towing company sf field notes for tough streets

Years on San Francisco grades teach you what brochures miss. Curbs are high, lanes are narrow, traffic argues back. A crew that understands cable angles and hybrid shut-down sequences will save both time and bumpers.

How expertise shows up

Comparing operators, I watch for planning under pressure. Some say a light-duty wrecker handles most calls; I disagree - gently. On Lombard's kinks or Jones Street's pitches, flatbeds and low-clearance skates reduce risk, especially with AWD and EVs.

• Equipment mix: Dollies are fine; flatbeds with long ramps are safer for splitters and batteries.
• Technique: Soft straps over control arms, not frames, to protect alignment sensors.
• Hill protocol: Chock first, winch second, talk last - radio discipline prevents drift.
• Access: Garage extractions need shorter masts and spotters who read inches, not feet.

Field moment

2 a.m., Bryant at 6th: a stalled Prius tucked behind a bus stop. We staged upstream, rolled skates, disabled the parking lock, and floated it onto a flatbed without waking the block.

Selecting the right fit

1. Ask about EV isolation and neutral procedures.
2. Confirm insurance and city permits.
3. Time their honest ETA against real traffic.
4. Request photos of prior garage pulls.

Cheapest works on flat suburbs; in SF, precision pays for itself in one unharmed undertray.