The Evolution of the Tow truck
In 1916 Mr. Ernest Holmes senior of Chattanooga Tennessee invented the awesome tow truck as we have come to know it today. This guy was a garage worker who used blocks, ropes and lots of dumb muscle to pull cars and trucks out of creeks and ditches in which they were horribly stuck. After he had been inspired to improve on his techniques from the labors of hand pulling vehicles out of the mud, he researched and developed a new way to facilitate what he had been doing for years and began manufacturing the modern-day tow truck commercially.
The most common types of tow trucks use a combination of really cool hydraulic lifting devices. The five general types of tow trucks are boom, hook and chain, wheel lift, flatbed and integrated. All of these designs are very effective and get the job done in a timely manner.
The boom truck uses an adjustable boom with a winch to pull vehicles from ditches or over rocks or unsafe areas of roadways. There are pneumatically powered telescopes in tube A-frames and fixed booms. The chain variation of the tow truck Loops chains around the vehicle's frame or axle which then draws the car in the air by a boom which then rests against a pair of rubberized mats so the customer’s vehicle can be towed on its other axle. Many companies discontinued the use of this type of tow truck because the car you are Towing can be scratched or damaged. Hook and chain trucks are still used by some companies though to move completely disabled cars have been in a huge rack and I are missing wheels or axles. You should not tow all-wheel drive vehicles with the hook and chain because you will damage the drive train.
Wheel-lift or spectacle lift is comprised of a large metal yoke that can be fitted under the front or rear wheels to hold them steady and lift the tires up. When using this type of tow truck it is a good practice to always pick up the drive Wheels on the vehicle that way you do not damage the drive train. This design was invented by Frank Casteel and Fleming Cannon Jr. Pure genius if you ask me!
Rollback or better known as a flatbed tow truck allow the entire back the truck to be hydraulically lowered to the ground so you can drive the vehicle up on the bed of the truck without damaging it. There is usually a winch mounted on the bed as well that can pull a car or other disabled vehicles up on the trucks flatbed.
The integrated tow truck also known as a self-loader or repo truck is both a boom and wheel lift in one complete package. These types of tow trucks are mainly used to move illegally Parked vehicles or repossess Vehicles. Many of these trucks have controls inside the cab to allow the driver to make a quick pick up and go undetected when repossessing irate customer’s vehicles. Tow trucks that utilize this type of equipment are by far Towing Elkhart service's favorite!