yeah dude i've watched you for awhile now - lets go back through the purchases: - 1k in 3/8 snap on sockets - the new jeep wrangler - the brand new harley sportster or w/e tf it was - multiple marriages and divorces w/ kids - dirt bike - insane tool budget/costs I don't even watch all your content and knew you were way out over your skis on the finances. take a small small portion out of your excessive spending, get a financial adviser and run all your purchases through that person. start watching caleb hammer on youtube or other financial advice and get a budget together. no one here wants you to die on the wal-mart floor brother, all love no hate.
Be very cautious of who you follow on UA-cam for financial advice! Most of the people are shills. You've get idiots promoting velocity banking and all sorts of other absolute BS.
his spending is out of control . its really hard watching this happen to such a good dude. just i would really suggest therapy, find out why your spending like this and fix it. no hate bro
@@Hyzerfl1p Unfortunately, I think people think hard work means that you "deserve" to have super nice things. That's not the case. Making a high income means you can have nice things, regardless of how hard you have worked for it. This is why I stepped away from the trades years ago. If you have the opportunity, and aptitude, to enter the white collar workforce, it's a much better deal. I made more than even the highest paid mechanics my first year out of college, and my body thanks me every day for it.
Dude you’re taking care of your family. That’s the most important thing, F everything else, it will work itself out. Sometimes the most difficult thing to do is put one foot in front of the other, get out there and go to it. You do it cause of the Fam. You’re winning in my book.
Man, I’ve always enjoyed the authenticity of this channel and your content. I was just part of a lay off yesterday at my company, thinking about the future and possibly turning wrenches again to pay the bills. Life’s a roller coaster and there is beauty in the ups and downs. I really appreciate the authentic/ straight-shooter mentality in the content you put out. Well…here’s to the future and to better days. Cheers brother.
Listen man. Your content has been an absolute game changer for me. I’m and automotive tech of about 8 years now and still learning every day. I’m glad to see you with this mechanic content again. I was in the same boat as you. Sold all my stuff because I got way too burnt out. But then figured out the grass isn’t always greener and the shop is the place for me so I had to re-accumulate everything I owed. You will be in a better place and where you need to be brother. Just keep it pushing and don’t listen to the haters on here-cheers
I’d suggest moving out of California when an opportunity is feasible. I left in 2021 and it was the best decision I’ve made for my family. Good luck bro keep pushing
@@AntonioBarrios-kr2pu idk seems like Houston is kinda ghetto honestly and it’s so flat and hot over there that’s what bums me out, also im a truck driver and I heard they don’t make as much over there
You wasted a big part of your income on tool debt . That’s why I leave the trucks alone I have kids and other responsibility’s I am not paying 800$ for a set of sockets
Bro don’t sweat the comments. Wrenching, tooling, smoking, drinking, kung fu, coaching, copping, cooking, ups, downs, drama, we are absolutely here for it. Stay healthy man. Everybody pulling for you. Getting the triton would be awesome content. Terrible decision as it will be obsolete so quickly and all that capitol will be lost and you regularly say you don’t do diag, but epic content. I’m here for it!
Lol was thinking the same thing, like why invest in something that just doesn’t hold any value down the road.. wonder if he’s thinking about trying to go Mobile or something along those lines but either way it would be such a bad financial move. He should save up for a decent autel if that’s the plan
Don't sweat it man we all go through hard times thank you for sharing all this life stuff with all us strangers. Stand tall and keep on keepin' on brother
Justin, it's good to see you fighting the good fight. Stay flexible to roll with life. F the haters, you are taking care of business. You are brave enough to show your life on utube. Positive thoughts to you and your family. CHEERS!
I personally thank you Mr. Dow as you encourage the new comers in the Automotive industry like me through your life Experiences, ups and downs. I like your every tutorial videos you are straight forward. Hey Justin, why not making the videos of fixing/ repairing something else like brake jobs, cooling system and many more. Hoping to see you in those kinds of videos. Thanks once again
Yo Justin, you’re the OG triple G man, we’re just worried about your brother. We just hope you make good decisions. We’ve been on a roller coaster with you but fuck it will continue to ride with you.
Really needed this man. Going through stuff myself and basically starting over. Working at the shop in the day and part time janitorial job 3 nights a week. I'm burned out with wrenching after 16 years with nothing to show for it. 3 kids and 2 divorces. I just trust the Lord to guide me through this season. It's only a temporary moment in life.
quit the shop and find 2 janitorial jobs. I got more hrs doing janitor work and can work in any city and town around the nation. Its a 365 job unlike trades where things slow down especially in this depression that everybody is scared to expose. Got tired of buying this and that doing trades and selling it for pennies on the dollar after you wake up and see how trash the job is. All I do is show up to work and spend a few hundred bucks bi yearly on a new mop n such. Way more relaxed.
As a machinist it is mind boggling how mechanics has to have every tools needed for the job. Things like scan tools, digital torque wrench, specialty tools etc should be a standard for a shop to provide, especially a damn dealership.
It's fascinating isn't it? I worked in a high end shop with about 20 mechanics. Each of them had a snap on scanner with all of the attachments and software. We could have shared 5.
Ive watched you for a long time, pretty much when you started, ive noticed you are all over the place all the time. Stay out of debt man, that has been your issue all these years. Honestly man, have you thought about moving? You're getting older brother, the time to keep making mistakes is running out.
At this point i think its time to stop making excuses, nobody likes working but u gotta do it to provide. Why would u rather struggle working minimum wage jobs then do the work u know how to do and provide? If ur in this position its because u dont wanna work hard, how do u wanna bartend or be a lube tech but u dont wanna do real repair work?
Brother you're skipping over the bureaucracy and serfdom of flat rate and technician hierarchy and management issues. You're also not listening to this man's circumstances. Have a heart
Don’t get rid of that box for a scan tool. Get the basics you need again to fill it back up and go to work with it. Use the shops scan tool. If the shop you works for wants diagnostic work done and doesn’t provide any scan tool at all they’re likely not a good establishment to work for. As a new tech in any shop you’ll likely not be thrown into diag work anyway. Best of luck Justin.
Alot of commenters here who talk like they know it all and never made any mistakes. Or maybe they have never been in the gutter like you have. Dont let them get to you. It takes a man to be humble enough to admit his mistakes and limitations. You're doing what needs to be done to take care of your family. That's a true sign of strength. So many people in this world judge others based on only a fraction of what they know or have seen. We all struggle in different ways. Some more than others. Everyones situation is different. Respect to you Justin for being so honest and humble, i'm rooting for you man. Just keep on grinding and dont make the same mistakes, then i'm sure you'll get back to where you were sooner than you think!
