Light & Medium Duty Towing in Calgary: What We Can Move

When you call a tow company, the first useful question isn't "how fast can you get here?" It's "do you have the right truck for my vehicle?" Sending the wrong unit wastes everybody's time, especially at 2 a.m. on the side of Deerfoot Trail. Dave's Towing has served Calgary since 1992, and we've built our fleet around light and medium duty work. Here's what that means in plain language, so you know what to ask for when you call 403-272-3944.

What counts as light duty towing

Light duty covers the vehicles most Calgarians drive every day:

• Sedans, hatchbacks and coupes
• Crossovers and SUVs, including AWD and 4x4 models
• Minivans
• Half-ton pickups
• Motorcycles (loaded and strapped on a flatbed)

Most of these go on a flatbed. A flatbed carries the whole vehicle off the ground, which protects AWD drivetrains and transmissions, and it's the safest option after a collision when wheels or suspension may be damaged. Our flatbed towing page explains the details.

When a wheel-lift still makes sense

For a short move of a two-wheel-drive car, for example out of a tight underground parkade in the Beltline where a flatbed can't fit, a wheel-lift can be the practical choice. Tell dispatch if you're parked somewhere with low clearance so we bring the right setup the first time.

What counts as medium duty towing

Medium duty is where a lot of Calgary businesses land. Think of the vehicles that keep trades and delivery companies running:

• Three-quarter and one-ton pickups, including dually trucks
• Cube vans and cargo vans
• Service trucks with bodies, racks or ladder setups
• Landscaping trucks
• Utility, cargo and enclosed trailers

These need more capacity than a typical car carrier, and they often carry tools or cargo. Before we load, we'll ask roughly what's in the box or bed. Loose material and unsecured gear shift when a truck goes up a deck, so it's worth a quick check before we arrive.

Equipment and trailer transport

Not every call is a breakdown. We also move compact equipment such as skid steers and mini excavators, along with trailers that need to get to a yard, a repair shop or a new job site. See equipment, trailer and RV transport for what we handle. If you know the machine's make and model, give it to us; it helps us confirm weight and tie-down points before the truck leaves.

What we don't do

We're open about our limits. Dave's Towing does not tow semis, tractor-trailers, buses or large dump trucks. If your vehicle is in that class, we'll tell you right away so you can call a company equipped for it, rather than waiting on a truck that can't do the job.

Calgary roads where we see the most calls

After more than three decades of towing in this city, some patterns are obvious:

• Deerfoot Trail: stalls and fender-benders in the rush-hour stop-and-go, especially through the Glenmore and Peigan interchanges.
• Stoney Trail: long, fast, and exposed to wind. Breakdowns here usually need help quickly because shoulders feel narrow at highway speed.
• Glenmore Trail and Barlow Trail: a mix of commuters and work trucks heading to the industrial areas in the southeast.
• 16 Avenue N (Highway 1): steady traffic in and out of the city to the east and west.

If you break down on any of these, get as far right as you safely can, turn on your hazards, and stay in the vehicle with your seatbelt on unless it's unsafe to do so. When you call, give us the direction of travel and the nearest interchange or overpass. That narrows things down far faster than a rough description.

Roadside help that avoids a tow

Plenty of calls don't need a tow at all. Our roadside assistance covers:

• Battery boosts, which are common from November to March
• Flat tire changes using your spare
• Lockouts
• Fuel delivery when you've run dry

If your vehicle is stuck in snow, mud or a ditch rather than broken, winching and recovery may get you out and back on your way.

What to tell dispatch so we send the right truck

To get the right truck moving quickly, have this ready when you call:

1. The vehicle: year, make, model, and whether it's AWD, 4x4 or two-wheel drive.
2. Its condition: won't start, won't roll, accident damage, stuck, or locked.
3. Your location: a cross street, an interchange, or a landmark.
4. Anything attached: a trailer, a hitch-mounted rack, or an aftermarket lift or lowering kit.
5. Where it's going: your home, a mechanic, a dealer, or a body shop.

Why Calgary keeps calling Dave's

We've been on Calgary roads since 1992, through every kind of chinook swing, hailstorm and January deep-freeze this city can throw at a driver. We answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the person who picks up knows the difference between a lifted half-ton and a lowered sports car. Want to know more about us? Read about Dave's Towing.

Need a tow or roadside help in Calgary right now?

Call 403-272-3944, any hour, any day. Tell us what you're driving and where you are, and we'll send a truck that's sized for the job.