Towing Services: A Complete Guide To Popular Options
In the US alone, around 1 in 3 drivers experience vehicle breakdowns yearly. So, these incidents are common, and preparing for them is highly advisable. And when your automobile breaks down, calling a towing service provider becomes necessary. The same applies when you encounter an adverse event like an accident, a flat tire, or a dry fuel tank. That said, most towing companies have different service categories, and picking the right one can be challenging. If you want to make this task easier, you're in the right place. This piece has everything you need to know about today's most common towing service options.
Light-Duty Towing
Experts use light-duty tow trucks to provide light-duty towing services. These vehicles are smaller and pack less power than those used in medium-duty and heavy-duty hauling. They often rely on winch and dolly systems. A typical winching system uses a long, strong wire rope known as a cable to pull cargo out of a predicament like a ditch. The cable is thick enough to support considerable weight and has a hook or loop that professionals attach to the towing vehicle. On the other hand, a dolly is an unpowered device designed to keep the front tires of the towed vehicle off the ground. It has two wheels and is connected to the tow truck. Experts often use dollies to haul undrivable automobiles that have broken down, been involved in an accident, etc. Light-duty tow trucks can handle loads weighing 7,000-10,000 lbs. That makes them suitable for smaller passenger cars and pickup trucks.
Medium-Duty Towing
Medium-duty towing service providers use larger and more powerful trucks than the wreckers required for light-duty projects. These vehicles often handle heavier cargo, such as recreational vehicles (RVs), sports utility vehicles (SUVs), and motorhomes. Typical medium-duty wreckers come with numerous contrivances, including a wheel lift. The device raises the rear or front wheel of the towed vehicle and ensures they stay off the ground during transportation. Some are fitted with flatbeds where a conveyed vehicle can sit during hauling. A flatbed makes towing easier because, unlike other alternatives, tow truck drivers don't have to disengage components like driveshafts before hauling begins.
Heavy-Duty Towing
Heavy-duty towing is reserved for larger, heavier cargo. Professionals use this solution when vehicles like large buses, trucks, semi-tractor trailers, garbage trucks, and bobtails are involved. Most heavy-duty service providers rely on specific equipment. These include robust, steel-alloy safety chains that secure the cargo under transit. Some also use hooks to facilitate the recovery towing of heavy vehicles like military trucks. Also, many heavy-duty towing trucks have rear outriggers and light bars. Rear outriggers are strong metallic legs that enable these wreckers to achieve maximum lifting capacity and remain stable while the process is underway. On the other hand, light bars boost visibility, allowing heavy-duty tow truck drivers to see well, even in ill-lit environments. Heavy-duty wreckers can handle loads that weigh 17,000 lbs. and above.
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