IndexAn idea is bornEvolution of Tow TrucksHooks and ChainsWheel LiftBoomFlatbedIntegrated Tow TrucksThe Indomitable Tow TruckYou probably don't pay much attention to tow trucks on a daily basis until the vehicle gets into an accident or breaks down on the road. You may feel frustrated, but know that help is on the way to recover your vehicle and transport it to a repair shop. Towing service makes the world go round so quietly. We rarely think about what modern life would be like if tow trucks didn't exist at all. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay It's been 100 years since the tow truck as we know it was born, so let's delve a little deeper into the interesting history of this silent but heroic feat. A museum in Chattanooga called the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum features restored antique wreckers and displays toys, tools, equipment, and pictorial histories related to the tow truck industry. An Idea is Born The first tow truck was invented by Earnest Holmes, Sr. of Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1916. The first accident that inspired the invention of the prototype tow truck occurred in 1916 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. A Model T Ford found its way into Chickamauga Creek and the resulting extraction required many hours and a large amount of manpower, including Earnest Holmes, Sr., a gas station owner, who used blocks and ropes. After the exasperating process of early roadside recovery, Ernest Holmes Sr. knew there had to be a better way and began working on developing a simpler and more efficient method of recovering vehicles. He and two friends, L. C. Decker and Elmer Gross, designed a crane and pulley system, which was mounted on his 1913 Cadillac, the first prototype tow truck. But its towing system was not stable enough to recover the vehicles. Undaunted, he continued to work on his new towing designs and eventually added stabilizers to support and stabilize his new invention. He obtained a patent for it in 1919 and the trailer industry was born. Evolution of Tow Trucks After obtaining his patent for wreckers, Holmes started a company building his own line of Holmes Wrecker tow trucks by selling them to other mechanics and garage operators. The first truck Holmes built was called the Holmes 680, priced at $680 but was too expensive for buyers. So he created a cheaper version priced at $480 called the Holmes 485. Holmes mounted his system in a 1913 Locomobile, a steam-powered automobile with a six-cylinder engine and four-speed manual transmission. An interesting fact is that his company also built vehicles for military use when the United States entered World War II. His company was sold in 1973 and is now known as Miller Industries. Over the years, the tow truck has continued to evolve, and manufacturers have developed a variety of different types of towing equipment to meet different needs. These include: Hook and chain Hook and chain, also known as sling or strap lifting, where chains are wrapped around the axle or frame of the vehicle and an arm winch lifts the vehicle so that the customer's vehicle can be towed on the other axle. However, this system only works for vehicles with steel bumpers without all-wheel drive, otherwise it will scratch the car bumpers. But sometimes they are used to tow vehicles that have had an accident or are missing one or two front or rear wheels. Wheel lift This is one of the most common types.