay Subtle
Once you have a new driver on your policy, your insurance rates are going to climb– there’s no avoiding that. You can, however, soften the blow to your wallet by buying smart. Don’t purchase a sports car or sports edition of an ordinary sedan, as these types of vehicles automatically carry higher premiums regardless of the age of the driver. Stick with a sub-compact car or small truck, and you’ll find yourself paying less.

Bonus: if your child has his heart set on that Mustang, tell him that he can drive the first car while he goes to school, and in a few years when he has an income of his own, he can help purchase the new car and pay for his insurance. He’ll become a responsible car owner in the process.

Think Practically
Does your son really need a brand new king cab truck for his sixteenth birthday? Young drivers are naturally more prone to wrecks and other accidents, so it’s not the best idea to entrust them with high-dollar vehicles. Consider the things that your child needs most from their car: reliability, fuel economy, etc. Don’t feel bad or guilty if you can’t afford a brand new or luxury vehicle– it’s smarter to get a less flashy car for their first one anyway, as we mentioned earlier. Your child mainly needs a reliable method of transportation, so focus on finding that. Your options are nearly limitless.

Shop Smart
Don’t buy from the first lot you visit. Some dealers are notorious for trying to send their customers home with a less-than-great deal. Shop around and test drive a variety of vehicles, and always check CarFax for the history of any cars you’re considering. Talk cautiously with dealers, and don’t get pressured into spending more than you can afford or bringing home a car you don’t love. Visiting multiple locations will ensure that you find the perfect car at the perfect price.

Having a teen old enough to get behind the wheel isn’t going to be an easy transition. Make the car buying process an easy one with these tips to avoid even more stress on you. Have your child test drive the vehicle and make sure they’re comfortable with handling the vehicle you choose. You don’t want something that’s too big for them or not comfortable to drive.

Finding the Best Vehicle for Your Family

Searching for a new car for your family? The good news is that the term “Family Car” is no longer synonymous with a staid minivan or station wagon. Instead, depending on the size, shape and needs of your family, there’s a wide selection of cars, crossovers and SUVs to choose from.  Regardless of whether your primary concern is safety, legroom, reliability, affordability or style, the following list of criteria can help you find the right car for your family.

The Small Family

If you have a small family, and you plan on keeping it that way, your options are virtually endless. While you will want to stay away from vehicles with limited trunk space, or sports cars and trucks with no back seats, your choices will include a wide selection of affordable sedans, hatchbacks, station wagons and crossovers.

Your Ideal Choice
When affordability and drivability are leading your buying decision, a used sedan is a great choice. Most families with one or two kids find that these vehicles have enough space to meet the day-to-day to challenges of getting their families where they need to be with all their accessories in tow. Adding to their appeal is the fact that many sedans are known for their maneuverability and fuel economy.

Features to look for:

• Safety - Safety can be the most important aspect of finding the best family car. You can find the safety ratings for many used vehicles atSaferCar.gov.
• Storage Space - Don’t underestimate the need for a large trunk or roof racks. Even small families of three need enough extra room for taking weekend trips and hauling groceries.
• Legroom - If you plan to travel with adult-sized passengers, the car you choose should have the legroom to match.

The On-the-Go and Growing Family

Your family may be small today, but things may be dramatically different two years from now. If growth is in your family’s future, there is no need to run out and buy a new car every time your needs change. Instead with a little foresight, you can find a car that fits your needs today with enough versatility to expand with your family.

Your Ideal ChoiceToday’s modern station wagons and hatchbacks – which have shed the boxy outdated exterior styling of past generations – can be a perfect match for a growing family. With roomy backseats and a versatile cargo area, many of these vehicles can quickly go from hauling band instruments to taking the entire family on a weekend trip to grandma’s house.

Features to look for:

• Car Seats - The Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system, which is designed to help parents safely secure their child’s car seat, has been a requirement in all new cars since 2002. When examining this feature, make sure the car has multiple LATCH anchors – this offers flexibility for the placement of car seats.
• Capacity - When examining capacity, don’t just look at the number of people the vehicle can seat. Make sure there is enough trunk and cargo space for family vacations and car pools.
• Reliability - You may be handing over the keys of this car someday to one of your children. So look for a vehicle with a track-record of reliability.

The Large Family

It may be hard to admit, but the minivan is still one of the best choices for the large family with ever-expanding needs. Not only do most minivans comfortably seat families of six and sometimes more, but when compared to other the large scale options on the market, they are among some of the most affordable.

