Bold Colors, Big Personality: Lil Pete’s Family-Inspired Tow Truck

By George L. Nitti

Lil Pete's Automotive Inc., located in Brewster, NY, over the last couple of years has added a new vehicle to its fleet—a fully customized 2022 Ram 5500 with a 408 Chevron body. Owner Pete Dinome ordered this truck during the height of COVID-19, waiting 2+ years before it arrived. During the waiting period, he used the time to plan meticulously for his new truck. 

"I had the boom custom painted, and the whole interior is customized. There's even a Starlight headliner," Pete said. 

Previously, Pete owned a four-door wrecker, but it didn't meet his expectations for comfort and functionality. "I felt like I couldn't get the drop on jobs with that one," he explained. Determined to create a truck that ticked off all the boxes, he ensured this Ram 5500 was built with every possible feature, including dolly boxes with gold tracks, trash cans, an onboard compressor, and train horns. 

To carry out the design, Pete collaborated with Vinny Pinstriper from Port Chester, NY, for the vehicle graphics. "I told Vinny to pick something that would make people turn their heads when they see it." The result is a bold mix of purple, blue, black, pink, and white— what he calls a “paint-splatter style.” 

Giving it a personal touch, Pete included the names of his kids, nieces, and nephews on the hood, all in beautifully scripted decals by Vinny. "Every one of my trucks has their names on them," he noted. 

One of Lil Pete's signature design elements is the use of cartoon characters. Pete's twin daughters are represented by Tweety Birds—one sweet, the other a bit sassy—while his son is symbolized by the Tasmanian Devil, reflecting his energetic, mischievous nature. "Those are the ones they wanted me to put on the truck, so that's what I did," he explained. 

Founded in 2015, Lil Pete's Automotive Inc. was named in honor of Pete's first son, born the same year. The company originally started in the Bronx but relocated to Putnam County, New York in 2017. Despite the growth, the business remains a family-centered operation, with Pete ensuring that every truck in the fleet carries a bit of his family's story.  George L. Nitti has been an editor and writer for Tow Industry Week since its inception, contributing countless articles on tow industry graphics, recoveries, news, business and more. He is also a feature writer, news editor and contributor to American Towman Magazine.