Towing Issues: Type tow truck needed by small auto repair shop, auto repair shop, lift tow

Question
Hello, Richard. Thank you for considering my question. It's a bit unusual. I'm writing a story featuring a character who owns and operates an auto repair shop. He is a one-man show (meaning he doesn't have tons of customers) who works on cars, pickups and vans. What type of tow truck is he likely to need for such an operation? The story is set in the foothills of the Pocono Mountains in Pa. I'd very much appreciate any help you can give me! Jan

Answer
Well this is a first...  

I really can not answer this as it is kind of a hard one to say, but the small shop would most likely have an older truck (used) and it can be either a flatbed (which have been around and in towing service use since about the early 1980s) and then there are the old "sling trucks" (think Mater in cars) which have been around forever...

The more modern "wheel lift" tow trucks also came out about the early 1980s also...


So you kind of have to establish an "era" of when the story is written and then work from there...  


But I would kind of lean towards the wheel lift - sling truck on a 1 ton chassis (F 350 or C 30) (ford and chevy respectively) for the story...

Ps  if there is a tow company in that area (if you are close to it) where you might go look at a few trucks and get a general idea of what I am talking about.

Good look and I hope it sells a million copies or more.