Larson Electronics

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Larson Portable LED

Larson Electronics’ portable LED light tower (LEDP5W-30-TP1-50CR) comes complete with an IP68 rated 150 watt LED light head, aluminum quad-pod and 50’ retractable cord reel. The light head is waterproof to 3 meters, sealed against intrusion by dust or dust, and constructed to withstand the most demanding environments. The LED floodlight creates a total of 14,790 lumens of intense light that provides coverage for an area 540’ long by 480’ wide and the lamp can easily be adjusted vertically and locked into position. This unit can also be ordered with LEDs in spotlight configuration to produce a beam 1200’ long by 140’ wide. The LED has a life expectancy of 50,000 hours and is backed by a 3 year warrant. This adjustable quad-pod can be extended to 12 feet, collapsed to 7 feet, and is fabricated from non-sparking powder coated aluminum. Containing 50 feet of 12/2 SOOW cord, our retractable cord reel keeps the cord clear of trip hazards. Operators can easily stow this collapsible light tower after using it for work area illumination, event lighting, emergency operations lighting, or equipment lighting. The LED light fixture assembly can be removed while the legs can be collapsed, aiding in deployment, storage and transport. This quad-pod mounted unit can be used with 12 or 24 VDC voltages depending upon chosen configuration. We can also custom build our lighting equipment according to your specific needs.

Larson Electronics

(800) 369-6671
www.magnalight.com

Zip’s Truck Month

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Tow Professional

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Zip's Truck Month

Zip’s Truck Month is in its second year, and is a great opportunity for you to get into a high quality, new or used truck, with the added benefit of a parts/service gift card in which you can use to accessorize your new piece of equipment. Zip’s only offers this promotion once a year, and it’s for a limited time. If you’re in the market for a new wrecker, carrier, service body or trailer, take a look at zips.com, and contact a Zip’s Sales Consultant for more information on the unit you’re interested in. Just for requesting a quote, or an equipment demo, you are qualified to win a 2014 Polaris RZR, Side-by-Side ATV.

“We like to offer our customers and future customers a fun giveaway every year. Last year, we gave away a Harley. This year, it’s a Razor” says David Rottinghaus, Sales Manager at Zip’s. “Towers have had a long and busy winter! What better way to kick off the summer than by winning a new toy to add to your garage!”

Zip’s kicked off Truck Month at the Florida Show, and hundreds of customers have already signed up. Ron & Lisa from Pine Tree Towing (Cambridge, Ohio) were the very first customers to take advantage of Truck Month, as they brought home the FIRST Century 1150-R Rolling Rotator from Florida (see picture). Zip’s is very excited to offer the innovative 1150-R, and already has a second one on order – ready to tailor to your unique specifications.

You can sign up many different ways: simply give Zip’s a call to discuss the truck you’re interested in, or stop by one of our two locations, either in Detroit, Michigan or New Hampton, Iowa. Our inventory is updated daily at zips.com – we’re excited to show you our expansive selection of new and used wreckers, carriers, service bodies and trailers. Don’t forget to take a look at Zip’s most recent Service Body design, the RSB – it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen!

S & J Manufacturing

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Tow Professional

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S & J Manufacturing, Inc. is a manufacturer of towing & truck transportation accessories. We have been in business for 20 years. S & J is a family owned and operated company with over 60 years of experience in the industry.

S & J Manufacturing was founded in Cuba, Missouri, in 1993 by Lonnie Smith after leaving a major manufacturer of similar products after 30 years. He started with a one-room, 2,500-square-foot building and just one employee. After the first six months, he quickly realized that he had outgrown the space and needed to relocate. He purchased property in Cuba and built a 6,000-quare-foot facility and has been there ever since. Over the next 15 years, we have added an additional 24,000 square feet of manufacturing space and 54,000 square feet of storage space.

Our facility has over 100 pieces of metal working equipment. We can produce small or large volumes and offer a wide variety of capabilities to meet your needs. S & J is a full line fabrication shop with press breaks, shears, saws, milling machines, punch presses and bar and rod bending. We also have the capabilities to provide mig welding, chain welding, plating, heat treating, CNC machining and tool and die making. We also have chain testing equipment to ensure a quality product.

S & J is also a member of the Web Sling and Tie Down Association. We have several different sewing machines to produce Nylon and Poly webbing slings, bridles, wheel straps, tow straps and auto tie down straps. We also offer tow dolly straps, cargo control, ratchets, car carrier straps and more.

