When you have a job requiring you to do some heavy towing on the road, it may require you to use a truck with specific heavy towing features. Knowing what these features are will help you make the best choice when choosing the right truck for your needs.
Make sure your vehicle can handle any terrain you may encounter while and that it has the proper equipment in place for whatever you’re towing. It’s essential to understand all of the features of heavy towing so you know what to look for in your new vehicle.
- Powerful Engine: One of the main features of heavy towing is the truck should be able tow anything with a fair amount of maneuverability. The engine should be powerful enough to handle the weight of the vehicles and heavy duty trailers being towed. This means this type of tow truck is also powerful, often having the power of 20–30 head of vehicle weight behind it. The engine is often located at the rear of the unit, near the cab end. For this reason, the heavy-tow truck can not only haul a heavy load but can maneuver and stop quickly, as well. Most tow trucks have a gear ratio of one to two. This means they must run at least one-tenth of a horsepower (which is the standard for most manufacturers) for each mile of travel. That is the main feature of a heavy tow truck, but it does have some extra options that might make driving easier.
- Straps: You also need to make sure you have heavy duty tow straps on both the front and the back of your truck. The reason why you’ll need straps is so you can secure the load you’ll be carrying. When you’re towing a heavy load, it sometimes falls. This can be dangerous, so make sure that you strap everything down. There are many different types of towing straps you can purchase. Just take some time and make sure that you get one that fits your needs the best. But some heavy towing trucks have a built-in strap, so it’s still best you find one that has them in place.
- Safety Features: Also, look into the safety features of a tow truck. Tow bars should be high enough that you can control the direction you’re going but low enough, so you’re not risking being run over. The driver also needs to be properly equipped to stop quickly if the need arises. It’s also a good idea to check to ensure it’s in good condition before using it.
Light Towing vs. Heavy Towing
There are many differences between light towing and heavy towing for vehicles. This is especially true when it comes to the weight of the towed vehicle. Lightweight vehicles tend to weigh less and can be easily fitted onto trailers with ease. However, light towing trucks are not as well-equipped to provide sufficient space for hauling heavy vehicles.
- Light towing: This type of towing is ideal for small- to medium-sized trailers. In this instance, you would not need special equipment for towing. A lightweight vehicle such as a car can be used to tow a trailer. No matter how light the load is, you should ensure your towing trucks have enough power to tow.
Light towing trailers tend to be easier to deal with than heavy ones. There’s no need to lower or raise the trailer while towing, as the trailer will be under full control throughout the tow. This also means that a lighter tow vehicle can often travel faster than a heavy towing vehicle.
- Medium to heavy towing: In medium to heavy towing situations, the towing vehicle’s weight is spread over a more considerable distance. A typical configuration, in this case, would be a van with a trailer and an automobile. This setup is not only more economical but also more efficient due to the automobile’s weight. It can also haul heavier and more powerful objects like homes, trailers, and other heavy vehicles. This type of towing arrangement is also popular on rough terrains and those that are difficult to access by road.
Equipment for heavy towing, such as heavy-duty trailers, is typically much sturdier and made to last for longer periods than equipment designed for light towing. It’s vital for someone who will be using this type of equipment to make sure they purchase the right kind of equipment for their needs. For example, a tow trailer should never be used on a flatbed truck or an ordinary vehicle. Equipment is available that can help with getting the trailer in and out of these situations. Heavy towing is usually utilized by businesses and industries to move their equipment or large trucks.
Types of Heavy Towing Cars and Their Uses
If you plan to tow something extremely heavy, you will need to make sure you’re equipped with the proper equipment. Some of these items are special trucks that are made just for towing heavy loads. This piece of equipment allows you to properly tow heavy objects and make sure your load is securely in place.
Here are your choices of trucks and equipment depending on their uses:
- Flatbed Towing Truck
Flatbed towing is probably the most preferred method for heavy duty towing. It often involves a small truck or trailer equipped with a flatbed on its back end to tow various vehicles from one place to another. Towing using flatbed tow trucks has many advantages.
First of all, this type of vehicle’s equipment is compact and therefore takes up little space. Also, since the flatbed towing truck uses a relatively flatbed with a raised bottom, the trailer is kept relatively low and also provides an improved view when approaching the destination. When towing a trailer with the flatbed towing truck, the vehicle is slung across the bed, with the towing unit securing the trailer to the bed. The towing unit also can tilt the trailer rearward, thus opening up space behind the bed. This is beneficial when loading or unloading the truck since the space can be used for storage purposes.
When towing a large or heavy load, it requires skill to operate such a tow truck. Towing a flatbed trailer requires a professional to handle the trailer and hook the wheels securely to the trailer. Additionally, because the trailer is so large, the towing vehicle requires power and maneuverability.
