My name is Ben Mottern, and I am the Founder & CEO of TSO Manufacturing.
It all started when my grandfather was diagnosed with and later passed away from Pancreatic Cancer in 2013. After his passing, at the ripe age of 15, his 2005 Ram 2500 Cummins was passed down. I put a 6" lift, 37s, and 18" Cockstars (actually called Rockstars, but the other name suits them better, lol)
Just as any 16-year-old kid with a big, lifted diesel truck would...
I wanted SMOKE STACKS!
That turned out to be one of the biggest blessings and mistakes of my life.
Unlike most people, who cut a hole big enough for their pipe to come through the bed, I did things a little differently... My buddy somehow talked me into cutting a MASSIVE 12'x12" hole, just for a little 4" pipe to come through the bed.
Boy, were my parents pissed!
And for the record... I STILL hear about that "mistake" to this day!
Which was almost four years ago btw...
A few years later, I discovered Octagon Exhaust Stacks on Facebook, and I knew that I HAD to have them!
I then messaged the guy and got a quote. He wanted over $1400 for TWO stacks!
I was only 17, and I couldn't afford that, so I decided to have some made locally.
For a few hundred dollars, I had my very own set of Dual 8" Octagon Cat Stacks...
Boy, did I think I was hot stuff! Cruising through town in my truck with giant (somewhat obnoxious) smokestacks, blowing smoke on people just for the fun of it. Looking back, that was a dumb, childish thing to do, but at the time, I was on top of the world and didn't think about other people. I do NOT condone blowing smoke on people, but I have to admit it; it’s fun to roll a little coal!
Now, I know what you’re saying... You charge a lot of money for your Exhaust Tips and Stacks too. And you're right, we do charge a premium price, but that's for a premium product with proven designs and technology, unlike the first set of stacks I had made for my truck. There were many issues with the stacks, but they gained traction on the multiple Facebook groups I joined.
And that is where the story of TSO truly begins...
Want to hear how a 17-year-old kid who had never welded nor sold anything online began building a company in a High School class? Then be on the lookout for the post titled, How I Started TSO at 17... Pt. 2 of 4!