Key Takeaways 2WD/FWD vehicles now need chains or an ATD, period. Under Senate Bill 25-069, tires alone no longer bring a 2WD or FWD vehicle into compliance, regardless of rating. AWD/4WD vehicles need the right tires or chains/ATD. Mud-and-snow, winter, or manufacturer all-weather tires at 3/16" tread depth still qualify — worn all-seasons don't. [...]
If your vehicle loses momentum on the Vail Pass grade or gets sidelined along I-70, do not let a recovery team drag it with two wheels on the asphalt. For modern All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and Electric Vehicles (EVs), only a flatbed recovery will prevent irreversible driveline damage. Call West Vail Towing — the recovery [...]
Quick Takeaways for Your 4th of July Weekend: No Fireworks: Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in effect for all of Eagle County. Personal and public fireworks are strictly prohibited. The Parties Continue: Despite the restrictions, daytime events, parades, and concerts in Vail, Avon, and Gypsum are still on! Traffic & Safety: Expect a busy [...]
Key Takeaways Before You Climb: Expect a Power Drop: Naturally aspirated engines lose about 3% of their horsepower for every 1,000 feet of elevation gained. Check Tire Pressure Locally: Drastic elevation and temperature changes cause tire pressure to fluctuate wildly. Check your PSI after you arrive and the tires cool. Watch Your Heat: Thinner [...]
Quick Takeaways: Severe Safety Risks: Tow straps have slack, removing critical control and causing rear-end collisions or massive traffic bottlenecks. Devastating Vehicle Damage: Towing a dead car can destroy the transmission, warp the frame, or rip off the bumper. Legal & Financial Trouble: DIY towing on highways is often illegal, and insurance may deny [...]
As a towing and recovery operator in Eagle County, we see firsthand how shifting weather patterns fundamentally alter highway risks. Typically, April brings the saturated slush and heavy runoff we associate with our transition season. However, following an unusually dry winter, the pavement on I-70 and Highway 6 is exposing a completely different operational [...]
A dry, mild winter in the Colorado high country tricks drivers into a false sense of security. With bare valleys and mostly dry pavement, it is easy to assume winter driving hazards are gone. They aren't. Historically, March and April are Colorado’s snowiest months. A lack of early-season snow simply means drivers are less [...]
If you’ve checked the local weather models, you know there isn't any precipitation expected soon. While this winter has yielded lower-than-usual snowfall, March in the Colorado high country remains highly variable. Weather patterns can shift abruptly later this spring, bringing sudden, severe conditions. As we move into the final weeks of the ski season, driving [...]
Avon is the heart of the valley for shopping and transit, but breaking down here comes with its own unique set of challenges—specifically, the traffic and the roundabouts. At West Vail Towing, we know that when you are stuck in Avon, you don't want to wait. We are based out of the West Vail Shell [...]
For a commercial driver, there are few feelings worse than losing power halfway up Vail Pass. The grade is steep, the shoulder is narrow, and the temperature gauge is likely dropping fast. But here is the good news: A breakdown doesn’t always mean a heavy-wrecker bill. For over 50 years, West Vail Towing has been [...]
