Breaking down on the side of the road is the last thing that any driver is hoping for, but if you regularly haul over a long distance, some things are inevitable. If you do end curbside, it is important that you know what type of towing services you are going to need. The first thing to consider is the size of the vehicle. Usually, the operator can deduce whether or not they have a rig that can tow your vehicle after just a few questions. There are three main levels of towing; Heavy-duty, medium, and light duty. As you might expect, the level is correlated with the weight of the vehicle that needs towing, but it’s not quite as straightforward as it sounds. Perhaps you recently bought yourself a big Ford F150, advertised as a heavy-duty truck. Other cars on the road seem tiny in comparison, so you get the impression that it would require heavy-duty towing, but this is not the case. The fact of the matter is that almost all noncommercial vehicles fall into the first, and lightest category of towing.
Light-Duty Towing
If you drive a non-commercial vehicle, your car is almost guaranteed to fall into this category. Vehicles are classified based on their gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). There are 8 total levels of GVWR. The first 3 levels are considered light-duty and cover vehicles from 0 to 16000 pounds. Just for reference, a 2022 Ford F150 weighs about 5,000 pounds. Levels 4 to 6 are medium-duty, and the 7 and 8 are the heaviest. Light duty towing is used mostly to remove abandoned vehicles, for private property towing, and for accident recovery. Coups, sedans, and trucks all fall into the category that can all be hauled off by light-duty rigs.
Heavy-Duty Towing
The final and heaviest category is reserved for garbage trucks, dump trucks, tractor trucks, semi-truck towing, and sometimes even airplanes. The GVWR weight limit for heavy-duty towing is between 26001 and 33000 pounds. These rigs are for the biggest jobs and are often chosen for the ability to support the entire load of the vehicle that they are towing. Unless you are working in a field that deals with massive vehicles or heavy construction, then light and medium weight towing will likely have you covered.
Massey Towing and Truck Service
Heavy hauling requires heavy equipment. Here at Massey Towing and Truck Service, we are dedicated to making sure that you and your vehicle can get back on the road as soon as possible. We offer 24/7 towing and hauling services as well as truck repairs in Dallas TX. If you or someone you know needs a towing company they can rely on, call us at (214)- 682-7558.
