Flatbed vs. Wheel-Lift Towing: Which Does Your Car Need?

If you've ever waited on a tow, you've probably seen two very different trucks show up: a flatbed (rollback) that loads the whole car onto a deck, and a wheel-lift that cradles two wheels and rolls the car on the other two. Both are legitimate. The trick is knowing which your vehicle should get.

Flatbed (rollback) towing

The entire vehicle rides up on the bed, with every wheel off the ground. Nothing drags and the drivetrain is never spun, which makes it the safest option for a lot of cars. Choose a flatbed for:

• All-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive vehicles
• Low-clearance, lowered or sports cars
• Luxury, exotic and classic vehicles
• Cars that won't shift to neutral, or are non-running
• Vehicles with accident or body damage

Wheel-lift towing

A wheel-lift is lighter and more maneuverable, and it's perfectly safe for many everyday front- or rear-wheel-drive cars on a short, ordinary tow — especially in tight spots a big rollback can't reach.

Not sure? We'll send the right one

When you call, just tell us the year, make and model and what's wrong. We'll send the truck your car actually needs — not whatever happens to be closest. McCoy Towing runs flatbeds and self-loaders across Orlando and Central Florida, 24/7. Call (407) 305-0088.