# A VERY serious question about tow trucks

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-serious-question-about-tow-trucks/122839>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 7, 2002, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-serious-question-about-tow-trucks/122839 "2002-08-07T20:54:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![GopherGod72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f0a364/32.png) [@GopherGod72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GopherGod72)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-serious-question-about-tow-trucks/122839/1 "2002-08-07T20:54:31Z")

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OK so its not exactly life and death. Having been towed more then my fair share of times, I have always wondered about one particular feature of tow trucks. The drag behind kind, not the flatbed kind. There are 4 go cart sized wheels, 2 on either side, up by the winch mechanism. They usually angle in from the top at 30 degrees or so. Ive never seen them do anything. Anybody know what there for?

Here is a pic I found for reference… [http://www.toddequipmentinc.com/used-tow-trucks\_images/008\_96\_GMCBlacktxt.jpg](http://www.toddequipmentinc.com/used-tow-trucks_images/008_96_GMCBlacktxt.jpg)

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**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-serious-question-about-tow-trucks/122839/2 "2002-08-07T21:04:56Z")

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The truck lifts one end of the car. If the wheels at the other end roll, then fine. If they are blocked for any reason (brake, broke) then they go on the wheel thing and the car can be towed.

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**Author:** ![tcburnett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@tcburnett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tcburnett)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-serious-question-about-tow-trucks/122839/3 "2002-08-07T21:13:14Z")

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That rig is called a “dolly”. There are two square metal axles that slide into the dolly frame on either side and support the wheels of the car between them. It is a pain-in-the-butt to use. A flatbed is much easier for everything except large trucks and busses.

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**Author:** ![GopherGod72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f0a364/32.png) [@GopherGod72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GopherGod72)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-serious-question-about-tow-trucks/122839/4 "2002-08-07T21:21:15Z")

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im confused… you mean those wheels come off and can be placed under the dragging wheels of the vehicle being towed in case the parking break or some such is on?

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**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-serious-question-about-tow-trucks/122839/5 "2002-08-07T21:41:32Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by GopherGod72 \*  
> \*\*im confused… you mean those wheels come off and can be placed under the dragging wheels of the vehicle being towed in case the parking break or some such is on? \*\*

Yep, exactly.

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**Author:** ![Joe\_Mahma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@Joe\_Mahma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Mahma)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-serious-question-about-tow-trucks/122839/6 "2002-08-07T22:59:45Z")

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[nitpick]  
parking break=parking brake  
[/nitpick]