Although most vehicle owners may require towing services at one time or another, not many know that there are different types of tow trucks that are used for these services. The choice of tow truck used on your vehicle will ultimately depend on the reason why you need to be towed, as well as your budget. Here are some of the different types of tow trucks that are typically used for vehicle haulage.

Flatbed tow trucks

These types of tow trucks get their name from the flatbed that has been incorporated into their design. They are also commonly referred to as roll back towing trucks. This is because the truck will have a hydraulic mechanism that works toward rolling back the flat bed of the truck into an angle. This is to allow for easier access of vehicles to get right onto the tow truck. Once the vehicle is on the flatbed of the truck, the hydraulic system returns the flatbed back into its resting position. When compared to other tow truck options, flatbed trucks are the most favoured, as they are least likely to cause any physical damage to the vehicle that is being towed. This is due to the fact that rather than the vehicle being hauled by being dragged behind the tow truck, it is chained securely atop it. However, you can only opt for this type of tow truck if your vehicle is in a position to be navigated onto the truck.

Hook and chain tow trucks

As the name suggests, these types of tow trucks haul vehicles by chaining them onto the tow truck itself. With hook and chain tow trucks, the chain is attached to either the frame or the axle of your vehicle. However, it should be noted that these types of tow trucks have a high propensity for causing damage to your car. As such, they are more commonly used to drag off cars that are written off during an accident, rather than undamaged vehicles.

Wheel-lift tow trucks

These types of tow trucks haul vehicles via the wheels of the car. This is done through the use of a metal yoke. After the tow truck and the vehicle have been aligned, hydraulics are used to lift the vehicle off the ground via its wheels. This is considered a much safer option when compared to hook and chain tow trucks as they reduce the risk of damaging the vehicle. They are also a popular option as they tend to me more affordable than flatbed tow trucks.