How a flatbed works
A flatbed (also called a rollback) has a deck that tilts and slides back to the ground. The vehicle is pulled or driven up onto the deck, then secured so it rides with all four wheels off the road. At PS Towing & Recovery we strap vehicles down over the tires instead of hooking the frame or suspension. Our trucks are a Freightliner M2 106 and Ram 5500, both flatbeds.
How a wheel-lift works
A wheel-lift truck slides a metal yoke under the front or rear tires and lifts that end. The other two wheels stay on the road and roll behind the truck. It's quick to hook up and handy in tight spaces, which is why you see it for parking enforcement and short moves. The older hook-and-chain style, which lifts by the bumper or frame, is rare now because it's hard on modern cars.
Cars that should go on a flatbed
- All-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. With two wheels turning on the road and two lifted, the drivetrain can be forced to work against itself. See can you tow an AWD car.
- Electric vehicles and many hybrids. Spinning the drive wheels can turn the motor and damage it. See how to tow an electric car.
- Lowered cars, exotics and anything with a front splitter, which can scrape or crack when one end is lifted at an angle.
- Cars with accident damage, a broken wheel or suspension, or a locked-up brake.
- Long trips, where wheels rolling for many miles add wear.
- Motorcycles, which always ride upright on a deck. See motorcycle towing.
When a wheel-lift is fine
A two-wheel-drive car with the drive wheels lifted, going a short distance, can ride safely on a wheel-lift. If the drive wheels have to stay on the ground, a good operator puts them on dollies. The catch is that you have to know which wheels drive the car, and many drivers don't. A flatbed removes the guesswork.
Does a flatbed cost more?
Not with us. Every tow we run is a flatbed tow, at one posted rate: $120 to hook up plus $8 a mile. Try the towing cost calculator for your trip, or read more on flatbed towing.
What to ask any tow company
- Are you sending a flatbed or a wheel-lift?
- How will you secure the car: straps over the tires, or hooks on the frame?
- What's the total price, and where do the miles start?