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Flatbed Towing in Stockton, CA

A flatbed, sometimes called a rollback, tilts its whole bed to the ground and winches your vehicle up onto it. All four wheels ride on the deck, so nothing turns and nothing drags. For a lot of modern cars that is the only way the manufacturer says they should be moved.

We dispatch flatbeds across Stockton, Lodi, Manteca and Tracy around the clock. Tell the dispatcher your vehicle and they will confirm whether it needs a flatbed or can safely go on a wheel-lift, which is sometimes cheaper. You hear the price and the ETA before anything is sent.

Call (209) 850-ROAD

Side view diagram of a flatbed tow truck with its bed tilted down and a car being winched up onto it, all four wheels clear of the road

AWD and 4WDLifting one axle on an all-wheel-drive car can damage the center differential. A flatbed avoids that entirely.
Electric vehiclesMost EV makers specify a flatbed. Spinning drive wheels can feed current back into the motor.
Low and classic carsLow-angle loading for lowered cars, sports cars and anything with a spoiler you want to keep.
Non-rolling vehiclesLocked brakes, a seized wheel or collision damage? The car can be winched up even if it will not roll.

When you actually need a flatbed (and when you do not)

You need a flatbed if your vehicle is all-wheel drive, which covers most Subarus, many crossovers and a lot of trucks with full-time 4WD. It is also the right call for any EV or hybrid where the owner's manual says so. That includes Teslas, which are common around Spanos Park and Brookside. Lowered cars, exotics, classics, and anything with damage to a wheel or suspension belong on a deck too.

You may not need one for an ordinary front-wheel-drive sedan going a few miles across town. A wheel-lift picks up the front wheels and the rear rolls on the road, which is fine for that car. Some people still ask for a flatbed for peace of mind, and that is a reasonable choice. Just ask the dispatcher about the difference in price first.

Longer moves out of the valley

A lot of Stockton tows do not end in Stockton. People move cars to dealerships in the East Bay over the Altamont, to a specialist shop in Sacramento, or home to Modesto after a breakdown on 99. For anything more than a short local run, a flatbed is easier on the car and on the driver.

Long tows are quoted on total distance, and the dispatcher can give you that figure on the phone. If you are going over the Altamont on I-580, keep in mind the grade and the afternoon wind there. Operators prefer a flatbed for high-sided loads and for anything they would rather not have swaying behind them on that stretch.

Getting your car ready to load

Take out anything valuable, plus anything you will need overnight: house keys, a phone charger, medication, a child seat. Leave the car key with the driver; they will need it to steer and to put the car in neutral. If you have an EV, find the transport or tow mode in the settings before the truck arrives, since it can save ten minutes of fiddling in the dark.

Why call us

What you get

A person answers

A live dispatcher picks up 24/7.There is no phone tree and no voicemail box.

Quote first

You hear the full quote on the call.If it does not work for you, say no and nothing is owed.

An honest ETA

You get a real arrival estimate based on where the nearest operator is, not a guess to keep you on the line.

Licensed operators

Work is done by licensed independent tow operators who drive these roads every day.

Questions about flatbed towing

Is a flatbed tow more expensive than a regular tow?

Sometimes slightly, depending on the operator and the distance. For AWD, electric and damaged vehicles it is the correct way to tow, so it is not really optional. The dispatcher will quote both options when both are safe for your car.

Can you flatbed a car with no keys?

Usually, yes, with extra equipment such as wheel dollies or skates to handle locked steering and a car stuck in park. Mention it on the call so the right gear comes and the quote is accurate.

Do I need a flatbed for my Tesla?

Yes. Tesla and most other EV makers call for a flatbed. Put the car in transport mode if the screen still works, and tell the dispatcher it is electric when you call.

Can I ride in the tow truck?

Often one passenger can ride along, but it depends on the operator and the truck's cab. Ask when you call so it is settled before the driver arrives.

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