december2022 - 30

SHOW ME YOUR TRUCK
'Look at that Bad Larry!'
Justin McCarthy, owner of Bad Larry Tools not only customized his truck to his exact
specifications but also sells some custom products his customers just eat up.
By Emily Markham, Associate Editor
I
ndependent mobile tool dealer Justin McCarthy takes
customizing a truck to a whole new level. After purchasing
his 2000 International with a 22' box, he gutted it. Not
to worry though, he may spend his days selling tools, but
he spends his nights turning wrenches, and his experience
as a technician meant he could fix whatever needed fixing.
" I redid a lot of stuff on the inside, " McCarthy says. " I
took everything apart and put it back together... I carpeted
everything so it looks nicer. I put a new TV in it so I can play
videos of tools. "
And this isn't the first time McCarthy has done this. When
we last spoke with him in 2019, he told us about the renovations
he did on his 2001 Freightliner MT55. Unfortunately,
a bad storm last October caused a tree to crash on top of
his truck, so McCarthy purchased his new truck from Mile
High Paint Supply in Colorado and got it delivered to his
home in Boston.
THE STORY BEHIND BAD LARRY
Bad Larry Tools is the name of McCarthy's mobile tool business
in Boston where he visits " all sorts of shops " such as
fleet shops, body shops, auto shops, bus garages, and construction
companies. However, if you're not from the area,
you may not understand what it means to be a " Bad Larry " .
" It's like a saying on the south shore of Massachusetts.
Like 'Look at that Bad Larry' would be like if you see a nice
car go by, " McCarthy notes. " It's old school. "
About 11 years ago when McCarthy was looking to
enter the tool-selling world, he had a friend who was going
to go into business with him. Unfortunately, his friend passed
away after getting in a bad car accident. Before that though,
when the two were working on McCarthy's house, his friend
had a pair of pliers he nicknamed the " Bad Larrys " because
he was always looking for them. The name stuck, and the
rest is history.
THE CUSTOMIZATIONS
Starting with when you first step onto the truck, McCarthy
replaced the peg board that used to be on the wall with
gray carpet. He notes that it makes it look " nice and clean "
and with the carpet up, he's able to Velcro products over
every inch of the truck.
The truck also has two knife displays, a sunglasses display,
a refrigerator, and a handmade hammer display. He
says he's also considering putting the handmade angle
iron pullout shelving unit with four panels from his old truck
onto his new one.
However, McCarthy's renovations and handmade displays
aren't the only custom parts of the truck. He also has
a few custom products - beef jerky, hot sauce, old-school
soda, and bottled water, as well as a grill seasoning that
he's still working on.
McCarthy says these private label products help his
business stand out, and they work well as a small freebie
to thank a customer for paying their bill on time or making
a large purchase. Some of his best sellers for the jerky are
the straight whiskey, crack black pepper, and ghost pepper
flavors.
OFF TO THE TOOL SHOW
Every fall McCarthy likes to put together a tool show. " I'll
put together tools I have a lot of and then run deals, " he
says. He also runs raffles and has a buffet, so even if they
don't end up buying anything, they can still have a good
time. He starts the raffles a few months before the show.
To view more photos
of Bad Larry's truck,
scan here
Justin McCarthy
Boston, Mass.
30 Professional Distributor I December 2022 I VehicleServicePros.com
https://qrco.de/bdVXbi http://www.VehicleServicePros.com

december2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of december2022

Editor's Note: The technician shortage is getting real
Sneak Peek
Most Wanted
Electric vehicles - coming to a shop near you
In Focus
Diagnostic Tech: Using digital tools to reduce the friction of running a shop
Show Me Your Truck: 'Look at that Bad Larry!'
Go Sell Something: Writing a sales pitch
Driving Sales
Tales From the Road: An entrepreneurial spirit
SEMA/AAPEX Wrap-up
Diagnosing Progress
Common diagnostics and trends in hybrid and electric vehicles
Diagnosing faults on modern vehicles
The real cause of P0420/P0430 DTCs
How diagnostic tools cut through the ADAS confusion
When the tools become the tutor
Diagnostic products
december2022 - 1
december2022 - 2
december2022 - 3
december2022 - Editor's Note: The technician shortage is getting real
december2022 - 5
december2022 - Sneak Peek
december2022 - 7
december2022 - 8
december2022 - 9
december2022 - 10
december2022 - 11
december2022 - Most Wanted
december2022 - 13
december2022 - Electric vehicles - coming to a shop near you
december2022 - 15
december2022 - 16
december2022 - 17
december2022 - 18
december2022 - 19
december2022 - 20
december2022 - 21
december2022 - In Focus
december2022 - 23
december2022 - 24
december2022 - 25
december2022 - Diagnostic Tech: Using digital tools to reduce the friction of running a shop
december2022 - 27
december2022 - 28
december2022 - 29
december2022 - Show Me Your Truck: 'Look at that Bad Larry!'
december2022 - 31
december2022 - Go Sell Something: Writing a sales pitch
december2022 - 33
december2022 - 34
december2022 - Driving Sales
december2022 - 36
december2022 - 37
december2022 - Tales From the Road: An entrepreneurial spirit
december2022 - 39
december2022 - SEMA/AAPEX Wrap-up
december2022 - 41
december2022 - 42
december2022 - 43
december2022 - 44
december2022 - A1
december2022 - A2
december2022 - A3
december2022 - Diagnosing Progress
december2022 - A5
december2022 - Common diagnostics and trends in hybrid and electric vehicles
december2022 - A7
december2022 - Diagnosing faults on modern vehicles
december2022 - A9
december2022 - The real cause of P0420/P0430 DTCs
december2022 - A11
december2022 - How diagnostic tools cut through the ADAS confusion
december2022 - A13
december2022 - A14
december2022 - A15
december2022 - When the tools become the tutor
december2022 - A17
december2022 - A18
december2022 - A19
december2022 - A20
december2022 - Diagnostic products
december2022 - A22
december2022 - A23
december2022 - A24
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