TOW TRUCK SEARCH

Car Tow Trucks

What types of tow trucks are used for standard car towing?

Cradle Trucks (Wheel-Lifters) use a hydraulic arm that is lowered from the rear of the tow truck to lift either the front or the rear of the vehicle (the drive axle) off the ground. The tyres are then strapped into a cradle while the car is towed on two wheels behind the truck. In some cases, dollie wheels can be fitted to the trailing two wheels so all wheels are off the ground.

The lift tow is the most common modern method for short distance transportation. When using a lift tow, the vehicle is winched and strapped to a lifting grid, and then raised. It is ideal for immobilised vehicles such as those jammed in gear or with seized brakes, or in the case of repossession, tow aways, or lost keys.

Slide Decks (Flat Beds) are trucks fitted with a flat metal deck that is hydraulically inclined and lowered to ground level, enabling the vehicle to be loaded onto it either by being driven or winched onto the deck. The deck is then returned to the transportation position. Slide decks are useful for towing lowered vehicles, accident damaged vehicles, trailers, caravans, breakdowns, motorbikes and machinery.

Ramp Trucks (Flat Beds) are designed to transport broken down vehicles that have not been through an accident or experienced major damage. They have limited loading capacities through the angle of the deck and spacing of the ramps. These trucks are usually fitted with a winch to load and unload vehicles.

Find a towing company in your region

If you need a tow truck for the removal of an illegally parked car, for vehicle repossession, or to move your car after an accident or breakdown, you’ll find what you need in our towing directory.

For car towing, truck towing, breakdown assistance or machinery transport, just click on your closest region to find a towing company near you.

For more information about the towing.co.nz directory, please contact us.

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