Morro Bay is a seaside city on Highway 1, about 17.4 miles from Atascadero. By State Route 41 it is roughly a 27-minute drive. Atascadero Towing connects callers with licensed and insured local towing professionals, and the number to call is (805) 391-5157.
A breakdown on the coast and a breakdown on the road over the hills are different problems. Here is what to know for each.
Towing in Morro Bay
Morro Bay is a working harbor and a tourism town, with the Embarcadero waterfront and Morro Rock as its best-known landmarks. If your car stops near either one, tell the dispatcher exactly where you are. Give the cross street or the nearest landmark. If you are on Highway 1, say which direction you are heading.
Once you call (805) 391-5157, the dispatcher quotes the price on the phone before a truck is sent. The price depends on the vehicle, the distance, the type of truck needed, the road location and the time of day.
State Route 41 over the Santa Lucia Range
The route between Atascadero and Morro Bay is State Route 41, a winding two-lane road over the Santa Lucia Range. There are few safe places to pull over, so a breakdown here takes some care.
If you can, get fully off the roadway and turn on your hazard lights. Stay well away from traffic. Summer heat inland can reach 95 to 100 degrees, and climbing the grades is hard on engines and weak batteries. Fog can also push in through gaps in the range, and winter rain makes hillside roads slick.
If there is a collision, call 911 if anyone is hurt or the road is blocked. On state highways, the California Highway Patrol handles collisions and may call a tow to clear vehicles.
Flatbeds, RVs and trailers
Flatbed towing is generally recommended for all-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive vehicles, low-clearance and classic cars, most electric vehicles, motorcycles, and any vehicle that cannot roll. Your owner's manual often says how the vehicle should be towed.
For RVs, box trucks and trailers, the equipment has to match the weight and length. The dispatcher will ask for those details first.
What to have ready when you call
- Your exact location, including cross streets, highway direction or a nearby landmark
- The year, make and model of the vehicle
- Whether it rolls and steers
- Where you want it taken
Many insurance policies, credit cards and motor-club memberships include towing coverage. Check yours before you call, and ask for an itemized receipt if you plan to submit for reimbursement. Payment methods and hours vary by provider, so confirm them with the dispatcher at (805) 391-5157.