Whether you are considering entering roadside assistance or you want to add a towing service to your mechanic facility, purchasing the right equipment can seem intimidating. Traditional tow trucks are expensive and bulky, and you may be asking yourself, “Can I make my pickup into a tow truck?” The answer is yes. You can convert your pickup truck into a repo truck or towing vehicle — it’s as simple as purchasing a wheel lift that is compatible with your truck and acquiring a suitable pickup that lifts the correct amount, has enough power and contains enough space.
Table of Contents
- What Is a Wheel Lift?
- What Qualities Should My Pickup Have to Tow?
- What Are the Recommended Cab and Bed Configurations?
- What Are the Truck Brand Options?
- Why the Right Equipment Can Make a Big Difference
What Is a Wheel Lift?
A wheel lift is a mechanism that can be added to a pickup truck to transform it into a towing vehicle. The apparatus can be connected to a pickup’s underside. Wheel lifts with adjustable subframes can fit multiple kinds of trucks, and this system is easy to install so you can convert your truck into a towing vehicle or repossession tool quickly.
A wheel lift allows tow trucks to remove idle cars with a modern twist, moving away from the hook and chain method which attached to the axle or car frame. While the old hook-and-chain procedure is still effective and occasionally used, it can leave scratches and is time-consuming. Wheel lifts secure the wheel area instead of lifting from the axle. One pair of tires is placed in brackets with steel pins and suspended while the other pair of tires remains on the road during the tow. A hydraulic system lifts the secured wheels, then the car is ready to be towed. Although pneumatic or electric motors can power other lifting systems, hydraulic lifts are generally the preferred option for pickup towing.
r a deeper understanding of the different types of towing vehicles available, including their specific use cases and benefits, check out our guide to the four main types of tow trucks.
Pickup tow trucks may use integrated lifts that let you remain in the cab to load the car. These systems extend a tow boom underneath vehicles for easy access. Flatbed and hook-and-chain are a few alternatives. However, a pickup truck option that is optimal for quick and discreet jobs is a hidden wheel lift. This system can also be self-loading, but it has the advantage of easy storage, as well. The lift is stored away until you need to slip it underneath a vehicle. This is a swifter and more discreet system, and better for undetected repossession and the appearance of your pickup.
The wheel lift option supplies many benefits to your pickup towing transition. First, using a metal yoke to suspend the car from the wheels reduces the chance of damage. The car’s frame will display fewer scratches or marks from the journey back to your destination. Secondly, pickup truck towing can reach narrow areas that full-size tow trucks could not navigate. Lastly, if you already own a viable truck model for towing, your towing process is simple and expedient. A wheel lift installation is a manageable service that only takes a short time.
What Qualities Should My Pickup Have to Tow?
Choosing a pickup on which to attach a wheel lift includes selecting the ideal size, capabilities and structure. Depending on your towing purposes, your pickup may need to handle multiple loads of vans, station wagons or SUVs. To safely handle all that weight, your truck should be armed with appropriate capabilities.
A vehicle’s tow rating, found via the manufacturer or vehicle manual, details the specifications for safe towing. The attached weight relates to your vehicle’s size and maximum loaded weight, and specific variations of pickup ratings make for better, safer and more powerful towing options.
The initial consideration for buying a pickup for tow truck service is the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the towing capacity. The GVWR is the largest amount of weight that a manufacturer designates as safe for a vehicle’s operation. While this amount does not include what can be towed, it does affect the towing capacity of a truck. The towing capacity relies on a durable frame and suspension. The payload, separate from the towing capacity yet easily confused with it, is simply the amount that the vehicle can carry rather than tow from behind. The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) includes your pickup and additional attachments, including any towed weight.
Considering whether to choose a gas or diesel pickup is a vital decision. Gas pickups are more affordable, but diesel trucks are more powerful. Diesel pickups generally have more torque for hauling heavy loads. The sizable diesel tanks also complement repossession purposes — it saves time by reducing refueling stops. An industry study by Vincentric found that gas trucks made more financial sense compared to diesel trucks, largely due to repair and maintenance expenses. Gas pickups also reduce noise for the repossession process, which can help you avoid confrontations and any disputes. Diesel will likely bring notice to your preferred covert task and present issues in tighter spaces, as these pickups tend to be heavier and broader than gas-powered vehicles.
What Are the Recommended Cab and Bed Configurations?
When buying a pickup for tow truck service, cab and bed configurations are important to the weight distribution. Displacing the heavy rear load a converted pickup will pull creates less weight and strain for your pickup. There are three main cab configurations — regular, extended and crew. Bed specifications are limited to two lengths — six-foot beds and eight-foot beds.
1. Cab Configurations
A regular cab has a standard wheelbase that does not stretch far, but it is easier to maneuver in small spaces. Regular cabs have the two-door structure, which does not affect most towing operations as far as passenger transportation is concerned. This limits space inside the cab and provides no rear seating. But, a benefit of the regular cab pickups is that they often have higher towing capacity compared to other full-size trucks. This cab does not provide the best weight displacement due to its short length.
The extended or double cab includes the four-door setup, providing adequate seating. However, the seating is slightly smaller with only partial doors at the rear. Extended cabs offer more weight at the front than regular cabs do, and the weight of heavier cars being towed is distributed more evenly with this type. Compared to the regular and crew, this level of cab length and storage is the best of both worlds. You can balance and accommodate with seating in extended-cab pickup trucks.
