Flatbed vs. Wheel-Lift Towing: Which Is Right for Your Car?

What Is Flatbed Towing?

A flatbed tow truck (also called a rollback or slide truck) has a long, flat cargo bed that can be hydraulically tilted and slid backward to ground level. Your vehicle is driven or winched onto the bed and secured with chains or straps. All four wheels of your car are completely off the ground and resting on the flat platform during transport.

How it works:

1. The operator tilts the bed to ground level
2. Your vehicle is driven or winched up onto the bed
3. The bed is raised back to horizontal
4. The vehicle is secured with four-point straps and chains
5. Transport occurs with all wheels elevated

Flatbed towing is the gold standard because no parts of your vehicle touch the road during transport. There's zero risk of drivetrain damage from spinning wheels.

What Is Wheel-Lift Towing?

Wheel-lift towing (also called a hook-and-chain or dollies tow in older setups) involves lifting either the front or rear axle of your vehicle off the ground using a metal yoke that slides under the wheels. The other two wheels remain on the ground and roll during transport.

How it works:

1. The operator positions a metal yoke under the two drive wheels (or rear wheels)
2. The yoke lifts those wheels 18–24 inches off the ground
3. The other two wheels roll on the pavement during towing
4. Transport occurs with two wheels elevated and two wheels rolling

Wheel-lift tows are faster to set up and less expensive — which is why many towing companies use them for standard calls.

Side-by-Side Comparison

When You MUST Use a Flatbed (No Exceptions)

1. All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) Vehicles

This is the most important rule. If you drive an AWD or 4WD vehicle — a Subaru Outback, Audi Q5, Jeep Wrangler, Toyota 4Runner, Ford F-150 with 4WD, Dodge Durango, any Tesla, etc. — you absolutely must use flatbed towing.

Here's why: In an AWD vehicle, all four wheels are mechanically connected. When you lift the rear wheels and roll the front wheels during towing, the front axle spins but the rear axle doesn't. This differential in rotation between the front and rear axle goes through the transfer case and driveshaft — and can cause catastrophic drivetrain damage, even at low speeds. Repair costs for this kind of damage run $1,500–$5,000+.

True story: Every year in your area, drivers of Subarus and Jeeps call tow companies asking for the cheapest tow, get a wheel-lift, and end up with a $3,000 repair bill. Don't let this happen to you.

2. Damaged or Non-Functional Steering

If your vehicle has been in an accident and the steering, suspension, or wheels are damaged, the rolling wheels during a wheel-lift tow may not track straight — causing the vehicle to swerve or the suspension to sustain further damage. Flatbed required.

3. Luxury and Sports Vehicles with Low Ground Clearance

Vehicles like Porsche 911s, Corvettes, Ferraris, and lowered sports cars often have ground clearance under 4 inches. The wheel-lift yoke setup can scrape the undercarriage. Flatbed is the only safe option, and any quality towing company in your area will insist on it.

4. Motorcycles and Scooters

Motorcycles require a flatbed with a proper wheel cradle. Never attempt to wheel-lift a motorcycle — it will fall over.

5. Vehicles with Locked or Frozen Brakes

If the brakes are seized, the wheels won't roll. A wheel-lift tow will drag the locked wheels across the pavement, destroying your tires and potentially damaging the rotors. Flatbed required.

6. Electric Vehicles

Most EV manufacturers (Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, etc.) specifically prohibit wheel-lift or hook-and-chain towing. The regenerative braking systems in EVs can be damaged when wheels are rolling without the motor engaged. Always flatbed an EV.

When Wheel-Lift Towing Is Fine

Wheel-lift towing is perfectly appropriate for:

• Standard front-wheel drive vehicles (Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus, etc.) being towed from the rear — the front wheels on the ground can freely roll without drivetrain risk
• Short local tows where the destination is just a few miles away
• Abandoned or impounded vehicles in municipal towing situations
• Standard rear-wheel drive vehicles towed from the front

Many reputable SLC towing companies will confirm the right tow type when you call — just tell them your vehicle's make, model, and whether it's AWD/4WD.

How to Request the Right Tow in Salt Lake City

When you call a towing company, be ready to provide:

1. Year, make, and model of your vehicle
2. Drivetrain type — FWD, RWD, AWD, or 4WD
3. Damage description — is the vehicle operable? Can it steer?
4. Your exact location
5. Destination

A reputable company will automatically dispatch the correct truck type. If a company insists on wheel-lifting your AWD vehicle, call a different company — or know that you're accepting significant risk of drivetrain damage.

Cost Difference: Is Flatbed Worth the Extra Money?

In Salt Lake City, flatbed towing typically costs $25–$75 more than wheel-lift for the same distance. Here's a quick cost comparison:

For an AWD vehicle, paying the extra $50 for flatbed instead of wheel-lift could save you thousands in drivetrain repair. It's almost always worth it.

Find Flatbed Towing in Salt Lake City

Need a flatbed tow in your area right now? Use the National Tow Connect directory to find verified companies that offer flatbed service in your area. You can filter by service type and read reviews from other drivers.