The three white pick-up trucks were pretty ordinary when they rolled into The BodyWorks Super Collision Center and Mills Auto Xtreme (MAX) at Mills Ford in Brainerd/Baxter. It was a transformation! 

The trucks from West Central Telephone Association of Sebeka are now on the job with custom A.R.E. toppers, ladder racks, roll-out cargo beds and warning lights installed by The BodyWorks specialists. The MAX team dressed them up with the company’s logo, custom blue graphics and signage. 

BodyWorks Truck Accessories Manager Andy Dosser said the toppers were “deluxe commercial” models that were custom built for West Central’s particular needs. They have double full rear doors and full-length tool boxes with shelving. Special LED interior lighting turns on automatically when any of the doors are opened. Locks on the topper are programmed to operate using the truck’s ignition key. No extra keys are needed. There are ladder racks inside the topper for suspending step ladders from the ceiling, freeing up bed space. 

Each topper also has a rear back-up camera and security screens over all windows. On the topper roofs are “ergo racks” which drop down to the side of the vehicle for easier loading of long ladders. It’s also safer for employees. “No more thrown out backs or damage to the vehicle trying to load a long ladder on the roof,” Dosser said. 

The roll-out bed provides easy access to up to 1,500 pounds of cargo, eliminating having to crawl into the truck, another safer option for employees. Each truck also has flashing amber LED warning lights and a 2,000 watt power inverter. 

“West Central was very happy that we could do everything for their trucks in one place, “Dosser said. “They didn’t have to take them to several different places to get outfitted. It made things much easier to do everything with us and it saved a lot of time.”