So with the advent of 2.0 and the new dial the Quadjumper is getting (praise be 1-speed banks), I want to pimp out my favorite ship to see grace any board. My thought is to get a crane arm from a model tow truck and attach it, then paint it up like a tow truck. I do not, however, have the faintest clue where to start when looking for a good tow truck model to butcher for this. Any suggestions and thoughts for this?

Just go with one from a Matchbox/Hotwheels or similar. Should be ok and cheap.

Don't limit yourself to tow trucks. Cranes would work too. I have an old beaten up Micro Machine similar to this that I'm going to have to give a closer look.