What Is The Difference Between a Flatbed Tow truck & Wheel Lift Tow Truck?
April 2, 2023
No one plans to be stranded on the road due to engine malfunction, flat tire, accident, or other reasons, but life happens! No matter how good a driver you’re or how well you’ve maintained your car, breakdowns, accidents, and other automobile issues can occur anytime without warning and when you least expect it.
So, what do you do when it happens? The first thing you need to do is get to safety if you’re in an accident or stranded in mid of a busy road. The second thing you need to do is call a tow truck company.
However, you need to know the type of tow truck you need for your car. Commonly, two types of tow trucks are used – wheel lift tow trucks and flatbed tow trucks. Your situation after going through an accident or a breakdown in the middle of nowhere can be stressful and frustrating. But, you must ask for the right type of tow truck to avoid adding to your stress. Choosing the wrong tow truck for your car and situation may further damage your car, adding to its overall repair cost.
How Do You Ask For The Right Tow Truck?
It always helps to know the types of tow trucks available to ask for the right kind when stranded in the middle of the road. However, not everyone knows about the types of tow trucks available. In such a situation, you must inform the tow truck company about your vehicle’s make and model and its condition (post-accident). This will help the tow truck company know if they should send a flatbed tow truck or a wheel lift tow truck. This article will briefly discuss flatbed towing in San Diego, wheel lift tow trucks, and the differences between the two. These tow trucks are different and, even though used for towing, serve different purposes. A basic idea about these trucks would help make an informed decision when calling a towing company.
Flatbed Tow Truck
It is one of the most secure, popular, and commonly used types of tow trucks. As the name refers, it has a movable flatbed that can be lowered to the ground where the car can sit. If the car can’t be driven to sit on the flatbed, a winch can be used to pull the car onto the deck. Once the car is securely positioned on the flatbed, it’s raised from the ground onto the truck.
Benefits of Using Flatbed Tow Truck
- The towed vehicle remains completely off the ground.
- Vehicle tires remain off the ground, safeguarding from wear and tear, roadside obstacles, debris, etc.
- Perfect towing option for long-distance towing.
- Flatbed tow trucks are ideal for towing large vehicles, including light trucks and SUVs, MUVs, four-wheel drive vehicles, etc.
- Flatbed towing San Diego is a perfect option for towing accident-damaged vehicles.
- A flatbed tow truck can tow multiple vehicles at the same time.
Wheel Lift Tow Truck
The most common tow truck after a flatbed tow truck is a wheel lift tow truck. This type of tow truck can be called an updated version of earlier used hook and chain technology. Wheel lift tow truck uses crossbars fitted into hydraulic boom attached at both ends. It doesn’t lift the entire vehicle but hoists either the front or the rear end of the vehicle. This means either the front or rear tires would be on the ground while towing. The vehicle is hauled by sliding the crossbars under the tires and lifted through a hydraulic crane. Which side of the vehicle is lifted depends on the vehicle’s transmission.
Benefits of Using Wheel Lift Tow Truck
- Quick and easy way of towing vehicles.
- Fastest way of towing vehicles from tight spaces.
- Efficiently tows vehicles from places with low clearances.
- Cost-effective method of towing vehicles.
- Preferred method of towing for short distances.
- Fastest way of towing smaller vehicles.
Differences between Flatbed Tow Trucks & Wheel Lift Tow Trucks
While both flatbed tow trucks and wheel lift tow trucks are used for towing vehicles, several differences are mentioned below. Knowing these differences will help you know which tow truck to ask for when calling a tow truck company.
Safety
The primary difference between a flatbed tow truck and a wheel lift tow truck is the safety and security it offers to the towed vehicle.
There’s absolutely no competition to flatbed towing San Diego regarding the vehicle’s safety. As the vehicle is positioned on a flatbed, there’s no risk of damage to the vehicle.
None of the vehicle’s four wheels are on the ground, safeguarding it against further damage or wear and tear during transportation.
For this reason, flatbed tow trucks are a common choice when towing vintage vehicles, sports cars, luxury cars, and prototypes.
Size
Flatbed tow trucks are comparatively larger than wheel lift tow trucks and can even tow multiple vehicles simultaneously.
For this reason, flatbed tow trucks are preferred for towing larger vehicles like SUVs.
Wheel lift tow trucks cannot tow large vehicles and can neither tow for long distances. These are only preferred for smaller cars for short distances.
Cost
Flatbed towing San Diego is safer, more secure, and costs relatively higher than towing a vehicle using a wheel lift tow truck.
If you’re looking for a cost-effective way of towing your small vehicle for a short distance, you can opt for a wheel lift tow truck.
Flexibility
Flatbed tow trucks cannot fit into tight spaces and need sufficiently large spaces to tow the vehicle.
However, wheel lift tow trucks can fit in tight spaces, even in areas with low clearance.
Final Takeaway
Knowing the differences between flatbed towing San Diego and wheel lift tow trucks makes a huge difference when your vehicle has broken down in the middle of nowhere, and you need to call a towing company.
Understanding the fundamental differences between these two types of tow trucks also helps you call the right towing service in San Diego. While some towing companies specialize in flatbed towing, others only deal in wheel lift towing or offer both types of towing services.
If you’re concerned about the safety and security of your vehicle and want to safeguard it against any damage during transport, you should choose a flatbed towing service in San Diego. It guarantees peace of mind other ways of towing cannot offer.