Flatbed towing loads a vehicle entirely onto a hydraulic bed so no wheels touch the road — the only safe method for all-wheel-drive vehicles, cars that won't shift into neutral, and vehicles with front-end damage. Detroit Towing runs this equipment across all 20 of its Detroit-area service zones, rated 5.0 from 15 reviews.
Modern drivetrains are the reason flatbeds exist. Tow a rear-wheel-drive car with the front axle down and nothing happens; do the same to an all-wheel-drive SUV and the axle that isn't turning can burn out a transmission before the truck reaches the highway. Detroit Towing decides on flatbed versus hook-and-chain by drivetrain and damage, not by request — a wheel-lift truck still handles plenty of calls, but anything all-wheel or four-wheel drive, anything that won't shift into neutral, and anything with front-end damage goes on the bed.
That fleet runs across the 20 service areas Detroit Towing covers in and around the city, so a stranded AWD crossover gets the same equipment whether the call comes from a downtown garage or a driveway on the far edge of coverage.
What decides whether a hook-and-chain truck is enough?
Drivetrain is the first question dispatch asks, then damage. All-wheel and four-wheel-drive vehicles go on the bed because towing them with the wheels rolling spins a drivetrain component that was never built to turn without the engine driving it. A car that won't shift into neutral — a dead battery paired with an electronic parking brake, most often — gets the same treatment, since there's no way to disengage the wheels.
- an AWD crossover with a dead battery
- a lowered car with limited ground clearance
- a vehicle with front-end collision damage
- anything that won't release out of park
What if the car won't come out of park?
Some vehicles lock the transmission in park electronically once the battery dies, and without power there's no manual override the way older cars had hidden under the console. In that case the flatbed's winch and a set of wheel skates do the work instead — the car gets pulled up on the skates rather than forced into a neutral it can't reach. Detroit Towing carries skates on every flatbed truck for exactly this scenario, so a dead AWD car doesn't turn into a second dispatch.
Does flatbed towing cost more than a standard tow?
Not automatically — Detroit Towing prices by vehicle and distance, and the flatbed gets used whenever the vehicle needs it rather than added on top as a surcharge. Ask for a quote when you call so the price reflects the actual vehicle, not a guess.
Can I ride in the truck while my car is on the flatbed?
Usually, with one passenger in the cab and a seatbelt on. Ask the driver when the truck arrives, since it can depend on what else is loaded that trip — it's worth asking rather than assuming either way.
Does flatbed towing protect my car's warranty?
It's the safer option for most manufacturers, since towing an all-wheel-drive vehicle with the wheels rolling is often what voids a drivetrain warranty in the first place. Check the owner's manual for the exact towing instructions your manufacturer requires — Detroit Towing can follow them either way.