When you have a vehicle that has broken down, a tow truck may be your only answer to moving the vehicle to a place where it can be repaired, or discarded as the case may be. Tow trucks are used for a variety of purposes, thus the reason why there are a variety of tow trucks available for use, in many different situations. If you are in need of a tow truck for your vehicle, then it is a good idea that you have an understanding of the different types of tow trucks available. Your knowledge of the various tow trucks will help you describe to the towing company the type of tow truck that may be needed for your particular situation.
-Flatbed Tow Trucks: This type of tow truck is the most common type of truck that is in use today. Flatbed tow trucks provide for the safest way to transport a vehicle from one place to another, and they also provide the most protection for the vehicle that is being towed. A flatbed tow truck has a long, empty flat bed that is used to place the vehicle on for towing purposes. Advanced hydraulics are used to move the flatbed up and down, so the vehicle can easily be driven onto the flatbed or pulled onto the flatbed with the assistance of a pulley system. Flat bed tow trucks can be used for many types of vehicles, such as cars that have broken down on the side of the road or cars that have been in accidents.
-Hook and Chain Tow Trucks: This type of tow truck was one of the earliest tow truck inventions in the world. Over time, other types of trucks have been manufactured that are better at towing vehicles, but hook and chain tow trucks are still found around the country. A hook and chain tow truck simply uses a hook and a chain to attach to the broken-down vehicle and the towing truck. Further damage can be created to the towed vehicle by using this method; hence the reason why this type of tow truck is not as common today, as they were in the past. This type of tow truck can also not be used on 4×4 wheel drive vehicles or all-wheel drive vehicles, which limits their capabilities, too. Hook and chain tow trucks are mainly used for junk cars or for cars that cannot be repaired.
-Wheel-Lift Tow Trucks: The wheel-lift tow truck is similar to the hook and chain tow truck, except that it has a mechanism that is safer and less destructive to the vehicle that is being towed. Like the hook and chain tow trucks, the wheel-lift trucks also tow vehicles on two wheels; however, the two off-road wheels are lifted by a metal hydraulic yoke. This type of suspension provides for a safer transport and less chance of damage occurring to the vehicle that is being towed. Wheel-lift trucks can be seen around the country today, because even though they may not be as great as flatbed tow trucks, they are quite a bit cheaper in the long run.
-Flatbed Tow Trucks: This type of tow truck is the most common type of truck that is in use today. Flatbed tow trucks provide for the safest way to transport a vehicle from one place to another, and they also provide the most protection for the vehicle that is being towed. A flatbed tow truck has a long, empty flat bed that is used to place the vehicle on for towing purposes. Advanced hydraulics are used to move the flatbed up and down, so the vehicle can easily be driven onto the flatbed or pulled onto the flatbed with the assistance of a pulley system. Flat bed tow trucks can be used for many types of vehicles, such as cars that have broken down on the side of the road or cars that have been in accidents.
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