can make or break a company by overextending, not buying the right equipment, or buying to maximize the purchase potential. We as an industry are usually focused on buying a particular unit based mainly off price. Using this analogy, will the cheapest be the best fit, will a higher priced unit suit your needs better? Some buy exclusively off brand which can limit options. Many things need to be considered and they start with identifying the company’s direct need. With many options available today on carriers or wheel lift models, ordering a new truck seems to be an easier choice however not everyone can afford a shiny new unit or may not want to burden their business with additional cost. That initial identifying of your direct need will help the decision process by outlining what your core business is related to equipment in your fleet. The more you know the better educated you are prior to starting the process. So, in theory, if your business is doing internal dealership transport and most of those vehicles are used cars and SUV’s than the chassis you choose might need to be air ride to assist with the added regular weight on the wheel lift. If you are going to do parking lot enforcement or parking garages, then the wheel lift you choose might need to have height limit. Replacing a truck? It is easier to identify your needs. The more you understand about the chassis you want then the easier it is to spec your body. If buying something already at a distributor, or a used piece then you can fine tune the search. The length of the body will matter, purchasing a rollback, then you need to look at several things that can make the job easier. If replacing a truck, did your truck perform as well as expected or was it sometimes lacking in areas? Work the non-traffic side - Stay Safe!

Depending on your tow vs roadside mix of calls, choosing the right unit for a replacement truck can really pay off here. The option of one winch vs two, and the winch size can really justify the upgrade as more complex recoveries can offset the cost. Deciding on self-loader capabilities is another option, as well as wheel lift capacities. Choosing the right unit is always a bit difficult as some used equipment may have the wheel lift capacity however it may be lacking in truck

length or storage capacity. Each item on each truck will potentially be slightly different as customers order customer-built trucks, tow truck distributors build trucks, and now other truck sellers are getting into the arena. The truck might have a different size pto, lift capacity, cable length, fuel tank, or box configuration. Ask yourself, when looking into a wheel lift setup for the first time, what are the key things that will help me maximize my units potential and allow me

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AmericanTowman.com | April 2021 • 15