JOHNSTON -- Bob Gomes, the owner of Tony's Custom Truckware, wants to know why everybody doesn't own a pickup truck. In his mind, there is no vehicle that is more useful,
versatile, or customizable. Whether you drive a truck for work or for pleasure, there is no better place to find the equipment that will suit your individual needs, and the expertise to install it.
"We sell all the kinds of dress-up things that people want for their trucks and SUV's," said Gomes. "If you have a pickup truck and you want to add something to it, we're the place to go."
"Part of the fun of owning a pickup is that you don't have to have it look like the guy's next door," he said.
"Located on Route 44 in Johnston (just off exit 7A from Route 295), Tony's Custom
Truckware caters to all kinds of truck owners. Whether you want to outfit your vehicle for a business or just for looks, Gomes can help you find exactly what you're looking for.
"We have caps in a variety of styles and colors," he said, "and lots of different types of covers. We specialize in truck caps for contractors."
He said it's interesting to see how different people with the same basic vehicle can customize it to suit their particular tastes. His customers range in age from 20 to 60 years old and up.
"The younger they are, usually it's more flash they're looking for, while the older they are, the more practical they are," said Gomes.
Tony's Custom Truckware has such a wide range of custom products, however, that people can choose right combination of looks and utility that suits them.
"There are so many things you can choose," he said, "I try to show them the pros and cons of everything."
Gomes offers and installs caps, hard bed covers, soft bed covers, bed liners, toolboxes,
roof racks, fog lights, trailer hitches, and snowplows. He also installs cosmetic niceties such as graphics, wood grain dashes, and other accessories.
Tony's has more than 100 caps in stock, but the majority of their business is in special orders, since there are so many options to consider for truckowners.
"They come in different materials, such as aluminum, fiberglass, steel, and plastic," said Gomes. "They come in different heights, different colors."
Anyone who orders a custom cap can have it color matched to their truck so that the paint will match exactly, said Gomes. Customers can choose from dozens of different styles
from several manufacturers, including Fibrobec, a Canadian company that Gomes has partnered with in designing a new type of cap for contractors. Dubbed the "WORKKAP," it
is a fiberglass cap that features side doors, interior shelving, and exterior racks. Unlike a conventional aluminum contractor's cap, it can be color-matched, and is much more aesthetically pleasing.
Hard and soft bed covers are another popular option, as they can provide a sporty look, increased visibility, along with very good security features.
A wide array of roof racks for trucks and SUV's can also be ordered. Whether you need to transport skis, a canoe, or a heavy, bulky load, Gomes can install the right racks to fit your vehicle.
Gomes also installs many types of bedliners, and a wide range of toolboxes, including one that is mounted on rails, so it can slide back and forth on the bed for easier access.
Besides boasting a huge selection of parts, Gomes has the experience necessary to guide your choice to ensure you get the right fit for your vehicle, and to install it properly. He
has been in the business for more than 30 years.
"My mother and father started the business when I was 16," he said. His father, Tony,
started out by selling trailers. In the 1970s, they started to focus on truck accessories. When his father passed away, Gomes took over the business but kept the name.
"We're one of the oldest truck accessory places in the country," he said. "We've got a bunch of good customers that keep coming back."
He said he has some people who have brought multiple trucks to him to customize over the years, and is today seeing the children and grandchildren of some of his earlier customers come in with their first trucks.
His business philosophy hasn't changed in 30 years. "We try to treat people the way we would want to be treated," said Gomes. "If you have a problem, we'll handle it. It's how
you handle the problems that matters."
In addition, Gomes said he keeps his eyes open for fresh ideas and opportunities, as
exampled by the new type of cap that he helped develop and now sells. He also has a web site that gives customers a detailed look at what the possibilities are for customizing their
vehicle. Customers can visit the site and check out dozens of different styles of caps, of bedliners, of racks, of toolboxes. From the comfort of your living room, you can learn all
about the features of each product and see pictures of what they will look like installed on a vehicle.
Gomes said that whether you want to improve your truck for utility, for recreation, or just
for looks, he can make your vision a reality.
"There are the things you need to have, and there are the things you want to have," he said.
"Whatever makes you happy, we can do."
