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

When you call for a tow around Knoxville, the dispatcher may ask what you drive before sending a truck. That is because not every vehicle should be towed the same way. Here is a plain guide to the two most common tow trucks and when each one makes sense.

Flatbed towing

A flatbed (also called a rollback) tilts its bed down so the whole vehicle is winched up and carried with all four wheels off the road. It is the gentlest way to move a car.

• Best for all-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive vehicles, which can be damaged if two wheels turn while the others are lifted.
• Best for low sports cars, luxury cars, classics, and electric vehicles.
• Best for cars with heavy accident damage or missing wheels.

Wheel-lift towing

A wheel-lift truck slides a metal yoke under the front or rear wheels and lifts that end, so the car rolls on its other two wheels. It is quick and works well in tight spots like parking garages.

• Fine for most front-wheel-drive cars when the front wheels are lifted.
• Good for short local tows and for moving cars out of tight spaces.
• Rear-wheel-drive cars may need the rear lifted or the driveshaft disconnected; ask the operator.

What to tell the dispatcher

• Year, make, and model, and whether it is AWD, 4WD, or electric.
• Whether the car rolls, steers, and is in park or neutral.
• Any damage, flat tires, or low clearance.
• Exactly where you are and where the car needs to go.

Check your owner's manual for a towing section. Many manufacturers say exactly which method is safe for your vehicle.

Need a tow or roadside help?

Knoxville Towing offers 24/7 towing and roadside help across Knoxville, Farragut, Maryville, and Oak Ridge.