I enjoyed your video Justin. I too in the past have tried getting out of wrenching but have always gone back to it. I'm now in my first year in the parts department after 27 years of wrenching on heavy equipment. We'll see how this holds out. Keep enjoying you and your family. Cheers 🍻
That's a grown man talk you had with this one. I've learned that some of the wisest people have been through the most problems and overcomed. You are an overcomer! Major respect to you and how humble you remain while navigating life. Everyone's life is different but you're still thriving and eventually you will be in a more comfortable position. Don't mind the haters and continue to do what you are doing. You're taking care of your family and still taking care of yourself. Yes the smoking and drinking isn't healthy but you have cut back from when I first started following you a few years ago and what you're doing now is more manageable. Stay, strong and focused and love your content. Even if you don't continue wrenching, I'll still be watching as you have a wealth of knowledge and sound advice. Respect Justin! 👊🤙
Bro from one vet to another, leaving California was one of the best decisions I've ever made. After I got out, going back wasn't even a choice. I live in a small town in the Midwest now, I can still work above minimum wage and live comfortably. As far as your tools go, if you're not gonna go back to the dealership or Ron's, why get all those tools for a place they're not really used at? If Marine PD dnt give a thumbs up, get out of there!! I tell my family that's still there everyday, run!!
For any of you younger guys that are watching this, it is not ok to continually fall flat on your face over and over again plain and simple. Secondly justin dude you do not need that scan tool, you obviously dont have the skill set to use it correctly, and it will be a complete waste. Stick to brakes and belts
I appreciate your comment.. I’m not taking it the wrong way. I will say that it is a little more complicated than that and that I disagree with not knowing how to use something efficiently doesn’t mean you can’t learn to use it efficiently. Why should that be the be all end all?
@@JustinDowDIYcentralhighwaywhy not learn off a shop-provided scan tool or another tech’s? It sounds like your situation means you need to get steady income and provide, learning how to use the scan tool seems to be a luxury.
I understand you really had to do what you needed to do. My father when he was alive had a cigarette machine and he would buy paper and pipe tobacco and roll up a pack for about 50 cents and he was so proud of it. They didn't taste right but he was just happy he found a way to get his fix real cheap. I hope the best for you man, get that debt paid off and I hope you can find the thing you want to do
Or expensive habits like drinking and smoking, game boxes, cell phones, 55 inch tv screens, computers for every family member and sitting around making videos and crying while the clock of life is ticking away.
Dude i love your videos. Seems like ur pretty honest and and ur a pretty good speaker. Y not post more videos of things ur up to? Hope things work out for u man
With your Background Heavy Equipment is a very viable option. not sure where you live but dude look into Heavy Equipment it pays well. I work for a large Mining company.
I just want to say you're doing it right. Being debt free isn't fashionable, but it's the way to go. Don't make the banksters rich. I've been debt free for over 10 years and I will go without food before I get into debt again. Monthly payments are a waste bro. Cash or don't buy it. Mortgage is the one exception.
The last thing anyone needs are payments. You are right where you need to be. Now focus on getting your income up and investing that money. That’s when you will be free. You are on the right track, keep pushing
Don’t worry about what people think do what you need to do brother I have been wrenching for 55 years now and still doing it and if I had it to do over I would do it again the same way I love it just keep your head held high and one foot in front of the other brother I am from Alabama
That is a horrible idea to trade a box for a scan tool. Most shops have scanners for the tech to use. Sell the box buy a cheaper box and buy tools. 14 years in the trade you should have all your tools paid off. You don’t need all snapon.
Yeah, I was thinking that trading it for the scan tool sounded better than the offers. I was getting at one to $2000 for the toolbox. And at this point I need a tow truck in order to move it anywhere. If things keep don’t get better than I’m probably gonna end up moving out of California and downsizing to the point where everything will fit a U-Haul just sounded like a more feasible idea. I’m thinking of reposting it again but the last time I posted it had it up for about six months and I really didn’t get very many interested buyers if I could get $7000 out of it I’d be pretty happy and that would take care of a lot of things but right now the markets so tight and no one to spend that kind of money
Don't feel alone I had a heart attack and 2 years later having to go back to being a diesel mechanic. I love your videos. I also lost so much and starting over.
Justin is an honest man he is not afraid to swallow his pride and keep on truckin. Covid changed the workplace even more, companies learned to run leaner and maximize profits with offering/doing less. However minimum wage with your skill set is selling yourself short. In the short term to support your family while working a lower stress job, I get it but try to find something more lucrative ASAP. Diag is the future and calibrations being a necessity with post collision repairs etc. That would be a great direction to go in. An investment up front calibration boards, scan tool etc. However very lucrative not labor intensive as we are not getting any younger. Here in the NY metro burbs I see calibration invoices well over a $1,000. for calibrating sensors/forward collision systems, pre and post scans etc. Good luck and keep on truckin.
Love your videos but you need to take some financial classes or something and learn how to balance, buying tools 2-3 times over just doesn’t make sense
No it does. I bought most of my tools second hand at pawn shops and as they broke I bought better tools. The best part of wrenching with cheap tools is sometimes you have to make your own out of them to get a job done and it was with minimal cost!
I know how you feel bro. Hit a rough spot a few years back and tried selling my 68” Epiq and all I got was low ballers hitting me up. I ended up taking it down and decided to keep it lol
Justin, do a rebuild series. Only do harbor freight tools and reviews. It’s just the same as starting out in the field and talk about what works and dosent. There’s so many snap on and took truck brand videos but I think this would be interesting. Hand tools, air tools and Hercules.
This is odd. A man who can fix a car can do anything. Open your own shop, do fab or race car work. Go back to school, start in skill trades. What the fuck is the problem. Its not appropriate for you to work at autozone for 12 bucks an hour. Move over to hvac or be a machinist. So weird. And as for selling your tools. Yup dont get it. They make so much money, flip cars for fucks sake. This is just silly
If no one has told you lately...I'm proud of you man. You've come a long way and have grown alot and it shows. You've got nothing to he ashamed of. As long as your bills are paid, family fed and happy that's all that honestly matters. If you want to have a cigarette and a drink that's your decision. I'm right there with you on the cigs. I don't drink..but I do smoke bud a little. (Legal state) but anyways..your a good man for being willing to do whatever you need to for your family. Much respect.
It's easy for people to get up in the comments because they're not the one in front of the camera. 1 of the things I always liked about your videos I feel like you're pretty straight up and it's relatable. I've had a few different jobs some good some bad, worked for independents then went on my own. It's been a rollercoaster too,.you can have great days, weeks, months but also bad too.
Good times bad times you know I had my share. Forward march brother 🦅 you got this. You got skills and the gift of gab. 😊 it’s all going to work out. 🇺🇸
No offense man but you seem to have a poor income management system. Get on a budget and stick to it like glue. Stay off the tool trucks and invest time into building your hourly rate.
My guess by listening to this guy . If someone is willing to down grade to a lesser career field. Wasn’t cut out to be commission mechanic. He Probably got addicted to buying tools on the tool truck. Probably bitches and moans at the shop as well. “Oh the other guys are getting all the good jobs” blah blah blah … you gotta be fast and good also good at playing the politics game.
Its tough being an adult, i feel you. My wife has her own business and we split rent, then she broke her knee and torn acl and couldn't work for 6 months, all the bills fell on my shoulders and we got through it but it was tough
Praying for you brother 🙏. Last two and half years have been a battle for myself. GF of 5 years while pregnant broke it off and moved 400 miles away from me. Had to leave my job due to injury , currently working under the table. I smoked marijuana 3-5 times a day, i would drink 1-2 a day. I finally said F it, gave my life to Jesus Christ, did it get better right away? Hell no! It actually got crazier. Finally this year im seeing things get better. God isnt for everyone and he wasnt for me until i was 37 1/2. Im 40 now. So with all that being said , ill keep you in my prayers.
