Who Invented the Rollback Tow Truck?

The rollback tow truck is one of the most important tools in the road service industry. It’s an invaluable resource used to assist stranded motorists and recover disabled vehicles from the roadway. But who invented this amazing tool?

The first known patent for a rollback tow truck was filed in 1939 by Albert Levy, an engineer from Newark, NJ.

Levy’s invention was a flat-bed tow truck which had a winch system attached to it that allowed the bed of the truck to be rolled backward onto the ground. This allowed for easier loading and unloading of a disabled vehicle onto the back of the truck. Levy’s design was widely adopted by many towing companies and quickly became the standard for towing operations.

In 1950, Henry Baer, another engineer from Newark, NJ developed an improved version of Levy’s design. His version featured an adjustable wheelbase that could be raised or lowered depending on the size of the disabled vehicle being towed. This allowed for more efficient loading and unloading operations as well as better maneuverability in tight spaces.

Since then, there have been several improvements made to rollback tow trucks including increased safety features such as improved brakes and better lighting systems as well as specialized accessories like tire ramps and winch lines. Despite all these advancements, Levy and Baer remain credited with inventing this useful tool.

Conclusion:

Albert Levy and Henry Baer are credited with inventing the rollback tow truck in 1939 and 1950 respectively. Their inventions revolutionized how disabled vehicles were handled on the roadway and their designs are still used today in modern tow trucks.

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Susan Delgado