Not every tow truck moves a vehicle the same way.
Two common approaches are flatbed towing and wheel-lift towing. Understanding the difference can help you see why a towing company may recommend one method instead of another.
What Is Wheel-Lift Towing?
A wheel-lift tow truck raises either the front or rear wheels while the remaining wheels stay on the road during transport.
This equipment can be useful for certain vehicles and situations and can often be positioned in spaces where a larger flatbed may be more difficult to use.
However, because two wheels remain on the ground, the vehicle's drivetrain, condition, and manufacturer towing requirements have to be considered.
What Is Flatbed Towing?
With a flatbed truck, the entire vehicle is loaded onto the truck bed.
All four wheels remain off the road during transport, making flatbed towing a common choice for accident-damaged vehicles, low-clearance cars, specialty vehicles, and vehicles whose drivetrain requires additional care.
Flatbed towing is the preferred option for many damaged, AWD, 4WD, low-clearance, and high-value vehicles.
When Might Flatbed Towing Be Recommended?
Flatbed towing can be particularly useful when a vehicle:
- Has been damaged in a collision
- Has suspension or wheel damage
- Has low ground clearance
- Uses an AWD or 4WD drivetrain
- Needs to be transported with all wheels off the road
- Requires additional protection during transport
Which Towing Method Does Your Car Need?
There is no reason for the driver to guess.
The appropriate towing method depends on your specific vehicle, drivetrain, condition, damage, location, and manufacturer requirements.
When requesting a tow, provide the make and model of the vehicle and explain what happened. That information helps the towing company dispatch appropriate equipment.
Need a Tow in Portland?
Whether your vehicle broke down or was involved in an accident, Crown Towing can assess the situation and determine an appropriate towing method for your vehicle.
Call Crown Towing & Collision Repair at 503.705.7000.
