When you are stuck on the side of the road due to a flat tire, engine issue, or suffer a collision, you might not think about the best towing service in the town. These situations are obviously stressful where you just want to reach your location quickly. Calling a towing company to rescue you from a difficult situation is the ideal choice. As choosing a reliable tow truck company is vital to save you and your car. In this instance, you also need to consider the type of tow truck you need to tow your vehicle safely to your destination. In this blog, we’ll be discussing the most popular tow trucks used: wheel lift tow truck and flatbed tow truck.
If you don’t know which tow truck best suits your need, this blog post is for you. However, a good towing company will help you get the most suitable one as per your situation. You just need to provide basic information like your vehicle type, make and model, location, and in which situation you’re in. With this information, our dispatchers will send the right tow truck towards your location. Bear in mind that not all tow trucks are the same, nor they work the same. For this reason, you need to have some basic information about them.
That’s why this blog is for your assistance. Here first we’ll go through a wheel lift tow truck, its pros and cons. Then we’ll discuss the flatbed tow truck and at last, we’ll differentiate both and let you know which one is the best for you.
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What is a Wheel Lift Tow Truck?
This tow truck work similar to the hook and chain method but with a minimum risk of damage. A wheel lift tow truck is equipped with a metal yoke that is placed under the front or rear tires of a vehicle. This truck also uses a hydraulic boom with a metal yoke or crossbars at both sides to hoist the vehicle off the ground from the front or rear sides.
With this truck, only two wheels are lifted off the ground, and the other two run along the roadway while towing. Lifting the front or rear wheels depends on the vehicle’s transmission system. This method is best for cars stuck in tight spots and for a short-distance tow. It is a cost-effective tow truck for towing service providers.
Advantages of Using a Wheel Lift Tow Truck
Being an advanced truck than traditional hook and chain truck, there are a lot of advantages of using this tow truck. These are some of the major benefits of using a tow truck with a wheel lift system:
- This tow truck is more safer for the car’s bumpers and frames than hook and chain truck.
- A wheel lift tow truck is best for towing vehicles out of tight spots without any damage.
- It is a suitable truck for towing vehicles in areas with low clearance.
- A tow truck with a wheel lift is small and consumes less fuel, which makes it a cheap truck than other tow trucks.
With these benefits, there are also some downsides of this tow truck.
Disadvantages of Using a Wheel Lift Tow Truck
Even though this tow truck is cheaper, still there are some reasons for which you might not want your car tow to be towed with this truck:
- Your vehicle’s wheels may get worn out during the tow with a wheel lift tow truck.
- Not a viable tow truck for exotic, classics, and luxury cars.
- If the ground wheels are locked during a tow with a wheel lift truck, it can damage the whole car.
- This tow truck is not feasible for long-distance towing.
- A tow truck with a wheel lift is not suitable for towing motorcycles and low clearance vehicles.
What is a Flatbed Tow Truck?
One of the widely used tow trucks nowadays is a flatbed tow truck. As evident by the name, this tow truck has a large flatbed on which a vehicle can sit on completely. Its flatbed can be slanted to the ground, allowing the vehicle to drive onto the platform. If the vehicle is not drivable, it can be pulled through a winch. When the car is parked on the platform, it is then fastened with chains and straps to be secured.
Learn how a flatbed tow truck works and its features!
Advantages of Using a Flatbed Tow Trucks
These are the reasons which make flatbed tow trucks a popular choice for towing vehicles:
- A flatbed tow truck is versatile and can transport your vehicle if it fits on the flatbed.
- The best thing about the flatbed tow truck is it is the safest truck for towing and there are fewer chances of getting your vehicle damaged.
- This tow truck is more convenient, and it saves a lot of time while towing through a flatbed.
- A flatbed tow truck helps avoid added delivery mileage.
- This truck requires almost no adjustment, unlike wheel lift towing trucks.
- It is safer for long-distance towing and to tow exotic or lowered cars.
- This tow truck is suitable for accident removal and for collectible car transportation.
Disadvantages of Using a Flatbed Tow Truck
Along with benefits, there are a few disadvantages of a flatbed tow truck:
- If not handled properly, it can be more dangerous.
- There’s no room for errors, as if any strap is not secured, the vehicle can get loose and cause havoc.
- Flatbed tow truck drivers need to be trained and vigilant.
- There are more regulations and security involved because of high risks.
Now that you have learned about both wheel lift and flatbed towing trucks, let’s discuss some of their key differences.
Difference Between a Flatbed and Wheel Lift Tow Truck
The major difference between the wheel lift and flatbed tow truck is the safety and security provided to a vehicle. Flatbed tow trucks are more secure than wheel lift tow trucks. Less readjustment of a car is needed with a flatbed tow truck as the car lies on its flatbed surface than a wheel lift. Wheel lift tow trucks are best for towing vehicles from narrow and tight spaces due to their small size, but flatbed tow trucks are bigger. That’s why they are not suitable for it. Wheel lift trucks are best for short-distance towing and they are a cheaper option to tow a vehicle.
Rely on SPN America Roadside to Get the Best Tow Truck as Per Your Situation!
Now that you know the pros and cons and differences of flatbed and wheel lift tow trucks, you can make a better decision on which type of tow truck you need for your vehicle. A good towing company can help you choose the suitable tow truck as per your need based on your location, vehicle make & model, and location. If you still cannot decide which tow truck to choose, call SPN America Roadside, we are a network of tow truck companies to assist you in any type of roadside trouble. We can get you the best tow truck after examining your situation. So, save your time, money, and energy by relying on SPN America Roadside.