One of the more difficult jobs a light-duty tow operator may be asked to take on is towing a vehicle with missing wheels or a broken ball joint. Though the job can be intimidating, with the right knowledge and tools, any operator is able to safely and efficiently handle it.
Loading a vehicle with a missing wheel or broken ball joint can be done with either a light-duty tow truck or a car carrier, though different methods must be used to properly hook up the vehicle for transport.
Depending on the severity of the damage, loading a casualty with a missing wheel or broken ball joint on a carrier can be extremely difficult. Rolling a vehicle with a missing wheel onto the bed of the truck isn’t the simplest task, however using a WreckMaster skate can help simplify the process.
MISSING WHEELS
Loading a casualty that has a missing wheel with an intact rotor is much simpler than loading with a broken ball joint:
TIP:
If the skate is not able to clear the lip of the carrier bed, flip a second WreckMaster skate over and use it as a ramp to reach the bed.
Once the missing wheel is on the bed, winch the vehicle onto the bed and properly secure the casualty for transport.
BROKEN BALL JOINTS
Loading a casualty with a broken ball joint on a carrier is one of the more difficult tasks a light- duty operator will be faced with. While a WreckMaster skate can be used to load the casualty, it is not as straight forward as loading when the rotor is still intact:
Once the vehicle is safely on the bed, secure the vehicle with at least four attachment points before transporting.