Two Common Types of Tow Trucks and When They Are Used 10 AUGUST 2020 People need towing services for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes, cars become undrivable after accidents away from home. Sometimes, an intermittent engine problem can suddenly shut down the vehicle in the middle of a long drive. No matter the reason you need to call a towing service, having on-call professional assistance is a comfort as much as it is a necessity. When you call a towing service, they may ask you several questions before sending out a driver. They do this to ensure they send out the right kind of tow truck for your situation. Here are the two most common tow truck types and when they are used. Hook-and-Chain Tow Trucks These classic tow trucks are what most people think of when they call a towing service. They look kind of like oversized pickup trucks with small cranes in their beds. When a technician hooks a car to one of these trucks, he or she first lowers the hook from the crane-like bar and connects it to the vehicle's bumper or axle. Once the hook is securely in place, the technician takes heavy chains and wraps them around the frame of the vehicle. With the hook and chains secure, the technician uses a powerful winch to lift the hooked end of the car into the air. This allows the car to rest on two of its wheels. Since these trucks pull cars behind them, they only work with front-wheel- or rear-wheel-drive vehicles with their transmissions set to neutral gear. All-wheel- or four-wheel-drive vehicles can become damaged from having only two wheels moving as they are towed, so if you drive one of these vehicles, you likely need a different kind of tow truck. Flatbed Tow Trucks These tow trucks are becoming more common as more and more people choose all-wheel-drive vehicles. They are typically larger than hook-and-chain trucks because the entire disabled vehicle needs to fit on the flatbed. To lift the vehicle onto the bed, the technician first tilts the bed to make it into a ramp. Then, he or she hooks the car up to a high-powered winch system with heavy chains attached to the axle or frame of the vehicle. With the vehicle in neutral gear, the technician winches it onto the flatbed before lowering the flatbed back to its original position. Flatbed tow trucks can tow almost any non-commercial vehicle. For this reason, even if you own a two-wheel-drive vehicle, you may be picked up by a towing service that only uses flatbed trucks. If you drive an all-wheel- or four-wheel-drive vehicle, you almost certainly need to call a towing service that uses flatbed tow trucks. To learn more about tow trucks, contact towing services in your area. About Me You jump in your car, turn the key, press on the gas pedal, and the wheels start turning. Have you ever stopped to consider how many different parts have to work together in order to get those wheels turning and keep those wheels turning? There are various motor parts, a battery, belts, ball bearings, and more. If you are someone who is passionate about automobiles, it is a good idea to learn more about each of these parts. You may not do your own repairs, but you can have more productive conversations with your mechanic. Read the articles on this website to learn more about these topics. Search Categories automotive blog Latest Posts Seven Problems You May Be Able To Avoid If You Buy A Used Car 24 November 2021 One of the biggest decisions you'll make when you buy a car is whether to buy new or used. There are a lot of potential problems that you can avoid if … Two Common Types of Tow Trucks and When They Are Used 10 August 2020 People need towing services for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes, cars become undrivable after accidents away from home. Sometimes, an intermittent eng … How a Roadside Assistance Service Can Help You Out 9 July 2020 If you find yourself in a tough spot when you're on the road, you might want to make use of a roadside assistance service that offers services in your … 2021© Wheels Keep Turning