A vehicle recovery unit for use with an operating vehicle. The vehicle recovery unit has a frame, a mounting system coupled to the frame, a boom assembly, a pivoting horse head assembly coupled to the boom assembly, a winch, and a cable wound upon the winch. The frame has an angled front plate and a rear plate. The mounting system is configured for releasable attachment to the operating vehicle. The boom assembly is coupled to the frame and extends beyond the front plate of the frame.

A vehicle recovery unit for use with an operating vehicle. The vehicle recovery unit has a frame, a mounting system coupled to the frame, a boom assembly, a pivoting horse head assembly coupled to the boom assembly, a winch, and a cable wound upon the winch. The frame has an angled front plate and a rear plate. The mounting system is configured for releasable attachment to the operating vehicle. The boom assembly is coupled to the frame and extends beyond the front plate of the frame.

A frame assembly for supporting and mounting a box compartment over and around a flat bed of a flatbed tow truck is described. The frame assembly includes a frame attached to a chassis of a flatbed tow truck. The frame includes at least one left and at least one right side support beams, at least one left and at least one right horizontal connection beams, two or more left side and two or more right side vertical support beams, at least two cross-beams, and at least one vertical connection beam. One or more of the at least two cross-beams is connected to the chassis and is further connected at each of its ends to the left and right side support beams. Each vertical connection beam is connected to either the left or right horizontal connection beam and is oriented generally vertically for attachment of a box compartment to the frame.

A wheel grid includes a crossbar configured to be coupled to a main boom of a wheel lift tow vehicle; two L-arms, each coupled to the crossbar at a respective pivot point and including an extension member and a wheel brace member; and a crossbar end coupled to each end of the crossbar and including a cantilevered portion, the crossbar ends each configured to engage a tire of a towed vehicle. The L-arms are configured to rotate into a stowed position in which each L arm is positioned under one of the cantilevered portions.

A front tow extended saddle configured for mounting a vehicle to a towing vehicle and a method of towing a vehicle using the front tow extended saddle are provided. The front tow extended saddle includes front, middle, and rear portions, with the front and rear portions extending along different planes. A protective cover extends along the front tow extended saddle and is supported above the wheels of the towing vehicle.

Methods and systems for autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicle control, routing, and automatic feature adjustment are disclosed. Sensors associated with autonomous operation features may be utilized to search an area for missing persons, stolen vehicles, or similar persons or items of interest. Sensor data associated with the features may be automatically collected and analyzed to passively search for missing persons or vehicles without vehicle operator involvement. Search criteria may be determined by a remote server and communicated to a plurality of vehicles within a search area. In response to which, sensor data may be collected and analyzed by the vehicles. When sensor data generated by a vehicle matches the search criteria, the vehicle may communicate the information to the remote server.

Systems and methods provide for enabling an autonomous vehicle to provide road assistance to a vehicle. The autonomous vehicle can analyze sensor data about the vehicle captured by one or more of its sensors as it navigates a route. Based on the analysis of the sensor data, the autonomous vehicle can determine that the vehicle needs maintenance. The autonomous vehicle can proactively send a request, based on the determination, to initiate a towing mechanism to tow the vehicle. Based on receiving an acceptance of the request from the vehicle, the autonomous vehicle can activate the towing mechanism.

According to one aspect, a securement system configured to secure wheels of a vehicle against a surface, e.g., a surface on a transport vehicle, includes one or more locking mechanisms that are dynamically adjustable to engage the wheels. A locking mechanism may include mechanical structures such as prongs or fingers which are configured to apply forces to a wheel to effectively hold the wheel in place. The securement system may also include a bar arrangement which cooperates with the locking mechanisms to further constrain the movement of a vehicle that is secured to a surface using the securement system.

A towing system for trucks, such as traction cables or drawbars is provided, which is made up of a central body with two anchoring yokes, a rear one and a front one, located at each end of the central body. The system is characterized in that the anchoring forks have pivot lugs that allow their connection to the central body by means of bolts, with the forks having hydraulic anchoring cylinders at their ends to connect the system to trailers and towed trucks. The central body has a set of rear wheels and a set of front wheels for its movement, which, by means of a remotely controlled hydraulic system, allows the wheels to be raised. Mounted on the main body, between the rear wheel assembly and the front wheel assembly, is a hydraulic power pack that allows all towing functions to be performed automatically.

A suspension and hub engagement towing facilitating assembly includes a receiver having a top side that removably receives a hub of a vehicle. A pair of catches is attached to the receiver at opposite ends thereof. The catches releasably receive tow bars such that the receiver is positioned between and liftable with the tow bars.