History of Towing
|
It's not difficult to figure out why tow trucks are needed. But how did they get their start? Who solved the initial problem of transporting a broken-down vehicle? Since cars were invented, people needed them towed to the shop when they stopped working. It's that simple. Although in its simplicity lies a fascinating history.
In 1908, an artillery tractor was developed for the Austro-Hungarian army. As you might've guessed, the artillery tractor was used to pull heavy equipment used in war. Soon after, these tractors were modified with special equipment to become the modern tow truck service as we know it today. The lifting jib was added to Tennessee's first tow truck in 1916. Ernest Holmes Sr. designed it out of necessity. The equipment required to recover a car in a nearby creek included six men, blocks, and ropes. He developed a machine that could do everything and began producing it commercially soon after. You can see one of the original wreckers on display at the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum in Chattanooga to this day. As time went along, vehicle technology advanced. Vehicles became bigger and heavier, requiring more extensive tow trucks to pull them. Some general types of tow trucks include boom, wheel-lift, integrated or speed-loader, flatbed, and lift flatbed. You will see different variations of these trucks throughout the world. Lifted flatbeds, for instance, are a typical tow truck found in Europe. |
|
The main tow trucks in the United States include Flatbed or Rollback Tow trucks, Hook and Chain Trucks, Integrated Tow Trucks, and Wheel Lift Tow Trucks. Flatbeds are trucks with a flat-topped bed behind the cab where the driver sits. The tow truck operator will maneuver the car near the disabled vehicle. They will be able to lower the flatbed or angle it towards the ground allowing the vehicle to be winched onto the flatbed. The primary benefit of this design is the safety of transporting vehicles. We don't have to rely on the structural integrity of the disabled vehicle when towing the car from one place to the next. This keeps our drivers safe along with your property.
Hook and Chain Trucks are a classic method of towing vehicles. Their way employs a hook suspended from a long arm extending from the truck's rear by a strong chain. This method is usually reserved for vehicles completely totaled in an accident. The hook can damage the point of contact with the car. Also, many vehicles are all-wheel drive, which has the potential to damage the drivetrain of the vehicle. With the advancement of towing technology, you won't see these trucks as much as you might the others on this list. However, they are still valuable for specific applications like towing cars to junkyards.
Integrated tow trucks are one of the more effective models for heavy-duty towing. They specialize in recovering and towing heavy-duty vehicles like buses or semis. Due to the efficient nature of integrated tow trucks in hooking up to cars, they are often used in repossessions or illegal parking situations. Operators can sometimes stay within the vehicle's cab, making their job much more manageable. The truck is recognizable not only by its size but the integrated boom and wheel lift.
The last type of tow truck on our list is the wheel lift tow truck. This is a new and improved version of the hook and chain truck. They are used in similar applications as hook and chain trucks. They can drag disabled vehicles to junkyards or body shops from the scene of an accident. The apparent difference between the two trucks is the updated "yoke" that secures the vehicle. The yoke slides beneath the disabled car and lifts it with the help of a pneumatic hoist or hydraulic lift. With the advantage of having a yoke instead of chains, these tow trucks are used more often for vehicles that can be repaired rather than vehicles destined for the junkyard.
Hook and Chain Trucks are a classic method of towing vehicles. Their way employs a hook suspended from a long arm extending from the truck's rear by a strong chain. This method is usually reserved for vehicles completely totaled in an accident. The hook can damage the point of contact with the car. Also, many vehicles are all-wheel drive, which has the potential to damage the drivetrain of the vehicle. With the advancement of towing technology, you won't see these trucks as much as you might the others on this list. However, they are still valuable for specific applications like towing cars to junkyards.
Integrated tow trucks are one of the more effective models for heavy-duty towing. They specialize in recovering and towing heavy-duty vehicles like buses or semis. Due to the efficient nature of integrated tow trucks in hooking up to cars, they are often used in repossessions or illegal parking situations. Operators can sometimes stay within the vehicle's cab, making their job much more manageable. The truck is recognizable not only by its size but the integrated boom and wheel lift.
The last type of tow truck on our list is the wheel lift tow truck. This is a new and improved version of the hook and chain truck. They are used in similar applications as hook and chain trucks. They can drag disabled vehicles to junkyards or body shops from the scene of an accident. The apparent difference between the two trucks is the updated "yoke" that secures the vehicle. The yoke slides beneath the disabled car and lifts it with the help of a pneumatic hoist or hydraulic lift. With the advantage of having a yoke instead of chains, these tow trucks are used more often for vehicles that can be repaired rather than vehicles destined for the junkyard.