Your Ideal Choice
If you want a car that offers a little more style than the average minivan, a crossover is a great alternative. Known for some of the most creative engineering on the car market, today’s modern crossovers are redefining the family car driving experience. Combining the space of a minivan, the drivability of a sedan, and the styling of a SUV, they are an ideal choice for larger families.

Features to look for:

• Seating - Many crossovers and SUVs offer an optional third row of seating. While more expensive, this option may increase the vehicle’s seating capacity by up to eight people – sometimes more.
• Fuel Economy - Larger cars are notoriously bad in terms of fuel economy. To avoid this look for SUVs and crossovers that offers a clean diesel or hybrid option.
• Family Ready Interior - Don’t underestimate the importance of things like cup holders, side pockets, cargo nets and organizer trays. Other more high tech features to look for include multiple USB Ports, rear seat DVD players and navigation systems.

Winter Maintenance - Stay Safe

Driving at Night

To Idle or Not to Idle, That is the Question

It is that time of the year when many motorists let their vehicle “warm up” or idle before driving. In fact, today’s modern cars are ready to drive in cold temperatures without excessive idling.

Unless you are trying to defrost the windshield or warm the interior of your car, idling is not required for today’s vehicles. In most cases, idling longer than 30 seconds is unnecessary. The best way to warm up your car’s engine is to drive gently at the start. Remember, a vehicle gets zero miles per gallon when idling and the result is lower fuel economy and wasted money.

The idea of idling before driving dates back to when cars were built with carburetors. With new fuel-injection technology, complex computer systems and thinner synthetic oils, drivers don’t need to warm up their cars before hitting the road.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “When a car idles for more than 30 seconds, it has several negative effects, such as increasing air pollution unnecessarily, wasting fuel and money, and causing excessive wear or even damaging a car’s engine components, including cylinders, spark plugs, and the exhaust system. Contrary to popular belief, idling isn't an effective way to warm up most car engines.”

Parallel Parking Tips

Few driving tasks are as intimidating as parallel parking. Many new motorists have failed an otherwise perfect driving test on this technicality alone. How many of us avoid parking on busy streets because we're just not good at parallel parking? Thank goodness for strip-mall parking lots the size of a small state―maybe humiliation-free parking is the real motivation for suburban sprawl.

Seek out a Space
Find a parking spot where you feel comfortable that you can safely get your car into without crunching into another car. Drive around the block until you find a larger gap if you need to; you will need a space that's several feet longer than your car.

Check your MirrorsLook in your rearview mirror and driver-side mirror as you approach the space to ensure another car is not riding on your tail. Signal toward the space as you approach it, slow down,and stop. If another motorist rides up on your rear, simply maintain your position and keep signaling. You might even need to roll down your window and wave the other driver around; they might not have realized you're trying to park.

Line up your Vehicle
Get your car in line with the parked vehicle directly in front of your desired spot. Don't get too close on the side, or you might scrape the other car when you make your move. But you also don't want to be too far away―two or three feet will suffice. Position your vehicle parallel to the parked car, aligning your bumpers or staying two or three feet behind.

Put your Vehicle in Reverse
Check the driver-side mirror to make sure the street behind you is clear of traffic before you begin to back up. Then look over your other shoulder at the space to assess the gap. Turn the steering wheel hard right. You are about to execute the first part of the S-turn.

Foot off you Brakes
Release the brakes and slowly begin backing into the turn. Visually check in front of and around your car often. Make sure you remain far enough away from the rear bumper of the vehicle in front of you as you slide in. If your rear tire hits the curb, you've gone too far; just shift gears and pull forward a few feet if this happens. (Note: Even the most gifted and seasoned parallel parkers do this―often.)

Turn the Steering Wheel
Turn to the left once the rear of your vehicle is predominantly in the space, still going backward. This is the last half of the S-turn, where you snake your way completely into the space and straighten out your car at the same time. Continue in reverse as far back as you can without tapping the bumper of the vehicle behind you.

And Finally
Shift into drive and turn the steering wheel to the right again, and move forward gently toward the curb while centering your vehicle in the space.

Voila! At this point, if all went well, you should be tucked nicely in the space and parallel parked. If you aren't, there's no harm done. Just signal that you're about to leave the curb, pull out and alongside the car in front of you, signal toward the curb again, and start over. You won't be the first person―and certainly not the last―who tries parallel parking a few times before getting it right.

Car Safety Tips for Children

From the first car ride home from the hospital on, parents are responsible for making sure their child is safe during each car trip. For young children, this starts with proper car seat installation, but there’s so much more to it than that.

Install and use Your Car Seat Correctly
You can have it checked at a fire stations, hospital or other child safety event. Never use an old or used child safety seat unless you’re positive it has never been involved in a vehicle accident, and you have all the parts and instructions.

