Flatbed vs. Hook and Chain Towing: Which Tow Truck Service Is Better for Your Car

When your car breaks down on the road, a quick tow truck service will get it to safety before you fix it. But did you know that there are several towing methods, and each one affects your car differently?

Towing services like Benny’s Towing Service will explain these options and help you choose what’s best for your vehicle, but others won’t care as much so long as they get paid. That’s why you need to know these towing methods to protect your car from any damage.

In this article, we’ll discuss two common towing methods, flatbed and hook and chain towing, to prepare you for any sudden incidents in the future.

What Is Flatbed Towing?

Flatbed towing uses a tow truck with a large flat platform on its back to carry your entire car off the ground so no wheels touch the road while the truck moves.

Here is how the flatbed towing process usually works:

The tow truck driver carefully positions the truck near the car that needs towing.
The driver lowers the flatbed by tilting it so that one end of the platform slides down and touches the ground, creating a ramp.
If the car can still move on its own, the driver may drive slowly up the tilted flatbed ramp.
If the car cannot move, the driver uses a powerful winch cable attached to the front of the car to pull the vehicle gently and steadily up onto the flatbed platform.
Once the car is fully on the platform, the tow truck driver raises the flatbed back to its horizontal position.
The driver then secures the car in place using strong straps or chains to prevent it from moving while the truck moves.
The tow truck then transports the car to the desired location.

Many drivers and towing companies prefer flatbed towing because the car remains off the ground during the tow, which protects its tires, suspension, and undercarriage.

Flatbed Towing Applications

People mostly use flatbed towing in the following circumstances:

Expensive or Luxury Cars: It avoids scratches, tire damage, and suspension problems that other towing methods can cause in high-value cars.
Damaged Vehicles: It reduces the risk of further damage in cars that are too damaged to drive.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Vehicles: It lifts the entire vehicle to protect the complex drivetrains that can be damaged if some wheels remain on the ground during towing.
Classic and Collector Cars: It protects the car from road debris and damage because collector vehicles need special care to remain in mint condition.
Long Distance Transport: It protects the car from dirt, rocks, and bumps on the road over long distances.
Broken Down Cars: It safely moves broken down vehicles you can’t drive.

Benny’s Towing Service uses flatbed tow trucks to protect your car’s tires, suspension, and body and get the vehicle safely to its destination.

Pros and Cons of Flatbed Towing

Pros	Cons
✅ Keeps the whole car off the ground so tires and suspensions stay safe	❌Costs more than hook and chain towing in many cases
✅ Safest way to move any car, including luxury and all-wheel-drive vehicles	❌Loading and unloading the car takes longer than with other methods
✅ Reduces the chance of scratches or damage during loading and towing
✅ Works well for cars that can’t move, are badly damaged, or were in an accident
✅ Recommended by insurance companies and trusted by car dealerships

What Is Hook and Chain Towing?

Hook and chain towing uses strong metal chains to lift the car’s front or rear part off the ground. The chains connect to a large hook on the back of the tow truck and wrap around the car’s frame or axle as the tow truck lifts that end into the air while the other end stays on the ground and rolls on its wheels during transportation.

Here is how hook and chain towing usually works:

The tow truck driver drives to the car that needs towing and parks close to its front or rear end.
The driver attaches heavy-duty chains to the frame or axle underneath the vehicle.
The chains connect to a metal hook on the tow truck’s boom (the arm that lifts the car).
The boom uses a hydraulic system to lift one end of the car slowly into the air.
The other end of the car stays on the ground with its wheels rolling as the truck moves.
The driver may secure the car further with safety straps or extra chains to keep it steady.
The tow truck carefully drives the car to its new location, ensuring it doesn’t sway or bump too much.

Hook and Chain Towing Applications

Hook and chain towing is not used as often today as it was in the past, but it still has some common uses:

Short-Distance Tows: It moves cars short distances, such as from the road to a nearby repair shop.
Older or Junk Cars: It transports damaged cars to be scrapped because minor damage isn’t a big concern.
Tight or Difficult Areas: It can reach cars in tight parking spaces or narrow streets more easily.
Emergency Roadside Help: It may arrive quicker and begin towing faster than a flatbed in urgent situations.

Hook and chain towing is simple, quick, and useful sometimes but requires extra care to avoid damage in newer or delicate cars.

Benny’s Towing Service uses reliable hook-and-chain tow trucks to lift and move your vehicle when time matters most quickly.

Pros and Cons of Hook and Chain Towing

Pros	Cons
✅ Works fast for short-distance or emergency roadside towing	❌Tires and suspension on the lifted end carry all the weight, which can cause damage
✅ Usually costs less than flatbed towing	❌Chains can scratch the car’s paint, bumpers, or frame
✅ Works well for cars that don’t run or have much damage	❌Not safe for all-wheel-drive cars because moving wheels can damage the drivetrain
	❌Low-clearance or fragile cars can get damaged underneath during towing
	❌Some insurance companies may not cover towing damage caused by this method

Flatbed vs. Hook and Chain Towing: Final Verdict

Flatbed and hook and chain towing each have their strengths, but they work best in different situations, so always ask the towing company what method they use and if it’s safe for your car type before you agree to any tow.

Take a moment to understand what your car needs because the wrong choice could lead to damages that cost more than the repair.

When your car breaks down, and you find yourself stranded, or you need to move your vehicle from point A to B, call Benny’s Towing Service today.