How to Draw a Tow Truck (Easy Step by Step)
A tow truck is a fun drawing because it is built from simple shapes: rectangles, circles, and a few slanted lines. It also has a crane arm and a warning light, so it looks like a truck with a job to do.
- Medium
- 15 minutes
- 9 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a tow truck step by step
How to Draw a Tow Truck · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch this oval. It only shows where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase it at the end.
Step 2: The truck bed
Draw a long, flat shape with a rounded corner on the left. Make a straight line across the top and another along the bottom, and leave the right end open for the cab.
Step 3: The cab
At the right end of the bed, draw a tall box that goes up from the top line. Round the top corners and slant the front down toward the bumper, then close it along the bottom.
Step 4: The cab window
Inside the cab, draw a small rectangle with rounded corners. Slant its right side a little so it matches the sloped front.
Step 5: The crane arm
Above the back of the bed, draw two long slanted lines side by side, going up and to the left. Join them at the top with a rounded end and add a little curl for the hook.
Step 6: The wheel arches
Draw two half circles that bump up from the bottom line, one under the bed and one under the cab. These are the wheel arches.
Step 7: The wheels
Under each arch, draw a big circle for the tire. Add a smaller circle inside it, and a tiny circle in the middle for the hub.
Step 8: The warning light
On top of the cab, draw a small box with a rounded top. Then add three short lines above it, like rays of light.
Step 9: Door handle and headlight
Draw a short, fat dash on the cab door for the handle. Then fill in a small dot at the front of the cab for the headlight.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your tow truck? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a cement mixer truck or how to draw a motorcycle next.
Tips for drawing a tow truck
- Draw the two crane lines so they slant the same way. Use a ruler or draw each one in a single quick stroke so they look parallel.
- Wheels can be tricky. Trace a round object like a cup or a lid first, or draw one wheel and copy its size for the other.
- Draw the crane arm after the cab so you can see how much room it has above the bed.
Free tow truck coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this tow truck coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your tow truck drawing
Try a bright red or yellow truck with gray tires and a light blue window. For a creative twist, color the warning light in rainbow stripes.
Tow truck fun fact for kids
The first tow truck was built in 1916 by Ernest Holmes Sr. in Chattanooga, Tennessee, after he used ropes and pulleys to pull a car out of a creek.
Questions about drawing a tow truck
What shapes do I need to draw a tow truck?
You need a long flat shape for the bed, a taller box with a rounded top for the cab, and circles for the wheels. Two slanted lines make the crane arm.
How do I draw the crane on a tow truck?
Draw two long lines that slant up and to the left from the top of the truck bed. Join them with a rounded end and add a small curl for the hook.
How do I make my tow truck look more fun?
Add a few short rays around the warning light and color the truck in bright colors. You can also draw a small car on the road next to it.
