Towmate 46 | Will-Burt

THE MAGIC TO BEING SEEN: A PRESENT DAY GUIDE

For as long as there have been production automobiles, there has been a need to tow and recover them. From the rudimentary tractor pull of a vehicle from a ditch to a rotating hydraulic-powered boom mounted to a 100,000+ pound truck raising a casualty from a ravine… the profession of towing and recovery has come a long way. During the same 100+ years these advances have been taking place, drivers have exponentially become less concerned with the actual act of driving. This has led to far too many fallen souls along the highways of this great country, and indeed the world over. So, is there an answer to the problem at hand? A way to pull the proverbial ‘rabbit from a hat’ and end the madness? While there may not be an absolute solution, TowMate continues to focus its product engineering efforts on improving the situation. Considering the ever-changing dynamics of the work environment, along with the continued improvements of the technology at hand, this article aims to outline an up-todate, balanced, and effective approach to staying safe on the modern recovery site.

First and foremost, drivers must be aware of your presence in order to avoid a collision with you. That does not necessarily mean the best approach is to max out your amperage to be bright like the sun. There is one thing that remains constant though, and that is that the cornerstone and mantlepiece of this equation is the overhead light bar. Perhaps the earliest example of a widely used piece of equipment for visibility’s sake, the overhead light bar, or beacon, comes in more varieties than one can shake a stick at. The PCX61U from TowMate serves as a benchmark in light bar technology, with its two-wire installation and high LED count, in addition to its functionality. Covering the bases with strobe, traffic control arrows, work lights, and wireless Stop/Tail/Turn functionality, the real magic is a function of its optics. The PCX61U light bar boasts the cutting edge ‘peripheral parabolic technology.’ That is the terminology used to describe how the light is projected. With these optics, the light bar is distinctly visible up-close but appears brighter at a distance, reducing the possibility for drivers or recovery crew from becoming disoriented within the immediate area while simultaneously maintaining a distinct visual footprint in the eye of the vehicle’s operator.

A step up from the simple road-flare of the past, and effective for some time, the overhead light bar has become more-or-less insufficient as a stand-alone safety precaution for visual awareness in the present day. Enter a myriad of options for flashing lights of all descriptions to mount anywhere and everywhere on a truck one could imagine. But as the age-old adage goes… “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” There is also the undeniable fact that there is such a thing as too much lighting. But when done the right way, with the right placement, a good lighting package can make all the difference when it matters most.

The Power-Link combination marker/strobe/work light and STT/strobe/work light combination lights are likely the easiest to install warning lights in the world, utilizing factory wiring to operate. Plug them into the factory connector and install your Power-Link controller (included with the abovementioned light bar or purchased a la carte), and away you go. For a more conventional approach, TowMate has recently designed the new SS470 super slim surface mount LED strobe. Containing 12 high-intensity LEDs with linear optics, these puppies pack a punch. They can be single color or multi-color, and used as a marker, a signal, a work light, in addition to being a warning light depending on the exact configuration. Better yet, they can be synchronized to maximize the visual impact. An effective approach is one without overkill. Therefore, two to four LED strobes in the grill, two to four LED strobes on the rear, and perhaps a couple on each side of the truck, and viola, you are done! Running the strobes on the body and grill, coupled with the traffic arrow on the overhead light bar to encourage drivers to move over, really is all you need for warning lights on the truck. Anything more and the message begins to get jumbled. Too much of a good thing all too often results in a not-so-good thing. In other words, keep it simple.

This is pretty well how most trucks are purchased from

a local dealer. A light bar, a few strobes, and out the door. So why are we still seeing so many towers getting taken out on the side of the road? Well, it goes back to drivers becoming less concerned with the act of driving and even less so concerned with amber warning lights while en route. Even though it is clear that red and blue lights are far more successful in traffic management, most states still do not allow tow operators to use them on their trucks, even while stationary. But where there is a necessity, innovation follows. TowMate has introduced what appears to be a ‘rabbit from the hat’ in the form of the Life Saver conemounted warning light system. Bryan Anderson, the owner of TowMate and inventor of wireless tow lights, has received several calls from towers in the field just to express their gratitude and amazement of the product. “It was just like magic, the cars all moved to the far lane as soon as he set it out,” said Dave Stephens of Kellogg’s Service & Towing in Mead, Washington while recounting the first experience his driver had with the Life Saver. What looks like a cannonball with a handle and a flat face, the Life Saver features two Red/Blue LED strobes that alert traffic of your presence while in use. The rechargeable unit will operate for up to 24 hours on a charge and simply slides over the top of any traffic cone. Since the unit is not mounted to the truck, nor is it used on the truck or in motion, it is not considered ‘truck lighting.’ Therefore, it is a true difference-maker in bringing the benefits of red/blue lighting to tow operators. The Life Save can be configured to amber/ white by swiping a magnet over the lights as well, for those who simply want to enhance their existing setup. One thing has crystalized as a certainty, however. The Life Saver holds true to its name. That is why TowMate is donating a portion of the proceeds from each unit sold to the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum Survivor Fund. The fund, which is overseen and allocated by the museum’s board of directors, provides relief to the families of those who have fallen while on duty in the towing industry.

