Thinking Of Buying A Tow-truck

[geraus]

Hey guys just wanted to know.... if i a buy a tow-truck(towing cars)what would be the things i need?

Do i need a Medium or Heavy Rigid license?

Do i need any speicial licence if i wanted to start as my own business?

cheers, if anyone here has any tow-truck experience let me know cheers, i want to get into the industry...

Geraus.

Edited June 10, 2010 by geraus

[.:: GimpS-R34 ::.]

I'd start off seeing if i can get a job with a tow company.. get some experience also get a hold of how it operates.. might even get some contacts..

[Cowboy1600]

Research the industry. Make sure it's something you really want to do.

I've known a few towies and it certainly takes specific types. It's a pretty shitful job.

If you do decide it's for you, then the license required will depend on the tow truck you want.

If you are doing heavy towing then I think you will need an MC license. You can drive the trucks on a HR license but once you have something on tow you need an MC.

If you just wanna do cars with a tray truck, you will only require an MR license.

Gimps idea is a very good one. Try and land a job with a tow company and see how you go.

[33gtst]

beer gut, no teeth and bad attitude.....

you want to get into this industry? For real?

LOL

nar seriously tho love ya Borgie.....the best towie in melbourne...

[krzysztof]

i was actually discussing this with my old man few weeks back. i think it operates the same way as a taxi licence (ie. big money up front)

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Morein...uckLicences.htm

[geraus]

Yeh , the tow truck i found i want to buy is a small banna back one. Still doing my research.. thanks for info guys.

[geraus]

Well i spoke to vic-roads , all i need is a light regid licence, but im going to go for my heavy just incase for the future. The tow truck is under 6tone, it can tow cars as well but not at accident scenes. im going to be using this tow car to transport cars to mechanics etc. Cheers for the help guys, and if i get this truck i will be more than happy to help SAU out with towing cars

[llama_au]

We asked the second last towie I used (my car gets towed a lot...lol), the normal tray-back Nationwide tow truck he had only required a Medium Rigid license to drive however get the Heavy Rigid if you're going for your license so you're covered to drive a bit larger than that.

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Licenc...ecategories.htm

[ashneel]

there is an SAU member who runs a tow business. Jack aKa JAGR33 http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/JAGR33-m1569.html

im sure if you send im a pm he can give you allt he info needed.

[W0rp3D]

Research the industry. Make sure it's something you really want to do.

I've known a few towies and it certainly takes specific types. It's a pretty shitful job.

If you do decide it's for you, then the license required will depend on the tow truck you want.

If you are doing heavy towing then I think you will need an MC license. You can drive the trucks on a HR license but once you have something on tow you need an MC.

If you just wanna do cars with a tray truck, you will only require an MR license.

Gimps idea is a very good one. Try and land a job with a tow company and see how you go.

MC = multi combination = B double, gotta have a rigid license for 12 months then get a HC = heavy combination = semi then you can get an MC license, defenately more than he needs.

Well i spoke to vic-roads , all i need is a light regid licence, but im going to go for my heavy just incase for the future. The tow truck is under 6tone, it can tow cars as well but not at accident scenes. im going to be using this tow car to transport cars to mechanics etc. Cheers for the help guys, and if i get this truck i will be more than happy to help SAU out with towing cars

Another vic roads nufty that does not know what his talking about, no such thing as a light rigid license, there is only an MR = medium rigid = single axle at the back and HR = heavy rigid = twin axle at the back, with the HR you can get one with the conditions of auto, synchro and non synchro gearbox, non synchro is a lot harder and i have only ever seen 1 rigid with a non synchro box.

[llama_au]

My brother just did his Heavy Rigid license in a crash box (non-synchro), was telling me all about it. Sounds ridiculously difficult. Passed with flying colours and he'd never driven one before.

[W0rp3D]

An from what i know of a tow truck license there are two types, the hardest one to get is one where you see TOWxxx on the trucks number plates, these are able to attend accidents and tow damaged cars, the other is just a normal rigid license but you are not allowed to tow from accidents, purely car transport.

And if you want to add a tow bar and tow a trailer as well then you can do that on a MR or HR as long as the gross of the trailer is 9 ton or less, over 9 ton and you need a HC.

[W0rp3D]

My brother just did his Heavy Rigid license in a crash box (non-synchro), was telling me all about it. Sounds ridiculously difficult. Passed with flying colours and he'd never driven one before.

Its all about timing, matching road speed and revs to the gear your changing into, makes me laugh to see a couple of people on here saying that its easy cos they double clutch there synchro box with out a problem, not so easy in a non syncho where you only have a few hundred rpm to get everything right or your screwed.

[Cowboy1600]

MC = multi combination = B double, gotta have a rigid license for 12 months then get a HC = heavy combination = semi then you can get an MC license, defenately more than he needs.

My bad, I meant HC.

[XRATED]

If you want to transport other peoples cars, insurance will be the hardest thing to get.... you will need experience to get the insurnce.

[VB-]

Another vic roads nufty that does not know what his talking about, no such thing as a light rigid license,

yes there is...? pretty much minibus specific though, no trucks as such (so i'm lead to believe)

[W0rp3D]

yes there is...? pretty much minibus specific though, no trucks as such (so i'm lead to believe)

well there ya go, they have changed shit again, looks like its basically the same as an MR but less weight and you cant tow a trailer, also now you have to have had a car license for 2yrs before you can get an HR license.

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Licenc...ecategories.htm

[RCHOO]

Yeh , the tow truck i found i want to buy is a small banna back one. Still doing my research.. thanks for info guys.

Think twice about the Banana back.

lowered cars are very hard to put on them.

Spend a bit more money and get a tilt tray you would be better off.

Also look in to repo companys for work..

[geraus]

Thanks for the advice guys, i looked at this truck today it was pretty clean, took it for a drive and all runs good,looked at the motor and all as well. the ramps are really as well. Think i might try and get this truck! hmm what do you guys reckon? Tilt tray is to much for me, im gona start of small then try and get a tilt tray

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[W0rp3D]

lol@ the company name.

We have one of these isuzu's (or one that looks pretty the same) at work, it had lots of problems with snapping exhaust manifold and turbo studs, even after everything was pulled off and decked, dont know if ours was a lemon or its a common problem, it now sits in a paddock.

I see it already has a tow ball so you can add a tandem and carry 2 cars at once, the point about low cars is a good one but im your you could use another set of ramps to flatten the incline a little.

Do you already have a connection in the industry to get work through, that would be the biggest decider, if the works there then why not.