In this blog entry, our professional Chicago towing service team will detail the main differences between dolly based towing and flatbed towing.
Tow Dollies
Tow dollies, also called two-wheel dollies, are an affordable and effective method for vehicle towing. They are a small trailer with two wheels that lift the front wheels of the towed vehicle off the ground while, usually, the rear wheels of the vehicle stay in contact with the road, allowing it to roll behind the towing vehicle. Tow dollies are lightweight and easy to move, making them an ideal choice for towing small vehicles or front wheel drive vehicles. They are highly affordable, and a budget friendly option as compared to flatbed trucks, and can be quick to attach to towing vehicles.
Towing dollies have a range of cons compared to flatbed towing, however. Due to the front wheels of the vehicle getting lifted off the ground with tow dollies, it’s important to make sure that the rear wheels of the vehicle are totally secure and aligned, which can be a tricky and delicate task for the average person. Improper rear wheel alignment during tow dolly towing can actually damage a towed vehicle. Tow dollies should never be used with all-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive vehicles, as it can cause bad damage to the car’s drivetrain.
Flatbed Towing
Flatbed towing is the ideal form of vehicle towing. Flatbed towing involves the loading of an entire vehicle out the back of a flatbed truck or trailer, lifting all the wheels off the ground. Flatbed towing is ideal for luxury vehicles, antique vehicles, and expensive vehicles, as it drastically lowers the chances of damage to the body or drivetrain of the towed car. Flatbed towing is highly flexible, and can tow a massive range of vehicles ranging from front-wheel drive vehicles, all wheel drive vehicles, rear-wheel drive vehicles, and much more. Flatbed towing is considered the safer mode of towing, as it lifts the tow vehicle fully off the ground and away from the risk of getting damaged by road hazards. Flatbed towing is usually more expensive to operate and maintain than tow dollies, and generally flatbed towing service costs slightly more. However, Towing Chicago stands ready to provide the highest quality flatbed towing services available anywhere in the Chicagoland area, and always for a fair and competitive budget friendly rate.