Tuff Turf Mole Busters Finds Success with Eye-Catching Advertising

Small Fleet•Photos 5•March 21, 2019

After seeing Dale’s dead cockroach van on the TV show “King of the Hill,” Jim Zylstra of Tuff Turf Mole Busters had the idea to add moles to the top of his fleet vehicles.

"My current production manager was a technician at the time," Zylstra said in an email. "He argued with me tooth and nail that it was a dumb idea, embarrassing to drive, and just was a waste of money. I am very open minded, and like to involve everybody on the team in our decisions. This time I had to put my foot down and say that the mole is here to stay."

It has been 13 years since Tuff Turf changed its logo and the mole, and the company still receives calls from first-time customers because the moles stood out to them.

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The moles are then painted with automotive paint, then clear coated. They are hard as a rock, and very durable. The moles are sometimes touched up after five years, but some are over eight years old and are in great original condition.
Photo: Tuff Turf

The current moles cost $1,800 to produce. However, Zylstra said, "That is still pretty cheap advertising."
Photo: Tuff Turf

At the very first stop with the mole on his roof, Zylstra's production manager said the neighbor came out, said she noticed the mole, and asked him for an estimate on services.
*Photo courtesy of Tuff Turf Molebusters.*

The mole is several rows of 2-inch wide poly urethane that is glued together, then carved.
Photo: Tuff Turf

When vehicles are driven on the highway, the mole on the roof is visible over the concrete divider for the other lanes. "The light on the mole’s helmet really sticks out at dusk and dawn," Zylstra said.
Photo: Tuff Turf