Heavy-Duty Towing

Disclaimer: TowCars.com is a nationwide towing information and referral service. We don’t tow, dispatch, or store vehicles, and we aren’t responsible for the work, prices, or conduct of any towing company. If you send us a request, we pass it to independent providers who set their own prices and terms. See our disclosure.

Heavy-duty towing covers vehicles that are too heavy or too long for a standard light-duty tow truck: box trucks, large RVs and motorhomes, buses, dump trucks, semi-tractors and trailers, and some loaded commercial vans. These jobs need larger wreckers or rotators, heavier rigging and operators who are used to working with air brakes, long wheelbases and cargo.

When a job counts as heavy-duty

There is no single national cutoff. Official rate schedules group vehicles by weight class, and the lines differ from place to place. For example, the Texas private-property tow caps described in our tow truck cost guide use separate tiers for vehicles up to 10,000 lbs, 10,001 to 24,999 lbs, and 25,000 lbs or more. The practical test is simpler: if your vehicle has dual rear wheels, air brakes, a commercial plate, or a gross vehicle weight rating above that of a full-size pickup, tell the provider so they can send a truck rated for it.

Common situations

• A box truck or RV that broke down on the highway or in a lot.
• A bus or work truck that can’t be driven back to the yard.
• A semi-tractor or trailer that needs recovery after a breakdown or crash.
• A heavy vehicle stuck in mud, sand or on soft shoulders that needs a winch-out.
• Moving a large non-running vehicle, such as equipment or a stored motorhome.

What affects the cost

Heavy-duty work is priced differently from a car tow. Expect providers to ask about weight, length, whether there is cargo, whether the brakes release, and how the vehicle is positioned. Recovery work (uprighting, winching, load transfer) is often billed by time and equipment rather than a flat fee. Distance, time of day and road access still matter.

Every provider sets its own price, so treat any figure you see online as a rough guide, not a quote. Our tow truck cost guide explains how base fees, mileage and extras fit together, and the tow cost calculator gives a ballpark range built from published rate schedules. The calculator’s “Heavy-duty” option shows how much wider the range is for these vehicles. Always ask for the total in writing before work starts.

What to have ready

• Vehicle type, year, make and model, plus the gross vehicle weight rating if you know it (it is usually on a label in the door jamb).
• Overall length and height, and whether a trailer is attached.
• Whether it is loaded, and with what. Mention any hazardous materials right away.
• Brake type (air or hydraulic) and whether the air system holds pressure.
• Exact location, including which direction of travel and any lane closures.
• For fleet vehicles, the company contact and any purchase-order or billing details.

Safety tips

• Set out warning triangles or flares if you carry them and can do so safely, and turn on hazard lights.
• Keep passengers off the roadway. On a highway, move everyone well away from the vehicle and traffic.
• If anything is leaking, stay upwind and tell the operator and, if needed, emergency services.
• Do not try to release brakes or disconnect a trailer unless you are trained to do it.
• Expect the operator to take control of the scene setup once they arrive; follow their directions.

Drivers in California should also know the state’s Move Over law for tow trucks and stopped vehicles.

Frequently asked questions

Send us the vehicle details and location, and we’ll pass your request to independent heavy-duty providers in your area.