A wrecker and a tow truck are two vehicles used for towing, but they are not the same. Wreckers and tow trucks have different functions, capabilities, and features.
Function
The primary purpose of a wrecker is to recover immobile, damaged, or disabled vehicles. This could include off-road recovery, roadside assistance, and towing of illegally parked cars. A tow truck is mainly used for towing disabled cars from one point to another, such as from an accident scene to a repair shop or from a parking lot to an impound lot.
Capabilities
Wreckers are typically much larger than tow trucks and have more power.
They also have winches and cranes on the back which can be used for lifting heavy objects or pulling out stuck vehicles. Tow trucks lack these features as their primary purpose is simply transporting disabled vehicles from one place to another.
Features
Wreckers and tow trucks both have flatbeds that can be raised and lowered with hydraulics in order to load the vehicle onto the bed. However, a wrecker has additional features such as side boards which can be extended out in order to secure the vehicle on the bed while it’s being towed. Tow trucks do not have these extra features as they are mainly used for short-distance travel.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, there are several key differences between a wrecker and a tow truck which involve their function, capabilities, and features. Wreckers are primarily used for off-road recovery while tow trucks are mainly used for short-distance transport of disabled vehicles.
Wreckers also have powerful winches and cranes for lifting objects or getting stuck vehicles unstuck whereas tow trucks do not have these features. Lastly, wreckers come with additional side boards which can be extended out in order to secure the vehicle on the bed while it’s being towed whereas this feature is absent with tow trucks.
