Tow trucks have been around as long as there have been cars on the road. They can be used to move disabled, improperly parked, impounded, or otherwise indisposed motor vehicles. In earlier times, the towing system required chains or hooks wrapped around an axle or a frame rail. Now, some tow truck operators still use this technique in certain conditions. This article will introduce you to more information about the towing truck.
The Content list:
1.What is towing truck?
2.Different types and features of a towing truck
It takes a lot of power to lift and tow cars and trucks. In most cases, this power is generated by hydraulics. Hydraulics uses a system of fluids and cylinders to generate force. Most tow trucks power their hydraulic pumps with the truck's engine, although some heavy-duty trucks may have separate power systems designated for the hydraulic system. A few tow trucks even use pneumatic equipment or electric motors to get the job done.
over the decades, the methods for hauling away damaged or repossessed vehicles have evolved. Early towing systems required chains or hooks wrapped around an axle or a frame rail. Some tow truck operators still use this technique in certain conditions. The method is very secure, but it takes a fair amount of time and effort to get the vehicle into position and it can also scratch or damage the vehicle being towed.
The latest evolution in tow truck technology is the integrated lift, also known as a self-loading wrecker. This is a wheel-lift system that can be controlled from inside the truck and deployed with hydraulic power.
There are many types of vehicles designed for towing. Each of those vehicles is used for different towing purposes and offers a specific set of benefits. All you need to do is determine which one is suitable for you.
1. Flatbed Tow trucks
Flatbed tow trucks are one of the most common and widely used towing vehicles in the world. They are often 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. A flatbed truck has a long empty bed with a flat top. Hydraulics are used to move the flatbed upwards and downwards. What makes flatbed trucks easy-to-use is that you can simply drive your vehicle up the ramp, or have it pulled up. They are also one of the safest ways to tow vehicles.
2. Integrated Tow truck
Integrated tow trucks are used for heavy-duty purposes as they are much more specialized. 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. An integrated tow truck has extra axles for added stability/strength and its arm is much more embedded in the core of the truck.
3. Hook and Chain Tow trucks
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.
4. Wheel-Lift Tow truck
Wheel-lift tow trucks have a mechanism similar to the hook and chain tow trucks. However, they use a metal yoke instead of chains and cause less damage to the towed vehicle. While wheel-lift tow trucks are not as safe or protected as flatbed tow trucks, they are relatively inexpensive.
