How Wheel Lift Towing Works

Wheel lift towing uses a metal yoke that slides under either the front or rear wheels of a vehicle. The yoke lifts that end of the vehicle off the ground while the other two wheels remain on the road. The vehicle is then towed with two wheels elevated and two wheels rolling on the road surface.

This method is faster to set up than flatbed towing, which makes it a practical and efficient option for many standard towing situations. It works well for most everyday passenger vehicles in straightforward recovery and transport scenarios across Indianapolis.

When Is Flatbed Towing the Better Option?

There are situations where wheel lift towing is not the right choice and a flatbed is clearly the safer and more appropriate option. These include:

– All-wheel drive and four-wheel drive vehicles — towing with two wheels on the ground can cause serious and expensive drivetrain damage on these vehicles
– Low-clearance and sports cars — the angle and height of the wheel lift hookup can cause scraping or damage to the front or rear of low-sitting vehicles
– Luxury and classic vehicles — owners of high value vehicles often prefer flatbed towing to eliminate any risk of additional wear or cosmetic damage during transport
– Vehicles with accident damage — particularly where the front, rear, or undercarriage has been affected and wheel lift towing is impractical or unsafe
Inoperable vehicles — where the wheels cannot rotate freely or the vehicle cannot be put into neutral

AAA Indianapolis Towing Company carries both wheel lift and flatbed tow trucks. Our drivers will always use the method that is safest and most appropriate for your specific vehicle — and will never use wheel lift towing in a situation where a flatbed is clearly the better choice.