Glad to hear it. Sometimes we think Jesus is going to instantly remove all our sin nature and addiction and when that doesn’t happen and it seems like things are even tougher people turn away. Stay the course remember the road is wide that leads to destruction
Night school! I saw my job topping out in pay. Went to school for welding. Got certified. Now I’m a superintendent for a general contractor making good money. It’s just how my path turned out.
Advise for cigarettes, get yourself a top o matic, some tubes and tobacco. Roll your own cigs. Just like store bought cigs but cost around 80 cents to 1.50 a pack. I can roll a pack in about 5 min taking my time. Been doing it for years, saved me thousands. Bad part is it gets rid of one of the major reasons to quit 😂
Btw a used Verus d10 for like 900 is the way I went. You’ll need a 4 channel scope and diag is where the money is at. I moved from California too, you’ll hate the weather wherever you go, trust me!
You don't have nothing to show for it, and at least you can be honest about mistakes. Just make sure you don't justify your way into other debts and payments. When you look back a year from now, you will be looking at how you got over and through. Try to be nice to yourself in the process :)
I feel your pain when you talk about financial stuff. Back in 2018 I lost my pharmaceutical production job that I had for 15 years the company closed the doors and sent us down the road. It is 2024 I have a job and it's ok but I have not found anything that comes close to that pharma job in terms of pay benefits, time off you name it. No comparison. It is easy to judge someone if you do not know what it is to take a 12 to 13 dollar an hour pay cut. Don't sweat the comments you are doing the best you can. Peace!
Thank you Sir. For sharing your story. Because of your experience, I now work like 30 hours of over time every pay period to stash into savings. I try to put 1,000 a month in my savings account.
Dude no offense, but your making too much excuses and not willing to do what is takes to get a job. I bought a house in Sacramento and I work in San Francisco . I make that commute 5 days a week. I drive, take a ferry and a bus to get to work. You’re not hungry enough .
Bro I’m telling it sucks but I’m making 100k and I gotta do it for the family man.. but this guy is nothing but excuses. I understand hard times but common man. I’ve been watching his videos for about 4 years. Im also an army vet as well and I get VA disability.
Yes sir since 2000. I started on Toyotas and then moved to VW/Audi, some BMWs and then Army for 10 years working on wheeled vehicles. Worked on KIa and Mitsubishi. Now I’m a fleet mechanic for a tour bus company in San Francisco.
Justin I think people don’t realize that old Ron’s is Not new Ron’s and that I agree with you that u should not go back to the New Ron’s as everything changed . I still like and think the Big O Tires is a good fit for you right now. I have been in your shoes many times and selling and then reacquiring tools is something I have done before too. We love your channel because the same stuff that u are going thru is part of life and happens to a lot of us and we want to support you!! I like that u never give up and keep on going. That spirit is to be commended .
you need to never even look at a snap-on tool until you are financially in a good place again. ALL snap-on tools are luxury fancy and unnecessary tools only for bragging to your coworkers about
I feel your pain, everything you explained cannot be made up, My job of 10 years let me go in 2019, in august of 2021 I had to sell my house because I could no longer afford the payments, moved back in with my dad at 32, I’ve been struggling to regain what I’ve lost for the past 5 years…jumping from one job to the next and trying reestablish myself; Everything is more expensive and my income is only half of what it was 5 years ago.
Don't have to wrench on cars. I work at a wastewater treatment plant and they're always looking for maintenance workers. A lot of water/wastewater plants are unionized good stable work.
man, i was a service tech from 15-21 in a dealer. i lived in a small town in WV. i would do good to turn 100 hours every two weeks, i got so burnt out on working flat rate i was ready to explode. it turned me away from wrenching entirely to the point i didnt wanna work on my own stuff even. i ended up quitting not sure what i really wanted to do but i wanted out like asap. and ended getting a job as a mechanic in the coal mines as bad as that sounds i love it. i make great money now, i have a lot of time off, while the job is stressful i love it. i sold every bit of tools i had to my dad including my box and washed my hands with it entirely. youll find something bud just hang in there but i get where youre coming from 100%
Like how mentioned you should apply for a forklift mobile technician, bring home van and around $35-$40hr . I also go to college after work which i get home around 10pm 2 days out of the week. I am going after my engineering degree, yes i used to make excuses without even trying it first. Yes community college is cheap , most forklift companies will even pay for your schooling. Sell that giant tool box and buy a HF roll cart and buy cheap tools. Yes snap on tools and matco are nice to see and give a good feeling but they aren’t there for you when you are $0.00 in debit card living week to week.
DEBT ruins everything- Your business; your life, etc. I would tell any young guys starting out: DON'T do debt for anything! Instead of becoming a full-fledged tech right away and going out and buying tens of thousands of dollars worth of tools- be a lube tech or tire guy (etc.) and save up some money and grow and move up when you won't have to go into debt to do so. As someone who has been self-employed in little one-man businesses since I was teen, I have always been successful because I always kept it small and didn't do debt- while many of my contemporaries used debt to get into "better" businesses or grow their little business...and while some of them may've prospered temporarily, it never lasted and the debt always crushed them, even if they had what could have been good thriving functional businesses. On paper, I don't look all that successful as far as numbers, but I live very nicely; don't work hard or much, and really enjoy my life and sleep very well at night.
I don't think you have nothing to show for it. Many paths and lessons learned. Progress is not always a straight path. Sure , there are the setbacks. Keep getting back up when you look over your shoulder and find the ground.
My only suggestion would be to decide what you really want to do and use what you know how to do to get you there. I got my first mechanic job at 15, that was 1975. By the time I was 25 I was completely burned out with working on cars and suffering from a pretty bad back injury so I switched to aircraft which required going back to school. After I got my airframe and powerplant license (A&P) and inspection authorization (IA) I continued on with pilot training and now have an ATP and several type ratings. Pilot related work has been my primary source of income for the last 23 years but I've also stayed active as a mechanic on planes and cars on the side. Once I stopped working as a mechanic for my primary income and did it on my own terms I found that I actually still enjoy it and plan to continue doing it on the side after I retire in the next 6 to 12 months. Unfortunately some things never change though so a big portion of what I make doing mechanic work gets spent on more tools & equipment, Snap-On Verus updates, Shopkey Pro, etc.
Get a cheap scan tool! Or you will be here in 3months selling the triton to pay for basics. Not a hater . Long time subscriber who like alot of people here want you to get to a better place Justin and not back into the old habits. How many times do you need to get bit by the same dog???
Most would think cocaine problem but with todays high prices especially in Cali its just life that takes everything from ya. Get outta Cali and your problems will be 1/2 over.
