When your vehicle breaks down and you call for a tow truck, do you think about what kind of truck the tow company will send you? Does it really make a difference? 

1. Well, if your vehicle is a four wheel drive, it is recommended that you have your vehicle transported on a rollback so that none of the wheels are turning and causing potential damage to your transmission.  Four Wheel drive vehicles can be towed with a wrecker if the driveshaft is disconnected and /or wheels dollied, but that is an added expense to you, the customer.
   
2.  Even if your vehicle is not four wheel drive, many rear wheel drive vehicles cannot be towed with their drive wheels on the ground, unless the driveshaft is disconnected and/or the drive wheels are placed on dollies. In most cases, this also adds a greater expense to the customer.
3. Front wheel drive vehicles should never be towed with their drive wheels on the ground.  (There are some rare instances where this is ok but it is very rare).
   
4. Low clearance vehicles (vehicles with spoilers, low profile tires and ground effects) can be towed, however this should be done by experienced operators and with extreme caution and care and with the proper tow truck. Most, if not all, of this type vehicles are more suited to be transported on a rollback.
5.  Many autos now are so low to the ground that towing with a tow truck also risks damaging oil and transmission pans.  This is not an issue with rollbacks.
6. When your vehicle is on a carrier there is no need to worry about a tire going flat on the transported vehicle.  Most tow trucks today are much larger than the vehicle they are towing.  If a flat occurs on the towed  vehicle the driver may not notice until it is too late.  If this happens damage could occur to the towed vehicle.
7. Vehicles that have a high roof/body usually need to be towed by a tow truck.  If they are loaded on a carrier they may be too high to clear under overpasses, power lines,  tree limbs etc.
8. Front wheel drive cars and rear wheel drive cars can be towed with tow trucks as long as their drive wheels are raised.
   
9. Some light recovery operations can be performed with a rollback, but heavy recovery needs a wrecker.
10. With the right operator it doesn't matter what kind of truck tows/ carries your vehicle, it will be done safely and without damage.  But our experience has been to use rollbacks for most transport situations and wreckers for accident recovery and M.D. towing operations.