Double Trouble: Built to Recover, Painted to Remember

By George L. Nitti In a sea of flashing lights and heavy steel, some tow trucks turn heads with their graphics—none more so than the award-winning 2024 Peterbilt rotator by Mike’s Heavy Duty Towing of Brooklyn, New York, owned by Margaret Mazzio. Equipped with a 65-ton NRC slider, the unit earned Best of Show in the Rotator Class at the 2025 American Towman Exposition in Baltimore.

The rotator is a full custom build from the ground up. Every box is hand-painted and pinstriped, while the interior—steering wheel, column, shifters, and panels—has been reimagined with chrome and custom finishes. Even the storage compartments reflect the same attention to detail. “All my show trucks get the full treatment,” said Sal Mazzio, lead operator at Mike’s Towing, along with his son, Sal Jr.

Graphic artist Cecil Burrowes, who has airbrushed Mike’s trucks since the 1990s, said the project required some of the most extensive pinstriping he has done in years.

“I can’t remember the last time I striped a truck this much,” Burrowes said. “I try not to repeat patterns. I want everything to be intricate and unique.”

Before any color was applied, Burrowes stripped the truck back to bare white, removing old graphics, sanding it with 800-grit, and rebuilding the design from scratch. The artwork was then constructed one color at a time, with each shade requiring fresh masking. Yellow outlines were added to frame the blue graphics and make them stand out against the white base.

One of the most personal additions came mid-project, when a previous slogan was replaced with an image of Tuxi, a bulldog that once belonged to Sal's late father. Burrowes repainted both sides so the tribute became a permanent part of the truck’s story.

The hood features a reimagined version of Stewie from Family Guy, set against a New York-inspired backdrop of cobblestones and city buildings. Layers of pearl—blue over blue and purple over purple—were sprayed using an intercoat clear to create depth and dimension. Hand-painted flames stretch across the hood and sides, while fine sparkles were added to the white panels for subtle shimmer.

The finishing process proved challenging. Cold temperatures and an initial clear coat caused runs, forcing Burrowes to sand the entire truck smooth and re-clear it.

“I had to do it all over again,” he said. “But when it was done, it was beautiful.”

In the end, the rotator is a rolling testament to craftsmanship and the personal stories that continue to drive the towing industry forward.