@JustinDowDIYcentralhighway everything here in the Midwest is 1/2 the price as Cali if not cheaper..Here in Central illinois we have 50 dealerships within 30 to 50 miles I would say at least.. You can get a nice place for 1k to 1500 a month... A super nice place for 2 tp 2500...You would have a few months of winter to deal with but it can be fun and you would get 4 seasons it's actually pretty awesome..If you stay away from Chicago it's a nice state. I just convinced a guy to move here from Colorado because of the crazy high prices and he is rolling in the dough compared to what he had in Colorado..It's definitely something to think about because Cali is over ...
Your choices aside... Don't go into debt. Have your employer buy the tools or borrow them or just don't do the jobs. Nobody's ever going to come after you for a drawer full of Pittsburgh
@@stevec7081 what are you talking about? You can get a DeWalt 226 piece socket set right now for 70 bucks with shipping... Husky has similar deals, you do not need matco or snapon crap to be a mechanic. The Pittsburgh long reach wrenches are a great value. The 1 inch impact sockets are also great at harbor freight. I make a living and I use the damn tools so what's it to you? Do you think anybody cares what type of tools you have when you're repairing their equipment? Seriously this isn't high school, grow up... You were probably that guy wearing Guess jeans
@@stevec7081that’s a damn lie, I’ve met lots of great and ingenuous mechanics who had a mix of everything, tools don’t make the man, the tool is exactly that, a tool in the hands of the man, only as good as the man holding it
@@stevec7081 Diesel tech here, I own 1 tool truck branded tool, MAC colbalt drill bits lifetime warranty to the smallest size. Everything else is harbor freight and cheaper stuff like Tekton, Klein and Gearwrench. Wanna compare bank accounts and dick sizes?
😊Justin Ive watched you on and off for a long time. As someone who has retired after 20 years in law enforcement and also worked as a tech I know both sides. I’ve done every job from lube tech to Toyota and ASE certified tech and everything in between over the years. When it comes to being a cop a few things. The smoking has to stop because most agencies now won’t hire smokers because of insurance and you cant smoke in uniform or a marked cruiser. Second thing is if you need a job and you’re looking to get into law enforcement try private security first. In some cases private security can pay almost as much as starting cops pay in rural areas. Check with companies like allied universal or just on indeed. These companies will hire train and certified you. If you can get through their drug and background checks then you will be in. Good luck with the smoking I know it’s hard I smoked for a long time and it was hard to quit but it’s not impossible.
I’ve been with Allied for a couple months as event security. Most of the events are hit and miss. Trying for a full time position with them up here but nothing available yet. Pay isn’t too bad especially when I worked the Coachella and Stagecoach. Lots of hours
I am here to tell you, I know what it's like. I know what it is to start over. Remember, life happens. We are human. I highly recommend getting hired on to your local government working in utilities or public works. It's steady pay, great benefits you have opportunities to advance especially if you work in utilities on the water sewer side. You license up, your potential income is in the six figures. You have the mechanical aptitude for it along with an analytical mind set. It's a stable field. You do a variety of jobs. It's challenging It's something different every day. The hours are routine. Your municipality pays for your training. There's no tool bill.
I had thought about it, but I know that I wouldn't be able to drive for long periods of time without falling asleep. So not the safest job for me to do unfortunately.
To your title: It’s easily possible in this country after 40 years of wage stagnation relative to cost of living and historic wealth concentration. You should be able to take a few risks, make a few mistakes, and still come out ok, but not with the way things are right now. In other words, don’t beat yourself up. This is a difficult time for 90+% of the population.
Justin i feel u bro 100%. Im the only income for a family of 6, i left automotive to be an electrician for a year and realized i made more money at the dealership so i went back. I get it u wanna try something different, im speaking for myself but i caused alot of unnecessary financial hardships by taking a less paying job working 7 days a week 5am-3pm as an electrician and 4pm-10pm at home depot to make ends meet. Now im making more money working 4days a week. Just dont take too long figuring it out bro!
Repo and selling off assets are wildly different things. And I'm running into jobs issues myself. Had some roof damage which drained my efund and been looking for part time work. Employers are not looking for many part timers.
6 person family? Thats big, cost allot of $ too keep it smooth. Just me & my 2 dogees, NO kids. SO FKN proud that I maintaned maximum discipline & released my precious load DEEP inside her "back porch" EVERY single time!!! Good luck, you'll get it figured out.
it's tough to watch you sometime. Sometimes you seem so headed in the right direction, then it seems the wheels come off, and you wind up having to dust yourself off, and start all over again. Kinda like the song 'Tubthumpin" was written about you. Give it a listen if you are not familiar
If you can’t pay cash then you can’t afford it. Stay away from debt don’t be a slave to it.
Good stuff Dave Ramsey
Perfect comment, 35 year mechanic agrees 110%
yeah dude i've watched you for awhile now - lets go back through the purchases:
- 1k in 3/8 snap on sockets
- the new jeep wrangler
- the brand new harley sportster or w/e tf it was
- multiple marriages and divorces w/ kids
- dirt bike
- insane tool budget/costs
I don't even watch all your content and knew you were way out over your skis on the finances. take a small small portion out of your excessive spending, get a financial adviser and run all your purchases through that person. start watching caleb hammer on youtube or other financial advice and get a budget together.
no one here wants you to die on the wal-mart floor brother, all love no hate.
Be very cautious of who you follow on UA-cam for financial advice! Most of the people are shills. You've get idiots promoting velocity banking and all sorts of other absolute BS.
Are you saying Justin buys too many taquitos?
his spending is out of control . its really hard watching this happen to such a good dude. just i would really suggest therapy, find out why your spending like this and fix it. no hate bro
@@Hyzerfl1p Unfortunately, I think people think hard work means that you "deserve" to have super nice things. That's not the case. Making a high income means you can have nice things, regardless of how hard you have worked for it. This is why I stepped away from the trades years ago. If you have the opportunity, and aptitude, to enter the white collar workforce, it's a much better deal. I made more than even the highest paid mechanics my first year out of college, and my body thanks me every day for it.
Dude you’re taking care of your family. That’s the most important thing, F everything else, it will work itself out. Sometimes the most difficult thing to do is put one foot in front of the other, get out there and go to it. You do it cause of the Fam. You’re winning in my book.
Man, I’ve always enjoyed the authenticity of this channel and your content. I was just part of a lay off yesterday at my company, thinking about the future and possibly turning wrenches again to pay the bills. Life’s a roller coaster and there is beauty in the ups and downs. I really appreciate the authentic/ straight-shooter mentality in the content you put out. Well…here’s to the future and to better days. Cheers brother.
Listen man. Your content has been an absolute game changer for me. I’m and automotive tech of about 8 years now and still learning every day. I’m glad to see you with this mechanic content again. I was in the same boat as you. Sold all my stuff because I got way too burnt out. But then figured out the grass isn’t always greener and the shop is the place for me so I had to re-accumulate everything I owed. You will be in a better place and where you need to be brother. Just keep it pushing and don’t listen to the haters on here-cheers
I’d suggest moving out of California when an opportunity is feasible. I left in 2021 and it was the best decision I’ve made for my family. Good luck bro keep pushing
Which state you go to though? Arizona? Nevada? Man Nevada depresses me just thinking about it
A lot people from california move to texas, houston is a good area
@@AntonioBarrios-kr2pu idk seems like Houston is kinda ghetto honestly and it’s so flat and hot over there that’s what bums me out, also im a truck driver and I heard they don’t make as much over there
@@AntonioBarrios-kr2pu idk Houston seems like not the best area honestly, also I’m a truck driver and I heard they don’t make as much over there
@@BillyBob-op6lg I moved to San Antonio Tx love it and heat factor not much different from the IE
I still don’t understand how you sold a box that Harbor Freight gave to you. You were one of their best spokesmen. Until you weren’t.
