A tow truck (also called a wrecker, a breakdown truck, recovery vehicle or a breakdown lorry) is a truck used to move disabled, improperly parked, impounded, or otherwise indisposed motor vehicles. This may involve recovering a vehicle damaged in an accident, returning one to a drivable surface in a mishap or inclement weather, or towing or transporting one via flatbed to a repair shop or other location.
Flatbed recovery vehicle
A tow truck is distinct from a car carrier trailer, which is used to move multiple new or used vehicles simultaneously in routine transport operations.
The wrecker (with lifting jib) was invented in 1916 by Ernest Holmes Sr. of Chattanooga, Tennessee, a garage worker who was inspired after he needed blocks, ropes, and six men to pull a car out of a creek. After improving his design he began manufacturing them commercially.[2] The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum in his home town displays restored antique wreckers, tools, equipment, and pictorial histories of motor-vehicle towing, a type of work that Holmes originated.
Types of towing equipment
Five general types of tow truck are in common usage, usually based on the type or size of vehicle to be towed:
Boom: uses an adjustable boom with a winch to recover vehicles from a ditch, over an embankment, or any place the vehicle cannot be safely reached by backing up. Some booms are fixed; some use heavy pivoting A-frames; others are equipped with hydraulic-powered telescoping tubes. The heaviest types of boom can rotate, effectively turning the tow truck into a sort of mobile crane, called a "rotator", and are usually reserved for incidents involving heavy vehicles.[3] In the past,[timeframe?] boom trucks used a "hook and chain" system where chains are looped around the vehicle frame or axle, then lifted by a boom winch. A towbar with heavy rubberized mats connects the truck and vehicle, so it can be towed on its other axle. "Slings" and "belt lifts" are a further development, with rubber straps replacing part of the chains.[4][5][6] Slings are not used much today[when?] because they can scratch the bumpers of cars. However, they are sometimes used for towing vehicles that have been in an accident or have one or two of the front or rear wheels missing, or for pickup trucks and other vehicles that have steel bumpers. Cars equipped with all-wheel drive cannot be towed with a sling, as it can cause problems with the car's drivetrain.[7]
Wheel-lift (also called a "spectacle lift" or "underlift"): developed from the hook-and-chain technology to produce a large metal yoke that can be fitted under the front or rear wheels to cradle them, drawing the front or rear end of the vehicle clear of the ground by a pneumatic or hydraulic hoist so it can be towed. This apparatus generally picks up the drive wheels of the vehicle (i.e. the front wheels if it is front-wheel drive, the rear wheels if it is rear-wheel drive), touching only the tires.[5] The wheel lift was designed by Arthur W. Nelson of Weld Built Body Co. in 1967.[8] The name spectacle lift is common in Europe; the cradle resembles a pair of squared spectacles (eyeglasses). Medium and heavy trucks use a variation, the "underlift" or "chassis lift", which lifts the axle or frame instead of the wheels. Wheel-lift trucks can have adapters which can also lift the chassis.[4]
Integrated (also called a "self-loader", "snatcher", "quick pick" or "repo truck"): boom and wheel-lift integrated into one unit. Used in light-duty trucks to repossess vehicles or move illegally-parked vehicles. Most have controls for the apparatus inside the cab of the tow truck to make quick pickup possible without the inconvenience of exiting the truck to hook up the vehicle.[9][10] Though similar to a wheel-lift truck, an integrated truck differs in that the end of its boom features movable arms that can more easily and quickly clamp onto the wheels of a vehicle, often controlled from the cabin of the truck. On a wheel-lift truck, the wheels of a vehicle must be manually secured to the yoke by the operator before being lifted. There are also heavy-duty trucks manufactured with integrated lifts.
Flatbed (also called a "rollback", "slide" or "tilt tray"): the entire back of the truck is fitted with a bed that can be hydraulically inclined and slid back to ground level, allowing the vehicle to be placed on it under its own power or pulled on by a winch.[11] Because they carry rather than tow the vehicle, they can be used on a completely immobile vehicle; in the US, they are used to carry badly-damaged cars from crashes.
Lift flatbed: a boom uses a wheel-lift frame to lift the vehicle vertically and load it on the bed. This type of truck can remove vehicles that are parallel-parked. It is commonly used in Europe.
