Wheel-lift pickup towing uses a hydraulic lift that cradles a truck's front or rear wheels and raises them off the ground, towing the vehicle on its remaining wheels. This is the workhorse method for most everyday pickup towing situations – faster to hook up than a flatbed and well-suited for shorter tows where the truck isn't dealing with major drivetrain damage.
You need this when your pickup won't start, has a dead battery that jump-starting didn't fix, needs to move from a breakdown location to a shop, or is otherwise mechanically sound enough to roll on its wheels but can't be driven under its own power. Wheel-lift towing works well for most standard tow situations, though a truck with transmission or drivetrain damage, all-wheel drive systems, or significant undercarriage damage may need a flatbed instead, which we'll assess on arrival.
We start by positioning the tow truck and lowering the wheel-lift unit under the appropriate end of your pickup, typically the front wheels for a rear-wheel-drive truck. We secure the wheels in the lift cradle, raise them off the ground, and check that the truck is properly secured before heading out. For all-wheel or four-wheel drive pickups, we use tow dollies or confirm the drivetrain can handle being towed on wheel-lift without damage, since some 4WD systems require all four wheels off the ground. We drive at appropriate speeds for the tow, and once we reach the destination, we lower the truck and release it from the lift.
Cost depends on distance, whether it's a local tow or a longer haul, and time of day, with standard rates typically covering a base hookup fee plus mileage. Pickups in San Francisco, CA needing tows to a specific shop or dealership sometimes have preferred destination arrangements we can coordinate directly.
Stuck with a pickup that won't move? Call (661) 426-2386 for a fast wheel-lift tow.