You wasted a big part of your income on tool debt . That’s why I leave the trucks alone I have kids and other responsibility’s I am not paying 800$ for a set of sockets
Bro don’t sweat the comments. Wrenching, tooling, smoking, drinking, kung fu, coaching, copping, cooking, ups, downs, drama, we are absolutely here for it. Stay healthy man. Everybody pulling for you.
Getting the triton would be awesome content. Terrible decision as it will be obsolete so quickly and all that capitol will be lost and you regularly say you don’t do diag, but epic content. I’m here for it!
Lol was thinking the same thing, like why invest in something that just doesn’t hold any value down the road.. wonder if he’s thinking about trying to go Mobile or something along those lines but either way it would be such a bad financial move. He should save up for a decent autel if that’s the plan
“Stay healthy” yeah keep drinking and smoking.
Sounds like this guy wants to tell the employer when he wants to work. Newsflash! When you work for someone else it doesn’t work that way.
All I hear is a bunch of complaining. Instead of spending your time making videos maybe you should use that time to find a job.
@@noahsollog8097 He had a decent Autel scan tool. I traded him my Autel MS908S Pro for a few of his tools. But then he freaking sold the Autel.. SMH!!
Don't sweat it man we all go through hard times thank you for sharing all this life stuff with all us strangers. Stand tall and keep on keepin' on brother
Justin, it's good to see you fighting the good fight. Stay flexible to roll with life. F the haters, you are taking care of business. You are brave enough to show your life on utube. Positive thoughts to you and your family. CHEERS!
I personally thank you Mr. Dow as you encourage the new comers in the Automotive industry like me through your life Experiences, ups and downs. I like your every tutorial videos you are straight forward. Hey Justin, why not making the videos of fixing/ repairing something else like brake jobs, cooling system and many more. Hoping to see you in those kinds of videos. Thanks once again
Yo Justin, you’re the OG triple G man, we’re just worried about your brother. We just hope you make good decisions. We’ve been on a roller coaster with you but fuck it will continue to ride with you.
Thanks Brother
Dude, fresh and humble giving anything and everything a go is pretty dope. You're gonna be fine whichever way the next door opens.
You’re a good person. Don’t let others with negative comments bother you.
Life has it's ups and downs and you adapt. I appreciate your videos and advice here
I’m pulling for you, Justin. Keep your chin up. Avoid payments. It’s hard to save when you have kids. Things will get better. 🙏🏻😊
Really needed this man. Going through stuff myself and basically starting over. Working at the shop in the day and part time janitorial job 3 nights a week. I'm burned out with wrenching after 16 years with nothing to show for it. 3 kids and 2 divorces. I just trust the Lord to guide me through this season. It's only a temporary moment in life.
quit the shop and find 2 janitorial jobs. I got more hrs doing janitor work and can work in any city and town around the nation. Its a 365 job unlike trades where things slow down especially in this depression that everybody is scared to expose. Got tired of buying this and that doing trades and selling it for pennies on the dollar after you wake up and see how trash the job is. All I do is show up to work and spend a few hundred bucks bi yearly on a new mop n such. Way more relaxed.
As a machinist it is mind boggling how mechanics has to have every tools needed for the job. Things like scan tools, digital torque wrench, specialty tools etc should be a standard for a shop to provide, especially a damn dealership.
It's fascinating isn't it? I worked in a high end shop with about 20 mechanics. Each of them had a snap on scanner with all of the attachments and software. We could have shared 5.
Ive watched you for a long time, pretty much when you started, ive noticed you are all over the place all the time. Stay out of debt man, that has been your issue all these years. Honestly man, have you thought about moving? You're getting older brother, the time to keep making mistakes is running out.
Agreed and yes I’m thinking of moving out of state more and more each day
At this point i think its time to stop making excuses, nobody likes working but u gotta do it to provide. Why would u rather struggle working minimum wage jobs then do the work u know how to do and provide? If ur in this position its because u dont wanna work hard, how do u wanna bartend or be a lube tech but u dont wanna do real repair work?
Brother you're skipping over the bureaucracy and serfdom of flat rate and technician hierarchy and management issues. You're also not listening to this man's circumstances. Have a heart
You discuss your pay when you get hired if you don't want flat rate then don't fucking accept the job
factz
Don’t get rid of that box for a scan tool. Get the basics you need again to fill it back up and go to work with it. Use the shops scan tool. If the shop you works for wants diagnostic work done and doesn’t provide any scan tool at all they’re likely not a good establishment to work for. As a new tech in any shop you’ll likely not be thrown into diag work anyway. Best of luck Justin.
The places that don't provide diagnostic equipment usually don't charge enough for diag
Alot of commenters here who talk like they know it all and never made any mistakes. Or maybe they have never been in the gutter like you have. Dont let them get to you. It takes a man to be humble enough to admit his mistakes and limitations. You're doing what needs to be done to take care of your family. That's a true sign of strength.
So many people in this world judge others based on only a fraction of what they know or have seen. We all struggle in different ways. Some more than others. Everyones situation is different.
Respect to you Justin for being so honest and humble, i'm rooting for you man. Just keep on grinding and dont make the same mistakes, then i'm sure you'll get back to where you were sooner than you think!
I enjoyed your video Justin. I too in the past have tried getting out of wrenching but have always gone back to it. I'm now in my first year in the parts department after 27 years of wrenching on heavy equipment. We'll see how this holds out. Keep enjoying you and your family. Cheers 🍻
That's a grown man talk you had with this one. I've learned that some of the wisest people have been through the most problems and overcomed. You are an overcomer! Major respect to you and how humble you remain while navigating life. Everyone's life is different but you're still thriving and eventually you will be in a more comfortable position. Don't mind the haters and continue to do what you are doing. You're taking care of your family and still taking care of yourself. Yes the smoking and drinking isn't healthy but you have cut back from when I first started following you a few years ago and what you're doing now is more manageable. Stay, strong and focused and love your content. Even if you don't continue wrenching, I'll still be watching as you have a wealth of knowledge and sound advice. Respect Justin! 👊🤙
Bro from one vet to another, leaving California was one of the best decisions I've ever made. After I got out, going back wasn't even a choice. I live in a small town in the Midwest now, I can still work above minimum wage and live comfortably. As far as your tools go, if you're not gonna go back to the dealership or Ron's, why get all those tools for a place they're not really used at? If Marine PD dnt give a thumbs up, get out of there!! I tell my family that's still there everyday, run!!
i applaud your honesty. regardless of poor life decisions, you can at least acknowledge your mistakes.
