Australia's longest running builder of towing and recovery vehicles has been creating custom-bodied Hino trucks for operators across Australia for 25 years thanks to the fitness for purpose of Hino Australia's light, medium and heavy duty models.
Fleet Towing Equipment Pty Ltd was established in 1971 and specialises in the design and manufacture of tow truck, cradle and slide bed bodies.
Proprietor Wayne Moran and his team of five also supplies a wide range of accessories and provides custom painting and airbrushing to create individualised Hino recovery vehicles for a variety of operators.
Mr Moran said he began using Hino trucks exclusively around 15 years ago because its products are the best in field for recovery applications.
"Recovery work is hard on trucks, and most importantly the chassis of the Hino trucks don't crack when used for towing day in, day out," Mr Moran said.
"On top of that, they've got good brakes, a good turning circle, and they're comfortable and good to drive.
"They're the pick of the bunch for this application," he said.
Fleet Towing Equipment builds trucks for a range of well-known clients including Kennards Hire, and sends over 50 per cent of the builds to Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria from its headquarters in Revesby, NSW.
"We've made some interesting vehicles over the years to fill all kinds of niches, and we fit them with chains, winches, lights, wheels, audio systems and any kind of accessory owners might want," Mr Moran said.
"The most memorable vehicles were the most recent ones we built for X-treme Towing in Adelaide - one was styled as 'Robocop' and the other was done with a 'Transformer' theme."
Owner of X-treme Towing Ralph Scutella said his elaborately decorated Hino tow trucks have provided reliable service with great back-up.
"I'm proud of my Hino trucks and I'm really happy with their customer care," Mr Scutella said.
"I've had a number of Hino trucks over the years and they just keep getting better.
"I'm happy with their performance and my trucks have been bulletproof," he said.