Boom truck with underlift
Wheel-lift tow truck
Integrated tow truck
Flatbed with wheel-lift
Lift flatbed
These are the most common arrangements; others also exist, such as flatbed units that offer a wheel-lift, boom trucks that can recover but not tow, and wheel-lift units that offer a combination boom with sling.
There are also several sizes and weight categories of tow truck. The lightest models are usually based on light truck and van chassis offering boom and tow weights of around 5 to 10 short tons (4.5–9.1 metric tons), making them ideal for car towing. Medium-duty tow trucks have a boom capacity of 15 to 20 short tons (14–18 metric tons). Heavy-duty tow trucks, based on chassis used by semi-trucks, with multiple axles and the ability to tow fully-loaded semi-truck and trailer combinations, have a boom capacity from 25 to 50 short tons (23–45 metric tons). Rotators are the heaviest type of tow truck, ranging from 40 to 75 short tons (36–68 metric tons) (though lighter models do exist) and often come with many other features per customer specification.[12][further explanation needed]
Most flatbed-type vehicles are based on medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks to provide the chassis strength necessary to carry entire vehicles.
Tow trucks are usually operated by private businesses, except for major highways and toll roads, where the road authority may operate the tow trucks for that stretch of road. Some police departments own tow trucks; in the US, however, it is common to contract police tows to private companies. Businesses who operate a large fleet of vehicles, such as school bus companies or package delivery services, often own one or several tow trucks for the purposes of towing their own vehicles. Government departments with large fleets (such as the police departments, fire departments, transportation authorities and departments of public works of major cities) may similarly own one or more tow trucks. Police department tow trucks may also be used to impound other vehicles. Heavy tow trucks are often called to clear semi-truck accidents and straighten out jackknifed trucks. In rural or unorganized areas, companies which operate tow trucks can sometimes also offer additional services appropriate to highway clearance where government-provided ones are unavailable, such as fire suppression.
The military also deploys tow trucks for recovery of stranded vehicles. In the US Army, a variant of the HEMTT truck is used for this purpose, the M984 wrecker.[13] For recovery in combat situations while under fire, many armies with large vehicle fleets also deploy armoured recovery vehicles. These vehicles fulfill a similar role, but are resistant to heavy fire and capable of traversing rough terrain with their tracks, as well as towing vehicles beyond the weight limits of wheeled wreckers, such as tanks (many are based on tank designs for this reason).[14]
Each state and territory of Australia has its own regulations and acts for the operation of tow trucks. Tow trucks are generally divided into two categories, either by standard, trade and private towing or accident towing. Accident towing tow trucks are clearly identifiable by number plates ending in either "ATT" or "TT". Tow trucks that are not endorsed for accident towing may use general number plates of any combination pursuant to each state's own registering system. An example of a statute regulating the operation of tow trucks and towing companies in Victoria is the Victorian Accident Towing Services Act.[15]
^Ludvigsen, Karl (2014). "Chapter 2: Power to the Dual Monarchy". Professor Porsche's Wars. Pen & Sword Military. pp. 16, 18–19, 21. ISBN978-1-52672-679-7.
