In this blog entry, the Chicago area heavy duty towing and roadside assistance service experts here at Chicago Towing will detail the main varieties of towing vehicles commonly used in the field today.
Flatbed Tow Trucks
Flatbed tow trucks – otherwise known as rollback tow trucks – have flat topped empty beds on their rear parts to carry vehicles on top of. Flatbed tow trucks use hydraulics to safely mound vehicles on their beds. When operators are ready to pick up vehicles, they put the flatbed on the ground and put the vehicle on top of it. If it is impossible to operate the vehicle, chains can be used to haul the vehicle on top of the flatbed tow truck bed. Once the vehicle is on the bed of the tow truck, its hydraulic system can be used to lift up the bed and secure the vehicle. Flatbed tow trucks are the most popular form of tow truck as they are safe and efficient. They don’t place an excess of pressure on vehicles, protecting vehicles from damage during transport.
Hook and Chain Trucks
Hook and chain trucks are an older form of tow truck that are avoided these days, or only used to tow junk vehicles, as they can cause a serious amount of damage during the towing process. Hook and chain trucks utilize heavy duty hooks and chains. The hook is attached directly to the vehicle and pulled behind the truck during transport. When the hook and chain are attached to a vehicle, they lift the car from the front. This suspends the car in the air, while the wheels on its other side remain on the ground. As the car is dragged by the hook and chain, this can hurt the car by damaging and scratching its bumper. Hook and chain tow trucks cannot be used with 4 wheel drive cars.
Wheel Lift Tow Trucks
Wheel lift tow trucks are a modern version of hook and chain trucks. They lift a vehicle’s front or back end, leaving the wheels from the cars on the other side on the ground. The car is then dragged behind the tow truck to its desired destination. Wheel lift tow trucks are often used to transport disabled vehicles to repair shops. Wheel lift tow trucks differ from hook and chain tow trucks as they don’t rely on chains. This tow truck utilizes a metal yoke to secure the car. It’s the responsibility of the car operator to put the metal yoke under a vehicle’s front wheels or back wheels. Hydraulic lifts are used to partially lift up vehicles into the air to the rear of the tow truck. When the vehicle is placed in the best secure position, the truck operator will drive the wheel lift tow truck to the proper destination.
Contact Chicago Towing today for the highest quality Chicagoland roadside assistance service available in the entire State of Illinois.
