Rollback wreckers are by far the preferred vehicle to use for most wrecker service calls. Cars are carried as cargo on the bed of the truck, and this prevents scrapes and dents as the car is carried over bumps and inclines. Also, if a conventional tow truck is used and there is extensive damage to the vehicle in need of a tow, a wheel dolly is necessary to enable the damaged car to roll. The extra step of raising the car and installing a dolly is eliminated with a rollback wrecker.
Operate the hydraulic control to lower the rear support brace. This brace stabilizes the rear of the wrecker and prevents the suspension springs from bouncing during the loading process.
Operate the "slide-back" lever to move the bed back. This step enables a powerful hydraulic ram to push the bed away from its normal position, and is how the wrecker gets it name. The bed "rolls back" in order to tilt down to load the car.
Operate the "tilt" lever to drop the back of the bed. This causes the bed to tilt and become a ramp the car can be pulled onto and locked into place.
Press the hydraulic control to release the cable wench and safely attach the cable to the car. Car manufacturers usually provide tow-hook sites on the frame. It is easy to damage a car when it is improperly rigged for towing, so use caution during this process.
Set the car's gear selector to neutral and operate the wench to pull the car on the wrecker bed. Set the car to park, lower the bed and pull the bed forward.
Place anchor chains on the car and secure them to the wrecker bed. Although the car is held securely by the wench cable, this step adds an additional margin of safety. Transport the car to its destination.
