In a large number of cases, the need for roadside assistance services is an impromptu expense that a motorist will not have anticipated. For this reason, a large number of motorists opt for the most affordable way out of a roadside-emergency situation. Roadside assistance companies that use flatbed trucks are often more expensive to hire than their counterparts who use tow dollies. This article discusses a few reasons why it may be necessary to bear the extra cost of flatbed towing.

The Vehicle To Be Towed Is A "Low-Clearance" Vehicle

A low-clearance vehicle is one in which there's a significantly shorter distance between the road surface and the lowest-hanging components within the vehicle's undercarriage. A large number of modern sports cars are low-clearance vehicles. When using a tow dolly to tow a low-clearance vehicle, the front wheels of the vehicle will be lifted above the road surface level, while the rear wheels remain in contact with the road surface. Because there's low clearance between the vehicle and the road surface, it's relatively easy for bumpers, exhaust pipes and oil pans (among other components of the vehicle's undercarriage) to get into contact with the road surface whenever the vehicle goes over a bump. Such contact would easily damage the mentioned components. When using a flatbed truck, the vehicle is carried on the flat platform (bed) on the rear of the truck. There's no contact between the wheels of the vehicle and the road surface. The risk of damage to the vehicle's undercarriage is therefore nearly eliminated.

The Vehicle To Be Towed Is An All-Wheel Drive Vehicle

In an all-wheel drive vehicle, both the front and rear wheels have a connection with the vehicle's drive shaft. Vehicles that have only their front wheels connected to the drive shaft are referred to as front-wheel drive vehicles. Tow dollies are suitable for towing front-wheel drive vehicles because the free-rolling of the rear wheels often has no impact on the vehicle's transmission system. If a dolly is used to tow an all-wheel drive vehicle, the free-rolling rear wheels may cause trouble with the transmission system of the vehicle because the transmission is designed for all-wheel driving.

The Towing Distance Is Long

The longer the towing distance, the more risky it is to use a tow dolly. Even if the vehicle to be towed isn't a low clearance vehicle and it isn't an all-wheel drive, there's the risk that the vehicle might get damaged further due to the constant movement of the damaged vehicle along the road surface. Once loaded onto a flatbed truck, a damaged vehicle remains stationery. Chances of movement-related damage on the vehicle are more or less nonexistent.

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