In 82-- I think Oct-82 Tom went to work at the Jeep Dealership here in Tallahassee. At first he was just a mechanic but in short time, he was the Jeep's side's Service Manager for all the Jeeps. He had 8 men under him. Larry owned the dealership and he use to say Tom was part Jeep!! LOL
Tom worked there until 1990 when the dealership was sold and Tom left. Later that year he went to work for a guy that had a 4 by 4 shop and very soon he was building these big trucks from the ground up. Tom really enjoyed the challenge it was to do so. he did that until 96 when the IRS closed the business for un-paid taxes. Tom had just started this truck you see in the pictures. We have no garage so the customer kept his truck pieces until Tom opened up his own shop in 97. For 10 years Tom built a bunch of big trucks and he made good money doing it. I saved 34 thousand dollars for our rainy day!!! While Tom was making good money I was putting it away!!!
In 07 the bottom fell out of everything!! Tom hasn't had a truck to build since.
That nest egg I had went for Tom surgery in 2010. We have nothing to fall back on any more!!!
We live from one job to the other now!!! Tom is also not the young strong man he use to be either!!!
He thinks if he got a job to built a truck he could-- but I don't think he is up to that heavy heavy work any more!!!
Those big trucks he use to build were usually put in mud bogs and a coulpe in truck shows!!!!
That is the story of the big trucks!!
Love coming your way, Fern
Thank you for telling us the story, Auntie Fern. We sure wish we could ride in that big truck!
ReplyDeleteLove ya lots♥
Mitch and Molly
Your Tom has golden hands. I can't imagine to build such a car like that (I'm a fan of big trucks, even with our high gas prices in europe). I wish I had one... but built by your Tom.
ReplyDeleteNow he is talented
ReplyDeleteLily & Edward
That is truly a skill the majority of the population does not have! Life sure is crazy, isn't it? We've had enough downs to know it goes back up.
ReplyDeleteoxox
Daisy
We enjoyed that story too! Have a wonderful weekend!!!
ReplyDeleteThat IS a big truck! I was thinking for sure that you'd need a ladder to in and out of that thing.
ReplyDeleteI used to have a nest egg too. Then I bought a house. After getting fired and not hired again for the longest time, I went back to school. Now I feel like I'm going to be in debt for forever and wonder if I'l ever be able to build a nest egg up again.
He should teach young folks to build them. There are a lot of kids out there who want big trucks and don't know where to start.
ReplyDeleteMonty and Harlow
P.S. - Momma is behind on EVERYTHING! :)
That is one big truck, I'll bet it would be fun to drive.
ReplyDeleteI hope you and Tom had a great weekend.
That was a good story Fern. The nest egg did some good for Tom. Your garden will hopefully provide some help with extra fruit and vegetables.
ReplyDeleteWow! Tom really went all out on that one. It's really huge. It looks too epic, if you ask me. I am honestly finding myself looking up to Tom now. Wish I had his hands and his skills. Hahaha! Do share more photos, if you have any. I would love to see more of his work. Thank you for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteBradford Oliver @ Lacustoms Performance Products