Living in a Trailer, Selling Volvos in High School, Now Running Combat Off-Road

In this **Jeep Talk Show** interview episode, host Tony sits down with Ryan, the passionate founder of **Combat Off-Road**, for an inspiring deep dive into his lifelong love for building, fixing, and flipping vehicles—from living in a tent and trailer behind his parents' garden center as a teen, selling hundreds of Volvos in high school, to running multiple off-road shops, and now creating top-tier aftermarket parts for the Jeep community.  @Combat.Offroad  Ryan shares wild stories from his early days (including custom sidecars, crazy customer requests, and building cars while playing college hockey), his transition from shop owner to manufacturer, and why he launched Combat Off-Road as a true enthusiast project focused on **durability, quality, and lifetime warranties**. Highlights include: - Why Combat Off-Road uses **stamped aluminum** (not plastic) for armored tail lights that can take a beating off-road - The modular design that lets you replace individual lenses easily - Popular billet hood latches, tube doors for that open-air feel with extra protection, aluminum fenders, and more - Ryan's take on EVs, keeping the ICE culture alive, open trails, and passing the gearhead passion to the next generation (including his 10-year-old daughter who already drives and knows her cars!) If you're into real off-road builds, self-reliance, or just love hearing how passion turns into a business, this conversation is packed with motivation, laughs, and practical insights. Check out Combat Off-Road's durable, enthusiast-designed products today at: **https://combat-offroad.com** Follow Combat Off-Road: Instagram: @combatoffroad Facebook: Combat Off-Road YouTube: Combat Off-Road Thanks for watching! Drop a like, subscribe to Jeep Talk Show for more interviews with the off-road community, and let us know in the comments: What's your favorite Combat Off-Road product? Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and here's to an awesome 2026 full of trails and builds! 🚙💨 00:00 - Intro and Show Opening 00:33 - Early Shop Discussion 01:29 - Custom Requests and Lifts 01:48 - Living in the Shop 02:56 - Family and Parental Support 03:41 - Early Automotive Projects 05:45 - Ryan's Daughter and Early Cars 07:26 - EV Opinions 09:16 - Product Line and Sales 13:02 - Business Metrics and Scaling 16:10 - Company Culture and Hiring 17:43 - Product Development Challenges 20:55 - Early Market Success 22:39 - Growth and Distribution 24:40 - Community and Events 29:55 - Location and Warehousing 32:24 - Distribution Network 35:35 - Social Media Presence Visit our website: https://jeeptalkshow.com/ Watch/Listen on Spotify https://jeeptalkshow.com/spotify Join our Discord Server: https://jeeptalkshow.com/discord Subscribe to our newsletter: https://jeeptakshow.com/newsletter Help Support the show via Patreon: https://jeeptalkshow.com/patreon