Why a flatbed is the safer load
A wheel-lift picks two wheels and lets the other pair trail. That works on many front-drive cars. It is the wrong tool when all four wheels are driven, when the car sits an inch off the pavement, or when a collision has parked the tires at odd angles. A flatbed winches the entire vehicle onto a level deck.
That is why we price flatbed service from $95 plus $4 per mile and keep beds in the fleet around the clock. It is still light-duty towing, just with a different truck. Read our AWD and lowered guide if you want the technical reasons in one place.
How a flatbed call works
- Call (504) 414-8034. Say the car is AWD, lowered, luxury, or does not roll so we assign a bed, not a lift.
- We quote $95 plus $4 per mile to your shop or home and give a 30-minute-class arrival for the metro.
- The driver spots the truck, deploys ramps or a slide, and uses wheel nets or chassis straps.
- Low-clearance ramps and a slow winch keep splitters and side skirts off the steel.
- We transport and unload onto level ground at the destination you named.
When you should request a flatbed
Request a bed after a collision that bent a wheel, for a car with a seized transmission, for a CPO or lease vehicle you do not want trailing, and for show cars parked along St. Charles or Magazine. Uptown calls often need beds because of lowered daily drivers and tight oak-lined streets.
Airport pickups near Louis Armstrong in Kenner and lakeside streets in Lakeview also see a high share of AWD crossovers. If the car is in a ditch, pair the bed with a winch-out so we pull it to pavement before loading.
Flatbed pricing
| Service | Starting rate |
|---|---|
| Flatbed tow | From $95 + $4/mile |
| Standard wheel-lift alternative | From $75 + $4/mile |
Quoted as a flat total before the truck rolls. Verified September 2026.
What we will ask on the phone
Have the year, make, drivetrain, and whether the car rolls. If you know ride height or aftermarket lips, say so. That five-second description is the difference between the right truck and a wasted trip. Licensed, insured, family-owned, and dispatched 24/7 from the New Orleans metro.
After a crash, a flatbed is usually the cleanest way to leave the scene. Pair this page with accident recovery if police are still working the block or fluids are on the pavement.
“When a driver says the car is lowered or AWD, we do not guess with a wheel-lift. We send a bed, use low-clearance ramps, and strap at the chassis points the manufacturer intended.”
Dispatch Manager, 24/7 Rapid Towing
Last updated: September 9, 2026
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