For Allies Towing, the true measure of a truck is not simply how many kilometres it can cover, but how reliably it continues to serve the business and the communities that depend on it.
The Western Cape-based towing company has built an extraordinary Isuzu legacy, with three trucks standing out for their exceptional mileage and longevity. One has already crossed the one million kilometre mark, another is approaching the same milestone, while a third has accumulated around 850 000 kilometres – all while continuing to work in a demanding 24-hour towing and recovery operation.
The oldest of the three is a JCR 500, affectionately known as “Alligator”. Bought in 1994, the truck finally crossed the one million kilometre mark in February 2025 and now shows approximately 1 000 080 kilometres.
But Alligator’s story is about more than mileage. After more than three decades of service, the truck remains trusted enough to be used beyond its normal recovery duties, including supporting community initiatives.
“This truck is a special one because, apart from being a recovery truck, I also trust it enough to do community service. This truck assisted in moving water tanks to assist with drought-relief initiatives in the Eastern Cape,” says Eric Venter, owner of Allies Towing.
The truck’s longevity is particularly remarkable given the demanding nature of the business. Established in 1992, Allies Towing provides 24-hour roadside assistance, vehicle recovery and transportation services across Mossel Bay, Swellendam and surrounding areas.
Venter says reliability is essential because his trucks are constantly on the road.
“Our trucks are on the road every single day. We operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so they’re constantly working to assist customers whenever they’re needed.”
Alongside the historic JCR 500, Allies Towing has two NQR 500 trucks that continue to demonstrate the same durability. The NQR 500 based in Swellendam is close to one million kilometres, while another is at approximately 850 000 kilometres. Both remain in active daily use.
The trucks regularly travel between Mossel Bay, Swellendam and Cape Town, with the Swellendam trucks making the journey several times a week. Venter says the operation runs around the clock, with the trucks ready to respond whenever customers require assistance.
“We do a lot of transporting between Mossel Bay and Cape Town. Our Swellendam trucks can be in Cape Town anywhere from three to eight times a week. If someone phones at one o’clock on a Sunday morning with a breakdown next to the road, we go and assist. The trucks are always running.”
For Venter, the mileage achieved by the trucks comes down to a combination of reliability and disciplined maintenance.
“Most definitely, the service is every 20 000 kilometres, making sure the filters are clean and the oil is new and clean, that’s very important.”
He also conducts frequent checks on the gearbox oil, hydraulics and other components to ensure the trucks remain in the condition required for daily operations.
While vehicle recovery remains the company’s core business, the versatility of the Isuzu fleet has enabled Allies Towing to support a range of other operations.
“We use the trucks at the harbour to transport ice from one side of the factory around the harbour to the deeper end, where the boats are. We also use them for forklifts, and we have a mechanical workshop and a fitment centre for 4×4 products.”
The company’s relationship with Isuzu has also continued to grow. Venter currently operates five Isuzu trucks and is considering adding a sixth.
He is also considering an Isuzu bakkie for roadside assistance, including responding to flat batteries, fuel shortages, flat tyres and accident scenes.
Beyond the longevity of the trucks, Venter points to Isuzu’s aftersales support as another important part of the relationship. When an issue arose with his newer F-Series FRR 550 following a body conversion, Isuzu provided assistance and a loan truck while the vehicle was being repaired.
For Venter, however, reliability remains the defining quality.
“There’s no feature that I would say is more important to me than the reliability of the trucks. Just to know that if I have to be at a client within an hour’s time that I’m there at the client.”
That dependability is what makes Allies Towing’s three high-mileage trucks particularly fitting for the Isuzu Legends of the Long Run campaign.
Mpho Nkhumeleni, Department Executive: Commercial Vehicle Sales at Isuzu Motors South Africa, says the campaign celebrates customers whose stories demonstrate what long-term partnership and reliability can mean.
“The Legends of the Long Run campaign is built around the stories of our customers. Their loyalty to Isuzu speaks volumes about the dependability of our products. Seeing customers achieve milestones like these reinforces our commitment to delivering commercial vehicles that are truly With You for the Long Run.”
For Allies Towing, the numbers tell only part of the story. From a JCR 500 bought in 1994 and now past one million kilometres, to NQR 500 trucks continuing to rack up hundreds of thousands of kilometres, these vehicles have become part of the business’s history – and, in Alligator’s case, part of the communities it has helped along the way.
As the Isuzu Legends of the Long Run campaign continues, Isuzu Motors South Africa invites owners of high-mileage Isuzu trucks to share their stories of resilience, reliability and partnership. One outstanding entry will receive a full factory-backed vehicle restoration, celebrating both the truck and the customer who has kept it moving for the long run.