truck, this, article, about, vehicles, used, towing, general, information, towing, towing, techniques, vehicle, recovery, types, truck, also, called, wrecker, breakdown, truck, recovery, vehicle, breakdown, lorry, truck, used, move, disabled, improperly, parke. This article is about vehicles used in towing For general information see Towing For towing techniques see Vehicle recovery Types of tow A tow truck also called a wrecker a breakdown truck recovery vehicle or a breakdown lorry is a truck used to move disabled improperly parked impounded or otherwise indisposed motor vehicles This may involve recovering a vehicle damaged in an accident returning one to a drivable surface in a mishap or inclement weather or towing or transporting one via flatbed to a repair shop or other location Flatbed recovery vehicle A tow truck is distinct from a car carrier trailer which is used to move multiple new or used vehicles simultaneously in routine transport operations Contents 1 History 2 Types of towing equipment 3 Operations 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory Edit A 1920 Chevrolet tow truck Ferdinand Porsche of Austro Daimler developed an artillery tractor for the Austro Hungarian army in 1908 the M 08 One of the batch was constructed as a recovery vehicle for the others with a large winch on the rear platform 1 The wrecker with lifting jib was invented in 1916 by Ernest Holmes Sr of Chattanooga Tennessee a garage worker who was inspired after he needed blocks ropes and six men to pull a car out of a creek After improving his design he began manufacturing them commercially 2 The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum in his home town displays restored antique wreckers tools equipment and pictorial histories of motor vehicle towing a type of work that Holmes originated Types of towing equipment EditFive general types of tow truck are in common usage usually based on the type or size of vehicle to be towed Boom uses an adjustable boom with a winch to recover vehicles from a ditch over an embankment or any place the vehicle cannot be safely reached by backing up Some booms are fixed some use heavy pivoting A frames others are equipped with hydraulic powered telescoping tubes The heaviest types of boom can rotate effectively turning the tow truck into a sort of mobile crane called a rotator and are usually reserved for incidents involving heavy vehicles 3 In the past timeframe boom trucks used a hook and chain system where chains are looped around the vehicle frame or axle then lifted by a boom winch A towbar with heavy rubberized mats connects the truck and vehicle so it can be towed on its other axle Slings and belt lifts are a further development with rubber straps replacing part of the chains 4 5 6 Slings are not used much today when because they can scratch the bumpers of cars However they are sometimes used for towing vehicles that have been in an accident or have one or two of the front or rear wheels missing or for pickup trucks and other vehicles that have steel bumpers Cars equipped with all wheel drive cannot be towed with a sling as it can cause problems with the car s drivetrain 7 Wheel lift also called a spectacle lift or underlift developed from the hook and chain technology to produce a large metal yoke that can be fitted under the front or rear wheels to cradle them drawing the front or rear end of the vehicle clear of the ground by a pneumatic or hydraulic hoist so it can be towed This apparatus generally picks up the drive wheels of the vehicle i e the front wheels if it is front wheel drive the rear wheels if it is rear wheel drive touching only the tires 5 The wheel lift was designed by Arthur W Nelson of Weld Built Body Co in 1967 8 The name spectacle lift is common in Europe the cradle resembles a pair of squared spectacles eyeglasses Medium and heavy trucks use a variation the underlift or chassis lift which lifts the axle or frame instead of the wheels Wheel lift trucks can have adapters which can also lift the chassis 4 Integrated also called a self loader snatcher quick pick or repo truck boom and wheel lift integrated into one unit Used in light duty trucks to repossess vehicles or move illegally parked vehicles Most have controls for the apparatus inside the cab of the tow truck to make quick pickup possible without the inconvenience of exiting the truck to hook up the vehicle 9 10 Though similar to a wheel lift truck an integrated truck differs in that the end of its boom features movable arms that can more easily and quickly clamp onto the wheels of a vehicle often controlled from the cabin of the truck On a wheel lift truck the wheels of a vehicle must be manually secured to the yoke by the operator before being lifted There are also heavy duty trucks manufactured with integrated lifts Flatbed also called a rollback slide or tilt tray the entire back of the truck is fitted with a bed that can be hydraulically inclined and slid back to ground level allowing the vehicle to be placed on it under its own power or pulled on by a winch 11 Because they carry rather than tow the vehicle they can be used on a completely immobile vehicle in the US they are used to carry badly damaged cars from crashes Lift flatbed a boom uses a wheel lift frame to lift the vehicle vertically and load it on the bed This type of truck can remove vehicles that are parallel parked It is commonly used in Europe Boom truck with underlift Wheel lift tow truck Integrated tow truck Flatbed with wheel lift Lift flatbed These are the most common arrangements others also exist such as flatbed units that