At some point in your life, you will need the assistance of a tow truck. Whether to haul a wrecked vehicle or to transport a disabled vehicle to the mechanic shop – a tow truck makes your work easy

To make your work even easier, tow trucks are designed in four different kinds. Understanding each type will let you book the suitable one for your vehicle when you are in need.

Let’s look at the different types of towing and gain knowledge about the trucks so that you know the suitable one for your vehicle.

Flatbeds

The flatbed truck is also called the rollback tow truck. As the name suggests, it has a flat surface at its rear so that the vehicles are placed on top of it.

These tow trucks are usually equipped with heavy-duty hydraulics to lift and transport the vehicles to their top. At first, the flatbed is put on the surface and the vehicle is driven to the top. And then with the help of hydraulics, the flatbed is lifted and placed on the vehicle.

Flatbeds are easy to operate and they are safe to transport vehicles that can’t drive. There will be no danger to the vehicle nor will it be dragged on the road. All the pressure is put on the flatbed and your vehicle will be safe throughout the transportation.

Wheel Lifts

These are another kind of tow truck where one end (front or rear) of the vehicle is attached to the truck. The truck then will lift and carry the vehicle as the other set of wheels are rolled on the ground.

Wheel lifts are used to carry broken-down cars to repair shops. They use a metal hook to lift the disabled vehicle instead of chains. It’s the reason why there won’t be too much strain on the vehicle and further damage is avoided. You can order wheel lifts for the cars that need repair rather than a damaged vehicle that is destined to be sent to a junkyard.

Integrated Tow Tricks

These tow trucks are used for heavy duty and carry large vehicles like buses and trucks. These trucks are fast to hook up to the vehicles so they are used mostly for lifting vehicles that are in the no-parking region.

There are two parts present in the integrated tow trucks – wheel lift and boom. They also have an extra axle as they are designed to carry heavier vehicles. The tow truck is better designed to be stable on the ground even after the vehicle is placed on it.

The operator who is controlling the vehicle can sit inside the cab while lifting the vehicle. It speeds up the process when the vehicle needs to move fast.

Hook and Chain

Hook and chain tow truck is like a wheel lift, however, the rear end of the vehicle is attached with a chain. These tow trucks are used for vehicles that are junk or heavily damaged.

With these tow trucks, there is a possibility of damage so you have to book these for vehicles that don’t need gentle transport. For instance, if you need a vehicle to be towed to junk yards, then you can book a hook-and-chain tow truck.

As it’s attached to the rear end, there is a high chance of damage as the bumper and other parts come in contact with the road. Minor damage like scratches to heavy damage like collisions can happen to the vehicles. So, book a hook and chain only when you are sure that the vehicle is going to the junkyard.

Also, these are not suitable for four-wheel and all-wheel drives as they can cause heavy damage to the vehicles.

Before you order a towing service, you should know which truck to book. Hopefully, this article has enlightened you on the different types of tow trucks and which you should order when. Knowing the right type will let you invest your money properly without any waste. Also, you will not do any damage to your car by ordering the wrong tow truck.