What are different types of tow trucks?
What are different types of tow trucks?
Posted on November 22, 2021
TL;DR:
1) Integrated Tow Trucks
2) Hook and Chain Tow Trucks
3) Flatbed Tow Trucks
4) Wheel Lift Tow Trucks
It's an unfortunate fact of driving life that at some point your vehicle is going to need the services of a tow truck. Whether through mechanical malfunction or an accident, if your car, pickup, or semi truck is unable to move under its own power, it'll need some heavy lifting help to take it to the nearest repair shop.
But a tow truck isn't just a tow truck. There are four main kinds on the roads today, and when you need to rely on one, it's important that the tow company sends out a vehicle that's up to the required standard. Here are the four different types of tow truck you'll maybe come across, and the kinds of work they're most suitable for.
1) Integrated Tow Trucks
Integrated tow trucks are perhaps the most robust kind around and are called for in situations where genuinely heavy-duty capability is needed. Most commonly used for rigs and buses, these trucks have the tow arm embedded in the truck's core section for superb solidity, and their strength is boosted even further through multiple axles, which also increase stability. When you need a tow truck that can handle any task, call for an integrated model.
2) Hook and Chain Tow Trucks
Hook and chain tow trucks are the familiar old-style rigs which use a simple connection to link up to a vehicle, trailer, or other kind of load. Although they were once extremely common, the format is rarely used for general purpose towing today. Attaching the chain to the towed vehicle can easily cause scratching or other damage, and hauling an all-wheel drive vehicle in this way will almost certainly harm the drive train. The one area where hook and chain tow trucks are still widely used is in transporting junk vehicles to the breaker's yard, as causing minor damage is no longer an issue.
3) Flatbed Tow Trucks
Flatbed tow trucks are now the most commonly seen type, often used to transport immobile vehicles away from the roadside. The towed vehicles are actually driven or pulled hydraulically onto the long truck bed, and then secured in place, allowing transport in complete safety and with negligible risk of damage.
4) Wheel Lift Tow Trucks
Lastly, wheel lift tow trucks improve on the hook and chain design by using a metal yoke to attach to the towed vehicle, which gives a much lower risk of damage. The yoke is securely fixed under either the front or rear wheels, and the towed vehicle is then raised half off the ground before the towing begins. Wheel lift trucks are less expensive than flatbed models, and are commonly used for towing lighter loads over relatively short distances.
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