Because towing is not a one-size-fits-all job when it comes to towing, there are three different truck distinctions of towing that includes light, a medium, and a heavy-duty towing services. Each towing class is reserved for specific types of jobs, and it requires particular tools. To determine the kind of towing that would best meet your needs, you should determine your vehicle’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). With this in mind, we at Highway 30 Garage would like to discuss the differences of light, medium and heavy towing services.
Basics of Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) & Truck Classifications
Since towing methods is determined by weight, it is important to know how much the vehicle weighs in order for you to decide whether you require a light, medium or heavy-duty tow truck. Ratings of 1-8 can be awarded stemming from GVWR, which is based on a vehicle’s weight. Referenced in ratings from 1-3 are vehicles that weigh between 0-16,000 pounds. There are vehicles weighing between 16,001 and 26,000 pounds, which gets ratings between 4-6 are the medium duty vehicles. What requires a heavy-duty tow truck are vehicles weighing anywhere between 26,001 to over 33,000 pounds and get ratings of 7 or 8.
Light Duty Towing
Light duty towing encompasses regular tow truck routines and requires standard tow trucks and operators. What these small to medium size tow trucks are known for are jobs such as accident recovery, private property towing, towing abandoned cars and traffic collisions. With light duty tow trucks, the towing distance is typically much shorter. Light duty tows often go from one town to another as opposed to long distances. Light duty tow trucks are specifically designed to experience less stress, overall. A light duty tow truck differs from a heavy-duty tow truck since tools and equipment are much less complex and, therefore, less expensive. The cost of potential damages is also not as expensive with light duty towing, indicating that the insurance needed to cover these costs is also lesser.
Medium or Heavy-Duty Towing
While light duty towing is meant for sedans and smaller cars, medium duty towing is meant for larger box trucks, vans, motorhomes, and recreational vehicles. In order to pull heavier vehicles including, boom lifts, and automatic or low-profile trailers, these medium duty tow trucks require more substantial towing equipment. For heavy duty tow truck, the large commercial vehicles such as construction equipment, semi-trucks, garbage trucks, dump trucks, airplanes, and other large and heavy loads are reserved. A heavy-duty tow truck can handle the biggest towing jobs because they are equipped with the most complex equipment out of all three towing classifications. It can pull off these big jobs, equipment such as a winch, a 25-ton boom, and a 6-ton wheel lift is necessary all using a heavy-duty tow truck. Due to the sophisticated nature of this towing equipment, heavy duty tow truck operators must also have intricate knowledge of heavy engines and specific towing strategies for bigger. Heavy duty tows are much longer when compared to their light duty counterparts. They require a much larger insurance policy in case of any of any damages is necessary for towing large vehicles for a longer distance puts more stress on these trucks for extended periods of time.
Towing, Roadside Assistance & More in Cassia, Gooding, Jerome & Twin Falls Counties in Magic Valley, Idaho & Jackpot, Northern Nevada
When you need a tow in Greater Twin Falls, ID, call Highway 30 Garage and let our experts assist you. We also provide other services including roadside assistance services.
