Home > Blog > Post

Types of tow trucks

The tow truck is the main assistant on the road. It is indispensable for broken cars, delivery of cars after a road accident to a car repair shop and impoundment of cars parked in the wrong place. Despite the design flexibility, it is necessary to know how to choose the right type of tow truck that can quickly solve the problem.
The main difference between tow trucks is the loading method: partial or full. These special vehicles are equipped with different devices for towing cars and motorcycles: a lifter winch, a manipulator, a crane, a fixation system for cars and motorcycles. Tow track platforms may be flatbed, curved and sliding.
car towing

Towing equipment

Tow truck with a lifter winch – a hydraulic, electric or manual lifter winch helps to hoist a car along the ramps onto the tow truck platform. The maximum car weight cannot exceed 7 tons. At the same time, the wheels of the car must be movable.
Tow truck with a manipulator – an ideal option for loading cars after a road accident and new cars with a blocked ignition lock. Such special vehicles will help to take the car out of a ditch or a gulley, and place the car on a platform if the wheels are blocked and there are problems with steering control.
auto towing

Platform type

Tow truck with a sliding platform – is equipped with a lifter winch and a movable platform. It allows to change the tilt of the platform and load low-slung cars. A perfect option for sports cars.

Tow truck with a straight flatbed – is a special vehicle with a crane manipulator and all-metal platform. The crane boom allows to load cars at a distance of up to 5 meters. The maximum car weight is 3.5 tons. It is used to take cars from covered parking lots, narrow and busy-traffic streets and yards.

Tow truck with a curved platform – is a suitable option for cars that cannot enter the platform on their own. The tow track is equipped not only with a platform with a specific bend, but also with ramps, a hydraulic or electric lifter winch, or a crane manipulator.

affordable towing

Type of loading

Full loading – uses flatbed tow trucks with a lifter winch or a hydraulic crane manipulator. The car is fully placed on the tow truck platform and is fixed with a special fixation system.

Partial loading – uses wheel lift tow trucks, equipped with a fixation system and a hydraulic or electric lifter winch. Its main advantage is maneuverability on the road. The car is attached to the tow truck with a metal clamp. In this case, one pair of wheels remains on the ground, while the other is lifted. This method helps to tow cars and motorcycles in the places where large-sized special vehicles will not pass. It is used for cars with minor damage, transportation of buses, trailers and large-sized equipment.

The variety of tow truck types allows to transport motorcycles, cars, buses and trucks. The correct choice of the special vehicle determines how quickly the employees of the towing service will load the car and how safely they deliver it to any part of the city.
Tags:

1 thought on “Types of tow trucks”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *