Flatbed towing in Ottawa is available 24 hours a day from Gloucester Towing. A flatbed tow truck carries your vehicle on a flat platform with all four wheels completely off the ground. No wheels rolling, no drivetrain turning, no contact with the road surface. Call (613) 662-6262 and we dispatch a flatbed to your location anywhere in Ottawa. Flatbed is one of the core services under our towing service in Ottawa, and for many vehicles it is not just the best option, it is the only safe option.
Gloucester Towing uses flatbed trucks for all-wheel drive vehicles, low-clearance cars, luxury and high-value vehicles, vehicles with wheel or suspension damage, and any situation where keeping all four wheels off the ground is the right approach. When you call, tell us the make and model and we confirm whether a flatbed is required before we dispatch.
When Flatbed Towing is Required in Ottawa
Not every vehicle can or should be towed on a wheel-lift. A wheel-lift raises two wheels while the other two remain on the road surface and roll during transport. For many vehicles this is perfectly fine. For others, it causes damage that can run into thousands of dollars to repair. Knowing which method is right for your vehicle matters, and it is one of the first things our drivers confirm on every call.
Vehicles that require flatbed towing in Ottawa
All-wheel drive and four-wheel drive vehiclesAWD and 4WD vehicles have drivetrain systems that are not designed to have two wheels rolling freely while the others are stationary. Towing an AWD vehicle with a wheel-lift causes damage to the transfer case, differentials, and driveshafts. A flatbed is required. This applies to the majority of modern crossovers and SUVs on Ottawa roads.
Low-clearance and sports vehiclesA sports car, lowered vehicle, or any car with a front air dam or front splitter close to the ground cannot be loaded onto a wheel-lift without contact damage. A flatbed's tilting deck allows these vehicles to drive or be winched up at a low angle without scraping.
Vehicles with wheel, tire, or suspension damageA car that has a damaged wheel, flat tire on all corners, seized brakes, or bent suspension components cannot roll safely during a wheel-lift tow. A flatbed carries the vehicle entirely without any wheel contact with the road.
Luxury, collector, and high-value vehiclesA luxury sedan, classic car, or collector vehicle with custom paint or bodywork warrants the extra protection of flatbed transport. All four wheels stay on the deck. There is no risk of road debris, movement under the vehicle, or contact with the tow apparatus at road level.
Flatbed Towing vs Wheel-Lift Towing in Ottawa
A wheel-lift tow truck uses a metal yoke that fits under two wheels and lifts that end of the vehicle. The other two wheels roll on the ground during transport. This is a fast and effective method for standard front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive vehicles where the drivetrain allows two wheels to roll freely.
A flatbed tow truck has a flat deck that tilts down to road level. The vehicle is either driven up the deck or winched onto it, then the deck returns to horizontal and the vehicle is secured with straps. All four wheels are off the ground for the entire trip. This method is slower to load but protects the vehicle completely during transport.
Our drivers assess which method applies to your vehicle when you call. If you are unsure, mention the make, model, and drivetrain and we confirm. We do not use wheel-lift on vehicles that require flatbed, and we do not charge for a flatbed when a wheel-lift would do the job just as well.
If you drive an AWD or 4WD vehicle, always ask for a flatbed. Many Ottawa drivers do not know their SUV or crossover requires flatbed towing. Using a wheel-lift on an AWD vehicle causes drivetrain damage that may not show up immediately but results in expensive repairs down the road. When you call us, we catch this automatically, but if you are calling another service, confirm the method before they load the vehicle.
What to expect when you request flatbed towing in Ottawa
1
Call (613) 662-6262Tell us your location and the vehicle make, model, and drivetrain if you know it. We confirm a flatbed is the right method and dispatch immediately.
2
We confirm arrival timeFlatbed trucks are in our regular fleet. You get the same response time as any other call. Most Ottawa locations are reached in under 30 minutes.
3
Driver loads the vehicle onto the flatbedOn arrival the driver tilts the deck and loads the vehicle. If it does not roll, we winch it up. The vehicle is secured with straps at all four corners before we move.
4
Vehicle is delivered to your chosen destinationWe deliver to any garage, dealership, or address in Ottawa. The driver confirms the vehicle's condition matches what was loaded before leaving. Payment is handled at delivery.
Flatbed Towing Coverage Across Ottawa
Gloucester Towing covers the full Ottawa area with flatbed tow trucks. Flatbeds are part of our standard fleet and are dispatched the same way as any other tow truck. There is no separate booking process and no additional wait time for flatbed service. Response times are the same as our standard towing service across Gloucester, Vanier, Orleans, St Laurent, Centretown, Riverside, South Keys, and Westboro.
Flatbed is also the standard method we use for all long distance towing from Ottawa. If you are transporting a vehicle to another city, it goes on a flatbed for the full trip regardless of drivetrain type.
Frequently asked questions about flatbed towing in Ottawa
A flatbed carries the entire vehicle on a flat platform with all four wheels off the ground. A wheel-lift raises one end of the vehicle while the other two wheels roll on the road during transport. Flatbed is required for AWD vehicles, low-clearance cars, vehicles with wheel or suspension damage, and high-value vehicles. Wheel-lift is suitable for standard front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive vehicles where rolling two wheels is safe.
Flatbed towing may carry a slightly higher rate than wheel-lift for the same distance due to the equipment and loading time involved. We give you a clear quote before dispatching so you know the cost upfront. For vehicles that require flatbed, the alternative is potential drivetrain damage that costs far more to repair than any difference in towing rate.
Yes. All-wheel drive vehicles are always transported on a flatbed by Gloucester Towing. This applies to AWD crossovers, SUVs, and cars regardless of the trip length. Even a short tow across Ottawa on a wheel-lift can cause transfer case damage on an AWD vehicle. We confirm drivetrain type on every call and dispatch the right truck automatically.
We handle motorcycle towing on a case-by-case basis. A standard flatbed deck can accommodate a motorcycle with proper wheel chocks and tie-down straps. Call us with the type of motorcycle and its location and we confirm whether we can handle the transport and what equipment we bring. Motorcycles require different securing methods than passenger vehicles.
Yes. For luxury vehicles, classic cars, and any car with very low ground clearance, a flatbed eliminates the risks that come with wheel-lift towing. There is no road debris kicked up under the vehicle, no movement of the unsecured end during transport, and no contact between the tow apparatus and the underside or lower bodywork of the car. For high-value vehicles, flatbed is always the right call.
Yes. If a vehicle cannot roll under its own power or be pushed, we use a winch to pull it up the tilted flatbed deck. Vehicles with seized brakes, flat tires on all corners, missing wheels, or no engine can all be loaded this way. Describe the vehicle's condition when you call so we arrive with the right setup and do not need to make a second trip for equipment.
Need a Flatbed Tow in Ottawa?
Gloucester Towing dispatches flatbed trucks 24 hours a day. All four wheels off the ground, every time.
