Ben McCoy lives by the mini-truckers mantra: "if you are not low then go home!" This is exemplified by his license tag that asks the prevailing question "RU LOW."

Ben always wanted a cool custom mini and so we have to say that it was meant to be. The most interesting thing about Ben's truck, besides its low stance, is his use of color. If someone was to ask me if raspberry would look cool on a lowered mini a year ago, I probably would have said "no way." Now, Ben's truck has shown me otherwise.

The base coat, factor medium raspberry, was laid out by Doug Polston from Bowling Green, Kentucky. To make his truck stand out even more, Ben enlisted Jay Latham of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, to lay down a sweet set of flames that stretch the entire length of the body. The flames can also be seen on the hood, tailgate, and hard tonneau topper, too. To add detail to the flames, Wes Uhles of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, put his pinstriping skills to work using PPG silver and PPG sky blue.

Of course the paint makes up only part of the truck's overall appeal. Bolt on body modifications include a Street Scene front valance, brushed aluminum grille inserts, Good Mark cowl induction hood, Checkmate hard tonneau topper, custom Euro lighting, and Street Scene mirrors. The rear bumper was shaved and a molded-in Sir Michaels steel roll pan took its place. The shaving continued with the removal of the door handles, antenna, windshield washer squirts, third brake light, and tailgate handle. In addition, the cab's drip rails were smoothed out, too.

As the title of this feature might suggest, you will notice Ben's truck sits a hair closer to mother earth. This is achieved with a full air ride suspension. 2600lb. Firestone airbags were mounted at the corners and two ViAir compressors coupled to a pair of 3-gallon air tanks keep plenty of air on tap. 3½-inch manual valves control the air suspension.

Gary Cooke of Cooke's Design in Litchfield, Kentucky, wrapped the entire interior of Ben's truck in gray tweed. Gray vinyl inserts were stitched into the seats and door panels. Billet aluminum bezels were added to the dash along with billet window cranks, and light switch housing. A custom steering wheel tops off the interior aesthetics.

In the sound department, Ben performed the audio system install, which is fronted by a Pioneer CD head unit. A Kicker 360-watt amplifier feeds power to a pair of 12-inch Audiobahn subwoofers, and a Kicker 120-watt amplifier powers up the highs.

Under the hood Ben left things somewhat stock. However, the six-cylinder engine has been dressed up with custom paint and wire loom.

Rounding out the truck's overall appearance is a set of chrome 17x8-inch billet wheels up front and 18x8-inch billet wheels out back, wrapped in low-profile Dunlop tires.

Ben's truck has all of the right stuff which is what ultimately got ESM interested in his ride to begin with. With a very catchy paint job and a suspension package that keeps this hauler in the weeds there is no doubt that Ben's truck will always be a hit.

Shout Out: "Special thanks to mom and dad, Vaperz, family, and friends." -Ben McCoy