Like I said again your doing great brotha, just stay focused on the stuff you need to do, your doing well
“Yes, cigarettes are unnecessary. But unnecessarily I’m addicted to them “ 😂😂😂
Mitch Hedberg stuff right there!
I enjoy your candid videos on your life situations. May your future decisions be prudent and successful.
For any of you younger guys that are watching this, it is not ok to continually fall flat on your face over and over again plain and simple. Secondly justin dude you do not need that scan tool, you obviously dont have the skill set to use it correctly, and it will be a complete waste. Stick to brakes and belts
I appreciate your comment.. I’m not taking it the wrong way. I will say that it is a little more complicated than that and that I disagree with not knowing how to use something efficiently doesn’t mean you can’t learn to use it efficiently. Why should that be the be all end all?
@@JustinDowDIYcentralhighwaywhy not learn off a shop-provided scan tool or another tech’s? It sounds like your situation means you need to get steady income and provide, learning how to use the scan tool seems to be a luxury.
I understand you really had to do what you needed to do.
My father when he was alive had a cigarette machine and he would buy paper and pipe tobacco and roll up a pack for about 50 cents and he was so proud of it. They didn't taste right but he was just happy he found a way to get his fix real cheap.
I hope the best for you man, get that debt paid off and I hope you can find the thing you want to do
Hang in there man. You got the right mindset, keep on keeping on
Cheers Justin, I appreciate all the content. James from Toronto🇨🇦🍻✌️
You are in no position to own a $7000 scan tool.
Or expensive habits like drinking and smoking, game boxes, cell phones, 55 inch tv screens, computers for every family member and sitting around making videos and crying while the clock of life is ticking away.
@@Hotrodford Exactly!
He is an adult ,don't tell him what he should do with his money. You didn't earn it.
But it's shiny and I want it!
@@Hotrodford55inch tv is like $200 at Walmart now😂
Dude i love your videos. Seems like ur pretty honest and and ur a pretty good speaker. Y not post more videos of things ur up to? Hope things work out for u man
You keeping it real brother.
You solid guy taking care of your family.
F what everybody else has to say.
Cheers 🥂.
Keep moving forward Justin!!! You’re doing great,God bless!
Prayers sent to you. I completely understand your painful situation.
Keep ur chin up. Keep moving forward. Appreciate your videos.
With your Background Heavy Equipment is a very viable option. not sure where you live but dude look into Heavy Equipment it pays well. I work for a large Mining company.
25 year mechanic here. No money in cars. ya gotta move up from automotive.
@@stevec7081 Auto repair is a cut throat industry... Only winners are the shop owners...Work for yourself, even part time.
I just want to say you're doing it right. Being debt free isn't fashionable, but it's the way to go. Don't make the banksters rich. I've been debt free for over 10 years and I will go without food before I get into debt again. Monthly payments are a waste bro. Cash or don't buy it. Mortgage is the one exception.
Everyone has to live somewhere... But California FOR ME is a hard no.
The last thing anyone needs are payments. You are right where you need to be. Now focus on getting your income up and investing that money. That’s when you will be free. You are on the right track, keep pushing
Justin do what you got to do for yourself and family handle your buisness! Wishing you and your family the very best..
Hell yeah. Keep fighting the good fight. You’ll be fine brother!
Don’t worry about what people think do what you need to do brother I have been wrenching for 55 years now and still doing it and if I had it to do over I would do it again the same way I love it just keep your head held high and one foot in front of the other brother I am from Alabama
That is a horrible idea to trade a box for a scan tool. Most shops have scanners for the tech to use. Sell the box buy a cheaper box and buy tools. 14 years in the trade you should have all your tools paid off. You don’t need all snapon.
Yeah, I was thinking that trading it for the scan tool sounded better than the offers. I was getting at one to $2000 for the toolbox. And at this point I need a tow truck in order to move it anywhere. If things keep don’t get better than I’m probably gonna end up moving out of California and downsizing to the point where everything will fit a U-Haul just sounded like a more feasible idea. I’m thinking of reposting it again but the last time I posted it had it up for about six months and I really didn’t get very many interested buyers if I could get $7000 out of it I’d be pretty happy and that would take care of a lot of things but right now the markets so tight and no one to spend that kind of money
Cali is waaaay to expensive seen an article they want minimum wage to be 30 an hour
Don't feel alone I had a heart attack and 2 years later having to go back to being a diesel mechanic. I love your videos. I also lost so much and starting over.
Justin is an honest man he is not afraid to swallow his pride and keep on truckin. Covid changed the workplace even more, companies learned to run leaner and maximize profits with offering/doing less. However minimum wage with your skill set is selling yourself short. In the short term to support your family while working a lower stress job, I get it but try to find something more lucrative ASAP. Diag is the future and calibrations being a necessity with post collision repairs etc. That would be a great direction to go in. An investment up front calibration boards, scan tool etc. However very lucrative not labor intensive as we are not getting any younger. Here in the NY metro burbs I see calibration invoices well over a $1,000. for calibrating sensors/forward collision systems, pre and post scans etc. Good luck and keep on truckin.
Love your videos but you need to take some financial classes or something and learn how to balance, buying tools 2-3 times over just doesn’t make sense
Dave Ramsey offers free, sound advice! (Financial strategie planning)
No it does. I bought most of my tools second hand at pawn shops and as they broke I bought better tools. The best part of wrenching with cheap tools is sometimes you have to make your own out of them to get a job done and it was with minimal cost!
Don't buy a Triton with a 1k a year update fee for a job you might get one day.
I know how you feel bro. Hit a rough spot a few years back and tried selling my 68” Epiq and all I got was low ballers hitting me up. I ended up taking it down and decided to keep it lol
you always provide great advice, im always listening. im 29
Justin, do a rebuild series. Only do harbor freight tools and reviews. It’s just the same as starting out in the field and talk about what works and dosent. There’s so many snap on and took truck brand videos but I think this would be interesting. Hand tools, air tools and Hercules.
This is odd. A man who can fix a car can do anything. Open your own shop, do fab or race car work. Go back to school, start in skill trades. What the fuck is the problem. Its not appropriate for you to work at autozone for 12 bucks an hour. Move over to hvac or be a machinist. So weird. And as for selling your tools. Yup dont get it. They make so much money, flip cars for fucks sake. This is just silly
Theres atleast $300 a month in smokes your inhaling every month. Atleast! Cmon brotha. This is the outcome of choices. Yours. You got this
I see your gearwrench tool set there up on the shelf. I got one them. Love it 👍
If no one has told you lately...I'm proud of you man. You've come a long way and have grown alot and it shows. You've got nothing to he ashamed of. As long as your bills are paid, family fed and happy that's all that honestly matters. If you want to have a cigarette and a drink that's your decision. I'm right there with you on the cigs. I don't drink..but I do smoke bud a little. (Legal state) but anyways..your a good man for being willing to do whatever you need to for your family. Much respect.
You don’t need a $7000 scan tool if you can’t fix an evap leak on a Toyota Matrix
at least a smoke machine
4th of July cheap assed "smoke worms" & a hose to blow the smoke into the intake works in a pinch!
