3 Types Of Towing Trucks And What They Do
Posted on: 26 March 2020
When your vehicle is stranded on the side of the road, all you want is a towing truck to respond as quickly as possible. Here are three different types of towing trucks and what each of them is made to do.
1. Hook and Chain Towing Trucks
This first type is what most people picture when they imagine a towing truck and is often the one illustrated in kids' books and toy models. The truck features a large hook with a chain to attach to the disabled vehicle, lift it partially off the road, and drive away on two wheels.
Though it's still popular as a toy model, these tow trucks are now most often used when towing a vehicle to a scrap yard rather than a mechanic. This is because the hook and chain can cause further damage to vehicle bumpers and undercarriage. This type of tow truck does not work well for vehicles with all-wheel drive either.
2. Flatbed Towing Truck
The flatbed towing truck is the kind most often used to rescue disabled vehicles on the roadside because it can carry a variety of vehicle types. For this type of truck, a hydraulic system lowers the bed to road level and chains are attached to the disabled vehicle in order to pull it onto the bed. The bed is then raised back up and the tow truck can safely carry the vehicle.
If your vehicle is drivable, it is also possible to drive it up the truck bed like a ramp. Chains still hold the vehicle in place while the tow truck is in motion. Flatbed tow trucks can also bring vehicles long distances without causing further damage. While this type of tow truck is safest, it is usually more expensive than the other types of tow trucks.
3. Wheel-Lift Towing Truck
The wheel-lift towing truck functions very similarly to the hook and chain type by raising half of the disabled vehicle off the ground and towing it on the remaining two wheels. The difference is that it uses a metal yoke instead of a hook that stabilizes the part of the vehicle that is off the ground during towing.
Because of this extra stabilization, wheel-lift tow trucks are less likely to cause damage to the vehicle bumper or frame. Like a flatbed truck, they use a hydraulic lift system to raise the disabled vehicle from the ground relatively easily. However, they are not as safe as flatbed trucks because half of the vehicle is still on the ground and could be bumped or scraped.
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