Towing services are tremendously  important when a vehicle breaks down, has an accident, or is in need of transportation, they provide the ability to safely transport your vehicle to another location. A vehicle can be a car, motorcycle, commercial vehicle, or truck  selecting the service appropriate to your vehicle will help reduce the amount of time, money, and stress caused by the situation. 

This article discusses three types of towing services. Flatbed Towing, Wheel-Lift Towing, and Heavy-Duty Towing; the advantages of those types; the most common situations where they are used; and how to select the right type of service for you. Finally, Riteway Towing has been selected as the best towing company to provide you with the service you need anywhere you are.

The Importance of Knowing Towing Types

When it comes to towing, many car owners do not realize that there are different types of towing methods and not all of them are appropriate for every situation. If you use a type of towing that is not appropriate for that situation, you could potentially cause damage to your vehicle, spend more money than needed, and create safety hazards for yourself and others. For example, if you had an all-wheel-drive car and had it towed using a wheel-lift tow truck, it would cause serious damage to the drive train. Likewise, if you had towed a large commercial truck with a standard tow truck, it would have been both unsafe and inappropriate.

By understanding the different types of towing methods, you can:

• Prevent your vehicle from being damaged while being transported
• Save money by using the most cost-effective means of towing
• Provide for a safer environment for yourself and all other people on the road.
• Be assured that your vehicle is being handled by professional towing services that utilize the proper equipment.

At Riteway Towing, for instance, they provide a variety of towing solutions and will ensure that your vehicle is transported by the proper method.

1.Flatbed Towing

Flatbed towing is a method of transporting a car where the entire vehicle will be loaded onto a flat platform or bed on the back of a tow truck. The flatbed will have a hydraulic lift or tilting bed installed, allowing the vehicle to be fully lifted off the ground and onto the tow truck. Flatbeds are usually considered the safest way to transport vehicles.

The process for flatbed towing is as follows:

• The flatbed is lowered to the ground using hydraulic controls.
• The vehicle will be either driven onto the bed or will be pulled onto the bed using a winch.
• Once the vehicle is on the bed, it will be secured in place with straps or chains.
• The flatbed will then be raised and the vehicle will be transported.

The advantages of flatbed towing include:

• -No wear and tear on the vehicle's tires, transmission, or suspension.
• -Safe for all types of vehicles including, but not limited to, luxury cars; sports cars; motorcycles; and vehicles that have low ground clearance.
• Versatile in that flatbeds can also be used to tow damaged or non-running vehicles.
•  Reduces the risk of accidents due to the vehicle being completely secured and unable to move during transport.

Ideal types of vehicles to use flatbed towing include:

• Luxury/Sports cars
• Motorcycles
•  AWD/4WD vehicles
•  Immobile/Severely Damaged Vehicles

Many professional towing companies, including Riteway Towing, use flatbed trucks for maximum safety and reliability.

2.Wheel-Lift Towing: What Does This Mean?

Wheel-Lift Towing is a type of towing that uses a metal yoke that attaches to the trailer/tow truck and lifts part of the vehicle off the ground, like a hand-and-chain tow truck does; however, unlike a hand-and-chain type tow truck that completely removes the vehicle from contacting the ground. One end of the vehicle is raised using the yoke (skew) underneath an end of the car, lifting only one end while leaving the other end on the surface (path, road, parking lot, etc.).

The Process to Wheel-Lift Tow a Vehicle

Back towards the front of the vehicle or towards the rear of the vehicle, with the tow truck at the point of attachment of the tow truck to the yoke (attached to the tow truck by the tow truck operator).

Once the tow truck is located on the tow truck operator can then use either hydraulic or electronic means to raise the front (or rear) axle (or) of the vehicle. After the front end (or back end) has been raised, the vehicle is then pulled onto the tow truck (or towed) down the road with either the front (or back) axle raised.

Benefits of Wheel-Lift Towing

• Speedy and efficient – perfect for short-distance towing as well as for emergency roadside help.
•  Cheaper than using a flatbed. Offers lower costs because of fewer pieces of equipment needed.
• Much smaller and much more versatile than a large flatbed truck, enabling it to get into tight spaces in cities.

Limitations of Wheel-Lift Tow Trucks:

• AWD or 4WD vehicles can be damaged by improperly using a wheel-lift tow truck.
• Long-distance transport of a wheel-lift tow truck is less secure than flatbed towing.
• Wheel-lift towing is NOT suitable for low ground clearance vehicles.

Ideal Vehicles for the Wheel-Lift Tow Truck:

• Standard sedans, smaller SUVs
• Immediate tow from the road.
• Short distance tow scenarios

Riteway Towing's professional towing services will ensure that your vehicle is safely and properly transported when using a wheel-lift tow truck, minimizing any risk to your vehicle during the process.

3.Heavy Duty Towing

Heavy-duty towing is the term used to describe the towing process that occurs when a standard tow truck is not capable of performing the job, such as towing buses, large trucks, RVs, or construction equipment. The trucks are able to tow the vehicles because they have large engines with reinforced frames, which allows them to lift loads of considerable weight.

How it works

Heavy-duty tow trucks use one of three different methods to move the vehicle. A wheel-lift system, an under-lift system, and a flatbed trailer to move large vehicles. Towing operators will utilize hydraulic systems, winches, and reinforced shackles and hook systems to either secure and/or lift the load onto the tow truck.

In addition, operators will use various safety systems when towing heavy-duty loads to avoid accidents. Some of these safety measures are: extended stabilizers, reinforced equipment, etc.

Using a heavy-duty tow truck offers several advantages to the vehicle owner, including the ability to safely move large commercial vehicles. capability to transport large vehicles over extended distances; and reduce the risk of causing further damage to high-value vehicles.

Ideal Vehicles for Heavy Duty Towing

• Semi-trucks/Tractor Trailers
• Buses/Coaches 
• RV's/
• Oversized Commercial Trucks
• ­Construction Equipment

Companies such as Riteway Towing offer towing services designed for heavy duty towing, including both emergency roadside and long distance transportation services for commercial vehicles.

Tips for determining what the best tow service will be for you.

Finding toward service is easier said than done. The following will help you find the right one.

• Identify the type of vehicle.
• Longer distances will typically use heavy duty vehicles.
• Check for a licensed and insured enable.
• How much equipment to tow will they be using.

Get recommendations from other customers.  For example, Riteway tow vehicle providers have been proven to provide safe and effective towing services.

Why Choose Ritway Towing

• Flatbed Towing for Luxury & High-Value Vehicles
• Wheel Lift Towing for Short Distance, Emergency Roadside Assistance
• Heavy-Duty Towing for Commercial Trucks, Buses & Oversized Vehicles.
• 24/7 Emergency Service
• Trained & Experienced Operators
• Transparent Pricing & Customer-Centric Service

Rest assured your vehicle will be transported safely & securely with Riteway Towing, regardless of if you are moving it short distance within your city or across the country. 

Final Thoughts

As a vehicle owner or fleet manager, knowing how to tow vehicles the right way is critical. There are three basic types of towing, flatbeds, wheel-lift and heavy duty. Each style of towing has its own unique strengths, ideal usage, and weaknesses. Selecting the incorrect method can cause damage to your vehicle and costly repairs. While selecting the proper method will provide peace of mind, assurance of safety and efficiency.

Professional towing companies like Riteway Towing have the expertise, correct tools and equipment to provide you with reliable towing services. Whether you're a luxury car owner who has to break down on the side of the road or operate a large commercial truck requiring heavy duty service, knowing your options will allow you to make the best choice for your situation.