What Are Tow Trucks?

Introduction

Timely delivery, whether for large shipments or last-mile deliveries, is crucial to maintaining operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. If you are encountering difficulties in ensuring timely deliveries in Kenya due to frequent vehicle breakdowns, you must proactively address this issue before it further escalates. Dispatching a tow truck for prompt roadside assistance can help facilitate a swift resolution. This blog explains what tow trucks are and how they can help improve your business operations through their practical application.  

Tow trucks are vehicles specifically designed for towing purposes. Towing is the process of pulling or dragging a vehicle from one place to another. It is commonly used to move a vehicle that has broken down, is involved in an accident, or is parked where it shouldn't be. It demands substantial capacity and power, which is why specialised trucks are designed for this purpose. 

Equipped with a robust build, a spacious structure, and a high-powered engine, tow trucks securely connect to the vehicle being towed, ensuring safe and efficient transportation to its destination.

How Do Tow Trucks Work?  

Understanding the anatomy of tow trucks is crucial to grasping how they operate. The points below explain it in detail: 

• Chassis  

  The chassis is the main frame of the truck's structure. A tow vehicle has a large and h3 chassis to support the truck while towing various vehicles. 

• Flatbed  

  As the name suggests, the flatbed is a flat structure where the towed vehicle is loaded for its journey. It can be slightly titled or lowered.  

• Wheel lift  

  Wheel lift is a system used to lift a vehicle by towing through its wheels. The wheels are locked once the vehicle is towed to ensure proper positioning and security during transport. 

• Boom  

  A boom is a hydraulic arm attached to the truck. It is used to lift and pull vehicles onto the truck's flatbed or wheel lift. There are three main types of booms: fixed, rotating, and telescopic.  

• Winch  

  A winch is a powerful motor-driven device that gives the truck's boom the power to pull heavy vehicles. It typically consists of a drum and a cable or chain, which can be hydraulic or electric.  

What Are the Different Types Of Tow Trucks?  

Here are the most common types of truck towing vehicles you can find on the road: 

• Flatbed tow truck  

  In simple terms, these trucks have a large, flat surface. This ensures a stable and secure surface for the towed vehicle placement. The surface is slightly inclined, facilitating quick loading and unloading. It is highly useful for recovering damaged vehicles from their location and delivering new cars to their designated sites.  

• Wheel-lift tow truck  

  The truck is equipped with a wheel-lifting towing mechanism. It can tow either through front or rear wheels. Thanks to the efficiency of this towing mechanism, the truck can quickly and swiftly hook up to vehicles and lift them, streamlining operations. Its manoeuvrability allows for easier navigation through tight spaces in cities and towns across Kenya.  

• Integrated tow trucks  

  The integrated truck towing vehicle is equipped with an industrial boom and winch, which make the truck capable of lifting heavy loads. This makes it ideal for handling large, heavier vehicles such as buses and trucks. The truck is also fitted with outriggers to provide additional support, stability, and security for the towed vehicle.  

• Heavy-duty rotator tow trucks  

  The truck is integrated with a rotating crane, which enables easier lifting and precise placement of the towed vehicle. These characteristics make this truck-towing vehicle ideal for complex and demanding operations, such as recovery tasks. 

Note: Outriggers are extendable legs that provide stability to the truck. 

All types of tow trucks are equipped with specific components and technology, optimising it for various tasks.  

What Are the Benefits of Tow Trucks?  

• Reduces downtimes  

  Your shipment is on its way to retail, but an unexpected breakdown has left the delivery truck stranded on the road. This leads to delayed deliveries, affecting your operational efficiency and success rate. In such circumstances, swift action is necessary. Promptly dispatching a tow vehicle to transport the truck back to the warehouse is essential. This facilitates quick repairs, reduces downtime and ensures business continuity.  

• Minimising damage  

  Towing is quite a complex task. Using an improper vehicle or careless handling by personnel can damage the towed vehicle, resulting in severe financial liabilities. Using a tow truck helps minimise the potential damage that may occur during towing. The truck is equipped with specialised towing equipment and safety features that ensure the towed vehicle's secure lifting and placement.   

• Versatile usage  

  Tow trucks are incredibly versatile. Since they are capable of towing vehicles of different sizes and weights, they are viable for a wide range of applications, be it roadside assistance or delivering heavy vehicles for construction sites. This maximises their value. 

Summing It Up  

Tow trucks are specialised vehicles designed for demanding towing tasks. They require a h3 chassis foundation and a reliable powertrain to perform effectively. We offer robust and durable Commercial vehicle chassis in Kenya, ideal for truck-builders to customise into tow trucks suited for a variety of applications. Built to handle tough jobs with ease, our vehicles provide the strength and versatility needed for towing operations. 

FAQs  

1. What is the best tow truck type for long-distance towing? 

There are different types of tow trucks: flatbed, wheel lift, integrated, heavy-duty rotator trucks, and more. Each one is built to go the distance. However, to select the most suitable tow truck, factor in the application and the anticipated weight of the vehicle to be towed. 

2. How do tow trucks safely transport vehicles? 

Tow trucks have components with a boom and winch that enable the truck to securely lift the vehicle. After lifting, the towed vehicle is placed on a flatbed, stabilising it for the journey ahead. 

3. What factors determine towing capacity? 

Towing capacity is determined by the vehicle's engine power, transmission, frame strength, and suspension system.