Why I left Matt's Offroad Recovery!

Tom Tom's Shop

28 Apr 202412:02

Summary

TLDRThe speaker reflects on his journey with Matt's off-road recovery, starting from their friendship in Illinois in 1995 to their shared passion for off-roading and vehicle fabrication. After working together on various projects, including the ambitious 'Recer' build and numerous recoveries, the speaker decided to leave Matt's business to focus on his own projects. Despite the decision, he expresses his love for the work done at Matt's and the relationships formed, and reassures that his departure is amicable and based on his desire to pursue personal fabrication projects. He also shares his excitement for his upcoming work, including a detailed plan for his truck 'Dig Dug' and a 1979 Jeep Wagoneer, and addresses common questions from fans about his departure and future plans.

Takeaways

🤝 The narrator and Matt met in 1995 while serving missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which was the beginning of their friendship and shared interests.
🚜 The narrator credits his love for off-roading, trucks, and fabrication to the stories Matt told him during their mission downtime.
🏡 Life happened fast for both, with marriages and children, but they always stayed in touch and shared a passion for off-roading and vehicle projects.
🔧 The narrator helped Matt by sourcing parts from his yard for various projects, including the axle that went into the 'bommie' vehicle.
🎓 After completing degrees in physics and nuclear engineering, the narrator worked at Idaho National Laboratory for 16 years, all while discussing project ideas with Matt.
🚗 The narrator was involved in the design and building of Matt's off-road recovery vehicles, including the world's largest off-road record vehicle.
📈 Matt's towing business evolved into off-road recoveries and then into a YouTube channel, which caught the narrator's attention and led to more collaboration.
🏞️ The narrator participated in multiple off-road recoveries with Matt, including a memorable one involving a thousand-foot cliff and the recovery of the 'Golden Nugget'.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The narrator's family, including his son Bridger, supported his move to work with Matt full-time on off-road recovery projects.
⛏️ The narrator decided to leave Matt's off-road recovery to focus on his own projects, which he was unable to pursue while working full-time with Matt.
🚙 The narrator has several personal projects underway, including an XJ with plans for upgrades and a 'Dig Dug' truck that he is most excited about.
🔨 The narrator emphasizes that his departure from Matt's off-road recovery is amicable, and he will remain close to the team and projects.

Q & A

How did the narrator and Matt meet?
-The narrator and Matt met in Washington Illinois in 1995 while both were serving missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
What sparked the narrator's interest in off-roading and vehicle fabrication?
-The narrator's interest in off-roading and vehicle fabrication was sparked by the stories Matt told him about growing up in Henryville, Utah, and working on farms, building cores, and working on trucks.
What was the name of the Baja 1000 vehicle project that the narrator, Matt, and Johnny Boy worked on?
-The Baja 1000 vehicle project they worked on was named 'Sweet Caroline'.
What educational background does the narrator have?
-The narrator has a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree in nuclear engineering.
Why did the narrator decide to leave Matt's off-road recovery?
-The narrator decided to leave to have time to work on his own projects and ideas, which he was unable to do while working full-time at Matt's off-road recovery.
What was the first job the narrator did with Matt's off-road recovery?
-The first job the narrator did with Matt's off-road recovery was a thousand-foot cliff job using the Bombie and the Tangerine.
What is the name of the vehicle that the narrator was particularly impressed with?
-The narrator was particularly impressed with the vehicle named 'Banana'.
What is the name of the narrator's truck that he is most excited about working on?
-The narrator's truck that he is most excited about working on is named 'Dig Dug'.
What is the narrator's plan for the suspension upgrade on Dig Dug?
-The narrator plans to go from 38 to 40-inch tires, with a four-link suspension in the front and a trailing arm suspension in the rear, including coilovers and bypass shocks on all four corners.
What is the name of the 1979 Jeep Wagoneer project that the narrator is working on for his friend Trent Campbell?
-The name of the 1979 Jeep Wagoneer project is not mentioned in the script, but it is described as an incredible build.
What was the narrator's favorite recovery from his time at Matt's Off-road Recovery?
-One of the narrator's favorite recoveries was on the barracks trail with the brand new Recer, where they pulled out a Ford Explorer buried in silty mud from a flash flood.
Why is the narrator moving only 5 minutes away from Matt's shop?
-The narrator is moving only 5 minutes away to work full-time on his own projects, but he wants to maintain close contact with the people at Matt's shop and continue to see them regularly.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Journey to Off-Road Recovery

