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Heavy-Duty Lifting, Rigging & Material Handling Across Chicagoland

Classic Towing delivers expert rotator and mobile crane service for heavy lifting, cargo handling, and vehicle recovery. Our advanced rotator tow trucks combine power and precision to handle complex jobs–whether it’s a rollover, a low bridge strike, or a steel coil transfer. From urgent recoveries to scheduled lifts, we deliver crane-capable service with fast response times and smart, cost-effective pricing.

What is a Rotator Tow Truck?

A rotator is a specialized heavy-duty tow truck with a 360-degree rotating hydraulic boom. Unlike traditional wreckers. A rotator can recover vehicles or lift equipment from tight spots–over guardrails, down embankments, or within industrial yards–without needing to reposition the truck. It’s the ideal tool for recoveries requiring reach, control, and lifting strength.

Can a Rotator Be Used as a Crane?

Yes–rotators are often deployed as mobile crane alternatives, providing a faster and more affordable option for lifting jobs that don’t require full-size crane crew. These mobile cranes are ideal for quick response tasks such as:

  • Setting industrial machinery
  • Lifting containers or generators
  • Loading and offloading construction equipment
  • Handling emergency lifts when time or access is limited.

Rotator Lifting, Recovery, and Crane Services

At Classic Towing, we operate state-of-the-art rotator tow trucks designed for the most demanding recovery and lifting operations. Whether it’s uprighting an overturned semi, lifting a 40,000-pound forklift onto a transport truck, or relocating disabled construction equipment, our rotators provide unmatched strength and precision for lifting and repositioning heavy loads.

We frequently use a specialized method known as a “prick and swing” –a controlled lift-and-rotate method that repositions stuck or jackknifed tractor-trailers from embankments, ditches, or tight quarters to a safe, stable position. This approach minimizes damage, reduces downtime, and offers a safer, more efficient alternative to using a traditional straight-boom wrecker. All of our operators are trained and certified as qualified riggers, ensuring that every lift is performed with maximum safety, control, and efficiency.

Our Rotator Services Include:

  • Uprighting overturned trucks, trailers, and tankers
  • Performing side recoveries and single-lane extractions
  • Loading heavy equipment onto lowboys and flatbeds
  • Handling load shifts and cargo realignments
  • Providing rigging, material handling, and placement support for construction, emotional, and industrial projects
  • Lifting and setting steel coins, generators, HVAC units, and other large mechanical components
  • Decking and undecking trucks, trailers, and stacked commercial vehicles
  • Low bridge recovery

We serve the entire Chicago Metropolitan Area, with regular rotator service across key freight, industrial, and intermodal zones. Below is sample of our most frequently served cities:

Naperville 

Aurora

Plainfield 

Bolingbrook

Joliet

Lemont

Morris

Channahon

Minooka

Yorkville

Oswego

Montgomery

DeKalb

Sugar Grove 

Elwood

Wilmington

Romeoville 

North Aurora 

Bedford Park

Bridgereview

Alsip

Hodgkins 

Benseville 

Elk Grove Village 

Real-World Rotator Service Examples:

  • Elwood – Dispatched a rotator to the CenterPoint Intermodal Center to upright a loaded container that rolled after the chassis became unpinned from the truck.
  • Hodgkins – Performed a pick-and-swing recovery for a jackknifed tractor-trailer blocking a critical access lane near the UPS CACH facility.
  • Bolingbrook – Lifted a 38,000-pound forklift onto a lowboy trailer at Altra Material Handling for delivery to a customer.
  • Elk Grove Village – Undecked newly delivered fleet vehicles in the industrial park near O’Hare International Airport.
  • Morris – Provided rotator support at Ritchie Bros. Auction to lift and load heavy equipment onto transport trailers for outbound shipping.
  • Aurora – Unstacked and separated multiple trailers for a freight carrier whose yard lacked the equipment to do so safely.
  • Joliet – Performed a “nose dive” recovery after the landing gear of a loaded trailer sank into soft asphalt, lifting and stabilizing the unit so it could be safely reconnected and moved.

Dependable Rotator & Crane Service–Where You Need It

Uprighting rollovers in Naperville, lifting equipment in Romeoville, or offloading flatbeds in Wilmington–Classic Towing gets the job done with speed, safety, and precision. From Benseville, Lemont, and Joliet to Plainfield, Elwood, and beyond, we’re the trusted choice for heavy-duty lifting and recovery across Chicagoland. We also provide regular support in DeKalb, Montgomery, and Minooka, where fleets and facilities rely on us to keep their operations moving.

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