The way we tow vehicles has changed drastically over the years. In the past, when someone needed their car towed, chains were somehow attached to the frame of the car and off they went. Thank heavens we have come a long way in our efforts to get cars to where they need to be when they can’t run for one reason or another. Now, there are essentially two ways that vehicles are towed: wheel lift towing and flatbed towing. Speedway Towing & Roadside Assistance is here to talk about situations that require flatbed towing rather than wheel lift towing.
Towing 4 or All Wheel Drive Cars & Vehicles
If you have a vehicle that is all-wheel drive, you should be aware that when towing it, you must tow it with a flatbed tow truck. Front wheel drive vehicles don’t have the back tires connected to the drive shaft. When they are towed on a wheel lift tow truck, it doesn’t hurt them at all for the back tires to remain on the road as the vehicle is towed. When all four wheels are connected to the drive shaft in an all-wheel drive vehicle, it can cause severe damage to the transmission to leave the back tires on the road while towing.
Long Distance Towing
Even if your car is front wheel drive and it isn’t going to hurt the car to be towed with a dolly but you may want to consider flatbed towing when you need to tow long distances. With the back tires on the ground, the miles will all register on the odometer even though the car isn’t actually driving. This means more wear and tear on your vehicle that can be avoided when you choose flatbed towing for long distances.
Heavy Vehicles Must be Towed with a Flatbed Tow Truck
Heavy vehicles like SUVs, large trucks or minivans need to be towed using a flatbed no matter what transmission they have. Wheel lift tow trucks have weight limitations that these vehicles exceed. Every dolly is different, and some can withstand heavier vehicles, but these extremely heavy vehicles will most likely require flatbed towing.
Low Profile or Luxury Vehicles are Safer with Flatbed Towing
Some vehicles are low to the ground and can sustain undercarriage damage when they are towed using a dolly. If you have a vehicle that is low, especially if you have had it lowered, it is much safer to have the vehicle towed using flatbed towing. For those that have a luxury vehicle, you may not want to risk the damage that a car can sustain when it is towed using a dolly. Vehicles by and large, are much safer when they are towed using a flatbed however there are some circumstances that call for wheel lift towing such as when broken down in a tight, crowded space.
Emergency Towing & Roadside Assistance Services in Irving, Fort Worth, Arlington, Carrollton & Plano Texas
Obviously, the type of towing you need will depend largely on the type of vehicle and the towing services you are looking for. If you are ever unsure of what type of towing would best fit your situation, Speedway Towing & Roadside Assistance can answer any questions you may have. We offer both flatbed and wheel lift towing for our customers.
