Your car won’t start in a parking lot on Main Street in Belle Glade, and the tow truck that arrives has no flatbed, just a metal arm at the back. Is that safe for your car? In most cases, yes. In a few cases, no. Here is how to tell.
Short answer: Wheel lift towing is safe for most front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive cars when the drive wheels are lifted or placed on dollies. All-wheel drive, lowered, luxury and badly damaged cars should ride on a flatbed. If you are not sure, call (561) 680-6198 and tell us the make and model.
What is wheel lift towing?
A wheel lift tow truck has a metal yoke that slides under two of the car’s tires and lifts them off the ground. The other two tires stay on the road and roll behind the truck. Nothing touches the car’s body or bumper, because the truck holds the car by the wheels.
When the other two wheels shouldn’t roll, the driver puts them on dollies: small wheeled platforms that lift those tires off the road too. With a wheel lift and dollies together, all four tires are off the ground.
How does a wheel lift tow truck work?
- The driver backs up to the front or rear of the car, depending on which wheels drive the car.
- The yoke slides under the two tires and locks around them.
- The arm lifts those wheels a few inches off the road.
- If needed, dollies go under the other two wheels.
- The driver secures the car with straps and safety chains, then tows it to the address you choose.
Is wheel lift towing bad for a car?
Not when it is done on the right car in the right way. The main risk is letting the drive wheels roll during the tow. On many vehicles, turning the drive wheels with the engine off can wear or damage parts of the transmission or drivetrain. That is why the driver lifts the drive wheels, or uses dollies.
| Your car | Wheel lift OK? | How it’s done |
|---|---|---|
| Front-wheel drive | Yes | Lift the front wheels; the rear wheels roll |
| Rear-wheel drive | Yes | Lift the rear wheels, or lift the front and put the rear on dollies |
| All-wheel drive or 4WD in AWD mode | Flatbed recommended | All four wheels should be off the road |
| Lowered or with a low front spoiler | Flatbed recommended | A wheel lift can scrape low bodywork |
| Luxury or sports car | Flatbed recommended | Less contact and less risk to wheels and body |
| Badly damaged in an accident | Flatbed recommended | Damaged wheels or suspension may not hold on a lift |
Your owner’s manual usually has a section on towing that says which wheels must be off the ground. When the manual says all four, we use a flatbed.
Can you tow an all-wheel drive car on two wheels?
It is not recommended. In an all-wheel drive car, the front and rear wheels are connected through the drivetrain. If two wheels roll while the other two are lifted, parts like the center differential or transfer case can be strained. The safe options are a flatbed, or a wheel lift with dollies under the other two wheels. At Glade Savers Tow Truck Services, all-wheel drive cars ride on a flatbed.
When is wheel lift towing the better choice?
- Tight spaces: a wheel lift can pull a car out of a parking spot or a narrow driveway where a flatbed can’t line up.
- Everyday cars on shorter trips: for a front-wheel drive sedan going to a shop in town, a wheel lift does the job.
- Cost: wheel lift towing is often the more affordable option. Ask for a quote.
What should I tell the tow truck dispatcher?
- The year, make and model of the car.
- Whether it is front-wheel, rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. If you don’t know, the model is enough.
- Whether the car is lowered or has a low front spoiler.
- Whether the car was in an accident, and which side is damaged.
- Where you are and where the car should go.
With that information we send a flatbed or a wheel lift truck, whichever fits the car.
Wheel lift and flatbed towing in Belle Glade and the Glades
Glade Savers Tow Truck Services tows cars, SUVs and pickups 24/7 in Belle Glade, Pahokee, South Bay, Clewiston, Canal Point and Lake Harbor, including US-27, SR 80 / Main Street, US-441 / SR 15 and SR 715. See car and SUV towing for details, or all towing services for motorhomes, box trucks and semis. If the car only needs a jump start or a spare tire, see roadside services.
Frequently asked questions
Is wheel lift towing safe?
Yes, for most front- and rear-wheel drive cars when the drive wheels are lifted or on dollies. All-wheel drive, lowered, luxury and badly damaged cars should go on a flatbed.
What is the difference between a wheel lift and a flatbed?
A wheel lift raises two wheels while the other two roll or sit on dollies. A flatbed carries the whole car on the truck bed.
Can a wheel lift damage my bumper?
A wheel lift holds the tires, not the bumper. Cars with low spoilers or lowered suspension can still scrape, so those ride on a flatbed.
Can I tow an AWD car with a wheel lift?
Only with dollies under the other two wheels so all four are off the road. We tow all-wheel drive cars on a flatbed.
Is wheel lift towing cheaper than a flatbed?
It is often the more affordable option. Call (561) 680-6198 or send the quote form for a price.