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Flexing Our Muscles: How Much Can a Heavy-Duty Crane Style Wrecker Lift?

Flexing Our Muscles: How Much Can a Heavy-Duty Crane Style Wrecker Lift?

by | Sep 6, 2023 | Crane Lift, Crane Lift Recovery, Crane Lift Service, Crane Lift Services, Crane Service, Heavy-Duty Wrecker, Recovery Blog, Washington

If you follow our blog and social media, you’ve seen many photos of Team Pro-Tow lifting some pretty heavy trucks and equipment out of sticky situations! We operate heavy-duty crane-style wreckers for accident recoveries, equipment recoveries and crane lift services.

Ever wonder how much one of those bad boys can lift? Well, it depends on several factors. For example, it depends on the heavy-duty wrecker, the manufacturer and how they’ve configured the crane. However, it’s no doubt that wreckers can lift substantial weights.

Lifting Against 180,000 Pounds

Back in 2016, Team Pro-Tow worked with the US Army Corps of Engineers to rescue an escavator out of deep mud in unfavorable terrain. Four heavy-duty wreckers worked with dump trucks, loaders, bulldozers, and excavators to complete this recovery. We estimate that we used about 200 tons of tow truck capacity to get that out. We also estimate that we were pulling against 180,000 pounds.

You can read about that recovery here: Towing Against 180,000lbs of Resistance.

90,000 Pounds of Cargo

Okay, so that was what four heavy-duty wreckers could lift. How about just one? Depending on the equipment, we can raise over 75,000 lbs. Often, we provide crane lift services during accident recoveries when a truck has tipped its trailer over.

In this incident in 2015, we lifted a trailer loaded with 90,000 lbs of beer-battered onion rings! Fortunately, we did it quickly and supplied a backup generator to keep the cargo cool during the recovery. It was a heavy load and a tasty one too!

You can read about that recovery here: Semi-Truck Accident Recovery on a Busy Interchange, Northbend, WA.

What Factors to Consider

It’s important to note that various factors impact the actual lifting capacity of a wrecker. For example, the length of the boom, the angle it lifts the load, and the condition of the crane’s components. The operator’s skill and experience also play a crucial role in safely and effectively using the wrecker to lift heavy loads.

If you need crane lift services from Team Pro-Tow and our fleet of heavy-duty wreckers, call us. We offer 24-hour emergency services and can get your heavy vehicles and equipment out of whatever jam they’re in!

If you want crane services in Washington State, call on Pro-Tow. Whether it’s for a truck accident recovery or moving something heavy and awkward, we are up for it! We have locations in Auburn, Spokane, North Bend, and Maple Valley, serving all of Washington State.

With our commitment to safety, quality, and customer service, you can trust us to do the job right. Learn more about our crane lift services in Washington.

 

Safe Accident Recovery When Working Near Powerlines

Safe Accident Recovery When Working Near Powerlines

by | Aug 16, 2023 | Accident Recovery, Box Truck, Box Truck Accident, Powerline Safety, Recovery, Recovery Blog, Semi-Truck Accident

On August 6, 2019, Team Pro-Tow responded to an accident recovery call for a box truck that had hit a power pole on Highway 169 near Maple Valley, WA. Unfortunately, the truck was completely lodged into the power pole.

Powerline safety is critical when dealing with an accident with or near power equipment. In this case, we contacted the local utilities. They ensured the power pole was safe and that our accident recovery would not interfere with the line.

Once we got the go-ahead, we cut off the damaged cargo box and rigged up the truck. Then, we could lift the truck from the power pole and ditch using a three-point rigging system and our heavy-duty crane-style wrecker.

Read more about that box truck accident recovery.

Powerline Safety: What to Do If you Hit Power Equipment in Maple Valley?

