What Is Underlift Recovery and When Is It Used?
Underlift is one of the most common ways to recover a vehicle. This guide explains how it works, when an operator chooses it over a flatbed, and why it is a safe, efficient method for many cars.
What Underlift Recovery Is and How It Works
Underlift recovery is one of the most widely used methods of moving a vehicle, alongside the full flatbed. Instead of loading the whole car onto a bed, an underlift uses a hydraulic arm at the rear of the recovery truck to lift one axle of the vehicle clear of the road, while the wheels of the other axle trail along behind. It is a quick, secure and efficient way to recover many vehicles, particularly over longer distances.
The hydraulic arm carries a cradle or yoke that supports the lifted wheels safely without putting strain on the bumper or bodywork. Because only part of the truck bed is taken up, an underlift equipped vehicle can be versatile, and the method is often quicker to set up than loading a full flatbed. It is widely used for roadside breakdowns, accident recovery and moving larger or heavier vehicles that may not suit a standard bed.
This guide explains how underlift recovery works, when an operator chooses it over a flatbed, the important point about which axle is lifted on different cars, and what you can expect if your vehicle is recovered this way. It also explains how underlift relates to other methods you may have heard of, so you can understand the choices an operator makes and feel confident your car is being moved the right way.
Underlift Compared With Other Methods
An operator weighs up several methods for any given job. The table below shows where underlift sits alongside the alternatives, and what makes it the right choice in particular situations.
| Method | What It Does | Typically Used For |
|---|---|---|
| Underlift | Lifts one axle, the other trails | Roadside recovery, longer distances, larger vehicles |
| Full flatbed | Whole vehicle carried clear of the road | Automatics, all wheel drive, damaged or low cars |
| Underlift with dollies | Trailing wheels placed on trolleys | When the trailing axle must also be kept off the road |
| Skates | Moves a car a short distance in tight spaces | Repositioning in courts, lanes and car parks |
You may also have heard of a spectacle lift, which is a particular type of underlift attachment shaped to slide under and cradle a pair of wheels. It is one of the tools an operator may use as part of an underlift recovery. The broad principle is the same in each case, lifting an axle securely by the wheels rather than the body, and an experienced operator selects the exact attachment that suits your vehicle.
How an Underlift Recovery Is Carried Out
The operator checks the type of car, which wheels drive it, and its condition, to decide whether underlift is suitable and which axle should be lifted.
The recovery truck is reversed up to the vehicle so the hydraulic arm can be extended underneath the chosen axle in a safe, controlled way.
The cradle or yoke slides under the wheels and the arm raises that axle clear of the road, taking the weight through the wheels rather than the bodywork.
The lifted wheels are strapped into the cradle and all attachments are checked. If the trailing wheels need to be kept off the road, dollies are fitted at this stage.
With the vehicle secure and stable, the operator drives to your chosen destination, the trailing wheels rolling smoothly behind, unless they have been placed on dollies.
Which Axle Gets Lifted Matters
On an automatic or an all wheel drive car, the driven wheels generally need to be the ones lifted, or kept off the road with dollies, to protect the gearbox. This is why telling the operator your car is automatic or all wheel drive is important even when underlift is used. On many front wheel drive cars the front axle is lifted, which conveniently keeps the driven wheels off the road.
Is Underlift Safe for My Car?
Yes, when carried out correctly by a trained operator, underlift is a safe and well established method. The vehicle is supported through its wheels in a purpose built cradle, not by the bumper or body, so there is no strain on the bodywork. The operator selects the right axle and attachment for your car, and keeps the driven wheels protected where needed.
When a Flatbed Is Better
For very low or sports cars that might catch on the ground, severely damaged vehicles, or automatics and all wheel drive cars where keeping all driven wheels clear is simplest, a full flatbed is often preferred. A good operator will choose underlift or flatbed based on what protects your particular vehicle best, not simply what is quickest.
Your Vehicle During an Underlift Journey
If your car is recovered by underlift, the experience for you is much the same as any other recovery. You will normally travel in the cab of the recovery truck while your vehicle is towed securely behind, one axle raised in the cradle and the other rolling along the road, unless dollies have been fitted. The lift holds the car firmly and stably, and an experienced operator drives smoothly with the extra length and weight of the towed vehicle in mind, taking corners and braking gently.
Before setting off, the operator carries out final checks that the lift is engaged correctly, the straps are secure, and the trailing wheels are free to turn or safely supported. During the journey they remain aware of the towed vehicle at all times. The whole point of underlift is to move your car efficiently and securely without loading it onto a full bed, which is why it remains such a popular and trusted method for everyday roadside recovery as well as for longer journeys to a garage or home.
Underlift Recovery FAQs
Need Your Vehicle Recovered?
Ely Motor Services chooses the safest method for your car, whether that is an underlift or a full flatbed. Call us and we will recover your vehicle properly.