Have you ever been stuck in a situation where you have to think about which type of towing is best for your needs, either light, medium or heavy duty towing? Well, when you know the difference between them, you will make a better decision.
Sometimes, your vehicle breaks down, and calling the towing company is considered the last option. Although, these companies can tow vehicles from motorcycles to heavy trucks. Here, you should also know which tow truck suits you to minimize expenses and save time.
In this blog, you will come to know everything about light duty towing, medium duty towing and heavy duty towing. Let’s get you properly prepared for the handling of this situation!
What is Light Duty Towing?
This type of towing is used to tow small vehicles and carry light weight loads. Typically, maximum towing capacity will be less than 1000 lbs. The trucks used for light duty towing are ideal for daily roadside assistance such as repositioning improperly parked vehicles.
Examples
Common vehicles that are towed by light duty towing trucks are
- Sedans
- Compact car
- Motorcycles
- SUVs
- Small trucks
Cost Range of Light Duty Towing
Light duty towing is preferable to tow vehicles to a shorter distance or local transportation. It is considered the most budget friendly type of towing. Usually it covers distance in the range of 5 to 10 miles. So, depending on distance, the cost range of light duty towing will be 25$ to 50$.
Advantages of Light Duty Towing
These advantages make light duty towing for everyday situations.
- Light duty towing is the most affordable type of towing.
- This towing is faster and energy efficient.
- There is less chances of vehicle damage in light duty towing
- Due to the small size of the truck used in light duty towing, it can easily move from tightened or crowded areas.
- It uses a wide range of equipment which makes it suitable for different situations.
- It is easy to access in urban or suburban areas.
Disadvantages of Light Duty Towing
There are many disadvantages of light duty towing
- It has limited weight capacity which makes it tow passenger vehicles.
- It is not preferred to handle severely damaged vehicles.
- This type can tow vehicles to shorter distance
- Light duty towing is not equipped for heavy lifting.
- It usually tow a single vehicle at a time.
Common uses of Light Duty Towing
These are some common cases in which light duty towing can be used.
- In mild car accidents it is used to tow damaged cars.
- To tow flat tire cars.
- In case of dead battery of your vehicle.
What is Medium Duty Towing?
Medium duty towing is used to tow vehicles to a moderate distance. Typically, maximum towing capacity will be between 1000 to 26000 lbs. The trucks used for medium duty towing have more specialized equipments and are more powerful
Examples:
Medium duty towing trucks is used for
- RV
- Vans
- Shuttle busses
- Large SUVs
- Ambulance
Cost Range of Medium Duty Towing
Mid distance range is covered by medium duty towing. It includes a distance of up to 50 miles. The cost range of medium duty towing will be $165 – $300.
Advantages of Medium Duty Towing
These are some advantages of medium duty towing.
- Medium duty towing is used for a wide range of vehicles such as RV, ambulance, vans etc.
- It is more cost effective than heavy duty towing.
- Suitable for both local and long-distance towing
- Less risk of vehicle damage
Disadvantages of Medium Duty Towing
Following are the disadvantages.
- It has limited weight capacity as compared to heavy duty towing
- It has higher cost than light duty towing
- Not suitable for extreme accidental situations i.e. not ideal for severe damaged vehicles.
- These trucks face difficulty in passing through tight places.
Common uses of Medium Duty Towing
These are many cases in which medium duty towing is used. It can be used for both personal and commercial purposes from towing small vans to fleet vehicles and agricultural equipments
What is Heavy Duty Towing?
Heavy duty towing is specially designed to tow heavier and larger vehicles with the tow capacity between 26,000 to 33,000. Heavy duty towing is used for commercial as well as industrial purposes.
Examples:
Examples of vehicles towed by heavy duty towing are
- Semi-Trucks
- Large RVs
- Large Commercial Trucks
- Construction Equipment
Cost Range of Medium Duty Towing
Heavy duty towing covers a large distance. The trucks tow the vehicles to a distance of up to 100 miles. The cost range of medium duty towing will be $275 – $600.
Advantages of Medium Duty Towing
Heavy duty towing have following advantages
- It can easily tow all the heavy vehicles
- There is specialized equipment to tow vehicles that are very difficult to move.
- Prefer for long distance towing
- Also ideal to transport heavy machinery
- Can easily tow more than one vehicle at a time.
- Professionals can only handle the trucks for heavy duty towing
Disadvantages of Medium Duty Towing
Following are the disadvantages.
- It is the most expensive type of towing
- There is high rate of emission
- They are slow moving
- They cannot pass through crowded places
Common uses of Heavy Duty Towing
We can use heavy duty towing for the following cases.
- To recover the stuck vehicles we use heavy duty towing
- Due to presence of safety gears and special handling system heavy duty towing is used to transport hazardous materials
- In case of extreme accidental scenarios.
Key Difference between Light, Medium and Heavy Duty Towing
From this table you can easily differentiate the features of light duty towing, medium duty towing and heavy duty towing
| Feature | Light Duty Towing | Medium Duty Towing | Heavy Duty Towing |
| Vehicle Weight Range | Up to 10,000 lbs | 10,000 to 26,000 lbs | 26,000 to 33,000 lbs |
| Typical Vehicles | Sedans, Compact car, Motorcycles, SUVs, Small trucks | RV, Vans, Shuttle busses, Large SUVs, Ambulance | Semi-Trucks, Large RVs, Large Commercial Trucks, Construction Equipment |
| Cost Range | $25 to $125 | $165 to $300 | $2750 to $600 |
| Towing Distance | Short-distance (within city) | Short to medium-distance | Long-distance (can be between states or countries.) |
| Specialized Staff | Not usually required | May require some specialized skills | Requires trained workers with specialized skills and equipment |
How Do You Know Which Type of Tow Truck Is Right for You?
To determine which towing type suits your situation, you have to consider several factors. Each type of tow truck can handle its specialized vehicle. These factors are involved in making the right choice.
- You must know the type of your vehicle that need to be towed
- Weight of the vehicle is also involved. You should know in which category of weight your vehicle falls.
- Condition of your vehicle will also decide the choice to towing truck
- Then, you should know the Right Towing Equipment (i.e. a flatbed, Wheel-Lift, boom, integrated or Rotator Tow Truck is preferable).
- Note that you towing needs should match the towing truck
- Last but not the least you should also consider the towing cost.
Conclusion:
So, you should choose the right towing type in order to ensure your safety and manage the budget effectively. Selecting the wrong type will result in less efficiency and more cost. It will also cause a waste of resources.
If you still find it difficult to know the type of towing for your needs, seek help from the professionals. They will make better decisions for you.
FAQs:
What is the 80% rule when towing?
According to this rule, you should avoid exceeding 80 % of the maximum towing capacity of the vehicle.
What happens if a tow truck driver exceeds their towing capacity?
It will result in the damage of the vehicle as well as the trailer of the towing truck.
How does GVWR affect towing capacity?
It is the maximum weight carry capacity of a towing truck. You should not exceed the value of this capacity for any reason.
Can I use a light-duty towing service for a small truck?
If the weight of the truck will be less than 1000 pounds, you can easily use light duty towing service for this.
Light, Medium, and Heavy Duty Towing Explained