There are a lot of shops in the Washington, DC area that brand themselves as off road vehicle builders, but there are very few that actually know what they’re talking about. Now here at DirtRoadTrip we care about all of our readers, and we don’t want you wasting money at some shop that’s going to sell you chrome wheels and a Skyjacker lift kit. So take a minute and hear what we have to say, and if you own a Skyjacker lift kit, please accept our sincerest apologies.
Over the past 2 years we’ve been using Forge Specialties as our local shop of choice. We were sold after hearing nothing but great reviews from our own Mark Farage who’s been sending his Toyota trucks to Vince for over 8 years. Now most of you don’t know Mark, but all I can say is that when he give’s a recommendation, it’s always for the best product or service that money can by, and like us, he’s always willing to put his money where his mouth is. So moral of the story, if you have a choice between listening to Mark and your wife, choose Mark.
So who are these guys?
Vince and Nathan are the proud owners of Forge Specialties: a small, unassuming shop packed full of fabrication equipment and a revolving assortment of unique vehicles. As long time 4WD enthusiasts and automotive professionals, they’ve developed an appreciation for clean modifications and attention to detail. Whether resto-modding a 1970 Impala or installing the latest in electric locker technology in a 2015 Land Cruiser, their goal is to seamlessly unite form and function. This leads them to deliver meticulously clean engine swaps, tidy electrical work, and other feats of mechanical wizardry. In every job, they strive for functional and aesthetic excellence, especially in the subtle details that are most easily overlooked.
When they aren’t making someone’s dream rig come to life, Nathan and Vince can be found at East Coast Overlanding events in their respective 1977 Aussie FJ55 and supercharged 1996 FZJ80 Land Cruisers.
Why are we partnering with them?
We’re partnering with Forge Specialties because they are a local shop that performs top quality work, but most importantly because Vince and Nate are enthusiasts just like ourselves. When they’re not living working in their shop, you can find them at all of the local events, and they’ve also become a permanent fixture at our monthly Mid-Atlantic Overland Society Meet and Greets.
Vince and Nate share our passion for building highly capable rigs and traveling off the beaten path. Needless to say, there isn’t anyone else in the DC area that we would trust more with our trucks, because when we’re 500 miles from home, the last thing we want to worry about is a breakdown.
Will they work on my non Toyota truck?
Nate drove down to Uwharrie, NC for the Appalachian Rendezvous and EXPO East in his FJ 55 (which travels at the speed of smell) using nothing but back roads. If he had enough patience for this, he can work on your rig.
What’s the catch?
There is no catch, Vince and Nate didn’t bribe us with beer, dinner, or money (but we’re always open to this guys). This relationship is all about sharing our love of the same hobby, and this is why we consider them partners (maybe they’ll even write a post or two). The goal of DirtRoadTrip has always been to share our love for vehicle dependent travel and our personal experiences. So if you’re looking for a shop to build your first rig, or you need someone to sort out another shops mess, give the guys at Forge a call, we did, and we haven’t looked back since.
You must be logged in to post a comment.