When it comes to your repossession company, your tow trucks and wheel lifts are your tools of the trade. You need reliable, heavy-duty equipment you can trust to get your jobs done well, now and in the future. Whether you’re in the market for a new wheel lift or if you’re just starting your repo business, here are a few key considerations to make when choosing a wheel lift that’s best for your repo company:
Look for Ease-of-Use
First and foremost, the right wheel lift for your repo company should be efficient and easy to use. Your team doesn’t have time to fiddle with difficult-to-attach towing equipment. The more vehicles they’re able to tow in one shift, the more profitable your repo company becomes. In-cab controls and hydraulic auto-load heads are key wheel lift features to look for that can shave off serious time from every job, ensuring your drivers are able to repossess more vehicles, in less time.
Choose a Wheel Lift That’s Durable
Repo towing requires rugged equipment. You need to tow a variety of vehicles, all in different shapes and sizes, and on a good day, your trucks are nearly always towing. A durable, versatile wheel lift is necessary to stand up to towing jobs that happen year-round, and in every weather condition, too. We recommend a slide-in wheel lift, rather than an under-mount or hidden wheel lift. Hidden wheel lifts that are attached under the body of a truck can take on significant wear and tear from all the dirt, rocks, water, and mud your truck might kick up. This affects their durability over time, typically reducing their lifespan significantly.
In addition to choosing a slide-in wheel lift, you’ll want to look for a wheel lift option that’s made from high-quality materials, and backed by a reputable manufacturer with experience in the business.
Consider the Lifespan of your New Wheel-Lift
Just like any tow truck, a wheel lift is a business investment. The more life you can get out of that investment, the greater your overall return. Not only should you look for a durable wheel lift option for your repo company, but you should also look for an option with a long lifespan.
Tow trucks and wheel lifts do hard work every day. Eventually, your truck will run out of miles — but what does that mean for your wheel lift? If you’ve chosen a long-lasting wheel lift that’s durable and versatile, you can install that wheel lift on a new truck, and continue to use the equipment for years to come.
When choosing a wheel lift, it’s important to think beyond just how you plan to use that wheel lift now. Can it continue to be useful to you in the future? If so, you’ll spend much less over time than you would by continuously replacing wreckers and other wheel lift options.
Think About Your Overall Investment
Finally, before you make the final decision on a wheel lift for your repo company, make sure you’ve considered how much you’ll be investing into this product over the length of its lifespan. Consider things like:
- Cost of installation
- Cost of re-installation to move to another vehicle down the road
- Cost of regular maintenance and parts
- Labor and cost associated with making any repairs to the wheel lift or vehicle
Again, the type of wheel lift you choose can have a significant impact on your overall investment. For example, a hidden wheel lift is likely to cost a bit more to install, since greater changes must be made to the body of a truck to properly secure the under-mount wheel lift. Repairs are also more difficult, as is re-installation if you’d like to move that hidden wheel lift to another vehicle.
A slide-in wheel lift, on the other hand, is a bit simpler to install, repair, and service, since all of its parts are easily accessible. A slide-in wheel lift also requires fewer modifications to the truck it’s installed on, which can provide additional savings both now, and down the road as that truck may need maintenance.
When it comes to your repo company, the more cars you can move in less time, for less money, the more your business profits. Choosing the right wheel lift — one that’s durable, easy and efficient to use, with a long lifespan, and an affordable overall investment — can make a big impact on your repo company’s profitability. If you’re looking for a wheel lift that checks all of those boxes, check out the Minute Man XD. The MinuteMan team would be happy to answer any questions you might have about our product and how it can help improve your bottom line.
Legal disclaimer: The material and information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. You should not rely upon the material or information on the website as a basis for making business, legal or other decisions.