Thankfully, this accident didn’t cause significant damage to the power pole or lines, so we safely extracted the vehicle from the scene. However, that is not always the case.
If you come across a vehicle accident that has struck power equipment or you see downed power lines, do the following:

  • Call 911 or the utility serving the location. In Maple Valley, that is Puget Sound Energy. Utility professionals and emergency personnel will handle the situation if it is deemed unsafe.
  • If you’re in the vehicle that has contacted the power equipment or have lines on your vehicle, stay in the vehicle. Do not exit until you know for sure the lines are de-energized.
    • If you MUST exit the vehicle, jump away from the vehicle, do not touch it, and land with both feet together. Touching the vehicle while stepping onto the ground can cause electrocution.
  • If you’re not in a vehicle, keep your distance. Stay at least 35 feet away and call for help.
  • If you’re driving by an accident, do not drive over or under downed power lines.
  • If you’re trying to move away from the accident on foot, shuffle away with your feet together, taking small shuffling steps until you are 35 feet away. Large steps can create a path for electricity to run through you.

If you have questions or want more information about powerline safety regarding motor vehicle accidents, contact your local electricity provider for resources.

Pro-Tow Helps with Hazardous Material Towing

Pro-Tow Helps with Hazardous Material Towing

by | Jul 5, 2023 | Hazardous Material Cleanup, Hazardous Material Spill, Hazardous Material Towing, Recovery Blog, Spill Cleanup

In this incident on April 4, 2023, a semi-truck hauling a tank of silicon tetrachloride reported a stripped coolant line and needed assistance. This transport truck needed hazardous material towing for their tank and trailer. Team Pro-Tow responded to the call.

Splitting the Tractor and Trailer

After fighting heavy traffic on our way to the scene, our team arrived to perform a recovery assessment. We decided to split the tractor and the loaded trailer. We turned the tractor around so we could tow it away.

Due to the low clearance of an overpass on our route, we had to hook up the 40-foot trailer separately and tow it to the customer’s destination.

Careful Hazardous Material Towing

We drove slowly and carefully as the tank was 2/3 full of hazardous silicon tetrachloride and weighed about 51,000 pounds. Plus, it was sloshing around in the tank. This sloshing could cause the trailer to be unbalanced and tip, resulting in a hazardous material spill. Our experienced driver took things slow and steady to avoid that disaster and made for a 5.5-hour round trip.

What is Silicon Tetrachloride?

Silicon Tetrachloride is a clear and colourless liquid used to make Silicon-containing chemicals that produce silicon products in commercial applications.

Unfortunately, this material is extremely hazardous to the environment and our health. It will burn your skin and eyes with contact. If you breathe it in, you’ll irritate your nose and throat.

It reacts violently with water and moist air and turns into hydrogen chloride gas. This gas is toxic and corrosive. In addition, it can release flammable and explosive hydrogen gas if it comes into contact with metals.

Driver Made the Right Call

The transport truck driver’s decision to call for help when they noticed something was wrong with their vehicle was certainly the right thing to do. If an accident occurred with this load, it could have caused a hazardous material spill. Worse, it could have caused the material to react, form hydrogen chloride gas (and hydrogen gas), and create a significant safety hazard.

Safety first. Always call a professional like Pro-Tow if you need help with hazardous material towing.

One-Stop-Shop for Crane Lift Services in Washington State

One-Stop-Shop for Crane Lift Services in Washington State

by | May 3, 2023 | Car Lift Service, Crane Lift, Crane Lift Recovery, Crane Lift Service, Crane Service, Recovery Blog, Washington

When lifting heavy objects, a crane is an essential piece of equipment. Of course, you’ll see cranes used for construction or industrial purposes, but Team Pro-Tow uses them for other tough jobs. Hauling big rigs out of the ditch, moving shipping containers, or lifting old cars over fences – you get the idea.

However, not all cranes are created equal, and it takes skilled professionals to operate them safely and effectively. That’s where Pro-Tow’s crane lift services come in.

Leading Crane Services

Pro-Tow Crane Service is a leading provider of crane lift services in the Pacific Northwest. We offer various services, including crane rental, rigging, and operation. Our team has the expertise and knowledge to handle even the most challenging crane projects.

Heavy Duty Crane-Style Wrecker

Pro-Tow has top-of-the-line equipment to assist in our recoveries and crane lift jobs. Primarily, we use heavy-duty wreckers. These large vehicles can anchor and lift heavy equipment, containers, or vehicle at significant distances. In addition, our equipment is well-maintained and regularly inspected to ensure they are in top condition. We can handle a wide range of projects, from small lifts to large-scale semi-truck accident recoveries.

