Equipment
The equipment that arrives decides whether your vehicle arrives intact. The rule governing everything else is simple: drive wheels must come off the ground, and a flatbed is correct for every drivetrain.
Flatbed
Carries the whole vehicle off the ground. Correct for every drivetrain and required for EVs.
Wheel-lift
Lifts one axle. Correct only if the lifted wheels are the drive wheels.
Tow dolly
Two wheels on a small platform. Never for all-wheel drive.
Rotator
Slewing boom for rollovers and heavy recovery.
Kinetic recovery strap
Stretches 20–30% to absorb snatch energy. Not a tow strap.
Hitches and classes
Receiver, ball mount and ball — the combination is limited by the lowest of the three.
Which tow method is safe
| Drivetrain | Flatbed | Wheel-lift (drive wheels up) | Tow dolly | Flat tow (4 down) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front-wheel drive | Safe | Safe, front up | Safe, front on dolly | No |
| Rear-wheel drive | Safe | Safe, rear up | Rear on dolly only | Manual only |
| All-wheel drive | Safe | Drivetrain damage | Drivetrain damage | No |
| Four-wheel drive | Safe | Manual only | Manual only | Transfer case in N |
| Electric vehicle | Required | Pack damage / fire | Pack damage / fire | Never |
| Motorcycle | Required, strapped | No | No | No |