This video showcases the tailboard switch panel used to control the underlift functions on the heavy-duty integrated wrecker line from Miller Industries.
Let me start by apologizing. I realize my comments are off topic. But I believe a small addition might help in reducing the amount of labor that is needed to pull cable from your trucks to disabled vehicles. Let me start by saying my experience is in large oil tankers. I was involved in a number of studies dealing with emergency towing of disabled tankers. These studies involved large towing vessels with tow cables 3" in diameter. The simplest way to connect a tow line is by first passing a messenger line from the ship to the tug and then using the ship's capstan to heave progressively larger lines until the towing cable is brought aboard. If the ship has no power, the initial messenger line is passed from the tug to the ship and then back to the tug. The ship passes the line through a snatch block. The tug can use their capstan to pull the tow line to the ship. In watching videos of your tow trucks in use I have noticed that at times a lot of time and labor is needed to get the towing cable to the vehicle. This is especially true if the tow truck is away from the vehicle that is to be towed. My suggestion is for you to incorporate a small capstan, such as those used on sailboats, so a small diameter synthetic (Spectra or Dyneema) line and snatch block can be used to pull the tow cable to the vehicle. Companies like Harken, Lewmar and Andersen make small winches (capstans) for sailboats with both manual and self-tailing designs. The winches come with single, two and three speeds. Hand cranked, electric, pneumatic and hydraulic powered are available. These winches are designed for ocean sailing and have pulls from 500 to 5000 pound pulls. Strategically located a capstan might help to reduce labor expended and to reduce injuries. Bob
