Sometimes cars break down. If you haven’t had a car break down, just wait and it will eventually happen. It’s a certainty of life because vehicles are complicated and the more complicated something is, the more it can go wrong. Breaking down on your vehicle is something we don’t want to happen, but when it does, we have a savior in the form of a tow truck. Towing and towing services are our best friends when our cars break down.

Typically, a crane will come in four different types:

1. A boom, although not normally used for towing, is used when a vehicle is in a ditch, culvert, or has fallen onto an embankment. This is used when the tow truck cannot safely back into the disabled vehicle.

2. The hook and chain is another type used by many towing services. This wraps around the frame of the vehicle to allow a boom winch to lift the car where it will rest against the rubber mats. This allows the vehicle to be towed on one axle. The problem with this is that they can scratch the bumpers, which is why many towing companies choose different methods.

3. The wheel hoist is the successor to the hook and chain. This technology uses a large metal yoke that fits onto the front or rear wheels and locks around them. The crane then lifts the vehicle so that it rests on only one axle, usually the rear one. If the vehicle is front wheel drive, the front wheels lift off. If it’s rear-wheel drive, the rear wheels lift up.

4. Flatbed tow trucks place the entire vehicle on the back of the truck for transport without towing. Rather, it is carried away from where it broke down.

The only problem with a towing service is that it can be expensive. The further you have to take the car to the shop, the more it will cost. A good tip is to research towing companies and keep a list of companies that are in certain areas of the city and how much they cost per mile. That way, you can check the list if your car breaks down and choose the towing service company closest to you. You can also do the same for the mechanics so your vehicle doesn’t have to be towed far.

This will save you a lot of money in towing fees because most towing companies will charge a certain amount per mile to haul your vehicle. The further you go, the more you pay and you haven’t even started repairing your vehicle yet!

Tow service companies and their tow trucks are a great sight when we break down. When we need someone to pick us up and take our cars away, they provide an essential service. Just do your research to avoid paying too much.