The short version
- A flatbed carries the whole vehicle on a deck. A wheel-lift lifts one end and lets the other two wheels roll.
- Many all-wheel-drive, electric and hybrid vehicles should travel with all four wheels off the ground, on a flatbed or on dollies. Your owner’s manual will say.
- Wheel-lifts are quick, gentle and great in tight spaces, ditches and parking garages.
- Tell the tow company your drivetrain and anything unusual about the vehicle when you call.
When you call for a tow, one of the first things we ask is what you’re driving and whether it’s all-wheel or four-wheel drive. That isn’t small talk. The answer decides how your vehicle should be towed, and the wrong method can turn a dead battery into a repair bill.
The three ways vehicles get towed
Flatbed (rollback)
A flatbed truck has a long deck that tilts and slides back to the ground. The vehicle is winched or driven up onto the deck and strapped down, and it rides the whole way with all four wheels off the pavement. Nothing on the vehicle turns while it travels.
Wheel-lift
A wheel-lift uses a metal yoke that slips under the front or rear tires and lifts that end of the vehicle. The other two wheels roll on the road. Modern wheel-lifts touch only the tires, not the bumper or the frame, so they’re gentle on the body. They’re also fast and maneuverable, which is why you’ll see them in parking lots, on narrow streets and in repossession work.
Hook-and-chain (sling)
The old-style method of lifting a vehicle by chains around the axle or frame. It can scratch bumpers and bend parts on modern cars, and you’ll rarely see it used on passenger vehicles today. It’s mostly reserved for wrecks and junk vehicles that can’t be damaged further.
Why the drivetrain matters
When two wheels roll during a tow, they turn the parts connected to them. On a front-wheel-drive car lifted by the front, the drive wheels are in the air and the rear wheels simply spin freely, which causes no problem. But on many vehicles, rolling wheels also spin parts of the drivetrain that aren’t being lubricated or cooled the way they are when the engine is running.
- All-wheel drive (AWD): All four wheels are connected through the drivetrain all the time. Towing with two wheels on the ground can force the center differential or transfer case to work against itself. That’s why many AWD manufacturers call for a flatbed or wheel dollies.
- Four-wheel drive (4×4): Part-time 4×4 trucks can often be towed safely in two-wheel-drive mode with the transfer case in the right position, but full-time systems behave more like AWD. It varies by model.
- Rear-wheel drive: Usually towed from the rear, or from the front on dollies, so the drive wheels aren’t turning the transmission.
- Electric and hybrid vehicles: Turning the drive wheels can spin the electric motor, which generates power when the system isn’t expecting it. Most manufacturers say to tow EVs with the drive wheels off the ground, and many recommend a flatbed outright.
Check the owner’s manual
Almost every owner’s manual has a section called “Towing” or “Emergency towing” with the manufacturer’s instructions. If you can find it while you wait, read it to the dispatcher. Some vehicles also have a special “tow mode” or a way to release the electronic parking brake without power.
When a flatbed is the better choice
- Most AWD vehicles, many full-time 4x4s, and most electric vehicles
- Low-clearance sports cars, lowered trucks and cars with body kits
- Vehicles with wheel, axle or suspension damage after an accident, since wheels that can’t roll can’t be wheel-lifted without dollies
- Classic, collector and high-value vehicles
- Motorcycles, which should ride upright on a deck with a proper wheel chock and soft straps
- Long trips, where there’s no reason to put miles on the tires
When a wheel-lift is the better choice
- Front-wheel-drive cars and many two-wheel-drive pickups on short trips
- Tight spots where a flatbed can’t fit or can’t tilt its deck, such as parking garages, crowded lots and narrow driveways
- Vehicles nosed into a ditch, where a wheel-lift can reach in and grab
- Any vehicle that can be set on wheel dollies, which lift the rolling end off the ground and give AWD vehicles the same protection as a flatbed for short moves
What to tell the tow company
A good operator will ask, but you can speed things up by mentioning:
- Year, make and model, and whether it’s AWD, 4×4, electric or hybrid
- Whether it will go into neutral, and where the keys are
- An electronic parking brake, a lowered suspension, a front air dam or other low parts
- Any damage to wheels, tires or suspension
- Whether it’s parked in a garage, a ditch, deep snow or somewhere tight
With that information, the operator can decide on the right equipment before they head out, rather than arriving with the wrong truck.
The bottom line
The “right” tow depends on the vehicle and the situation, not on which truck happens to be closest. Tell us what you drive and where it’s sitting, and we’ll make sure it’s moved the way the manufacturer intended. Call or text (208) 964-3081, or read more about our towing and roadside services.
This article is general information about how things usually work in Idaho, not legal advice. Laws change, and your contract or situation may differ. Where we cite the Idaho Code, the official text is at legislature.idaho.gov.