This blog entry, by the professional Chicagoland towing service team here at Chicago Towing, will detail specific values in benefits of using a range of different types of tow trucks in order to haul your specific vehicle.
Brief history of the tow truck
Ernest Holmes of Chattanooga, TN invented the tow truck in 1916. The invention came about after his friend’s truck flipped upside down inside a riverbed. It took many hours of hard labor in order to retrieve the truck. Holmes then made a plan to add a crane and pulley to a 1913 Cadillac. Through trial and error, Holmes came up with a finished product that was highly stable with a special ability to haul out vehicles from precarious situations.
Holmes started a business making these towing vehicles, naming the business “Holme’s Wreckers.” This invention created an entire industry that is flourishing 100 years later.
Hook and chain tow trucks
These tow trucks are also called sling or belt lift tow trucks, and are not normally used in the towing industry. They are operated by attaching metal chains to a vehicle’s axle or bumper. This causes damage sometimes to the car’s frame or can scratch the bumper. These trucks are more widely used today to transport junk vehicles.
Wheel lift tow trucks
These tow trucks do not damage vehicle bodies when lifting. They involve a metal frame being inserted beneath a vehicle’s body, locking into place, and then lifting up the front end with a hydraulic system.
Flatbed tow trucks
These tow trucks are the best kind of towing method, as they subject the vehicle getting towed to the least amount of damage. The truck’s bed extends out and then tilts down to the ground utilizing hydraulic pressure. A winch is then used to secure the car in place and move it onto the ramp, moving the flatbed back to its earlier even position. The vehicle getting towed will not experience damage from being dragged behind the tow truck.
Boom Winch Tow Trucks
When vehicles have to get towed but are located in an off-road area, boom winch tow trucks are used. Boom winches work like a crane by extending, lifting, and lowering the vehicle onto the road so that it can be hauled off safely.