Different Types of Tow Trucks and Their Uses

55,000 vehicles are towed every day. They may be totaled, stuck in ditches, or stopped on the highway.

It’s a situation that every driver dreads. Over 1/3 of them would rather break a bone than have their car break down. Another 1/3 would rather have scratches on their body than their car. 

Your first thought when calling for a tow may be how fast a truck will arrive, but finding the right one helps maintain your beloved vehicle. Read on to learn about the different types of tow trucks and what they’re used for.

Flatbed Tow Truck

Flatbeds or rollbacks are one of the most popular types of tow trucks. Hydraulics let their bed slide out and tilt toward the ground. Vehicles drive up and get secured with a winch.

The variety of flatbed tow truck uses is part of what makes them so popular. You may need it if your car was totaled and can’t move on its own. The trucks also transport new vehicles from place to place.

Flatbeds prevent damage by keeping vehicles off the ground but have weight limits. A towing service may suggest them if you have a lighter, higher-end vehicle.

Wrecker

Don’t let the name fool you. These trucks aren’t here to smash your car but instead to come and rescue it.

A wrecker uses a large boom and cable winch. It’s used for rescue situations such as cars that are flipped over, on cliffs, or squashed together.

The average towing business will have a wrecker on standby. They can carry a small car or heavier vehicles such as:

  • Semi-trucks
  • Tractor trailers
  • Buses
  • Commercial vehicles 

Heavy-Duty Tow Truck

You’ll need a specialized, strong truck to move a vehicle that weighs over 6,000 pounds. A small towing company isn’t likely to have them, but they may be part of larger companies.

These large trucks can move heavy vehicles without damaging them or getting damaged themselves. Vehicles that may require heavy-duty towing include:

  • Boats
  • Recreational vehicles
  • Construction equipment
  • Semi-trucks and 18/wheelers

Heavy-duty towing can be a two-way street. Truckers can be hauled by a heavy-duty tow truck if they break down or get stuck. They can also haul the tow truck and whatever it’s carrying.

Rotator

A rotator is one of the heaviest and largest options available at any towing business. Most use a boom or a crane-like arm that can rotate a full 360°.

Rotators can lift 70 tons or more. They’re the best choice in accidents that involve heavy vehicles. Large trucks and buses were involved in 86,618 towaway crashes in 2020 alone. 

Hire the Right Types of Tow Trucks

Choosing the right option among the many types of tow trucks helps you get your vehicle out of a jam quickly and without extensive damage.

Flatbed trailers are the most popular option. Wreckers can save almost any vehicle from dangerous situations such as wrecks or ditches.

Rotators can carry larger loads. There are also trucks designed for heavy-duty towing.

Contact us today to have a towing professional bring the right truck to you.