Life Wide Open with CboysTV

Episode: How Two Mechanics Helped CboysTV Reach 1 Billion Views

Date: June 11, 2024

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode dives deep into the pivotal roles that "Big Wrench" (Brian) and Gavin have played in shaping CboysTV’s DIY, stunt-driven content, and how their mechanical ingenuity and relentless work ethic have enabled the channel to hit the milestone of 1 billion YouTube views. The crew candidly discusses the journey, ups and downs of building wild vehicles, the pressure and culture within the shop, and the funny, chaotic moments that happen behind the scenes when running a creative operation at high speed.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Origins & Roles of the Mechanics ([02:41], [11:46])

• Big Wrench’s Backstory:
  • Started as a professional snowcross mechanic in 1997, initially with Polaris.
  • Transitioned from snowmobiles to watercraft, then to all types of fabrication and R&D.
  • Joined CboysTV about 4–6 years ago via a chance connection while fabricating snowmobile cans.
  • “It’s kind of wrecked me, really. I don’t even own a snowmobile. ...All I think about is, ‘this could be better.’” (Big Wrench, [08:04])
• Gavin’s Arrival:
  • Gavin persistently reached out to build an exhaust for Ben’s Lamborghini and wound up joining after impressing the team with his skills during a mass lawn-mowing video.
  • Hired after building a 6-foot-tall pit bike and a tandem pit bike within their tight timelines.
• Jack-of-all-Trades Approach:
  • Both mechanics pride themselves on being able to “figure out anything”—from choppers for the Minnesota Vikings’ games to spontaneous YouTube builds.
  • “Don’t fall in love with the project.” (Big Wrench, [11:25])

2. Behind-the-Scenes: Building Process, Deadlines & Creativity ([09:10], [25:21], [30:05])

• Dynamic Build Process:
  • Projects are typically "good enough to get by" due to rapid YouTube scheduling, accepting that most creations will only last a single video.
  • “The most important thing is that we just keep churning and burning.” (Ben, [09:47])
  • Both are constantly learning through trial and error, forced to problem-solve in novel ways.
• Stress of Deadlines:
  • Timelines (often a single week or less) are the most stressful—everything can change by the hour.
  • "The timeline’s ridiculous... I strive to learn something new every day." (Big Wrench, [30:20])
• Creativity Meetings:
  • Build ideas often spark from small comments in planning sessions, rapidly spiraling into full videos.
  • “It’s crazy what one little comment sparks into a whole build.” (Big Wrench, [25:23])
  • Balancing intricate build coverage with entertainment is key—70% of their audience isn’t gearheads.

3. Culture, Camaraderie & Shop Life ([46:01], [66:01], [68:07])

• Shop Culture:
  • Both Gavin and Big Wrench emphasize the importance of humility, grit, and being a team player. Friendship and crew fit are as crucial as technical skills.
  • “You spend way too much time as a group... to not get along with each other.” (Big Wrench, [67:51])
• Expectations & Work Ethic:
  • The relentless pace is a badge of honor, with Gavin working many weekends and Big Wrench likening the pressure to racing-level stress.
  • "Unfortunately for you, the job is never done here." (Ben to Gavin, [46:36])
• Work-Life Balance & Family:
  • Big Wrench reserves some hours for his family, humorously explaining why he can’t always join after-hours hangs.
  • “We’ve been married long enough where she knows all my tricks.” (Big Wrench, [51:24])

4. Legendary Builds, Fails & Wild Moments ([23:00], [57:18], [58:40])

• Favorite & Most Stressful Builds:
  • Sexy Red (Gavin’s turbo mini truck) – Gavin’s favorite build, his first big project.
  • Bronco on a Pole – Big Wrench’s most stressful job due to the engineering challenge and live timeline.
    "That was probably the most stressful thing... I didn’t know if it was going to hold or not." (Big Wrench, [23:00])
  • Hummer Pontoon – Entirely “dumb luck” that it worked, but now a legend.
• Fails and Hard Lessons:
  • Many builds only last a single video; failures are shrugged off as part of the job and sometimes inspire future projects.

5. Shop Hierarchy, Nicknames & Running Jokes ([47:54], [49:45])

• Big Wrench vs. Little Wrench:
  • Not actually related, but the running joke persists—“Big Wrench” calls the shots, while “Little Wrench” (Gavin) isn’t a fan of the moniker.
  • Amusing family implications as relatives ask about “hidden sons.”
• Conflicting Rumors & Tattoos:
  • Teasing about matching team tattoos, old nipple piercings, and fake chains—buying into and debunking shop rumors as part of the culture.
• Banter Over Food Choices:
  • Endless ribbing about Mike’s alleged hot dog obsession, with threats of photographic evidence and playful denial.

6. Recruitment, Shop Expansion & the Next Generation ([68:07], [69:06])

• What Makes a Good Mechanic for the Team?
  • Adaptability, humility, learning mentality, “not thinking you’re the best,” and willingness to jump in wherever needed.
  • "If you bring something new to the table, don't think you've done that before—try to listen to everybody's ideas." (Big Wrench, [69:08])
• Future Ideas:
  • The team muses about doing a “Wrench Off” competitive mechanic series or bringing on a tech school intern.

7. Street Fame, Fights, and Odd Encounters ([20:04], [77:00])

• Mechanic Street Cred:
  • Big Wrench gets recognized by his teenage son’s friends, enjoys low-key local celebrity, and has memorable bar stories and altercations.
  • “You got in a racetrack fight… mechanic to mechanic.” (Ben, [77:00])
  • Shop members recount altercations with a local homeless woman wanting to ride an e-bike, and sharing defense tactics (kicking knees in fights).

8. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Don’t fall in love with the project.”
  — Big Wrench, on not over-investing emotionally in fleeting builds ([11:25])
• “We’re so good at knowing what’s going to do well on YouTube... then you just twist it a little bit.”
  — Ben, reflecting on the YouTube creativity process ([25:48])
• "If I was another 10 years younger, I probably wouldn’t be going home, right?"
  — Big Wrench, on shop camaraderie vs. family life ([50:26])
• “Timeline’s ridiculous… It can change every hour.”
  — Gavin, on the chaos of shop scheduling ([30:51])
• "I take that mentality with here too. You should learn something every day... If you learn something every day, the next day’s going to be better."
  — Big Wrench, on his continuous improvement mindset ([65:41])
• “If you can hang with us, you’ll be good as long as you don’t get tied up with that Evan guy…”
  — Dalton, about after-hours mischief ([50:41])

Important Timestamps

• [02:41] – Big Wrench’s entry into CboysTV and their mutual connections
• [06:05] – Starting out in snowmobile mechanics in 1997
• [11:25] – Shop wisdom: don't get too attached to builds
• [23:00] – Most stressful build: Bronco on the pole
• [25:21]/[25:38] – Idea generation and group creative process
• [30:05] – Shop life, learning, and working under pressure
• [46:01] – Gavin’s work ethic and integration into the crew
• [57:18] – Favorite and least favorite builds
• [65:41] – Lessons from racing and taking those into shop life
• [68:07]/[69:06] – Advice for recruiting new mechanics/team members
• [77:00+] – Shop brawls, altercations, and defense tips

Conclusion

This episode highlights that while the crazy vehicles and viral moments are what viewers see, it’s the passionate, hard-working, and endlessly creative mechanics—willing to learn, adapt, and collaborate—that enable CboysTV to continually one-up themselves and keep fans hooked. The wild stories, stressful deadlines, and unique personalities behind the scenes are what truly bring the channel to life.

"The timelines here are probably one of the most stressful things, man... you want to get it done. Everybody."
— Big Wrench ([66:01])