Most towing companies eventually run both rollbacks and wreckers. But when you're adding the next truck, or deciding where to start, the choice matters. Each truck handles different calls, earns money differently and finances a little differently. Here's how to think it through.
What each truck does best
Rollbacks (car carriers)
A rollback's bed tilts and slides back so the vehicle can be winched onto it and carried with all four wheels off the ground. That makes rollbacks the go-to for:
- All-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive vehicles, which shouldn't be towed with wheels on the ground
- Luxury, classic, low-clearance and electric vehicles
- Badly damaged vehicles from accident scenes
- Dealership transfers, auction runs and long-distance transport
- Equipment such as forklifts, skid steers, golf carts and small machinery
Wreckers (wheel-lift and boom trucks)
A wrecker lifts one end of the vehicle and tows it on its other wheels. Wreckers are quicker to hook up and better in tight spaces, which makes them strong for:
- Private property impound and parking enforcement
- Repossession, especially with self-loaders
- Recovery work like winching vehicles out of ditches, when equipped with a boom
- Fast-turnaround motor club calls in busy areas
Revenue and the calls you get
Look at the calls you turned down or passed to someone else in the last few months. If many involved all-wheel-drive vehicles, accident scenes or dealer work, a rollback probably pays for itself faster. If you're building private property impound, repossession or a high-volume motor club zone, a wrecker or self-loader may earn more calls per day.
Your rotation lists and accounts matter too. Some police and municipal rotations list specific equipment requirements, so check what yours call for before you buy.
Operating costs
- Fuel and tires: rollbacks are often built on heavier chassis, which can mean higher running costs.
- Maintenance: rollback beds have hydraulics, winches and slides to maintain. Wreckers have booms, wheel-lifts and their own hydraulics.
- Insurance: coverage needs can differ by truck type and the work it does, so get a quote for the specific unit.
- Driver time: wreckers usually hook up faster, which matters when calls stack up.
Resale value and financing
Rollbacks are the most common tow truck and have a broad resale market, which lenders like. That often makes them among the easiest tow trucks to finance, new or used. Light-duty wreckers and self-loaders also finance well, especially from established body manufacturers. With either truck, lenders look at the chassis year, mileage and condition, plus the body's make and condition.
For both, the chassis, body and equipment on the invoice, such as lights, toolboxes, wheel-lift attachments and dollies, can usually be financed together as one deal.
Why not both?
If your call volume supports it, adding a rollback and a wrecker together can cover more of the work you're turning away. Multi-truck orders can be financed in a single deal, with one approval and one payment schedule per truck.
Quick checklist
- Review the calls you've turned down and why
- Check equipment requirements for your rotation lists and accounts
- Get an insurance quote for the specific truck
- Compare new and used options, and gather the VIN, mileage and body details
- Run the numbers with our equipment loan calculator
Deciding on your next tow truck? Send us the trucks you're considering and we'll tell you how the financing compares. You can also see everything we finance for towing or read what lenders want to see on a rotator deal.