We produce thousands of chain assemblies each year and offer chain in several different grades, including G43, G70, G80, G100 & G120. We carry a wide range of accessories, as well, including, tie down hooks, shackles, snatch blocks, lever binders, winch binders and ratchet binders, not to mention special products for the Department of Transportation, utility companies and the coal mining industry.

Here at S & J, we are always looking to give our customers the best service possible. Our goal is to provide a high-quality product at competitive prices in a quick and timely manner. We take pride in providing a safe and reliable product each and every time. We would like to thank our loyal customers and look forward to 20 more years of serving the towing and trucking industrial markets.

S & J Manufacturing, Inc.
203 Commerce Drive
Cuba, MO 65453
Phone: 573-885-4460
Fax: 573-885-3351
www.sjmetalcubamo@yahoo.com

Jiffy Jump Start Packs

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Tow Professional

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After nearly 30 years of keeping New England’s trucks, buses and other vehicles on the road, JiffyJump’s founder and CEO, Bill Guditus, is celebrating a still growing business, coupled with an exciting new product line.

His customers rely on JiffyJump’s range of industrial strength jump starters to start vehicles, whatever the weather.

“I’m frequently stopped by employees to tell me it’s the most valuable tool they have in the shop,” Guditus says. “They love they can rely on it, 365 days a year, backed up by a no-charge 48-hour service guarantee.”

This peace of mind comes as part of a long-term leasing model, where companies lease the starters on a month-by-month basis.

“The leasing model is popular as it gives less financial exposure and guaranteed operational service,” says Guditus. “That, and the month free trial, is particularly relevant in this economy.”

It also allows him to keep strong ties with his customers so he is familiar with their needs. The rolling wheelbarrow model is always popular.

“For moving around terrain and getting maximum accessibility, it is extremely easy with four wheels,” Guditus says.

Guditus, a coastguard veteran, picked up his electronic skills in the seas of Alaska.

“I like adversity,” he says. “I like getting out there, with the snow falling thick and fast and helping people keep their fleets moving. It’s all about service.”

JiffyJump’s latest line is the DC-Matic TL-900 hammer torque wrench, which couples with a JiffyJump to provide all day lug removal without dangerous compressed air, or the need to be around a power supply.

See www.jiffyjump.com for more information.

ComeUp Winch Company

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Tow Professional

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In business since 1975 in Taiwan, ComeUp sells winches in over 60 countries and is just breaking into the American market. People may not recognize the brand name, but ComeUp winches have been in the U.S. for many years. They have been exclusively re-branded and sold under another major U.S. winch company brand. ComeUp hydraulic winches have been chosen by one of the major tow truck companies as the original equipment supplier for their standard tow truck platform. ComeUp USA offers a full range of winches in 2,000 pound to 30,000 pound capacities for utility, Powersport, self-recovery and industrial applications, driven by 12V/24V DC, hydraulic and AC power sources.

Featured Product: Bison 30

Powered by a PTO (power take off) driven pump with variable recovery speeds for a high working rate
9.5 cu. In (160 cc) highly efficient and constant operating torque motor with 30,000 lb. (13,600 kg) pulling capacity
Hardened 2 stage planetary gear train with 41:1 gear ratio provides faster line speed
Built-in air clutch for rapid wire rope payout
The patented Multi-Disc Brake (MDB) holds the full rated load capacity
Great for severe duty trailers, roll-back carriers and commercial recovery applications
Roller fairlead, cable tensioner and two way over-center valve included
Meet SAE J706 and CE machinery directive 2006/42/EC

COMEUP USA Inc.
26300 SW 95th Avenue, Suite 103
Wilsonville, OR 97070-8205
Tel:(503) 783-6142
Fax:(503) 783-6143
Email: info@ComeUpUSA.com
URL: www.ComeUpUSA.com

RuggedTow.com Offers After-Market Towing Products

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Tow Professional

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When owners Kim and Charlie Jaques decided to enter the Towing and Car Hauling market, the transition has fit hand-in-glove.

“Our original experience came in from the Heavy Lifting market, providing custom fabricated slings, chains, wire ropes and nylon straps to markets like mining, logging, commercial fishing, construction, manufacturing, drilling, agriculture and many other industries. We found that many of the products we were already fabricating and selling were used in the Towing market, so we thought it was a perfect fit,” said Charlie.

