What Is Heavy-Duty Towing?

Heavy-duty towing involves the transportation of large vehicles or equipment, including buses, RVs, semi-trucks, boats, and machinery. Because these vehicle types are too heavy to be hauled by a traditional tow truck, they require a heavy-duty option instead.

Here at AJ’s Towing, we want to help you understand how the heavy-duty hauling process works in case you ever need to use a Sacramento towing service. This guide will assist you in learning about heavy-duty towing.

Heavy-Duty Towing Explained

Heavy-duty towing is a specialized service designed to transport large, heavy vehicles safely. The tow truck operators must be extensively trained for this specific tow service, as it is much more complicated than a regular service.

Heavy-duty tow trucks weigh anywhere from 14,000 to 30,000 lbs., but some can weigh as much as 50,000 lbs. They are typically equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, which allows them to handle the biggest and most challenging tow jobs.

How Heavy-Duty Towing Works

These trucks must withstand the weight of other large vehicles during the towing process, so their engines and frames are built specifically for this work. Because heavy-duty tow trucks are so much larger and stronger than their traditional counterparts, their accessories are also bigger and more powerful.

Winches are commonly used to secure the vehicle to the tow truck. Generally, a winch has a hook on the end that connects to straps or chains attached to the vehicle that needs to be hauled. The winch’s motor-driven rotating spool pulls the vehicle onto the tow truck or, in some cases, a flatbed trailer.

When To Use a Heavy-Duty Towing Service

A heavy-duty Sacramento towing service may be required if a large vehicle can’t move independently. However, rather than getting a tow truck immediately, the driver may want to contact a professional who regularly works on large vehicles to see if the vehicle can be fixed on the spot. This will eliminate the need for a heavy-duty tow. However, the driver should immediately contact a heavy-duty tow truck if the vehicle breaks down on the roadway. The longer it sits on the road, the more likely an accident will occur.

Heavy-duty towing may also be necessary when transporting large machinery or vehicles from one location to another. For instance, these tow trucks are generally responsible for moving equipment back and forth during construction work.

Additionally, these trucks come in handy when a vehicle has overturned or gets stuck in mud, water, or deep ditches. Even if the vehicle doesn’t require heavy-duty assistance, heavy-duty trucks are usually equipped with powerful cranes and winches that make recovering any size vehicle much easier and safer.

How To Pick a Service

Anyone who needs a heavy-duty towing service in Sacramento must be cautious about which companies to use. The towing provider should have skilled heavy-duty drivers who have experience hauling everything from school buses to tanker trucks. The towing service should also have the following characteristics:

• Appropriate equipment
• Open availability
• Proper insurance and licenses
• Competitive prices

Drivers who use larger vehicles should also look into a roadside assistance service. This service type  helps ensure that the driver doesn’t get stuck with a flat tire, run out of gas, or get locked out of the vehicle. An all-in-one plan that provides a heavy-duty tow service and roadside assistance is ideal for someone in Sacramento who drives a large vehicle.

Heavy-duty towing isn’t a service that should be taken lightly. If you have a large vehicle or equipment that needs to be transported, you should find a qualified and experienced company you can trust, such as AJ’s Towing! Contact our Sacramento towing service today so we can help with your towing needs!