Tow trucks are a common sight in many cities and towns, helping people to move their vehicles when they’re stuck. But who created the tow truck?
The first tow truck was designed by Ernest Holmes Sr., who owned and operated the Holmes Bros. Garage in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1913. Holmes had worked on cars since the age of 15 and was an excellent mechanic. He wanted to create a device that could help him move cars safely and quickly from one location to another without having to physically lift them up.
Holmes constructed his first tow truck with two sets of wheels, one for the rear of the car he wanted to move and one for the front. It included a winch mechanism which could be used to attach a rope or cable to the car, then it could be pulled behind Holmes’ truck.
By 1915, Holmes had built a fleet of five tow trucks which he then sold throughout Tennessee. This proved popular with other mechanics who saw it as a great way to move vehicles quickly and easily.
The popularity of these early tow trucks grew rapidly around America, with many companies producing their own versions over the following decades. These early designs included chains instead of ropes or cables, as well as pulleys which allowed them to pull heavier loads than before.
Today’s modern tow trucks are much more advanced than those created by Ernest Holmes Sr., but they still use many of his original designs and principles. The most popular types are flatbeds, wheel lifts, integrated lifts and hook-and-chain systems – all of which have their roots in Holmes’ original design from 1913.
Conclusion:
Ernest Holmes Sr is credited with creating the first tow truck in 1913 using two sets of wheels and a winch mechanism for attaching a rope or cable to cars that needed moving. Since then these designs have been improved upon over the years but still heavily rely on his original ideas.