Many of the high-profile jobs that they have worked on include providing materials to the new World Trade Center, the scaffolding of both the Washington Monument and the George Washington Bridge (NYC), 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina cleanup efforts, the Quecreek Mine Rescue, Sales to Disney and the Big Three Auto companies, rigging materials to the Marcellus Shale drilling companies and much, much more.

Since those days, RUGGEDTOW.COM has blossomed into a company with four locations in Pennsylvania, 40 employees, and a combined 50,000 square feet of manufacturing and warehousing space.

RUGGEDTOW.COM offers the towing industry’s easiest-to-use website, using a picture-based approach.

“All of our prices listed have the freight included.” stated Kim. “We sew our own tow dolly and over the wheel tie down systems. We sew our own axle straps and tie down straps. We stock every V-Bridle known to man, whether its chain or nylon. We splice and press our own winchlines and wire rope assemblies. On top of that, we keep the various hardware like shackles, ratchet handles, load binders, hooks, etc, to complete the line.”

If you are in the market for after-market tie down, recovery strap or chain, V-Chain, winch cable or related products, RUGGEDTOW.COM is a great place to find top quality, fast shipping, and great prices.

RUGGEDTOW.COM

Tel: 724-586-2900
Fax: 724-586-2200
Toll Free: 888-244-3290

B/A Products Co.

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Tow Professional

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B/A Products Co. was founded in 1978 in Davie, Florida, by Mel and Enid Berman. The company manufactured several items, but was mostly a distributor of other products. A move to Maryland in 1984 coincided with the switch from distributor to manufacturer. As chain welding, wire rope and web fabrication moved in house, so did the need to test the processes being developed. A weld link tester was built in house to test the chain welds and when needed, was adapted to test the sewing of various web assemblies.

As volume grew, so did the need to test. Over the years, additional equipment was purchased. Our test department now consists of a 40,000 LB vertical tester, two horizontal testers of 42,000 and 150,000 LB capacities, a Rockwell hardness tester, and a home built winch bar tester. Our testing program includes a procedure manual, record keeping, and annual calibration to ASTM specs. The link tester is still around, although much improved and used over 50 times a day. Five employees devote parts of their day to testing and record keeping.

In addition to testing inbound material, welds, sewn assemblies and wire rope assemblies, our test equipment is used for research and development, as well. We also do live testing during our Annual Open House in November.

Why do we do so much testing? To make sure you get the Best Available Products.

BA Products
8925 Mcgaw Court
Columbia, MD 21045
www.baprod.com
(800) 327-3301

Manufacturer Express

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Tow Professional

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At Manufacturer Express Inc., we’re committed to providing the highest quality towing and cargo control products with competitive pricing and incomparable customer service.

Centrally located in Wood-Ridge, NJ, we stock a wide range of products servicing our customers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

We offer tow chains, tow straps, snatch blocks, round slings, nylon slings, lever/chain hoists, ratchet straps, winch straps, logistic straps, binder chains, chain binders, cargo bars, jack bars, decking beams, rigging hardware and much more.

Our philosophy is based on the concept of:

Quality + Reliability + Customer Service = Success for our business, as well as for our customers.

Please call TOLL FREE 866-612-4896 for more information on free shipping and products, and our knowledgeable team will make ordering from us a quick and easy experience.

3in_underlift_ratchet_straps_w_removable_torque_tool_LRG

You can also visit our website at www.mfrexpress.com for online purchases.

In Memorium – Mel Berman

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Tow Professional

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April 7, 1937- January 24, 2014

As many already know, we recently lost our beloved founder and CEO, Mel Berman, to leukemia on January 24, 2014. While Mel’s daughter Lori, President of B/A Products Co., has been managing the company for many years now, Mel was still actively involved in the day-to-day operations.

Mel began B/A Products Co. in 1978 after recognizing a need for towers and creating the solution through hand-making our first part. Since then, he has grown the company to the 80+ people you know and work with today and represented by distributors across the globe. Mel has served as a valuable resource to all through his lifetime of knowledge and experience, but, more than that, Mel was a friend and a mentor to many. It was not uncommon to see him taking a stroll around the office and warehouse, offering positive thoughts and words of encouragement.

2014 meant big plans for B/A Products Co., as we revealed our updated brand and re-committed to delivering the “Best Available” products through exploring innovation. Mel was excited to see this direction and was no stranger to giving a humble thank you to his Employees and Distributors alike, as he did during his toast at the B/A Products 2013 Distributor Dinner. We are grateful that Mel was able to be a part of our recent endeavors and will continue to honor his memory each day through furthering his efforts in the company and industry he loved so much.

