The primary factor dividing tow truck classes, as we briefly mentioned previously, is their GVWR. Heavy-duty tow trucks can move weights weighing between 26,000 and 33,000 pounds, but light-duty vehicles can only move up to 10,000 pounds. These tow truck classifications are 7 and 8.
Read More: Heavy duty towing
A medium-duty tow truck is any vehicle designed to tow weights weighing between 10,000 and 26,000 pounds. Classes 3-6 are made up of these cars. Though they are not quite as big, strong, and competent as heavy-duty trucks, they are marginally bigger than light-duty trucks.
Either way, a heavy-duty tow truck is equipped with more sophisticated equipment than a light-duty one. Heavy-duty trucks employ a 6-ton wheel lift and a 25-ton boom lift, whereas light-duty trucks typically run on a basic crane system. To guarantee that they can raise huge weights, they make extensive use of torque and horsepower.
Moving massive freight trucks, huge machinery, and other exceptionally heavy objects is the aim of heavy-duty towing. To guarantee that they can carry more goods, they are far bigger than typical light-duty towing trucks.
Heavy Duty Towing Benefits
The use of a heavy-duty tow vehicle has several advantages:
versatility brought about by a high GVWR
The capacity to tow a larger load at once
The capacity to tow many cars at once
The exclusive choice for transporting specific kinds of vehicles (big trucks, tractors, industrial cranes, etc.)
Exceptional robustness to sustain heavy weights
expert support for the devices required to operate the tow truck
A heavy-duty tow truck is essential if you need to transport something heavier or need to transfer many cars at once.
Side effects
That being said, there are drawbacks to heavy-duty tow vehicles as well. The following are a few drawbacks of employing them:
increased emissions
More costly to run and hire (because of fuel, machinery, etc.)
Slower-paced
Too big to fit through congested regions and certain residential neighborhoods, although not all of them
There are several circumstances that call for a heavy-duty tow truck despite these drawbacks. Hiring one is a worthwhile investment if you require the labor that these cars can provide.
Use Examples
Heavy-duty tow trucks are frequently used for towing larger, more complicated cars that have broken down.
Large trailers, dump trucks, trash trucks, and cargo vehicles may all break down on the road just like regular automobiles can. They may also be involved in incidents that render them non-operational. To sustain their weight in these circumstances, a heavy-duty tow vehicle will be needed.
Additionally, heavy-duty towing is necessary to remove any dangers off the route. Large shipping containers and other cargo might fall from vehicles and land on the road. To guarantee that these risks may be successfully removed and other drivers are kept safe, heavy duty towing is used.
Transporting farm or industrial machinery is another use for a heavy-duty tow truck. Tractors are among the industrial machinery that might malfunction, including cranes and fleet robots. There are instances when broken machinery needs to be moved, and this calls for heavy duty towing services.
How Can You Tell Which Tow Truck Type Is Best for You?
There are a few questions you should ask yourself in order to choose the kind of tow truck you need to employ. The major ones consist of:
Which kind of car need towing?
What is the weight of that car?
How far does the car need to be moved?
What is the width of the roads you have to use to carry it?
Does the car have to be transported in an area that is busy or where there is a lot of foot traffic?
How flexible is your budget, and what is it?
Would the car or any of its parts be harmed by a heavy-duty towing job?
Would it be required to spend extra money on a heavy-duty towing job?
Could a light-duty truck make it through the trip?
Do you require simultaneous towing of several cars or items?
How soon do you need the truck to arrive at your car’s present location?
What occurs, though, if you select the incorrect kind of truck?
Luckily, speaking with a seasoned tow truck business will help you avoid these problems. You may ask experts for advice on whether a light-duty or heavy-duty truck is better suited for your needs. In order to better comprehend why you are paying for the services you are employing, they may also assist you in figuring out the rationale behind your decision.