When a lifelong truck passion becomes a fabrication career

Lifelong truck enthusiast Scott Bisi has made a career out of designing and fabricating custom modifications and lift kits for trucks all while overcoming muscular dystrophy. Images provided by Scott Bisi

Scott Bisi of Shelton, Wash., has always felt a connection to anything with wheels. The 32-year-old grew up riding dirt bikes and quads. While living in Maui at 10 years old, Bisi developed an appreciation for customized Toyota trucks because they not only looked cool but could rip it up off-road .

In 2012 he turned that connection into a career when he opened Cougar House Garage, where he creates fabrications and modifications for trucks, including custom lift kits .

While owning and operating a business is tough, Bisi has lived with muscular dystrophy since he was 14, adding an extra layer of difficulty to his day to day. He doesn’t dwell on it though. In fact, his work has kept him healthy far longer than the medical experts predicted .

This year hasn’t done his business any favors, but Bisi’s optimistic attitude means he is perfectly happy putting his head down to do the work and looking ahead to 2021 .

Can you explain what you do at Cougar House Garage?

I work on the full-size trucks as well as the classics. We work on anything from midsize Toyota trucks, which is where I started, to full-size trucks. We also do mild builds all the way up to SEMA truck builds. When I got to the point where I wanted to start fabricating lift kits for full-sized trucks, I knew I needed to lease a plasma table. I got hold of Baileigh Industrial and I got a table. And by the following year they became a sponsor .

I taught myself how to run the program and design the suspension, and then I bought my 2017 Toyota 4Runner, tore all the factory suspension off of it, and installed full-size Ford Super Duty axles. I used my plasma table to make all of my custom suspension components. I prototyped the kit on my own 4Runner so I’d be able to duplicate it for customers. That's when I started doing the Cougar House CHF 4-links .

Tell us more about the CHF 4-links.

We make our CHF 4-links for Fords and Dodges as a bolt-on lift kit. We make them for the Chevrolets as well, so you solid axle-swap your Duramax. And then we make them for fifth-generation 4Runners and the third-generation Tacomas because they share the same chassis, at least at the front .

The difference on the rear is that the 4Runners get a 4-link and coil springs and the Tacomas get lease rings. But the front frame sections are the same so the kits will fit on both vehicles .

I design them so you get a center 4-link cradle, mounted at the center of the frame. From there it has linked bars that run from the front of that bracket down to the front axle, and linked bars that run from the back of that bracket to the rear axle. I have axle trusses and frame bridges that connect all the substantial components together and make the 4-link kit itself .

They are custom-designed and cut, that way they're not a basic, boring 4-link kit. I put a lot of effort and engineering into making them look very appealing .

Scott Bisi started Cougar House Garage in 2012 and has made a career out of designing and fabricating custom modifications and lift kits for trucks.

I make them for each truck, but then I can add custom elements for each customer if they want a certain design .

What is muscular dystrophy and how does it affect your day-to-day life?

I was 14 years old when I was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. It’s a degenerative disease where your skeletal muscles slowly degenerate over time. When people work out or strength train, their muscles get broken down with acids and then they rebuild. My muscles are missing the chromosome that makes them rebuild. I've always had to be very careful not to overexert myself .

I'll usually get up around 10 or 10:30 a.m., and I'll have to use my hot pack and relax my body for another hour until I can get up and get moving. And then I'll grab some coffee and head out to the garage to start working on things .

I'll meet up with my employees and we'll get started. I can’t lift more than 20 lbs., so the guys are pretty much my hands. I am able to do really light-duty, easy tasks. Working on my cars is my passion and I see it as my therapy; it’s what gets me out of the house and what I put all of my effort into .

My doctor said I was supposed to be wheelchair-bound by age 20, and I'm 32 now. All my doctors say it's all because of how I’ve remained physically active. It’s prevented my body from atrophy .

Who is your biggest personal or professional influence?

One of my biggest influences is Jesse James. As a boy I remember watching “Monster Garage,” and being in awe of what he was doing. Chip Foose is another one. Those are the two guys I really looked up to in the automotive world .

What advice would you give to someone interested in taking a path similar to yours?

I would say to any young person who wants to get into the industry and make a name for themselves is to pick an area that you would like to work in, get educated, and then find a mentor working in that area and become their apprentice. Don’t focus on making big money or landing big jobs right away. If you truly enjoy working on cars, you will develop and grow, and from there the money will come .

Bisi's optimistic attitude means he is perfectly happy putting his head down to do the work and looking ahead to 2021.