Thank you to all of our friends, distributors and end-users who have shared kind words, stories and condolences in Mel’s memory and honor. Your support is very much appreciated.

Mel is survived by his wife Enid; daughters and sons-in-law, Lori and Chip Kauffman, Kim and Ray Goldstein, and Patti and Fritz Dahlin; eight grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.

Best Insurance Agency

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Tow Professional

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Best Insurance Agency has been in business since 1952. That is quite a statement. Insurance is one of those things that we all buy and usually don’t think too much about and usually leave it with the same company for many years. A person or business can do this when they make a wise choice in the first place and select a company that treats you like a person and not a policy. That is what Best Insurance Agency has been doing for 62 years. The agency handles mostly commercial insurance and lives by the motto “An independent insurance agency treating you as a person, not a policy.”

Brian Smith
(205) 655-2128
bsmith@bestrl.com
www.bestrl.com

Turn Your Abandoned Cars into Cash with IAA

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Tow Professional

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Leading Auction Company Brings Highly Popular Seminar to Florida Tow Show

Are you a towing professional interested in learning how you can turn your abandoned cars into cash? You can find out how with Insurance Auto Auctions (IAA), the leading live and live-online auto auctions company and wholly owned subsidiary of KAR Auction Services, Inc. (NYSE: KAR) at the 2014 Florida Tow Show and International Expo taking place April 11-13 in Orlando. IAA has been driving the salvage auto auction industry for more than 30 years, providing the best value to buyers and high returns to sellers.

IAA will offer to Florida Tow Show attendees a special “Don’t Crush Your Cash” seminar on April 11 in the Gardenia Room. In five easy steps, this free educational seminar will give towers an understanding of the selling process for lightly damaged, high-mileage, repossessed, impounded and abandoned vehicles through IAA’s combined live and live-online auction system. Professionals will also share helpful tips for turning unclaimed cars into cash and ensuring the best return possible.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to speak with representatives from IAA’s Tow and Abandonments and Transportation divisions. IAA’s unique business model offers a single solution for disposition of vehicles, from navigating the title procurement system and calculating the value of abandoned vehicles sitting on their lots to transportation. The company has solid relationships with more than 900 independent and national towing companies and has sold millions of vehicles to buyers worldwide.

Be sure to visit the IAA booth (#150/151) throughout the Florida Tow Show and come to the Gardenia Room for the “Don’t Crush Your Cash” seminar. For more information on IAA, visit www.IAA-Auctions.com.

Lift and Tow – Z-Series

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Tow Professional

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Lift and Tow is a company that has been in the Towing and Recovery market for 15 years. Company President & Owner Cal Roth stated that safety is the upmost importance and a lot of thought went into making his line of lifts for his towers.

The Z-series is their top-of-the-line lift. What’s so special about the lift and tow system? It is the fastest and most efficient way to get any tow job done. You can literally pick up a car in 36 seconds, and be on your way. Besides its speed and efficiency, the system can be installed on a large variety of vehicles, and is hardly noticeable, so there is no need to purchase a separate tow truck or rollback; just install it right onto your work truck.

The Z-series has upgraded double wall construction. The power boom is equipped with 6 function hydraulics and a wireless remote. It allows you to power up or down while extending or retracting. When retracted, however, the T-bar extends past the bumper 4-10” (depending on your truck model). This unit is fully self -loading and has in-cab controls. Once in place, just lift and go!

Unit comes with straps and wireless remote.

Christopher King of KingSize Enterprises stated, “I brought my first lift package in 2009, from Lift and Tow, and I certainly got my money’s worth. I started my business KingSize Enterprises with a 2003 Chevy 2500 Silverado and the 5 series tow package from Lift and Tow. Almost five years later, I am still impressed with the lift but needed to upgrade to save time and, of course, money. I call the folks at Lift and Tow, and we upgraded my lift to the Z series type. It has been the best decision I’ve made lately for my business! KingSize Enterprise is a small operation here in North Carolina, and we repo about 25 cars a week and tow about 10. In less than a month, my operation has become faster, smoother and less stressful as a result of upgrading to the Z series from Lift and Tow. A good product plus a good price equals a customer for life. Parts and customer service are always the most important factors in forming good customer relationships. My friends at Lift and Tow has met all of my towing lift needs, and I am completely satisfied with my new Z series lift from Lift and Tow.”

For more information on the 3, 5, and Z-Series lifts, give the team a call at Lift and Tow!!

