When Do You Need Heavy-Duty Towing Service?
When a passenger car or a regular-size pickup breaks down, someone can sometimes push them out of the way. You can also pull them using a tow chain or tow rope if you have this kind of device handy – however, we don’t recommend this. More people have used this method than you may realize, but again, as experts in towing, we don’t recommend it, so keeping this in mind, when should you reach out for heavy-duty towing service in Festus, Missouri, or the surrounding area?
What is a heavy-duty towing service?
You may be wondering how a heavy-duty towing service differs from a regular towing service. Tow trucks are classified as “heavy-duty” or “light-duty” based on how much weight they can safely tow. When it comes to large vehicles, you need heavy-duty towing service. Heavy-duty towing service is used for vehicles that weigh 8.5 tons or more than 17,000 pounds and need to be towed.
- Light-Duty Towing Service
Light-duty towing service covers the most normal towing routines using standard-sized tow trucks weighing 8,5000 pounds and 10,000 pounds. At this weight, they can tow small-to-medium-sized vehicles, like in an accident or traffic collision. These are the towing services you would call if your car broke down on the side of the road.
A light-duty towing truck has a cable system and a winch, or some have a dolly towing set up. Compared to heavy-duty towing services, these tow trucks aren’t as complex.
- Heavy-Duty Towing Service
Heavy-duty towing service trucks weigh a minimum of 26,000 pounds. This size of towing truck is needed for construction equipment, dump trucks, garbage trucks, trailer trucks, and passenger buses.
Professionals equip heavy-duty towing service trucks with 6-ton wheel lifts, 25-ton booms, and heavy-duty winches. The equipment on these trucks enables them to handle towing larger vehicles, and they have more horsepower in the engine and more torque in the transmission.
Are tow truck drivers mechanics?
A light, medium, or heavy-duty towing service driver’s primary job is to tow a truck from Point A to Point B as instructed by dispatch. They may or may not be certified mechanics but will usually have some mechanical knowledge and skills. Their duties include the following:
- Customer Service: Tow truck drivers are often at the forefront of towing companies, so providing excellent customer service is essential. They usually differ from those you speak to when you call for small, medium, or heavy-duty towing services. Still, you will work with them once they arrive to help tow your vehicle.
- Minor Repairs: A driver who provides light, medium, or heavy-duty towing services can troubleshoot to determine any repairs somebody may need. They can perform minor repairs for passenger cars and trucks, such as jump-starting the vehicle, bringing gas and putting it in the tank, changing a flat tire, unlocking doors to retrieve keys inside, etc. They must tow the vehicle to the nearest garage or another location the owner requests for other problems.
- Towing: Car towing is the main task for any tow truck driver. They will load the car onto the towing truck, ensure it is secure, and deliver the vehicle as requested.
Another thing to remember is that if a company employs a tow truck driver, they will tow only the company vehicles as requested. As we described earlier, this service could be for a light or medium-weight car or a heavy-duty towing service for larger vehicles.
Why can’t any vehicle tow another vehicle, regardless of size?
The weight of any vehicle that needs towing is essential in determining whether light, medium, or heavy-duty towing service is required. For example, a light-duty towing service truck isn’t good for towing long distances. Nor do you want to tow a city bus or garbage truck with a light-duty towing service.
On the other end of the spectrum, using a heavy-duty towing service to tow a passenger car would be overkill and insufficient. And more costly! Heavy-duty towing services are much more expensive than light or medium-weight towing services. Another factor to consider is if the right size of towing truck doesn’t tow your vehicle, it could be damaged.
In Closing – Preparation Is Everything
If you find yourself in need of a light, medium, or heavy-duty towing service, here are some tips to follow in preparing your vehicle for the service:
- Remove important belongings and items. Towing companies will have statements on their trucks and paperwork that state they are not responsible for any damaged, lost, or stolen items.
- Close all windows if possible for theft prevention and to protect the interior.
- Disengage the emergency brake before the tow truck driver loads the vehicle. They will usually check this themselves.
- Take pictures of the vehicle you are having towed before the driver loads it onto the tow truck.
- Use a reputable light, medium, or heavy-duty towing service. While going the least expensive towing service may be tempting, you get what you pay for. Ask the driver if they and the towing truck are insured.
Keeping these things in mind can help you get the appropriate assistance if you need heavy-duty towing service. Meanwhile, you can always contact us if you want help in Festus, Missouri. Just call to speak to our team.