There is nothing quite like seeing that Class C heavy coming down the road. You hear it, with its deep guttural rumble and roar, before you see it's flashing lights. The big rigs captivate us. The heavies are the emergency recovery kings of the road. A well-equipped heavy-duty tow truck can cost close to $250,000 and yet there is no substitute when muscle is needed. So you want to build a heavy. First step is to look at what chassis manufacturers, such as Freightliner, International, Kenworth, Mack, Peterbilt, Sterling, Volvo and Western Star have available. A Class 8 chassis is what is used to build the Class C heavy-duty tandem axle wrecker. The length is roughly 300" from cab to bogie. Bogie is the centerline between the rear axles. The GVW of the Class 8 chassis range from 33,001 lbs. and higher. The new Super-Duty rigs are tri-axles, used to support the heavier wrecker bodies like the rotators. Wrecker manufacturers such as AATAC, Jerr-Dan, Miller Ind., No-Mar and NRC offer a wide selection of pre-spec'd trucks, but not all tow operators want a pre-spec'd truck. If you choose to spec your own rig, take into consideration your particular needs and the terrain you will be operating in, then ask the manufacturer for assistance. They are all willing to work with you to build the truck that fits your operation and your budget. Last year I had the opportunity to visit the Jerr-Dan facility in Greencastle, PA. The crew walked me through the different steps as they put together a heavy-duty wrecker. A tower was picking up a rig he had spec'ed with the help of Jerr-Dan's expert staff. Adding more horsepower is recommended for hilly terrain, but if you operate in the flat lands of states like Texas, Oklahoma or Kansas you may not need the extra horsepower. Also understand that your special requirements may mean paying a higher price and waiting a bit longer. Always remember you get what you pay for and there is no point in paying for what you don't need. Is bigger better? Spec'ing equipment heavier than the work requires may save you expensive repair bills in the long run. Take account of your business. Do you have need or work for the big boy... If so here are some of the specs big rig tow operators agree on: • Order a bigger chassis than the bed requires. • Oversize the winch by 2,000 lbs. or more. • Add more horsepower. • Heavier springs.
Spec'ing A Class C Wrecker
By Jim Sorrenti
