Transmission Protection: The Benefits Of A Flatbed Tow Truck

For years, the standard in towing services was the hook-and-chain tow truck. A typical hook-and-chain truck will have a boom that extends at an angle up from the bed of the truck. Mounted near the cab of the truck will be a winch with a cable. The cable will extend up the boom with a hook attached at the end of the cable. While this style of truck has its uses, it has been largely replaced by newer models of towing trucks, such as the flatbed truck. The flatbed truck is popular because it offers better towing function and less risk of damaging your vehicle. 

Problems with the Hook-and-Chain Tow truck

The tow truck operator will attach the hook to the axle or undercarriage of the vehicle to be towed. As the tow cable extends up away from the car, it can rub against the bumper and frame of the towed vehicle. This rubbing can scrape away the paint and damage the bumper and frame. If your car is totaled, a little more damage is no big deal, but if your car only needs minor repairs, exposing your car to the risk of damage should be avoided. 

Advantages of a Flatbed Tow Truck

A flatbed tow truck will be fitted with a tilting bed and a winch. To transport a vehicle, the operator will tip the bed back and then use the winch to pull the towed vehicle up onto the bed of the truck. The bed is then tilted into its stowed position, and the operator secures the vehicle to the flatbed. Transporting a vehicle in this way will not damage the frame or bumper of the vehicle. Furthermore, you don't have to worry about damaging the vehicle's transmission during transit. Finally, you can pull even vehicles that don't roll onto the back of a flatbed truck and transport them where they need to go. 

A lot has changed in the world of towing since the days when the hook-and-chain tow truck was the standard in the towing world. While hook-and-chain tow trucks still have use in pulling vehicles up embankments onto a road, they have largely been replaced. Flatbed tow trucks are the best tow trucks out there for all-wheel-drive vehicles, and they offer better protection for your vehicle during transit than you can get with a hook-and-chain truck. Thus, if you find yourself in need of a tow truck, you should ask for a flatbed truck. 

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