Young Children
Kids younger than 12 years old should always ride in the backseat and should be wearing their seat belt at all times. Never share a seat belt.

Kids in the Car Alone – NEVER
Do not ever leave you child alone in the car, not even for a couple of minutes. When parked in the sun, the temperature inside your car can rise 20 degrees and cause heatstroke. Your child is so vulnerable and could be removed from the vehicle in a blink of an eye.

Toys in the Car
Be selective about toys in your car. Stick to soft ones that will not injure your child. Make sure to secure loose object and toys in your car. A loose item in a crash can injure your child.

Repairs and Maintenance

Be sure to keep up with necessary repairs and maintenance on your vehicle. A broken down vehicle is always a hassle, but if it happens when your child is in the car, it can be even more difficult to deal with!

Safety First
Pull over for a dropped toy, crying baby or anything else that may distract you from the road. You are driving with precious cargo and always need to be safe.

Fun Facts

Your Vehicle Scent Can Keep You Safer

Here's an important travel tip that we bet you didn't know, and, it might keep you safer:

The average commuter spends two and a half hours daily in their car and nearly 100,000 auto accidents yearly are caused by drivers who fall asleep at the wheel.

Aggressive driving is a huge traffic safety concern. So what does this have to do with how your car smells? Well, which car scent did you think makes drivers more alert?

(A) Strawberry
(B) New Car
(C ) Pine
(D) Warm Vanilla Breeze

It's PINE. Drivers are more alert and have less fatigue with pine scent in the car. And, drivers were less angry with overall improved driving performance with strawberry and pine scents. And you thought they just smelled nice.

Tips for Auto Accidents

The Different Types of Truck Cabs

When you’re shopping for a truck, you’ll probably notice some lingo among dealers with which you might not be familiar. Some vehicles are advertised as having a “crew cab,” while others are “double cab” or “extended cab,” and others do not mention these words at all.

What’s the difference? The space inside trucks with each different cab configuration will be divided a bit differently. Depending upon how you will be using your truck (personal vs. business) and whether you plan on having frequent passengers, you’ll need to select the truck cab that best fits your own lifestyle.

Regular Cab

Of the three most common types, regular cab trucks generally have the least amount of inside space. They have a single row of seats, and there is no backseat at all. Since these trucks are smaller than other options and do not have nearly the capacity of an extended or crew cab, they are typically reserved for personal use by individuals who are either single or have very small families. Regular cabs are convenient if you don’t need a lot of space apart from the bed, but are not ideal for those who frequently ride with others or need to carry large amounts of cargo inside of the vehicle.

Extended Cab
Both words refer to the same thing. Extended cab trucks are larger than regular cabs in that they have a (rather small) backseat. In order to access the backseat, passengers will need to open small doors that are only exposed when the truck’s main doors are already opened. The extended cab is a good compromise for those who want more space than a regular cab provides but may not want to drive a larger crew cab. However, if you regularly have several passengers or otherwise use your backseat often, it can become annoying to have to open your front doors in order to reach the back.

Crew Cab
The crew cab is the largest of the three types of trucks on the market today. A crew cab is similar to an SUV in that it has larger seats in the back that are accessed by their own full-sized doors. However, the crew cab is somewhat limited in that its bed is often shorter than that of an extended cab, in order to provide more room for the cab. By far the most expensive configuration, the crew cab is recommended for those who need a larger cab capacity or travel with others very often and don’t mind sacrificing a larger bed space.

Which one is right for you? Evaluate your needs and pick on that can fit your crew and gear in the best way for you.

Looking Down the Road – Wiper Blades

It's said that 90 percent of our driving decisions are based on visual information. Our wiper blades play an important role in this. Most drivers know that a dirty or streaked windshield can catch the glare of the sun or on-coming headlights and make it nearly impossible to see.

Most busy car owners deal with their wiper blades from a failure perspective. They address them when they no longer function. Instead, drivers should think about wipers blades as an important safety system that they should maintain, rather than repair.

And don't think that your wiper blades will last longer because you don't use them very often. Hey, they live outside in the harsh sun and freezing cold. They just dry out and crack over time.

It is recommended motorists change their wiper blades twice a year, in the spring and fall. That way you have functional blades for those spring showers and winter storms. And consider a windshield treatment to help repeal water and make it easier to clean off bugs and road grime.

Like everything else in the automotive world, there have been some big advancements in wiper blades, both in terms of the design and the materials from which the blade is made. We can help you get the same type of blades that came with your vehicle, or if you have a need for better than average windshield wipers, you can pay some more for an upgraded wiper.