Top 10 Features Of Tow Trucks Used For Roadside Assistance
Just as there is a difference between an amateur and a professional, there is a considerable difference between a normal truck and a tow truck. We can even say that the trucks used for roadside assistance and vehicle recovery services have even more features than the average tow trucks, which are used to pull caravans or trailers. At first, it seems like all the tow trucks have similar features and they just have more engine power and that’s it, there can be nothing more. This is not the case at all.
This will come as a surprise to most of the readers here, tow trucks are actually sophisticated machines that have some pretty unique settings and features. Hence, no tow truck should be considered a regular off the block truck. This blog will definitely help you learn more about the top features of tow trucks that are used for roadside assistance and even emergency vehicle recovery services.
Capacity To Tow
The most important feature of a tow truck is its capacity to tow. Normal trucks have a passenger or maybe a loading capacity which is very different from the towing capacity. The towing capacity of a truck should be more than the vehicle that is to be towed or else both vehicles will be at risk of damages. The towing capacity of a truck is based on the horsepower it carries, the strength of its body and the torque or driving force it creates while having a suitable radiator and other relevant parts.
Curb Weight
The curb weight is the total weight of the truck with a full fuel tank. This may seem like a small difference to the regular truck drivers. However, the tow truck drivers know that the overall fuel efficiency of towing trucks needs to be managed by having control of the overall vehicle weight. This will make the weight ratio calculation possible which is used to determine the truck used for towing a particular vehicle.
Wheelbase Distance
The wheelbase distance is the distance between the front wheel axis to the rear wheels. This distance distributes the weight of the truck and the weight it might be carrying on the front or rear wheels. If the wheelbase distance is not balanced chances are the tow truck will not be able to pull a heavy vehicle.
Drive System
There are three basic driving systems in a tow truck. Rear or front-wheel drive, four-wheel and all-wheel drive. These driving systems are capable of giving different performances that are based on terrains, the weight they are carrying and fuel efficiency to be maintained.
Gears And Transmissions
Tow trucks have different range of gears and transmissions when compared with regular trucks. In fact, the transmission of a tow truck is supposed to create maximum traction and this works better when low gears have more strength. This small yet effective mechanical difference of the truck allows it to become more stable and create more push and pull when they are towing another vehicle.
Design Of Chassis
The chassis design is another feature of tow trucks that are often ignored by regular truck owners. Design of the chassis increases the overall strength of the tow truck’s frame. This feature alone is considered very important by the tow truck owners. Tow trucks that deal with emergency vehicle recovery have a design that connects the overall frame and body of the truck with more strength to perform better when towing.
Tow Packages
People often remember that usual tow trucks only have the towing ball or point connected to their backs. This is not the case at all. There are multiple types of tow packages that vary based on the need of towing service you may require. We can give an example if you can compare the two packages of a regular tow truck that tows a trailer to that of an emergency vehicle recovery truck. Both have different towing packages.
Comfortability
A tow truck may not be as comfortable as luxury cars are, still, they need to be comfortable enough so the drivers can easily drive them with having so much weight under them. The comfort of the tow trucks must be based on the lesser vibrations created when they are lifting or dragging weight. This adds up to the overall user experience of the tow truck.
Prices
If you are planning to buy a tow truck yourself, you will need to explore the market quite thoroughly. There are different types of tow trucks with big price differences. The best approach will be to shortlist the trucks that best suit your needs then compare their prices. Chances are you will get a low priced truck with maximum utility.
Maintenance Costs
Maintenance costs of tow trucks are expensive if we compare them with regular trucks. Still, this is for good reason. The extra features of the proper tow trucks demand extra attention, therefore it carries a cost to maintain them. The usability of these features depends on the function of the tow trucks and how often they are being used.
At Action Towing we take pride in saying that we serve the people of Edmonton around the clock and seven days a week. We offer a single-window solution to all your roadside assistance needs and vehicle recovery services. Learn more about us by checking out our website or simply call us to speak to one of our representatives.
