Evolution Of Tow Trucks

Table of Contents

The Birth of an Idea

Changes in Tow Trucks Over Time

Hook and Chain

Tow Bar Lift

Make a loud noise

Flatbed

Integrated tow trucks

The Unconquerable Tow Truck

Tow trucks are not something you think about every day until your vehicle breaks down or is involved in an accident. While you may be feeling frustrated, help will arrive to transport your vehicle to a shop for repairs. Tow trucks are the silent engine that keeps our world going. Tow trucks are a necessary part of modern life.

It’s been 100 years since the towtruck was invented. Let’s look into its fascinating and heroic history.

In Chattanooga’s International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum are restored antique wreckers and a display of related toys and tools.

Earnest Sr., a Chattanooga resident, invented the first towtruck in 1916. In Chattanooga Tennessee a tow truck prototype was invented in 1916 after an incident. Earnest Sr., an owner of a gas station, was the man who spent many hours using ropes and blocks in order to extract a Ford Model T which had fallen into Chickamauga Creek.

Ernest Holmes Sr. realized that the process of recovering vehicles at roadside was exasperating and set about developing a faster and easier method. He, along with two friends L.C. Decker, Elmer Gross and their 1913 Cadillac were the first tow trucks prototypes. They designed a system of crane and pulleys mounted on it. It was unstable enough for vehicles to be recovered, but his towing device wasn’t. Unfazed, he worked on new towing designs. He added outriggers as a way to stabilize and support his invention. The towing industry was created in 1919 when he received a Patent for the invention.

Evolution of Tow TrucksOnce Holmes obtained his patents for wreckers and tow trucks, he established a business selling his Holmes Wreckers to garages and other mechanics. The first truck Holmes built was the Holmes 680. It was priced at $680 and was not affordable for most buyers. Holmes built a lower-cost version called Holmes 485 that cost $480. Holmes mounted this system on the 1913 Locomobile automobile, which had a six-cylinder steam engine and a manual four-speed transmission.

It is interesting to note that his company produced military vehicles during World War II. Miller Industries, which was purchased in 1973, is the new name for his company.

Over the Years, manufacturers created a variety different towing equipments to meet various needs. They include:

Hook and Chain: Also called sling or beltlift, a boom winch is used to lift the vehicle. This allows the customer vehicle to be towed from the opposite axle. This system only works on vehicles without all-wheel drives and steel bumpers. Otherwise, it can scratch bumpers. They are also used to tow vehicles with damaged front or rear tires or those that have been involved in accidents.

Wheel LiftThis towing device is usually a large metal yoke that’s attached underneath the car wheels. The vehicle is then lifted off the ground with a pneumatic or a hydraulic hoist. The tires of a two-wheel-drive car can help in towing, and the transmission is not damaged.

BoomThis boom winch system is attached to the vehicle and lifts it. This system is not designed for towing but rather to retrieve vehicles from non-drivable surfaces, such as ditches, culverts, or over embankments.

Flatbed Also known as a Rollback system or Slide, the entire rear of the truck can be fitted with a flatbed that is hydraulically inclined, and it can be moved to ground-level, allowing for the vehicle to be towed, to be placed onto the trailer by its own strength or being pulled by a Winch. Flatbed trailers are a great way to get larger vehicles to their destination. You may have wondered how unrunning tractors or large loads are moved. Flatbeds can accommodate these vehicles and others.

This system is also known as an “Integrated Tow Truck” or a Quick Pick, and it combines a boomlift with a wheellift on one truck. The tow truck can now handle almost any residential vehicle. Light duty trucks are used to move or repossess illegally parked cars. Tow trucks are equipped with controls inside their cabs to allow for quick vehicle pick-up without having to exit the truck. The heavy-duty trucks also come with a built-in lift.

Since 1916, tow truck have made vehicle recovery much easier. It took a lot more time and manpower to recover a car before the invention of tow trucks. Tow trucks can be used by a qualified professional to save vehicles from the most dangerous situations. This amazing invention will come in handy the next time you have an accident with your vehicle. Make sure to do thorough research on towing companies before selecting one.