The Purposes of Tow Trucks
Depending on your current standing, towing could be a lifesaver to you, a necessary service, or could be a word that you probably don’t want to hear for a while. Whatever the case may be, it would still be prudent for you to understand what towing is and the types of trucks it uses.
As a premier company specializing in towing services in Bolingbrook, we hope to sow understanding with the general public, the customer whom we have been serving diligently since 1963, and who may need our services at one point or another. This begins by explaining to you what our services are and how we achieve them.
For that, you first need to understand the purposes of the different types of tow trucks and what why they’re used to. Let’s begin.
Tow Trucks for Car Accidents or Breakdowns
Vehicles have been crashing for as long as man has been driving them. However, as internal combustion vehicles became more mainstream, owners saw the need to salvage their accident vehicles to be repaired and returned to service.
For this, manufacturers created the hook-and-chain tow truck. The hook-and-chain was the first type of tow truck to come into existence, making it the oldest. Aside from being able to tow a vehicle, it can also be used to pull a variety of wheeled cargo, thereby making these types of tow trucks multi-purpose.
As the name suggests, this towing uses a chain, strap, or cable, with hooks at both ends. These hooks will be attached to both the towed vehicle and the towing vehicle. This method can cause scratching or even damage the bumpers of towed cars. These damages are a reason why these trucks rarely see use today.
That is the simplest method. Another method uses a boom on the back of the towing vehicle. A chain is run through a pulley system and then will be attached to the towed car. This pulley system will then lift the wheels of the towed vehicle off the ground.
Usually, it is the driven vehicles that are lifted off the ground. What this means is if your car is front-wheel drive, it is the front wheels that will be lifted off the ground. This lifting prevents any damage from occurring to the drive shaft of the vehicle.
Transportation
Yes, tow trucks aren’t just to pull vehicles out of dire situations; they are also used to transport quite large volumes of equipment. This cargo is usually in the form of farm machinery, special purpose vehicles such as road graders, or even race cars. For this, the flatbed truck is indispensable.
Whereas the first method is utilitarian, this method is more specialized towards the towing of vehicles. This method is now the most common method of hauling in the United States.
The vehicles involved are known as flatbeds. This is because instead of a traditional truck carrier at the back, it has a totally flatbed. This bed can be raised or lowered to ground level by means of hydraulics.
When it comes to towing, there are a variety of methods that can be used. The first involves the tow truck is parked in front of the vehicle to be towed. The bed of the car will then be lowered to ground level. This allows the vehicle to be driven onto the back of the truck. Where there is no power, these flatbeds are equipped with winches. These winches will then pull the vehicle to be towed onto the flatbed.
The second involves a flatbed that is also equipped with a crane. The addition of the crane is essential for use in cities with cramped spaces. The tow truck could simply pull up alongside the vehicle to be towed.
Cables or chains will then be run under the vehicle to be towed and then secured to the crane. The crane has to be positioned in such a way as the vehicle will balance when it is lifted off the ground. The vehicle is then placed gently on the flatbed and driven away.
Heavy-duty Towing
All types of towing vehicles have more significant, more powerful versions of it. For example, you can have a Ford F450 truck for smaller duties, but a Peterbilt for more grunt. These are used to tow heavier vehicles such as semis and their trailers, or school buses. For this job, a wheel lift tow truck comes in handy.
These are the specialized types of tow trucks. They are a welcome evolution of the hook and chain vehicles and are rather handy at what they can do.
Even though they are an evolution of hook and chain trucks, the only thing in common between them is the use of a boom to lift the car off the ground. These operate by using a hydraulic or pneumatic yoke.
These yokes will be placed on the ground, and the towed vehicle is driven or placed over them. The wheels are meant to go right over the yoke. This yoke will then be lifted off the ground hydraulically, or pneumatically. Depending on the type of vehicle you have, it is the driven wheels that will go over the yoke. All-wheel drive and permanent four-wheel-drive systems can still not use this type of towing.
Industry-Specific Towing Services
Tow trucks are everywhere, not just with the Police Department or private towing companies. Companies with large vehicle fleets usually have their own tow trucks. Even the military has them, and while they are specific to those industries and specializations, they are still utilitarian in those areas. For this, integrated trucks are the right prescription.
These types of tow trucks are more utilitarian in nature. As the name suggests, they combine two or more types of towing mechanisms for vehicle recovery. They are more often used in the recovery of heavier vehicles, such as buses and trucks, or to two heavy trailers. This because these towing mechanisms are built right into the chassis of the vehicle, making them more stable. They may also have extra axles allowing them to haul more tonnage.
These typically combine a boom or a crane with wheel lift capability. These are well optimized for quick or emergency jobs. The controls of the towing mechanisms are even inside the cabin of the towing vehicle, therefore allowing for immediate operations. These are what we use for emergency towing in Bolingbrook.
These tasks at hand will usually determine what kind of truck we will use to make our services to you as smooth and as painless as possible. Since 1963, we have always strived to provide the best services to people in the cities we serve. Don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and call us in case you ever need our services.