The speaker begins by addressing the audience's curiosity about their departure from Matt's Off-Road Recovery. They recount their friendship with Matt, which started during a mission trip in Washington, Illinois, in 1995. The speaker credits their love for off-roading and fabrication to conversations with Matt about his childhood in Henryville, Utah. After their missions, they stayed in touch, and the speaker would often visit Matt, who was always involved in various projects. The speaker pursued a degree in nuclear engineering while working at the Idaho National Laboratory. Despite their busy lives, they continued to discuss off-roading and vehicle projects. Matt's towing business evolved into off-road recoveries and eventually a YouTube channel, which the speaker found fascinating. The speaker's first job with Matt involved a thrilling cliff rescue, which sparked their interest in off-road recovery. They were later invited to help with the 'Golden Nugget' recovery and were eventually asked to join Matt's team full-time. However, the speaker felt the need to pursue their own projects and ideas, leading to their decision to leave Matt's Off-Road Recovery.

05:02

🔧 Personal Projects and Future Plans

The speaker expresses their excitement about leaving Matt's Off-Road Recovery to focus on their own projects. They highlight several ongoing projects, including an XJ vehicle that they aim to keep as a driver while making upgrades such as suspension enhancements, sealing replacements, rust treatment, and interior improvements. The speaker's main project is their truck 'Dig Dug,' which they plan to transform from its current stock suspension to a hardcore rock crawler with a four-link suspension, coilovers, bypass shocks, and upgraded axles. They also mention a 1979 Jeep Wagoneer owned by their friend Trent Campbell, which they plan to help upgrade for better off-roading capabilities. The speaker emphasizes the need to be at their shop full-time to manage these projects and the good timing of their departure from Matt's team, as they have completed their major builds and have a strong team in place.

10:03

😢 Bittersweet Departure and Future Interactions

The speaker addresses the emotional aspect of leaving Matt's Off-Road Recovery, acknowledging that they will miss the people, the recoveries, the builds, and even the fans and dogs at the shop. They confirm that despite leaving, they will still be in close proximity and expect to visit often. The speaker also discusses the future of 'Miss Sally,' a vehicle they have a fondness for, which will remain with Matt. They express a sense of sadness about not being able to work in Matt's new shop but are genuinely happy for his success. The speaker shares their favorite recovery memory, which involved the use of a newly built recovery vehicle on a challenging muddy trail. They also dispel any rumors about the reason for their departure, emphasizing a strong relationship with Matt and gratitude for the support from their channel's audience.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Off-road recovery

Off-road recovery refers to the process of retrieving or extracting vehicles that are stuck or stranded in off-road conditions. In the video, the speaker discusses his involvement in off-road recoveries, which is a central theme as it led to his interest in the field and his work with Matt's off-road recovery business.

💡Fabrication

Fabrication is the process of creating structures or components by assembling, cutting, and joining raw materials. The speaker mentions his love for fabrication, which is a key aspect of his passion for building and modifying vehicles, particularly for off-road use.

💡Welding

Welding is a fabrication process that involves joining materials, usually metals, by causing coalescence through the use of heat and melting. The speaker credits his skills in welding to his ability to pay for his education and highlights it as a significant part of his work in vehicle modification.

