What is Light Duty Towing?

Couple near tow-truck picking up broken car

Learn More About Light Duty Towing

It can be a process to see what kind of towing you may need when you require transportation to and from a location. Depending on the capacity of materials that you need to be towed there will be different types of tow trucks that will be ideal to use. Consider light duty towing services when you know that you won’t require heavy-duty towing capabilities. If you’d like to know more details about towing services contact a qualified towing company for more information. Until then, here is some general background information regarding light duty towing that may be useful to you.

What is a light duty tow?

Light duty towing is similar to medium duty tow trucks and are equipped with modern wheel-systems that eliminate all contact between a tow truck and vehicles with the exception of the tire’s rubber on a given vehicle. This is due to the fact that light duty towing trucks will lift the vehicle off of the ground by securing the front two or back two wheels. Consider these options if you have a smaller vehicle or attachment that won’t require the use of larger tow trucks and equipment.

What is considered a medium duty tow?

A medium-duty tow will have a tow truck chassis that has a minimum gross vehicle weight (GVWR) rating of no less than 22,000 pounds. It will also have to have at least a twelve-ton boom assembly as rated by the truck’s manufacturer.

What is considered heavy towing?

Heavy-duty towing is ideal for weights of around 25 tons. Trucks used in these cases will have for example a six-ton wheel lift, a 25-ton boom lift or winch, both of which often are used for heavy-duty towing situations.

What is the difference between a tow truck and a wrecker?

A tow truck is a vehicle that can tow or haul a vehicle while a wrecker truck can recover vehicles and at times can tow a vehicle. A tow truck however will not be able to act as a wrecker truck. 

Light Duty Truck Towing Capacity

The heavier a vehicle is the more weight it technically is able to hold. With modern trucks and vehicles although they are lighter than before in design they can actually hold heavy loads as well. As far as the specifications of the wheelbase, the longer the distance between the front and rear axle then the safer it will be for towing. As of now, perhaps the best light-duty truck that can hold a maximum of 13,400 pounds is seen with the Chevrolet Silverado.

What happens if you tow over capacity?

If you happen to tow over capacity there can be a number of reactions that can be triggered such as tire failure from added weight, breaks starting to fade, and the engine overheating due to the extra work required to move. This will end up overloading the drivetrain and shortening the life of the transmission.

Will my insurance cover towing?

Most insurance policies won’t cover towing or they will cover towing up to a certain mileage amount. This will typically come with roadside assistance also known as towing and labor coverage which is typically an inexpensive add-on by major auto insurance companies. 

How much weight can a tow truck tow?

Depending on the size and type of the tow truck there will be different capacity caps for each. A medium-sized truck can take anything around 25,000 pounds for example. This includes such vehicles as buses, box trucks, most construction vehicles, and tow trucks themselves.

Do you have to be insured to be towed?

At times your car may be towed without connection to your insurance. As far as having your car towed, if you don’t have that covered by insurance then you

Tow truck with broken car on country road

What is the most fuel efficient vehicle for towing?

  • Chevrolet Silverado | 17 mpg | 13,400 lbs 
  • Ford Expedition | 19 mpg | 9,300 lbs 
  • GMC Canyon | 23 mpg | 7,700 lbs
  • Nissan Pathfinder | 23 mpg | 6,000 lbs
  • Ford Explorer | 24 mpg | 5,600 lbs
  • Kia Telluride | 21 mpg | 5,000 lbs
  • Honda Passport | 21 mpg | 5,000 lbs
  • Chrysler Pacifica | 22 mpg | 3,600 lbs
  • Toyota RAV4 | 27 mpg | 3,500 lbs
  • Subaru Outback | 26 mpg | 3,500 lbs

Contact Your Local Towing Company Regarding Light Duty Towing

If you’re in need of light duty towing services then reach out to your local towing company today. Light duty towing is a great way to transfer fairly lighter weights of materials, vehicles, or possessions in a more sustainable and safe way. It’s important to contact a professional about your towing needs in order to get the vehicle that will work best with your capacity load. If you have any questions or concerns then reach out to a knowledgeable towing representative for more information. Ease the process of transferring items with a reputable towing company today.

Get more information regarding light duty towing in Festus, MO by calling (636) 937-0797 with the experts at Pippin Towing & Recovery today!