Types of tow trucks and towing definitions come in handy when you’re looking for a particular service. It’s good to have a basic understanding of the different types of tow trucks on the road and what their services and capabilities include.
Types of Tow Trucks & Towing Definitions
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Rollback / Flatbed Tow Truck
A rollback tow truck is one of the most common types of tow trucks. Some people also refer to them as flatbed tow trucks. But are they the same?
Not really…
What Is Flatbed Towing?
The term flatbed tow truck or flatbed towing is often used interchangeably with rollback towing or rollback tow truck.
When we receive a call for flatbed towing, we understand what’s needed after asking a few questions, but just to unpack the differences:
- Flatbed Truck – A flatbed truck generally has a stationary bed and is used for hauling material.
- Rollback Truck – A rollback (or slide bed) tow truck has a bed that tilts in order to load the vehicle.
Rollback towing is one of the safest forms of towing, since the vehicle (or ATV or commercial equipment) being delivered is loaded onto the bed and secured in place.
The rollback tow truck features a long hydraulic flatbed that inclines while lowering the back end to ground level for easy loading.
If the vehicle is immobile due to an accident or other situation, that’s not a problem, since rollback tow trucks are equipped with a winch. The winch is used to load non-drivable vehicles during recovery towing or accident response by pulling the vehicle onto the bed.
Once the vehicle is secured, the loading ramp is returned to its normal position and the vehicle is safely towed to its destination.
Other Rollback Towing Facts:
- A rollback tow involves the least amount of risk of damage to the vehicle being delivered.
- A rollback (or slide bed) tow truck is often necessary for vehicles that are considered totaled.
Hook and Chain Tow Truck
What Is Hook and Chain Towing? Different Types of Towing
A hook and chain tow truck is the iconic image of a tow truck most people have in their mind.
You know the one…
If you had to draw a tow truck (and you had pretty limited art skills 🤣) it would at least have 4 tires, a pick up truck style body with a lift and a big hook, right?
Perfect. That’s your standard hook and chain tow truck.
From an operational standpoint, it’s pretty straightforward. The hook will be secured to the vehicle’s axle or bumper and the chains will go around the vehicle’s frame. Once all is secure, the boom will lift the front wheels off the ground while the back wheels remain on the road.
Is Hook and Chain Towing Safe For My Vehicle?
Although hook and chain towing can place strain on a vehicle being towed a long distance, it does have features that are ideal for:
- Dragging a car out of the mud or a ditch with its powerful winch.
- Towing a wrecked or totalled vehicle.
Wheel Lift Tow Truck
Wheel lift tow truck or wheel lift towing is basically an upgrade or improvement to the original hook and chain tow truck.
What Is Wheel Lift Towing? Types of Towing
Although the wheel lift tow truck is similar in concept, you won’t see any hooks or chains to potentially damage a vehicle.
The wheel lift tow truck is equipped with a yoke which slides under the front wheels, lifting the front of the vehicle off the ground and providing stability and protection from damage.
Wheel lift towing is aso ideal for situations where the vehicle needs to be towed from the back, lifting the rear tires off the ground with the front tires on the road. This is convenient for situations where a vehicle is parked in a way that won’t allow a front tow or one of the rear tires could be damaged and unsafe to be on the road.
Integrated Tow Truck
Built with an extra axle, integrated tow trucks were designed specifically for large vehicle towing (heavy duty towing) and recovery situations.
What Is Integrated Towing?
These trucks specialize in accident response, vehicle recovery and towing heavy-duty vehicles, such as semis (with or without trailers attached) and large recreational vehicles (like tour buses of famous Nashville artists 🤠).
Since integrated tow trucks are known for being quick to hook up to vehicles, they’re also often used in overdue parking / illegal parking situations and vehicle repossession.
But why is it called an integrated tow truck?
Glad you asked.
An integrated tow truck combines (or integrates) two different operations. The most common integration is a boom / wheel lift combination.
Integrated tow trucks are designed for large, heavy loads, and they can get vehicles out of tricky or complicated situations.
Integrated tow trucks have a stabilized arm directly at the core (center) of the truck. This stability gives these trucks the ability to pull loads much bigger than the truck itself.
