Wrecker vs. flatbed: What should your towing company send you?

Imagine your all-wheel drive car needs to be towed to the mechanic. What kind of vehicle should your towing company send you? Contrary to popular belief, it may actually be a wrecker: a traditional tow truck.

Many people think all-wheel drive vehicles need to be towed by a flatbed truck. Flatbeds are good too, but depending on the circumstances, sometimes wreckers are better.

Imagine, for example, your alternator goes out when you are parked in downtown Minneapolis. Some parking garages have low overhead and a flatbed truck wouldn’t fit. If your towing company sends a wrecker, it will still be able to enter the parking garage and bring your vehicle where it needs to go.

Or say your car is a lowrider: There is less chance of damage if your towing company uses a wrecker to pick it up.

We understand why people may be hesitant to entrust their vehicles to a wrecker. People love their cars and trucks, and they want to treat them carefully. But wreckers have evolved quite dramatically over the past 10 to 15 years. Wreckers have modernized; they don’t pull by the bumper anymore. Wreckers have wheel lifts and tow dollies – they can lift all four tires off the ground. Further, most wreckers now have integrated booms. They can pick up more weight and bring vehicles more safely down the highway than in the past.

Flatbeds have evolved, as well. They have lower decks and easier loading than in the past, and they can tow two vehicles at once. The tow industry as a whole is evolving. Ten to 15 years ago, tow drivers were the only non-certified people coming to people’s aid on an accident scene. That’s changed. We’re a professional industry: All of our Schmit Towing tow truck operators are trained in-house and also go to tow school. So when one of our operators arrives to help you, you know you’re meeting a professional who’s been properly trained. You can feel confident that our operators know how to tow your vehicle. Even if your car is parallel parked and the keys are locked inside, we can tow it, no problem.

Towing is not just a business for us. It’s an important service that people need. We take towing seriously, and we take pride in what we do. We can provide winching, vehicle recovery, junk car removal, car loading, long distance towing, and a host of other services. We have the equipment, expertise and experience you need. So whether your family car needs a tow to the garage or you need interstate heavy truck towing, give us a call at 763-253-1568. Our dispatchers will connect you to the knowledgeable, well-equipped professional you need.