What do you mean? Did he not want to do an evaporator in a Matrix or what?
@@jerryjohns1 evap as in fuel vapor system
@@Unbleachd oh duh makes sense
It's easy for people to get up in the comments because they're not the one in front of the camera.
1 of the things I always liked about your videos I feel like you're pretty straight up and it's relatable.
I've had a few different jobs some good some bad, worked for independents then went on my own.
It's been a rollercoaster too,.you can have great days, weeks, months but also bad too.
Well said my friend
Good times bad times you know I had my share. Forward march brother 🦅 you got this. You got skills and the gift of gab. 😊 it’s all going to work out. 🇺🇸
No offense man but you seem to have a poor income management system. Get on a budget and stick to it like glue. Stay off the tool trucks and invest time into building your hourly rate.
My guess by listening to this guy . If someone is willing to down grade to a lesser career field. Wasn’t cut out to be commission mechanic. He Probably got addicted to buying tools on the tool truck. Probably bitches and moans at the shop as well. “Oh the other guys are getting all the good jobs” blah blah blah … you gotta be fast and good also good at playing the politics game.
Its tough being an adult, i feel you. My wife has her own business and we split rent, then she broke her knee and torn acl and couldn't work for 6 months, all the bills fell on my shoulders and we got through it but it was tough
Praying for you brother 🙏.
Last two and half years have been a battle for myself. GF of 5 years while pregnant broke it off and moved 400 miles away from me.
Had to leave my job due to injury , currently working under the table. I smoked marijuana 3-5 times a day, i would drink 1-2 a day.
I finally said F it, gave my life to Jesus Christ, did it get better right away? Hell no! It actually got crazier. Finally this year im seeing things get better.
God isnt for everyone and he wasnt for me until i was 37 1/2. Im 40 now. So with all that being said , ill keep you in my prayers.
Glad to hear it. Sometimes we think Jesus is going to instantly remove all our sin nature and addiction and when that doesn’t happen and it seems like things are even tougher people turn away. Stay the course remember the road is wide that leads to destruction
Night school! I saw my job topping out in pay. Went to school for welding. Got certified. Now I’m a superintendent for a general contractor making good money. It’s just how my path turned out.
Advise for cigarettes, get yourself a top o matic, some tubes and tobacco. Roll your own cigs. Just like store bought cigs but cost around 80 cents to 1.50 a pack. I can roll a pack in about 5 min taking my time. Been doing it for years, saved me thousands. Bad part is it gets rid of one of the major reasons to quit 😂
Btw a used Verus d10 for like 900 is the way I went. You’ll need a 4 channel scope and diag is where the money is at. I moved from California too, you’ll hate the weather wherever you go, trust me!
You don't have nothing to show for it, and at least you can be honest about mistakes. Just make sure you don't justify your way into other debts and payments. When you look back a year from now, you will be looking at how you got over and through. Try to be nice to yourself in the process :)
I feel your pain when you talk about financial stuff. Back in 2018 I lost my pharmaceutical production job that I had for 15 years the company closed the doors and sent us down the road. It is 2024 I have a job and it's ok but I have not found anything that comes close to that pharma job in terms of pay benefits, time off you name it. No comparison. It is easy to judge someone if you do not know what it is to take a 12 to 13 dollar an hour pay cut. Don't sweat the comments you are doing the best you can. Peace!
Dude the police dont want you because of your background. Time to move into another profession
Bro I understand what you mean. I appreciate the content bro and hope the best bro 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
You know if you wanted you can service peoples small motors from your garage. Like lawnmowers and such to make extra cash.
Thank you Sir. For sharing your story. Because of your experience, I now work like 30 hours of over time every pay period to stash into savings. I try to put 1,000 a month in my savings account.
Dude no offense, but your making too much excuses and not willing to do what is takes to get a job. I bought a house in Sacramento and I work in San Francisco . I make that commute 5 days a week. I drive, take a ferry and a bus to get to work. You’re not hungry enough .
Rough commute
Bro i hated driving from fairfield to sac so i moved to sac, i cant imagine commuting from sac to sf😂
Bro I’m telling it sucks but I’m making 100k and I gotta do it for the family man.. but this guy is nothing but excuses. I understand hard times but common man. I’ve been watching his videos for about 4 years. Im also an army vet as well and I get VA disability.
@@mariovillavicencio6332 are you a mechanic ?
Yes sir since 2000. I started on Toyotas and then moved to VW/Audi, some BMWs and then Army for 10 years working on wheeled vehicles. Worked on KIa and Mitsubishi. Now I’m a fleet mechanic for a tour bus company in San Francisco.
Justin I think people don’t realize that old Ron’s is Not new Ron’s and that I agree with you that u should not go back to the New Ron’s as everything changed . I still like and think the Big O Tires is a good fit for you right now. I have been in your shoes many times and selling and then reacquiring tools is something I have done before too. We love your channel because the same stuff that u are going thru is part of life and happens to a lot of us and we want to support you!! I like that u never give up and keep on going. That spirit is to be commended .
you need to never even look at a snap-on tool until you are financially in a good place again. ALL snap-on tools are luxury fancy and unnecessary tools only for bragging to your coworkers about
😂
I feel your pain, everything you explained cannot be made up, My job of 10 years let me go in 2019, in august of 2021 I had to sell my house because I could no longer afford the payments, moved back in with my dad at 32, I’ve been struggling to regain what I’ve lost for the past 5 years…jumping from one job to the next and trying reestablish myself; Everything is more expensive and my income is only half of what it was 5 years ago.
Don't have to wrench on cars. I work at a wastewater treatment plant and they're always looking for maintenance workers. A lot of water/wastewater plants are unionized good stable work.
man, i was a service tech from 15-21 in a dealer. i lived in a small town in WV. i would do good to turn 100 hours every two weeks, i got so burnt out on working flat rate i was ready to explode. it turned me away from wrenching entirely to the point i didnt wanna work on my own stuff even. i ended up quitting not sure what i really wanted to do but i wanted out like asap. and ended getting a job as a mechanic in the coal mines as bad as that sounds i love it. i make great money now, i have a lot of time off, while the job is stressful i love it. i sold every bit of tools i had to my dad including my box and washed my hands with it entirely. youll find something bud just hang in there but i get where youre coming from 100%
Like how mentioned you should apply for a forklift mobile technician, bring home van and around $35-$40hr . I also go to college after work which i get home around 10pm 2 days out of the week.
I am going after my engineering degree, yes i used to make excuses without even trying it first. Yes community college is cheap , most forklift companies will even pay for your schooling.
Sell that giant tool box and buy a HF roll cart and buy cheap tools. Yes snap on tools and matco are nice to see and give a good feeling but they aren’t there for you when you are $0.00 in debit card living week to week.
DEBT ruins everything- Your business; your life, etc. I would tell any young guys starting out: DON'T do debt for anything! Instead of becoming a full-fledged tech right away and going out and buying tens of thousands of dollars worth of tools- be a lube tech or tire guy (etc.) and save up some money and grow and move up when you won't have to go into debt to do so. As someone who has been self-employed in little one-man businesses since I was teen, I have always been successful because I always kept it small and didn't do debt- while many of my contemporaries used debt to get into "better" businesses or grow their little business...and while some of them may've prospered temporarily, it never lasted and the debt always crushed them, even if they had what could have been good thriving functional businesses. On paper, I don't look all that successful as far as numbers, but I live very nicely; don't work hard or much, and really enjoy my life and sleep very well at night.
