Flatbed Towing in Plainfield, IL
Flatbed towing lifts the entire vehicle onto a flat deck instead of dragging two wheels on the pavement. BJ Towing sends a flatbed on every call in Plainfield, IL, which protects drivetrains, bumpers and suspensions and is the method most manufacturers specify for all-wheel-drive and electric vehicles.
Do you need a flatbed?
A conventional wheel-lift picks up one axle and leaves the other pair of tires rolling on the pavement. Plenty of cars tolerate that. For others, the turning wheels or the tipped-up angle do real damage. You never have to ask us for a flatbed, because it’s what we send every time, but if you’re calling anyone else, insist on one for these:
- All-wheel and four-wheel drive: rolling one axle while the other is held puts strain on the transfer case and the parts around it
- Electric vehicles: turn the wheels and the motor makes current; nearly every EV manual calls for a flatbed (see EV towing)
- Low cars: long bumpers, splitters and lowered suspensions crack or grind when one end is hoisted; a flatbed’s deck lowers to the ground, so the approach angle stays gentle
- Classic, luxury and collector cars: original paint, trim and aging parts are costly or impossible to replace, so the whole car stays still on the deck (see specialty transport)
- Crash damage: a snapped axle, a crooked wheel or broken suspension may keep the car from rolling at all, and making a bent wheel rotate only adds damage
- Won’t roll or steer: seized brakes, two flats, or a dead car locked in park
- Motorcycles: a bike can’t be towed by its wheels; it rides upright on the deck (see motorcycle towing)
Not sure whether yours is AWD? A badge on the tailgate usually says so, and the owner’s manual settles it. Mention the doubt on the call; asking costs nothing, while guessing wrong can cost a transfer case. Distance matters too: tires that roll behind a truck wear with every mile, so long hauls and auction runs belong on a deck. And if a jump, a tire or a few gallons would solve it, skip the tow; roadside assistance usually fixes it on the spot.
Three things we'll ask
- Make, model and year
- AWD or electric?
- Does it roll and steer?
Why the right truck matters on Route 59, Route 30 and I-55
A breakdown in the driveway is an inconvenience. The same breakdown in a live lane is dangerous. Most of Plainfield’s driving happens on a few busy roads: Route 59 with its lights and shopping, Route 30 where it becomes Lockport Street downtown, and I-55 on the east side. Every minute beside those lanes is a minute too long. A wheel-lift that arrives for a car that needs a flatbed is a wasted trip, and you wait again while traffic goes by. Sending the right truck first means one visit and one load, and even a wrecked car clears the lane in one go: the winch pulls them up whether they roll or not, and dangling trim stays with the car instead of on the pavement.
- Fender-bender at a Route 59 light with the steering knocked out of line: loaded where it sits, lane open again
- AWD crossover dead on the I-55 shoulder: every wheel goes up on the deck, quickly and without risking the drivetrain
- Low sports car downtown on Route 30: the shallow ramp angle clears the front spoiler
- EV that won’t wake up at the Promenade: winched on with the wheels still, and the parking space is free in minutes
Help the driver find you: the road name, the direction you were heading, and an exit, intersection or business you can see. And say immediately if the car is in a live lane or has just been in a collision.
From the call to the drop-off
- Your call. Tell us about the car, where it’s sitting and where it’s going (a shop, dealership, storage lot or your driveway). Settling the destination up front is what lets us lock in one flat price before the truck leaves, with no hookup or per-mile charges. Use the wait well: take out what you’ll need in the next day or two, photograph each side of the car, find the keys and fob, and phone the shop about after-hours parking.
- The bed comes down. The driver looks at the car and the room to work, lines up the truck, and the deck tilts and slides back until its tail meets the pavement: a long, shallow ramp.
- Up the ramp. A car that starts and steers is driven up at a crawl. A dead or damaged one is winched up, wheels rolling or skidding as needed, crooked rim and all.
- Strapped in place. Wheel straps over the tires anchor the car to the deck so braking, turns and potholes can’t move it. The deck slides forward and levels.
- A still ride. The tires don’t turn, the driveline doesn’t turn, and nothing hangs low enough to touch the road, whether it’s a hop across Plainfield or a run across the state.
- Unloading. The deck tips again, the straps come off and the car is eased down. Compare it with your photos while the driver is still there, and settle who keeps the keys.
Flatbed towing near you
Our flatbeds are based in Plainfield and serve Plainfield, Naperville, Joliet, Romeoville, Bolingbrook, Shorewood, Lockport, Crest Hill, Oswego, Aurora, Montgomery, Woodridge, Lemont, Darien, New Lenox, Lisle. Whether it’s a short hop to a shop on Route 59 or a scheduled move across the suburbs, the loading routine is the same.
Need flatbed towing now? Call (708) 400-3917; a dispatcher answers 24/7.
Need help now?
- Live dispatch, 24/7/365
- Flatbed trucks only
- Upfront pricing
- Licensed & insured in Illinois
Flatbed Towing FAQs
Is a flatbed tow more expensive?
At some companies, yes: they price by the type of truck, then add mileage, the hour and how hard the hookup was. We run flatbeds on nearly everything, and the single price quoted on the call already covers the hookup and the miles.
Can the bill end up higher than the quote?
Not if what you told us about the car and its location was complete and accurate. Some companies tack on fees afterward for a hard load, a pull out of the snow, a late-night call or a crash cleanup; we don't. One more saver: send the car to a shop that's open instead of a storage yard, which avoids storage fees and a second tow.
Can you tow my car if it won't go into neutral or the wheels won't turn?
Yes. A flatbed can winch a vehicle with a locked transmission or seized wheels using skates and dollies, which is one of the main reasons we run flatbeds.
Will a lowered car scrape when it's loaded?
We use a low-angle approach with extended ramps and blocks. Tell us your ground clearance and whether the front splitter is fixed, and we'll plan the load accordingly.