Behind The Boom

Marcos from Retrospec joins Behind The Boom to discuss the creation of Hulk 2.0, the custom tow truck wrap that helped turn a million-dollar rotator into one of the most recognizable trucks in the towing industry. From concept sketches and design decisions to installation challenges and industry trends, Marcos shares what it takes to create high-end vehicle wraps that stand out from the crowd. We...

In Episode 10 of Behind The Boom, we sit down with Mark Baatz, owner of Tow Industries and one of the most recognized names in the towing world. For years, Tow Industries has supplied heavy wreckers, rotators, carriers, and tow trucks to companies all over California and beyond  including ours. From Hulk 1.0 and Hulk 2.0 to many of the trucks in our fleet, we've bought a huge number of trucks thro...

What does it take to buy and run a tow company before turning 30? In this episode of Behind The Boom, we sit down with Laura from Foglesong Towing to talk about what it’s really like being a young female owner in one of the toughest, most male-dominated industries out there. From taking over a towing company at just 29 years old, to earning respect in an industry built around long hours, heavy equ...

In Episode 8 of Behind The Boom, we sit down with Ron Pratt, a true pioneer in the world of heavy-duty towing and recovery. Long before YouTube and social media brought attention to the industry, Ron was already out there doing the work; building a name through experience, skill, and some of the toughest recoveries you can imagine. In this episode, we dive into how Ron got started, his decision to...

Episode 7: USAR Captain: Inside His Toughest Rescues What does it really take to become a USAR Captain — one of the most elite rescue positions in the country? In this episode of Behind the Boom, we sit down with a seasoned Urban Search and Rescue Captain who has responded to some of California’s most dangerous incidents, including the recent Palisades Fires. From high-angle rope rescues and colla...

What does the repossession world actually look like behind the scenes? In this episode of Behind the Boom , we sit down with Eric, a commercial repo specialist who’s built a reputation recovering everything from forklifts and heavy equipment to luxury vehicles and even medical machines. Most people picture repossessions as chaotic and confrontational, but the reality is very different. A large per...

In this episode of Behind the Boom, we sit down with one of the co-owners of Pepe’s Tow to hear his side of the story: my uncle Manuel Acosta. After starting alongside his brother in the early days of Pepe’s Tow, he eventually branched off into the Inland Empire to build something of his own. What followed was years of hard work, risk, and growth as he turned that move into a thriving operation. T...

Episode 4 of Behind The Boom - The Man Behind LA’s Most Famous Police Chases. In this episode, I sit down with my Stu Mundel (SkyFOX / KTLA), one of the most iconic TV helicopter news reporters. Known for his hilarious humor and witty remarks on live air, Stu is well known in not just the Los Angeles area but all over the world for his police pursuit reporting.  We go over how Stu got started in t...

In this episode of Behind the Boom , we talk about how Pepe’s Towing grew from a single truck into a heavy recovery operation with multiple rotators. We discuss the purchase of the first rotator and how it changed the business, what led to buying additional rotators, and what it really takes to become a heavy duty recovery operator. This episode is all shop talk. We get into some of our toughest r...

Episode 2 – From One Truck to California’s Largest Tow Company In this episode, I sit down with my dad, the founder of Pepe’s Towing Service, to talk about how it all started. What began by recycling junk cars for $100, eventually grew into one of the largest towing and recovery companies in California. In this conversation, we go back to the early days of working long hours, taking risks, and bui...

In Episode 1 of Behind the Boom, we talk about how social media has completely changed our towing business, from bringing in new jobs to reshaping how the public sees our industry. We discuss the negative perception surrounding towing, why the industry is resistant to change, and how we’re working to shift that narrative. New episodes weekly.