Crew- or quad-cab pickups are the longest cab type available. The four-door structure of the crew cab is the next level up from the extended cab with full-size doors and more room in the second row. To fully ground a cumbersome load, choose the crew cab. Crew cabs are ideal for repossession work and the best vehicles to convert to a tow truck. Safety, as a priority, is soundly met with a long wheelbase and a sturdy front.
For repossession and towing a car with a pickup truck, a crew cab is a superior choice to promote safe transportation with a large weight to displace. Deliver cars with little trouble with a crew cab pickup truck.
2. Truck Bed Configurations
Truck beds also add to the overall length and towing ability of pickups. In the same case as cab categories, the bed length can bring positive and negative qualities to your towing needs.
A pickup with a six-foot bed keeps the size of your pickup and wheel lift small, so you can retrieve cars from cramped areas. Getting to a car may require more flexible driving, and a shorter bed would make compact alleys or confined garages accessible.
However, an eight-foot bed adds to the advantages of a long and anchored tow truck. When selecting the best trucks for wheel lift towing, consider an eight-foot bed to firmly lift and tow cars.
What Are the Truck Brand Options?
Several pick up truck brands offer light-weight and heavy-weight options with exceptional towing capacity. Many leading brands make efficient models suitable for all-wheel drive towing. These same brands regularly release new models with more technology and improved towing capabilities. Check out the most recent innovations from the leading pickup brands.
1. Ford
Ford continuously leads in the truck brand competition or nears the top of the list, and particularly for tow rating, Ford trucks are a popular choice. With a towing capacity of 15,000 pounds on the 2018 F-250 SRW 4×2, this pickup is a respectable choice to convert into a repo or tow truck. Gas mileage, technology and length set this Ford truck apart. For an immense towing capacity of 34,000 pounds, look to the F-450 DRW 4×2. Ford as a brand continues to produce powerful pickups suited for towing.
2. RAM
RAM is a contender for towing trucks, and the 2018 RAM 3500 has a maximum towing capacity of 31,210 lbs. This is a leading diesel option if you choose to go this direction with your pickup. Spacious cab areas are available if you want more room to store equipment. RAM has proven gas and diesel engine options that make their trucks a great choice for towing.
3. GMC
GMC also tops the charts in the best trucks for wheel lift towing. GMC has pickups with technological perks and solid ratings. The 2018 GMC Sierra 2500 HD has a maximum towing capacity of 18,100 pounds and a long box with two-wheel drive to complement the standard cab. This also available in a diesel option if this fueling choice appeals to you.
4. Chevrolet
Chevy’s sleek designs and configurations make their trucks some of the best for towing. The 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD has a great towing capacity. The eight-speed has better gear spacing for towing heavy loads. This heavy-duty pickup even has WiFi capabilities and 445 horsepower.
Wheel Lift Options
The correct towing system is crucial to the kind of towing operations you intend to do. If you are towing cars for your own mechanic service, that will look different than towing cars to repossess them. Vehicle maintenance is significant to one, while speed and stealth matter more to the other. Towing machinery and even the kind of pickup truck will change the success of towing, roadside service and repossession.
For towing businesses, the best trucks for wheel lift towing are at least three-quarter-ton trucks, because these fit most wheel lift systems and have the power to pull vehicles often. Towing businesses should consider the possibility of tight settings, and the shorter pickups previously discussed. According to the most recent data, the average weight of cars in the U.S. is 4,035 pounds. This means that your pickup does not need to be the most heavy-duty truck on the market.
For repossession workers, the best pickups for repo towing are gas engine trucks that are compatible with self-loading systems. Incognito lifting systems and quieter trucks allow repossessors to evade any upset individuals. Wheel lifts that can be operated from the cab also keep risky situations to a minimum in case you are spotted.
Roadside service businesses should choose a pickup with a crew or extended cab in case multiple passengers are present at broken down or damaged vehicles. Roadside service vehicles should choose wheel lifts that are quick for productive service.
Why the Right Equipment Can Make a Big Difference
The correct towing system is crucial to the kind of towing operations you intend to do. If you are towing cars for your own mechanic service, that will look different than towing cars to repossess them. Vehicle maintenance is significant to one, while speed and stealth matter more to the other. Towing machinery and even the kind of pickup truck will change the success of towing, roadside service and repossession.
For towing businesses, the repo pickup trucks for wheel lift towing are at least three-quarter-ton trucks, because these fit most wheel lift systems and have the power to pull vehicles often. Towing businesses should consider the possibility of tight settings, and the shorter pickups previously discussed. According to the most recent data, the average weight of cars in the U.S. is 4,035 pounds. This means that your pickup does not need to be the most heavy-duty truck on the market.
For repossession workers, the best pickups for repo towing are gas engine trucks that are compatible with self-loading systems. Incognito lifting systems and quieter trucks allow repossessors to evade any upset individuals. Wheel lifts that can be operated from the cab also keep risky situations to a minimum in case you are spotted.
Roadside service businesses should choose a pickup with a crew or extended cab in case multiple passengers are present at broken down or damaged vehicles. Roadside service vehicles should choose wheel lifts that are quick for productive service.
Buy Wheel Lifts From Lift and Tow
The highest quality equipment can boost your pickup towing success. Lift and Tow has the equipment you need to convert your pickup into a full-service repo pickup truck. With our towing kits for trucks, the process is simple and convenient. Check out our products to start your towing or repo business.
We help answer tow truck driver questions so they can get the most from their equipment. Contact us today if you have any questions about the towing process or want more information about our Super Series, Underbody Wheel Lift, or Self-Loading Wheel Lift.