Flatbed Towing

What Is Flatbed Towing?

Flatbed towing is when your entire vehicle sits on a flat platform behind the tow truck. Unlike traditional towing where two wheels stay on the road, flatbed towing lifts all four wheels off the ground. The truck bed tilts down, your car rolls or gets winched onto the platform, and then the bed lifts back up for transport. Your vehicle rides completely level and secure the entire way.

This method is the gold standard for vehicle transport because it eliminates wear on your transmission, tires, and suspension. Your car isn't rolling down the highway, it's sitting stationary on a secure platform. That's why flatbed towing in Mount Prospect is preferred for luxury cars, all-wheel drive vehicles, motorcycles, and any vehicle that's severely damaged. It's simply the safest option available.

When You Need Flatbed Towing

While wheel-lift towing works fine for many vehicles, certain situations require flatbed towing for safety and protection. Here's when you should specifically request a flatbed:

• All-wheel drive and four-wheel drive vehicles: Towing with wheels on the ground can damage the drivetrain. Flatbeds avoid this completely.
• Luxury and exotic cars: High-end vehicles require extra care. Flatbed transport prevents any risk of scraping, dragging, or damage.
• Vehicles with significant body damage: Accident damage often affects how a car sits or rolls. Flatbeds handle these situations better.
• Cars with missing or damaged wheels: If your wheels are missing or badly damaged, traditional towing won't work.
• Low-clearance sports cars: Cars with low ground clearance risk scraping during traditional towing. Flatbeds eliminate that risk.
• Long-distance transport: For trips over 50 miles, flatbed towing reduces wear and tear on your vehicle significantly.
• Motorcycles and special vehicles: Two-wheeled vehicles and specialty equipment need flatbed transport for stability and safety.

If you're unsure which type of towing your vehicle needs, just ask us. We'll recommend the best method based on your car's make, model, and condition. Our emergency towing service includes both flatbed and wheel-lift options, so we can handle whatever you need.

Advantages of Flatbed Towing

Flatbed towing offers several key benefits that make it worth the slightly higher cost compared to traditional towing methods:

Our Flatbed Towing Process

We take every precaution to ensure your vehicle is loaded, transported, and unloaded safely. Here's how we do it:

First, our driver positions the flatbed truck as close to your vehicle as possible. The bed hydraulically tilts down to create a ramp. If your car can roll, we guide it onto the platform. If it can't move, we use a winch to pull it up carefully. Once the vehicle is positioned correctly on the bed, we secure it with heavy-duty straps at multiple points. The bed then lifts back to horizontal position for transport.

During transport, your vehicle remains stable and secure. Our drivers are trained to account for vehicle weight distribution and make sure everything is balanced properly. When we reach the destination, the process reverses. The bed tilts down, straps come off, and your car rolls or gets winched off the platform safely.

Whether you need motorcycle towing or a full-size SUV transported, our flatbed service handles it all with the same level of care and professionalism.

Frequently Asked Questions