Expert Rigging Required

You can’t lift something safely if you don’t rig it correctly. Rigging is the process of preparing and securing loads for lifting. It is a critical part of any crane operation, and Pro-Tow’s highly trained operators have the expertise to ensure safe, strategic, and correct rigging. We use only the highest quality rigging equipment to ensure loads are secure and stable during lifting.

Smooth Operators

Like rigging, crane services require trained and experienced operators who can efficiently and effectively operate the heavy-duty wrecker. Pro-Tow’s team is the best of the best and can troubleshoot and complete even the most complex crane lift services. Handling these jobs safely and without causing more damage takes a practiced skill.

Pro-Tow Can Lift It

If you want crane services in Washington State, call on Pro-Tow. Whether it’s for a truck accident recovery or moving something heavy and awkward, we are up for it! We have locations in Auburn, Spokane, North Bend, and Maple Valley, serving all of Washington State.

With our commitment to safety, quality, and customer service, you can trust us to do the job right. Learn more about our crane lift services in Washington.

 

Fishing Out a Truck and Trailer

Fishing Out a Truck and Trailer

by | Mar 1, 2023 | Accident Recovery, Heavy Duty Tow, Heavy Duty Towing, Heavy Truck Accident Recovery, Heavy Truck Recovery, Heavy Truck Recovery In Auburn, Heavy Truck Recovery In Maple Valley, Heavy Truck Recovery In Spokane, Heavy Truck Tow, Heavy Truck Towing, Heavy Truck Towing Services, Recovery Blog, Semi-Truck, Semi-Truck Towing

In this incident, on November 11, 2021, Team Pro-Tow received a dispatch from Washington State Police about a fully loaded trailer that had left the roadway. It went 100 feet off the road and hit a tree down an embankment. Fortunately, we were ready to help with the heavy truck recovery.

There were also reports of poor weather, including winter storms and flood warnings. We took note and included that information in our recovery plans. Then, we set out with an HD rotating crane-style wrecker, HD recovery wrecker, spill response vehicle, special equipment support vehicle, HD tractor and travelling axle, three-axle Landoll trailer and certified emergency recovery personnel. A lot of equipment, but all necessary for an accident recovery such as this one.

Once we arrived, we performed a scene evaluation to decide the best and safest approach to the recovery. Once we had a plan in mind, we set to work.

Heavy Truck Recovery First Up

To start, we performed an overhead crane lift of the separated tractor and brought it back onto the roadway. There, we set it on the Landoll trailer and continued. However, we first noticed engine oil, coolant, and motor vehicle diesel fuel was present. Our Team Pro-Enviro took care of the spill recovery aspect for us. They contained the spill to a practical extent so we could continue.

Next, we began recovering the trailer and its cargo. For roadway safety, we relocated our equipment to the side of the road 200 feet from the incident. We then set up a transportation rigging to transport our equipment back and forth.

It was an arduous task and non-routine. In addition, it took extraordinary time due to safety concerns of the deep and fast-travelling waterway. However, we never rush or skip a step, as safety for ourselves and others is always a top priority.

Accident Recovery Continues with Tractor in Pieces

Once we set up, we moved the trailer approximately 100 feet with minimal cargo escapement. Unfortunately, things didn’t stay easy. The trailer continually fell apart until it came completely apart.

We did non-routine cutting, lifting, loading, and finally securing. Once we loaded the trailer, we transported it to the secure storage yard. The cargo and part of the trailer remained on the side of the road until additional equipment could safely access it. Meanwhile, Pro-Enviro moved in to handle the debris recovery and spill cleanup work.

Calling in for Extra Help

While much of this work involved non-routine approaches, we never left a job half finished. Instead, we subcontracted extra equipment to finish the job. Using an excavator, two roll-off dumpsters, and a large end dump trailer. Then, we excavated the cargo and remaining debris into the containers. Finally, after plenty of paperwork, manifests, and extensive equipment reconditioning, we completed the accident recovery.

24-Hour Emergency Towing

In addition to mobile crane services, we offer out-of-area transport, 21-hour on-site service and roadside repair. Our goal in every situation is to provide safe, top-quality repairs on all makes and models of vehicles. We work promptly to help with heavy truck towing and ensure everything goes smoothly and safely. Whenever you need roadside repairs, towing or support, you can always call and trust Pro-Tow for support.

Learn more about our services at: https://www.pro-tow.com/services/