Is flatbed towing better than a wheel-lift tow?

For most modern cars, yes. A flatbed keeps all four wheels off the road, which protects AWD systems, EV motors and transmissions. A wheel-lift is fine for many two-wheel drive cars on short trips and in tight spaces.

Can you flatbed an all-wheel drive car?

Yes. A flatbed is the right way to tow an all-wheel drive car because none of the wheels turn during the trip.

Can a flatbed tow a lowered car?

Yes. We use a low approach angle, ramps or wood blocks when needed and slow winching to keep the front lip from scraping.

How far can you flatbed my car?

We tow across North Texas every day and offer long distance flatbed towing to other Texas cities and nearby states.

Can you flatbed a pickup truck?

Yes. We flatbed pickups, SUVs and vans in the light and medium duty range.

Flatbed Towing – Towvana

What Is Flatbed Towing?

Flatbed towing means your vehicle rides on a flat steel deck on the back of the tow truck. Some people call it a rollback. The deck slides back and tilts down to form a ramp. We winch your vehicle up, center it, and strap each wheel to the deck. Then the deck levels out and we drive off with all four wheels in the air.

Nothing on your vehicle turns or drags during the trip. Your tires, transmission, axles and driveline get no wear. That is why many carmakers say AWD, 4WD and electric vehicles should only be moved on a flatbed.

Signs You Need a Flatbed Tow Truck

Your car has all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive
You drive an EV or a hybrid
The car sits low or has a front lip or body kit
The vehicle has crash damage, a flat that will not hold air or a locked wheel
You are moving a classic, exotic or brand new car
The trip is more than a few miles
The car will not go into neutral

Flatbed Towing Options

The flatbed is the base for most of our work. It handles Accident Towing, EV Towing, Exotic Towing, Classic Car Towing and Long Distance Towing. We also use flatbeds for Motorcycle Towing, Forklift Towing, Equipment Transport and Toolbox Transport.

If your car is stuck in a low garage, our Parking Garage Towing crew pulls it out with a wheel-lift unit first. Then we load it onto a flatbed outside for the rest of the trip.

Flatbed Towing on North Texas Roads

A stall on a North Texas highway can leave you on a thin shoulder with traffic flying past. LBJ Freeway has managed lanes and tight shoulders through much of North Dallas. I-30 between Dallas and Garland, I-635 through Mesquite and US-380 through Princeton all carry heavy truck traffic. A flatbed lets us load fast and get you off the road in one move.

Weather matters too. On 100 degree summer days, dragging a car on two wheels puts more heat and strain on parts that are already working hard. Spring brings hail and flash floods. A flatbed lets us move a flooded car without turning the wheels or starting the engine, which can limit damage. In winter ice storms, a flatbed is steadier than a wheel-lift on slick ramps and overpasses.

Flatbed vs. Wheel-Lift Towing

Both trucks have a job. A flatbed keeps the car fully off the road. A wheel-lift lifts one end and tows on the other two wheels. Here is how they compare:

Wheels on the road: none with a flatbed, two with a wheel-lift.
Best for: AWD, 4WD, EVs, exotics, classics and wrecks on a flatbed. Two-wheel drive cars, short moves and low garages on a wheel-lift.
Loading: a flatbed winches the car up a tilted deck. A wheel-lift cradles the front or rear tires.
Trip length: flatbeds handle long trips well. Wheel-lift tows suit short moves.

Not sure which you need? Tell dispatch your year, make and model. We will pick the right truck.

What to Expect When You Call

Call (972) 362-9222 and share your location, vehicle and drop-off spot.
Dispatch sends a flatbed from the closest Towvana location and gives you an arrival estimate.
The driver walks around the car with you and notes any damage that is already there.
We winch the car up, strap all four wheels and drive to your shop, dealer, home or storage spot.

How to Get Your Car Ready

Take out valuables, garage remotes and toll tags.
Fold in your mirrors if you can.
Turn off the alarm, or show the driver how.
If the car is AWD or an EV, find the tow or neutral mode in the owner's manual.
Tell us about any leaks so we can protect the deck.
If we are dropping at a closed shop, leave the key with the driver.

Flatbed Towing Cost

The cost of a flatbed tow depends on distance, time of day, the size and weight of the vehicle and whether it rolls, steers and brakes. Extra work, like winching from a ditch or moving a car with locked wheels, adds time. Call dispatch with the pickup and drop-off addresses and we will quote the tow before we roll.

Who Uses Flatbed Towing

We flatbed cars for drivers who broke down, for repair shops moving cars between locations, for dealers delivering cars and for people moving across North Texas. Buyers use us to bring home a car from a private seller. Collectors use us to move cars to shows and storage.

Why Drivers Choose Towvana for Flatbed Towing

We have eight locations: Dallas, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Richardson, Irving, Garland and Princeton. That puts a flatbed closer to more of North Texas. We give you a price before we roll, strap at the wheels instead of the frame, and take your car wherever you choose.

Flatbed Towing in Dallas, TX

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