offer a wheel lift boom trucks that can recover but not tow and wheel lift units that offer a combination boom with sling There are also several sizes and weight categories of tow truck The lightest models are usually based on light truck and van chassis offering boom and tow weights of around 5 to 10 short tons 4 5 9 1 metric tons making them ideal for car towing Medium duty tow trucks have a boom capacity of 15 to 20 short tons 14 18 metric tons Heavy duty tow trucks based on chassis used by semi trucks with multiple axles and the ability to tow fully loaded semi truck and trailer combinations have a boom capacity from 25 to 50 short tons 23 45 metric tons Rotators are the heaviest type of tow truck ranging from 40 to 75 short tons 36 68 metric tons though lighter models do exist and often come with many other features per customer specification 12 further explanation needed Most flatbed type vehicles are based on medium duty and heavy duty trucks to provide the chassis strength necessary to carry entire vehicles Operations EditMain article Towing For towing techniques see Vehicle recovery Types of tow Heavy trucks working on a recovery A wheel lift truck towing a damaged car Loading a flatbed with a winch An improperly parked car being recovered Heavy tow truck recovering a bus Tow trucks are usually operated by private businesses except for major highways and toll roads where the road authority may operate the tow trucks for that stretch of road Some police departments own tow trucks in the US however it is common to contract police tows to private companies Businesses who operate a large fleet of vehicles such as school bus companies or package delivery services often own one or several tow trucks for the purposes of towing their own vehicles Government departments with large fleets such as the police departments fire departments transportation authorities and departments of public works of major cities may similarly own one or more tow trucks Police department tow trucks may also be used to impound other vehicles Heavy tow trucks are often called to clear semi truck accidents and straighten out jackknifed trucks In rural or unorganized areas companies which operate tow trucks can sometimes also offer additional services appropriate to highway clearance where government provided ones are unavailable such as fire suppression The military also deploys tow trucks for recovery of stranded vehicles In the US Army a variant of the HEMTT truck is used for this purpose the M984 wrecker 13 For recovery in combat situations while under fire many armies with large vehicle fleets also deploy armoured recovery vehicles These vehicles fulfill a similar role but are resistant to heavy fire and capable of traversing rough terrain with their tracks as well as towing vehicles beyond the weight limits of wheeled wreckers such as tanks many are based on tank designs for this reason 14 Each state and territory of Australia has its own regulations and acts for the operation of tow trucks Tow trucks are generally divided into two categories either by standard trade and private towing or accident towing Accident towing tow trucks are clearly identifiable by number plates ending in either ATT or TT Tow trucks that are not endorsed for accident towing may use general number plates of any combination pursuant to each state s own registering system An example of a statute regulating the operation of tow trucks and towing companies in Victoria is the Victorian Accident Towing Services Act 15 See also Edit Transport portal Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tow trucks Armored recovery vehicle Impounded vehicle auction Motor carrier Roadside assistance Tow hitch Vehicle recoveryReferences Edit Ludvigsen Karl 2014 Chapter 2 Power to the Dual Monarchy Professor Porsche s Wars Pen amp Sword Military pp 16 18 19 21 ISBN 978 1 52672 679 7 Entrepreneurial Hall of fame inducts three University of Tennessee at Chattanooga May 17 2007 Archived from the original on June 23 2010 Retrieved August 29 2009 Challenger Rotator 9909 Feature Features Car and Driver Retrieved January 24 2018 a b HDR 70 85 Wrecker Operations and Maintenance Manual PDF Jerr Dan 2010 pp 33 68 Retrieved 13 September 2016 a b Owner s Manual 820 Wrecker FIIIT PDF Miller Industries 1997 pp III 1 5 IIIA 1 4 IV 1 8 IVA 1 20 Retrieved 13 September 2016 MPL Tow Sling Operation Supplement Manual PDF Jerr Dan 2007 Retrieved 13 September 2016 How to tow a four wheel drive vehicle HowStuffWorks 2 October 2008 Retrieved 9 April 2014 A US patent 3434607 A Automobile Towing device Retrieved 12 September 2016 SL3 Highspeed and volume sales site Metro tow Trucks 2006 Archived from the original on 1 July 2014 Retrieved 22 September 2016 US patent 20050111948 A1 Integrated boom tow bar and wheel lift tow truck assembly 20 November 2003 Retrieved 22 September 2016 Standard Duty Carrier Medium Duty Carrier Heavy Duty Carrier Operations and Maintenance Manual PDF Jerr Dan 2014 Retrieved 13 Sep 2016 12 14 080 Tow truck classifications qcode us Retrieved January 24 2018 Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck Military com Retrieved January 24 2018 M88A2 HERCULES Armoured Recovery Vehicle Army Technology Army Technology Retrieved January 24 2018 Information for the towing industry VicRoads February 13 2017 Retrieved January 26 2018 External links EditInternational Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum in Chattanooga Tennessee Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tow truck amp oldid 1140049866, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
