Last Updated on: 22nd May 2020, 02:26 am
Since accidents and car breakdowns are inevitable, you will likely need auto wreckers’ services at some point. Autowrecking is the use of heavy machines to recover, tow and dismantle damaged and unroadworthy vehicles. Disassembled car parts are stored for sale, recycled or dumped.
Do you have an old car in your backyard that you would want to switch with a running and up to date vehicle? A professional auto wrecker is the perfect solution for you. Since auto wreckers can recycle more than 90 % of all your car parts, the process may yield a substantial offer for your damaged car.
What equipment are used to haul damaged vehicles to car junkyards?
Wheel lift- This is the most common type of towing equipment. The wheels of the junk car, front or rear are secured to this equipment and then lifted to slant. The vehicle is then towed with only the other wheels on the ground.
*Hook and chain
This is a sling-type equipment that uses a hook to attach on a sturdy frame or axle on the car for lifting. The vehicle is then lifted and towed. Since this equipment has the potential of creating more damages to the car, it is only recommendable for greatly damaged vehicles.
*Boom mounted trucks
If you have a broken vehicle in a hard to reach place such as in an ice-covered terrain or mountainous area, this is the perfect equipment. The boom is the lifting mechanism, while the trucks offer a point of attachment when towing. Booms attached to huge trucks can be used to tow large and relatively heavier vehicles.
*Flat-bed tow truck
This is the most versatile auto wrecker. There is a possibility that you have met such a piece of equipment in an accident scene. A truck with a long, empty and flat-bed is used to pick up cars in almost all sizes. The vehicles are either driven or lifted to the flat-bed. The position of the flat-bed can be adjusted with the help of the powerful hydraulic system that it is powered with.
What happens in car wrecking yards?
The main activity done in wrecking yards is dismantling the damaged car into distinct parts. Before this is done, all the fluids, including engine oil, petroleum products and coolants, are drained off for disposing or recycling. On disassembling, the intact parts are stored for sale as spare parts for other cars while the other junk parts are either disposed or kept for milling.
Auto scrap has a high demand in steel mills. Although the processing time of this scrap to finished steel may take a couple of months, steel mills are enough to alleviate the congestion that is commonly observed in wrecking yards.