There is nothing to indicate driver awareness is going to improve on its own any time soon. And as we know, doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is for the birds. With the dynamic issue of tower safety ever-evolving, manufacturers and operators alike must evolve in their approaches too. Between the PCX61U light bar with specialized light-projection that reduces the risk of disorientation on the scene, the subsequent grill and body lights that make the truck ‘pop,’ and the Life Saver cone-mounted warning light system offering the benefits of red/blue warning lights to towers, the products and technologies are available to substantially increase your safety on the job. A little investment today can go a long way towards avoiding paying the ultimate price tomorrow.

Improving the Safety and Efficiency of Nighttime Operations

By David Cotsmire

Atowman’s job is difficult and dangerous. The calls increase when conditions are the worst – torrential rains, ice, snow, and darkness make a tough job even tougher. You know every job should be approached with a plan of action; one that is methodical and logical with safety in the forefront of your mind. A great plan is essential, but a great plan is not enough. You need the right tools to maximize your safety and efficiency, especially at night.

This article will review the lighting tools and technology available today that will significantly improve your safety, and some can even improve the bottom-line of your business.

Long gone are the days of halogen lights where you could fry an egg on the light housing and a generator was needed to power them. Most of today’s lights are LED which consume 90% less power and generate much less heat while providing brilliant illumination at an affordable price. No need to pack a generator, these lights can be powered directly from your vehicle.

Do keep in mind the age-old adage, “you get what you pay for” which absolutely applies to LED lights. LED lights with heat management circuitry will provide a constant level of light output throughout the job and will last much longer than cheap LED lights. LED lights can be found on truck-mounted light towers that are powered by the alternator.

What benefits do truck mounted light towers provide?

A telescoping light tower such as Will-Burt’s Night Scan HDT provides light from up to 15 feet above your truck which enables the light to spread across a wide area to illuminate more of the scene – as much as an entire football field! This height also allows oncoming traffic to see you long before they arrive on the scene. The powerful light also will not blind the crew because it comes from above, like sunlight. Lastly, the height provides the ability to direct the light into a ditch or ravine.

The lights on top of the tower are remotely controlled to direct the light nearly anywhere, regardless of the position of the truck. Some towers like the Night Scan Powerlite HDT with two banks of lights, enables you to direct the light banks in two different directions which gives you 360° of light coverage. Optional cameras can be added to a light tower which allows the action to be viewed locally, remotely, or recorded.

Lastly, several tow companies charge customers for the deployment of a light tower, sometimes up to $250 / hour. We have been told that companies have been able to pay for a heavy wrecker just from the money they make on the light tower!

A truck-mounted light tower is not the only way to get light above the scene. You can use the height of your vehicle and mount a remote-controlled light positioner such as the Night Scan Spot on the roof, headache rack, or boom. This is a lower cost option to enjoy the benefits of overhead light, but you will not be able to achieve the same lumen output as a light tower.

Another option with height is the Night Scan Pump-Up light tower. This product is flexible enough to be used by any size tow company. A small pneumatic mast that is elevated with an onboard hand pump has 40,000 lumens of light on top and has the flexibility to be mounted in a 2” hitch receiver, tripod or drive-on stand. In fact, this tower is so versatile, you can leave the tripod attached to the mast permanently and still put it in the hitch mount or drive-on stand. Because the lights are powered by 12-volt DC current, you can power the Night Scan Pump-Up light tower from your truck. This easy-to-use light tower can be elevated in less than 60 seconds.

An autonomous flight, tethered drone with LED lights and camera is the ultimate in leading edge technology for illuminating and monitoring the scene. Will-Burt’s Mobile Sentry tethered aerial system is portable, allowing it to be placed nearly anywhere. It is simple to operate, set the height and it will automatically launch and hold its position. Need to redirect the light? The tethered drone can be guided by the wireless controller to the desired location. A standard height of 150’ will give you a bird’s eye view that you can monitor from your wireless controller or remote location.

A little closer to the ground, there are a variety of lights that can improve safety. Truck-mounted LED scene lights are more popular than ever. They are flexible enough to be mounted about anywhere and if you buy a quality light, they can last the life of your vehicle. Make sure to mount them strategically around the vehicle so you can light the scene from any angle. More flexibility can be achieved by adding a push-up pole on each side of the vehicle or even every corner. A push-up pole can add up to 60” of height and 20,000 lumens of light each and can be manually

turned and tilted to optimally illuminate the scene. This is a very affordable method to get light on the scene.

Portable lighting that is not attached to the vehicle provides additional flexibility. Cost-savings can be realized by sharing this lighting across your fleet. Technology has had a positive impact in this lighting category as well.

LED technology is now available for the “balloon lights” that have seemingly been around forever. The Night Scan Air is available with up to 110,000 lumens on a 10 ft. tripod. This balloon light projects usable light evenly in a 45,000 sq. ft. circle.

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lighting that is powered by long-lasting and lightweight lithium-ion batteries. Rugged handheld flashlights that convert into stand-alone tripod lights with 16,000 lumens are versatile enough to find a place within any towing company. Another option is a ruggedized, wheeled case that contains not only the batteries but extendable poles and two 20,000 lumen LED lights – the power of a light tower on the go!

The safety of you and your crew is not the place to cut corners. Invest in quality lighting products and you could see a reduction in accidents and an increase in efficiency.

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