💡Nuclear engineering

Nuclear engineering is a branch of engineering that deals with the application of the principles of nuclear physics to the design and operation of systems and devices that utilize nuclear reactions. The speaker mentions his educational background in physics and nuclear engineering, which provides context for his technical expertise and his ability to apply scientific principles to his projects.

💡Suspension

Suspension refers to the system of springs, shock absorbers, and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. It serves the purpose of controlling the motion of the vehicle and ensuring road-holding and comfort. The speaker discusses suspension in the context of vehicle upgrades and modifications for off-road performance.

💡Rock crawling

Rock crawling is an off-road driving activity that involves navigating vehicles over rocky terrain, often requiring slow speeds and precise control. The speaker recounts his experience with rock crawling as a part of off-road recoveries, emphasizing the technical and thrilling aspects of this activity.

💡Project vehicle

A project vehicle is a car or truck that is undergoing modification or restoration by an enthusiast. The speaker talks about various project vehicles, such as the XJ and Dig Dug, which are central to his personal interests and the focus of his future work.

💡Dana 60 and Dana 70

Dana 60 and Dana 70 are models of heavy-duty vehicle axles known for their durability and use in off-road vehicles. The speaker mentions upgrading to these axles as part of his project to transform his vehicle into a hardcore rock crawler.

💡SEMA

SEMA stands for the Specialty Equipment Market Association, which is a trade association that organizes an annual show for the automotive aftermarket industry. The speaker expresses his ambition to have his project vehicle, Dig Dug, looking good enough to be showcased at SEMA, indicating his high standards and aspirations for the build.

💡Transmission

Transmission is the component of a vehicle that allows the gear ratio to be changed manually or automatically to match the speed and load conditions. The speaker mentions a four-speed automatic transmission that he rebuilt years ago, which is part of the drivetrain in his project vehicle.

💡LS3 engine

The LS3 engine is a General Motors small-block V8 engine used in various GM vehicles. It is known for its performance characteristics. The speaker considers installing an LS3 engine in his truck as part of the upgrades, highlighting his desire for enhanced power and performance in his project vehicle.

Highlights

The speaker and Matt met in Washington Illinois in 1995 while serving missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Matt's stories about growing up in Henryville, Utah, inspired the speaker's love for off-roading, trucks, and fabrication.

The speaker and Matt stayed in touch after their missions, with Matt always involved in various projects like dery building and towing.

The speaker used his welding skills to pay for his education, eventually earning a master's degree in nuclear engineering.

Matt's towing business evolved into off-road recoveries and later into a YouTube channel, which caught the speaker's attention.

The speaker's first job with Matt was a thousand-foot cliff recovery using the Bombie and Tangerine vehicles.

The speaker was invited to be the chef during the recovery of the Golden Nugget, a memorable and epic job.

The speaker contributed to the building of the world's largest off-road vehicle, the Recer, from the beginning.

Matt invited the speaker to move to Southern Utah and work on projects full-time, which initially seemed like a crazy idea.

The speaker's family eventually agreed to move, and they packed up their life in Idaho Falls to join Matt's off-road recovery business.

The speaker has been involved in a variety of recoveries in different terrains, gaining valuable experience.

Despite enjoying working on Matt's projects, the speaker has a desire to work on his own projects and ideas.

The speaker is excited about working on a personal project, an XJ vehicle, with plans for continuous driving and upgrades.

The speaker's main project is 'Dig Dug', a truck with a stock suspension that he plans to transform into a hardcore rock crawler.

The speaker also mentions working on a 1979 Jeep wagon ear for a friend, Trent Campbell, who has been supportive of his channel.

The speaker emphasizes the timing is right to leave Matt's off-road recovery as they are between major builds and other team members can take on more responsibility.

The speaker reassures that his relationship with Matt is strong and there is no negative reason behind his departure.

The speaker expresses sadness about not being able to work in the new shop at Matt's Offroad but is excited for Matt and the team.

The speaker's favorite recovery memory is a challenging job pulling a Ford Explorer out of silty mud from a flash flood.