3 Key Features To Look For In A Light Bar For Your Tow Truck As An Owner-Operator

Posted on: 26 September 2016

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Owning your own tow truck service often means vamping up your own vehicle to make it more service worthy, and part of this work is usually the addition of a tow truck light bar. While adding lights to your tow truck may seem like one of the most simple and logical parts of making your vehicle ready, this is one part of the process that should take some extra consideration. Picking the right features of the light bar can make all the difference in everything from the appearance of your vehicle to your safety while on the job. Here are a few good features to look for in a light bar for your tow truck. 

The ability to control rear and front lights separately. 

Rear flashers on the back of the light bar on a tow truck are only a necessity when you are either pulling a vehicle or if you are parked on the side of the road during pickup. Therefore, having a flash bar that only has one panel of lights that are visible from both the front and back is not the best idea. What you should be looking for is a dual-panel light bar that gives you the ability to use only front or rear light flashers as needed while on the road. 

Low-profile design that fits well with the exterior of your vehicle. 

You can pick up generic light bars just about anywhere, but these generic designs are often bulky and unattractive. It is a good idea to look for a light bar for your tow truck that has a lower profile shape that does not interrupt the overall appearance of your vehicle. This is especially true for owner-operators who tend to use their towing vehicle also for everyday driving purposes. 

Low-energy consumption. 

Light bars are wired into the battery supply of your vehicle. While you may be tempted to go after a light bar that boasts a high level of wattage because of the assumption it will be brighter, it is a much better idea to go with a light bar that offers low-energy operation. Light bars affixed with rows of LED lighting are a better choice for this reason. LED lights offer high-wattage brightness without the added drain in your vehicle's battery. This allows you to keep the lights on for an extended period, even if you have had to shut the truck off during hook ups.