Flatbed Towing in Gilbert, AZ
Not every vehicle should be towed on its wheels. Lowered cars scrape on wheel-lift trucks. All-wheel drive vehicles can suffer drivetrain damage from being dragged with two wheels on the ground. Luxury cars, classic cars, and motorcycles all deserve the extra protection that a flatbed provides. If you care about your vehicle — or if it simply can’t roll on its own — flatbed towing is the right call.
Thompson’s Auto Repair & Towing operates a fleet of flatbed tow trucks across Gilbert and the East Valley. We load your vehicle onto a flat deck, strap it down securely, and transport it with zero contact between your tires and the road. Your car rides on top of the truck, fully supported, from pickup to delivery. Whether you’re moving a Tesla from your driveway in Morrison Ranch or recovering a classic Mustang that broke down on Gilbert Road, our flatbed service gets it there without a scratch. And since we’re also a complete auto repair shop, your vehicle can go straight into our service bay if it needs work.
Why Choose Thompson’s for Flatbed Towing
Flatbed towing takes more skill than regular wheel-lift towing. Loading a vehicle onto a tilted deck, positioning it correctly, and securing it with the right straps in the right places — that’s a trained skill. Our drivers have been doing this for years, and Thompson’s has been providing flatbed towing in Gilbert for over three decades under Bryan Vivian’s ownership.
The real question isn’t whether to choose flatbed towing — it’s whether to choose a towing company that also fixes cars. When your AWD crossover gets towed to most shops, you’re starting a brand new relationship with a mechanic who has no context on your vehicle. When it gets flatbedded to Thompson’s, our mechanics already have the tow driver’s notes on what happened, how the vehicle was behaving, and what might be wrong. That continuity matters, especially for complex repairs.
We also keep our flatbed equipment in top condition. Clean decks, functional hydraulics, high-quality straps and wheel nets. Your car isn’t going to sit on a rusty deck with frayed tie-downs. We treat your vehicle the way we’d treat our own, because that’s how Bryan has always run this business.
How Flatbed Towing Works
Call Thompson’s at 480-418-9206. Tell us what vehicle you need moved and why flatbed is preferred or required. We’ll confirm whether flatbed is necessary or if another method would work better.
We dispatch a flatbed truck. Our driver arrives with the right-sized flatbed for your vehicle. Response time within Gilbert is typically 20-30 minutes.
We load your vehicle. The truck bed tilts hydraulically to create a ramp. We use a winch to pull the vehicle up if it can’t drive onto the bed, or you can drive it on if the car is operational. Either way, it ends up fully on the deck.
We strap it down. Wheel straps, tie-downs, and safety chains secure the vehicle at four or more points. Nothing shifts during transport. Your car is as secure on our truck as it is parked in your garage.
We deliver it. To our shop, to your home, to a dealership, to a body shop — wherever you need it. The bed tilts back down, we roll the vehicle off, and the job is done.
When You Need Flatbed Towing
- All-wheel drive (AWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles — Towing these with wheels on the ground can damage the transfer case, center differential, or transmission. Flatbed eliminates that risk entirely.
- Lowered or modified vehicles — Cars with lowered suspension, body kits, or aftermarket bumpers can scrape or break on wheel-lift equipment. Flatbed keeps everything clear.
- Luxury and exotic cars — When you’re moving a BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, or anything with expensive paint and sensitive electronics, flatbed is the standard.
- Classic and collector cars — Vintage vehicles often have unique drivetrains that shouldn’t be rolled under tow. Flatbed keeps everything original and undamaged.
- Motorcycles — Two-wheeled vehicles ride on flatbed decks with wheel chocks and soft straps. It’s the only safe way to tow a motorcycle.
- Vehicles that can’t roll — Flat tires on multiple wheels, locked-up brakes, or seized drivetrain components mean the car can’t be pulled on its wheels. Flatbed handles it.
- Electric vehicles — Most manufacturers (Tesla, Rivian, Chevy EV) recommend or require flatbed towing to protect the electric drivetrain.
Flatbed vs. Wheel-Lift: Which Do You Need?
Wheel-lift towing is faster and cheaper for standard front-wheel or rear-wheel drive vehicles that can roll freely. It lifts one end and the other end rolls on its own tires. For most everyday cars and trucks, it works great.
Flatbed is the better choice when the vehicle has AWD/4WD, can’t roll on its own, is low to the ground, or is valuable enough to warrant extra protection. When in doubt, ask us — we’ll recommend the right method for your specific vehicle and situation. We’d rather spend the extra time setting up a flatbed than risk damaging your vehicle with the wrong tow method.
Service Areas
Thompson’s flatbed towing service covers:
- Gilbert: Power Ranch, Agritopia, Val Vista Lakes, Morrison Ranch, Seville, San Tan Village area, Heritage District, and all neighborhoods
- Major roads: Gilbert Road, Val Vista Drive, Higley Road, Power Road, and all surface streets
- Highways: Loop 202 Santan, US 60, Loop 101
- Nearby cities: Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, Tempe, Scottsdale, east Phoenix
Frequently Asked Questions
Does flatbed towing cost more than regular towing?
It’s slightly more because the equipment is larger and the process takes a bit longer. But we’re not talking about a huge premium. We’ll quote you the exact price when you call — no surprises.
Can you flatbed a truck or large SUV?
Yes. Our flatbeds handle full-size trucks and SUVs — F-150s, Silverados, Tahoes, Expeditions, and similar. For extremely heavy vehicles (dual-axle trucks, large RVs), we have heavy duty towing options as well.
Is flatbed required for my AWD vehicle?
Strongly recommended. Towing an AWD vehicle with any wheels on the ground can damage the drivetrain. Some AWD systems can be temporarily disconnected, but unless you know for certain that your vehicle is safe to tow on two wheels, flatbed is the smart choice.
Can you transport a car that has no wheels or is on jack stands?
Yes. We use go-jacks and dollies to position wheel-less vehicles onto the flatbed. If you’re doing a project car build and need it moved, we’ve done this plenty of times.
Do you tow motorcycles on a flatbed?
Absolutely. We use dedicated motorcycle wheel chocks and soft straps to secure bikes on our flatbed deck. Your motorcycle won’t tip, slide, or bounce during transport.
Need Flatbed Towing? Call Thompson’s.
When your vehicle needs the extra care of flatbed transport, Thompson’s Auto Repair & Towing has the equipment and the experience. Over 30 years of handling Gilbert’s towing needs — from daily drivers to exotics. We load it, strap it, and deliver it in the same condition we found it.
Call 480-418-9206 for flatbed towing in Gilbert and the East Valley. Available 24/7.