Flatbeds are useful as they give you more flexibility when selecting the type of tires you want on your vehicle. You can use Pirelli tires, Goodyear tires, or other specialty tires so you can get the best performance out of your vehicle. This is especially helpful if you regularly tow heavy equipment and need a stronger tow vehicle to handle those jobs.
Flatbed trucks can do more than just haul a trailer, which is a reason why many people use them for just transportation purposes. Using a flatbed tow truck is more suitable for larger vehicles. When towing a vehicle that weighs over ten tons, it’s necessary to use a flatbed truck.
The flatbed trailer’s main advantages are portability and versatility compared to other forms of the trailer. Because they can be folded up into a very compact design, it makes transporting your equipment or supplies much easier on you and your employees. These trailers can easily fit in a small space such as a locker when not in use. Because the bed of the flatbed is mobile, you can move the trailer around on your own, rather than having to hire an employee to do it for you.
You can also use a flatbed trailer for company traveling. Rather than having two trailers on your property, you can easily carry both your equipment and supplies for the trip.
- Integrated Tow Truck
An integrated tow truck is an essential piece of equipment for anyone operating a towing business. Basically, a hydraulic truck is mounted on a trailer with hydraulically-operated wheels and a tow bar. The truck’s hydraulically-powered long bed is dropped down to the ground to pick up loads and place them in a trailer. There are numerous types of towing equipment on the market, and this truck is one of them.
Apart from small utility vehicles, several other automobiles may benefit from using an integrated tow truck. For instance, a person hauling out an 18-wheeler to a nearby parking lot will need to have an elevated frame and an enclosed hitch to secure the car. The hitch attached to the vehicle will need to withstand tremendous weight since the truck itself will have to handle much more. If it were not for this equipment, the vehicle would not leave the parking lot, since the tow rope would simply break. It’s also important to note that the tires of these vehicles need to have an adequate amount of tread so that they do not hydro-statically roll back when taking off and have enough traction on the road to make it through most obstacles. The wheels also need to handle being driven by the rear wheels parallel to the ground.
Integrated tow trucks are also frequently used during auto accidents. These vehicles are perfect for securing damaged cars to be transported to a shop specializing in repairing and refinishing cars.
When it comes to a significant accident, it’s wise to call on the services of a towing company. This company has certified technicians trained in vehicle handling and the art of recovery. Besides, they have extensive experience with all types of vehicles. When it comes to assisting in the recovery of a car that has been involved in an accident, it makes perfect sense for an integrated tow truck to be at the scene helping in the transportation of vehicles to a reputable repair facility.
They also make it easier to transport a car that requires temporary lodging. Many towing companies use these services when they own a used or uncommon type of car that needs special transportation services.
- Wheel-Lift Tow Trucks
Wheel-lift tow trucks are used for several functions. One of the most important uses is for heavy-duty towing. The heavy-duty truck uses a hydraulic lift to lift and move cars and trailers easily. The lifting power is derived from a high-pressure pump that has a variable-speed electric motor. Hydraulic pumps can shut off when the car or trailer is lifted to prevent damage to the system or prevent injury to operators.
For instance, towing trailers with very tall objects, such as recreational vehicles, and cars, are everyday use of wheel-lift tow trucks. It’s also used to haul construction equipment, such as concrete mixers and other large industrial equipment. Using a fifth wheel loader with this lifting capacity makes it possible to tote heavier loads around the job site.
The weight of the tow vehicle also increases with the rise of the rear axle. The use of a vertical lift in a horizontal position can cause the towed vehicle’s weight to increase because the load cannot be hauled up by using only the wheels. Using a horizontal pivot enables the truck’s rear axles to be raised so that they can support the weight of the tow.
The popularity of this simple innovation caused the designers of the wheel-lift to expand on this design. In earlier years, the two-wheel towing apparatus became known as a dolly towbar. The advantage of using this type of towbar was that it could raise both axles simultaneously, without using both tow bars simultaneously. This allowed for the towing of heavy vehicles, such as tractor units.
The present invention can simultaneously raise both axles by utilizing a single horizontal frame called a jockey wheel. It’s simple in construction and does not require any hydraulics to operate correctly. This means that this type of towing device can work properly even without hydraulics.
Conclusion
There are several different types of heavy towing equipment. The larger the load, the more often you might need heavy towing trucks to help transport. You can use them from moving just a single car to hauling several semi-trucks.
For those who live in an area where there aren’t many towing options, companies provide their own trucks to use when they need to move large items. Whether you need to lug a refrigerator or an industrial-sized piece of machinery, you can hire a unit that makes a move easier. You can also use a trailer or dolly to help with loading and unloading your belongings. This type of heavy towing is ideal for people unfamiliar with heavy-duty transportation on their own.
Towing service can provide you the most suitable trucks depending on how heavy your loads are.
