Remember Monster Garage? Tom of Big Dog Custom Diesel Says That Show Changed His Life
About this episode
Tom Batar from Big Dog Custom Diesel shares his journey from being a mechanic to appearing on the iconic show Monster Garage. He discusses how the show impacted his career and led him to start his own shop. The conversation dives into the challenges of running a diesel repair business, including staffing issues, customer relationships, and the importance of quality parts. Tom also reflects on the differences in working on diesel trucks in Texas compared to his previous experiences in New Jersey and North Carolina, highlighting the unique challenges and rewards of his craft.
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In this episode of The Jaded Mechanic, Jeff Compton chats with Tom from Big Dog Custom Diesel. Tom remembers his appearance on Monster Garage and how that kickstarted his career transition from working at a Ford dealership to starting his shop. He and Jeff also cover the struggles of running a business, especially on finding quality staff and managing business finances.
09:13 "Reconnecting Over Hot Dog Cart"
12:09 Trailer Upgrades and Requirements
19:49 "Overcoming Financial Struggles"
24:16 Experience vs. Theory: Importance
28:29 "Prioritizing Expensive Repairs"
33:57 North Carolina Store Transformation
41:36 Challenging, Self-Inflicted Positivity
45:47 Efficient Work Strategy Debate
47:44 Old School Toolbox Enthusiast
57:10 Weird Industry Perception of Discounts
01:00:02 Vehicle Brake and Rotor Issues
01:05:34 Striving for Excellence
01:09:25 "Tekmetric's Impressive Features"
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Ford Mustang
"... one season. So we had like the lawnmower and the Mustang lawnmower and all of the like just were getting t..."
Toyota A90
"Yeah. So my neighbor had like a 90. 90 acre farm behind us. I love, I loved it. I loved it out there, but the weather is kind of crappy. But I commuted to Charlotte. Okay."
Toyota Corolla
"Yeah. So you're not chasing that Corolla oil change money. Yeah."
Ford Super
"...going to machine your rotors and I'm going to put Ford Super Duties on it. And they're not expensive, right. B..."
Fords Five
"Yeah. Like one week you'll be there. There'll be 10 or 12 Fords. One week there'll be two or three Fords, five Dodges. Then there'll be six Jevons. You know, there's no rhyme or reason. You know, like we work on them all. It doesn't matter, you know, Then we work on some diesel cars. Never. I've never been in a dealership yet that had an on car lathe. But I mean, no, but up in Canada. Right?"
Jeep Grand Cherokee
"...ty. The, the ones I remember doing a lot like the Grand Cherokee In 2003, 2004, they had a rash of them where they..."
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