When you call for a tow, the dispatcher may ask what kind of car you drive. That's because the type of tow truck matters. Some vehicles tow fine with two wheels on the ground. Others can be damaged unless all four wheels are off the road.
What's the Difference?
A wheel-lift tow truck lifts one end of the car, usually the front, by cradling the wheels, while the other two wheels roll on the road. Wheel-lifts hook up quickly and maneuver well in tight spots like parking garages and narrow streets.
A flatbed, also called a rollback or car carrier, tilts its bed down so the car can be winched or driven on. All four wheels ride off the ground, and the car is strapped to the bed.
When to Ask for a Flatbed
- All-wheel drive and many four-wheel drive vehicles, since towing them with two wheels turning can damage the drivetrain unless dollies are used
- Electric vehicles, which many manufacturers say should be transported with all four wheels off the ground
- Lowered, modified, and exotic cars with little ground clearance
- Luxury and classic cars where any risk of damage isn't worth it
- Long-distance tows, so the car doesn't pick up miles or wear
- Cars with damaged wheels, axles, or suspension after an accident
When a Wheel-Lift Works Fine
- Front-wheel drive cars lifted from the front
- Rear-wheel drive cars lifted from the rear, or towed short distances with dollies under the drive wheels
- Tight spots a flatbed can't reach, such as some parking garages, where the car may be pulled out with a wheel-lift and then moved onto a flatbed
What About Dollies?
Tow dollies are small wheeled platforms placed under the wheels that would otherwise touch the road. They let a wheel-lift truck tow an AWD car with no wheels turning. For longer trips, a flatbed is usually the simpler and safer choice.
Check Your Owner's Manual
Your owner's manual has a towing section that says how your car should be transported. If you're not sure, tell the dispatcher the year, make, and model, and whether it's AWD or electric, and they'll send the right truck.
Need a flatbed tow in Orange County, Long Beach, or Los Angeles? Call KO Towing & Recovery at (714) 766-1669, 24/7.