Towing terms and phrases
Here’s a quick rundown of some of the most common types of towing services available.
Thes definitions may be useful in identifying the type of towing service you may need.
More Towing Terms and Definitions
What is Recovery Towing?
Recovery towing is generally the term used when a tow truck hauls away a vehicle that is misshapen, crushed or damaged to the extent that it’s not a simple load and go situation.
Sometimes there is a rollover involved. Recovery towing can be extremely dangerous. It’s important to have the right team of experienced professionals for recovery towing.
Cape Coral Towing & Recovery has over 30 years experience and we work side by side as a contracted towing company of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office during accident response.
What is Light Duty Towing?
Types of Tow Trucks
Light duty towing is characterized by the towing capacity this standard type of tow truck can handle.
Light duty towing vehicles include larger pickup trucks with towing equipment installed on the back
Light duty tow trucks can safely tow vehicles or equipment up to 11,000 pounds.
Tow trucks are categorized by their gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). The GVWR of a light-duty truck can be any weight up to 10,000 lbs.
When Are Light Duty Trucks Used?
Light duty towing, generally performed by standard sized tow trucks, can include the following towing services:
- Removal of abandoned vehicles
- Roadside Assistance
- Towing vehicles from private property
- Vehicle Repossession
- Municipal Towing
What Vehicles Are A Light Duty Tow?
Although light duty towing does include compact cars and small sedans, it also includes larger vehicles as well. Common vehicles that fall in the category of light duty tows:
- Jeeps / SUVs
- Small pickup trucks
- All size cars
What is Medium Duty Towing?
Types of Tow Trucks
A medium duty tow truck can handle tows up to 17,000 pounds.
Medium duty tow trucks can be rollback tow trucks or hook and chain tow trucks.
The gross vehicle weight rating of 11 tons is the minimum for this classification, with a towing capacity up to 17,000 lbs.
Medium duty towing is ideal for towing heavier passenger vehicles, trucks, and off-road recoveries.
When Are Medium Duty Tow Trucks Used?
Medium duty towing would include vehicles between 11,000 and 17,0000 lbs.
Medium duty tows can include RVs, motorhomes, box trucks, delivery trucks, Aerovans, cargo vans, extended vans, minibus, step vans, mail trucks, UPS trucks, ambulance.
Average Vehicle Weights:
- 35 foot RV – Average Weight 12,000 lbs
- 26 foot Box Truck – An empty 26-foot box truck weighs approximately 16,000 lbs. Filling it to capacity can add another 10,000 lbs.
- Minibus – The average minibus weighs between 12,000 and 15,000 lbs, depending on it’s length.
- School Bus – Average Weight 15,000 to 22,000 lbs.
- Ambulance – Average Weight 10,000 to 14,000 lbs.
What is Heavy Duty Towing?
Types of Tow Trucks
A heavy duty tow truck can handle the biggest jobs.
Heavy duty tow trucks have a gross vehicle weight rating of 23 tons and is capable of towing jobs over 17,000 lbs.
Heavy duty tow trucks generally use a 25-ton single or double boom lift, one or more 25-ton winches, and a 6 ton wheel-lift.
Cape Coral Towing & Recovery provides Heavy Duty Towing 24/7.
When Are Heavy Duty Tow Trucks Used?
- Fully loaded tractor trailers.
- Multiple vehicles
- Multiple containers
- Industrial equipment
- Semi-trucks
- Trailers
- Motorhomes
- Buses
- Misshapen, crashed, smashed or totalled vehicles
Cape Coral Towing & Recovery
If you need rollback, flatbed or integrated tow truck service in Fort Myers, Cape Coral or anywhere in SW Florida, call Cape Coral Towing & Recovery. Available 24 hours a day, we provide prompt, friendly roadside assistance for private and commercial vehicles. Equipped with a large fleet of towing equipment, our team of towing professionals will determine what type of vehicle each situation requires and will get you back on the road or towed to safety
We are a family owned business and have over 30 years experience providing light duty towing, medium duty towing and heavy duty towing to Cape Coral, Fort Myers, and all of SW Florida.