Well said
I don't think you have nothing to show for it. Many paths and lessons learned. Progress is not always a straight path. Sure , there are the setbacks. Keep getting back up when you look over your shoulder and find the ground.
My only suggestion would be to decide what you really want to do and use what you know how to do to get you there. I got my first mechanic job at 15, that was 1975. By the time I was 25 I was completely burned out with working on cars and suffering from a pretty bad back injury so I switched to aircraft which required going back to school. After I got my airframe and powerplant license (A&P) and inspection authorization (IA) I continued on with pilot training and now have an ATP and several type ratings. Pilot related work has been my primary source of income for the last 23 years but I've also stayed active as a mechanic on planes and cars on the side. Once I stopped working as a mechanic for my primary income and did it on my own terms I found that I actually still enjoy it and plan to continue doing it on the side after I retire in the next 6 to 12 months. Unfortunately some things never change though so a big portion of what I make doing mechanic work gets spent on more tools & equipment, Snap-On Verus updates, Shopkey Pro, etc.
Get a cheap scan tool! Or you will be here in 3months selling the triton to pay for basics. Not a hater . Long time subscriber who like alot of people here want you to get to a better place Justin and not back into the old habits.
How many times do you need to get bit by the same dog???
Most would think cocaine problem but with todays high prices especially in Cali its just life that takes everything from ya. Get outta Cali and your problems will be 1/2 over.
😂😂😂
I’m thinking of moving out of California more and more each day
@@JustinDowDIYcentralhighway It would be one of the best decisions for you economically. Cali is an economic dead zone.
@JustinDowDIYcentralhighway everything here in the Midwest is 1/2 the price as Cali if not cheaper..Here in Central illinois we have 50 dealerships within 30 to 50 miles I would say at least.. You can get a nice place for 1k to 1500 a month... A super nice place for 2 tp 2500...You would have a few months of winter to deal with but it can be fun and you would get 4 seasons it's actually pretty awesome..If you stay away from Chicago it's a nice state. I just convinced a guy to move here from Colorado because of the crazy high prices and he is rolling in the dough compared to what he had in Colorado..It's definitely something to think about because Cali is over ...
Your choices aside... Don't go into debt. Have your employer buy the tools or borrow them or just don't do the jobs. Nobody's ever going to come after you for a drawer full of Pittsburgh
Hey I know you. Nobody Makes a living with pittsburgh tools
@@stevec7081 what are you talking about? You can get a DeWalt 226 piece socket set right now for 70 bucks with shipping... Husky has similar deals, you do not need matco or snapon crap to be a mechanic. The Pittsburgh long reach wrenches are a great value. The 1 inch impact sockets are also great at harbor freight.
I make a living and I use the damn tools so what's it to you? Do you think anybody cares what type of tools you have when you're repairing their equipment? Seriously this isn't high school, grow up... You were probably that guy wearing Guess jeans
@@stevec7081that’s a damn lie, I’ve met lots of great and ingenuous mechanics who had a mix of everything, tools don’t make the man, the tool is exactly that, a tool in the hands of the man, only as good as the man holding it
@@stevec7081
LOL.
You're brain dead.
@@stevec7081 Diesel tech here, I own 1 tool truck branded tool, MAC colbalt drill bits lifetime warranty to the smallest size. Everything else is harbor freight and cheaper stuff like Tekton, Klein and Gearwrench. Wanna compare bank accounts and dick sizes?
😊Justin Ive watched you on and off for a long time. As someone who has retired after 20 years in law enforcement and also worked as a tech I know both sides. I’ve done every job from lube tech to Toyota and ASE certified tech and everything in between over the years. When it comes to being a cop a few things. The smoking has to stop because most agencies now won’t hire smokers because of insurance and you cant smoke in uniform or a marked cruiser. Second thing is if you need a job and you’re looking to get into law enforcement try private security first. In some cases private security can pay almost as much as starting cops pay in rural areas. Check with companies like allied universal or just on indeed. These companies will hire train and certified you. If you can get through their drug and background checks then you will be in. Good luck with the smoking I know it’s hard I smoked for a long time and it was hard to quit but it’s not impossible.
I’ve been with Allied for a couple months as event security. Most of the events are hit and miss. Trying for a full time position with them up here but nothing available yet. Pay isn’t too bad especially when I worked the Coachella and Stagecoach. Lots of hours
I am here to tell you, I know what it's like. I know what it is to start over. Remember, life happens. We are human. I highly recommend getting hired on to your local government working in utilities or public works. It's steady pay, great benefits you have opportunities to advance especially if you work in utilities on the water sewer side. You license up, your potential income is in the six figures. You have the mechanical aptitude for it along with an analytical mind set. It's a stable field. You do a variety of jobs. It's challenging It's something different every day. The hours are routine. Your municipality pays for your training. There's no tool bill.
Dude said "no excuses" after he gave a million excuses.
😂 Stop it - he gave explanations
I feel ya on the heavy disel side, why im now getting a cdl. sad when drivers get paid more.
I had thought about it, but I know that I wouldn't be able to drive for long periods of time without falling asleep. So not the safest job for me to do unfortunately.
To your title: It’s easily possible in this country after 40 years of wage stagnation relative to cost of living and historic wealth concentration. You should be able to take a few risks, make a few mistakes, and still come out ok, but not with the way things are right now. In other words, don’t beat yourself up. This is a difficult time for 90+% of the population.
Justin i feel u bro 100%. Im the only income for a family of 6, i left automotive to be an electrician for a year and realized i made more money at the dealership so i went back. I get it u wanna try something different, im speaking for myself but i caused alot of unnecessary financial hardships by taking a less paying job working 7 days a week 5am-3pm as an electrician and 4pm-10pm at home depot to make ends meet. Now im making more money working 4days a week. Just dont take too long figuring it out bro!
I feel you, bought my 88 f150 for 500 not running, still going till this day but had to replace alot of parts but comes with a older vehicle
Repo and selling off assets are wildly different things. And I'm running into jobs issues myself. Had some roof damage which drained my efund and been looking for part time work. Employers are not looking for many part timers.
6 person family? Thats big, cost allot of $ too keep it smooth. Just me & my 2 dogees, NO kids. SO FKN proud that I maintaned maximum discipline & released my precious load DEEP inside her "back porch" EVERY single time!!! Good luck, you'll get it figured out.
There is no need to explain yourself to anyone! You're a grown adult it's nobody's business!!
it's tough to watch you sometime. Sometimes you seem so headed in the right direction, then it seems the wheels come off, and you wind up having to dust yourself off, and start all over again.
Kinda like the song 'Tubthumpin" was written about you. Give it a listen if you are not familiar
This kind of sounds like a mid-life crisis, wanting big change. Reminds me of when I had one
I appreciate your content. Keep up the good work. It is tough being a dude.