Lift and Tow
www.liftandtow.com
1-866-494-6500
717-532-5558

Ohio Power Systems

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Tow Professional

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This year, we have seen harsh weather blanketing most of the country. This has meant that recovery specialist products are being put to the test. Manufacturers want to build the most reliable product that they can. OPS is excited to share its knowledge on products that are made to withstand these harsh conditions.

Ohio Power Systems is educating these manufacturers as to why our products are superior to the other products that the market has been using. Our product line covers both simple on off winch systems to full rotator systems.

The products we supply are built to withstand some of the harshest of weather conditions with -15 F to 160F rating and no less than IP65-IP67 water rating. All of these radios use FHSS RF technology so that you will not compromise safety by risking cross talking with other vehicles at the recovery site. Some manufacturers are building products with no IP rating, and they only use fixed frequency technology in this market.

Ohio Power Systems
807 East Findlay Street
Carey, OH 43316
Office: 419-294-4985
Fax: 419-396-4045

www.ohiopowersys.com

Recovery First Insurance

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Tow Professional

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The Recovery First Program started with one client who was having trouble with insurance coverage. They satisfy the requirements set forth by Major Lenders and Forwarders. Over the past 15 years, Recovery First has grown to insure over 200 repossession companies nationwide, including some of the major repossession industry associations themselves.

Recovery First’s Insurance uses insurance companies that meet the AM Best Rating Guideline of A- VII or higher.

We are here to guide you with online explanations and definitions. You can email us or call us with questions anytime or call us during business hours. We want you to understand what you are buying and feel comfortable with your decision.

Jim Deason
CIC Program Manager
(800) 687-4631
jim_deason@ajg.com
www.recoveryfirst.com

TomTom Business Solutions hires Ty Lambert

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Tow Professional

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TomTom Business Solutions announced the hiring of Ty Lambert as account manager for the towing industry. Ty’s responsibilities including consulting with new customers, providing training on TomTom’s solution, and managing relationships with the more than a dozen software partners integrated with TomTom’s fleet management solution.

“Ty’s capabilities are a perfect fit for our towing partners and customers. As TomTom is the only GPS solution that integrates with all the major dispatching software companies, he will help towing business owners navigate through the muddy waters of GPS and find the right solution for them. Towing software partners that integrate their solutions with TomTom now have a dedicated resource to help shoulder the ever-changing GPS features that their customers need to understand,” said Matt Gunzenhaeuser, Sales Director, TomTom Business Solutions.

Lambert is a Kansas native and lives outside of Portland, Oregon. Connect with Ty at ty.lambert@tomtom.com, by phone (360) 450-1941, or meet him at TomTom’s booth (#274) in Orlando and receive a live demo and enter to win a TomTom PRO navigation device.

TomTom Business Solutions offers an out-of-the-box fleet management solution for commercial vehicle fleets.

TomTom offers towers an out-of-the-box GPS vehicle tracking and connected navigation solution. Integrate dispatching, tracking, navigation and reporting into your operations with most tow management software. We serve more than 330,000 vehicles worldwide and have over 27,000 satisfied business customers.

Velvac Announces Acquisition of ViewMaster Product Line

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Tow Professional

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Velvac, Inc., a leading manufacturer of components to the truck, bus, recreational and specialty vehicle industries, has announced that it has acquired the assets of the ViewMaster mirror product line from the former Mirror Lite Company. ViewMaster mirrors are used on vehicles in the refuse market, as well as other heavy and medium-duty trucks. Velvac now offers the refuse industry’s broadest line of rear-view mirror products, covering OEM vehicle applications for the full range of vehicles in that market.

“The refuse market has a number of unique and critical vision system requirements,” noted Velvac President and CEO, Jeff Porter, “and the acquisition of the ViewMaster product line strengthens our presence, positioning Velvac as the leading tier-one vision system provider to this segment. We believe the ViewMaster product line, which is modular and flexible in its design, will have good application in other truck market segments, as well.”

“While Velvac’s primary focus has been to grow organically through product innovation and design leadership, this acquisition will enable us to better leverage advanced technology in our new product pipeline specifically dedicated to the refuse industry,” added Sean D. Custis, Director of Marketing at Velvac. “ViewMaster offers true synergies with our current served markets and product roadmap, and will allow us to expand our leadership in advanced vision systems on multiple chassis platforms.”

For more information on this and other Velvac vision solutions, visit www.velvac.com.