Indianapolis, IN – Mar 23, 2022: If you’ve ever watched Discovery Channel, you’ve probably heard of the popular show Gold Rush . The gold mining show is so popular that it was the most-watched unscripted series for men in 2020 and has six spin-off series, as of March 2022.

A Familiar Face

Juan is often referred to as a “heavy equipment mechanic” on the show. In addition to this role, he also owns and operates his own plumbing company—Ibarra Industries—in his home city of Reno, Nevada. Needless to say, Juan’s work is demanding. And because of all the demanding work he does, he has become expertly practiced at the art of finding the right tools and equipment for the job. But given that he’s on the scene for four of the six mining shows—taking place across the Yukon and Alaska— in addition to his own business in Reno, all of those essential tools and equipment must be stored and transported in an extremely tough and efficient package. That’s why a service truck optimized to the fullest extent is a must. 

Juan isn’t new to the work-truck industry, but he has perfected it. So much so that he was asked to display his latest truck at the NTEA Work Truck Show. His new rig premiered in the Palfinger booth, a manufacturer known for their innovative lifting and truck body solutions. It proved to be one of the show’s most hyped trucks and received tons of media attention. But we were the ones to get an exclusive tour of the truck, hosted by Juan himself.

Meet “Big Mack”

The first thing you see when you walk up to Juan’s new work truck—besides the signature “Omaha Orange” color—is the trademark “Mack” on the gleaming grill. And right above that, in script, is the name “Big Mack”—a name he says was bestowed on the truck by his kids. You get the impression that not only are work trucks an important member of his family but, more specifically, Mack trucks. 

This specific Mack truck is the Mack Granite. It features an MP®8 engine and mDRIVE™ HD transmission, which means it boasts a whopping 505 horsepower. In addition, this truck is known for offering high ground clearance, making it perfect for tackling the many obstacles that—if you’ve watched the show, you’ll know—come up a lot. Mack offers the reputable dependability and muscle that Juan depends on.

The next feature that Juan points out is the impressive set of tires. The tires are Special American Racing ATX wheels. These tires aren’t just durable, they also offer the leading load capacity for truck tires. And for a truck that uses a crane for heavy loads, this choice is essential. But there’s more to the truck than the truck itself—Juan has carefully selected which equipment to integrate onto this truck, and for good reason.

A Closer Look at the Integrated Crane Body

As Juan walks around the side of the truck, he’s sure to point out the manufacturer responsible for his truck’s presence at the show—Palfinger. Sitting beside the Badass (Welding) Reels on the side of the truck is the PAL Pro 72 service body. This compact and integrated crane package is capable of withstanding thousands of pounds while remaining completely stable. That’s no small feat. And for Juan, it’s a necessity when you’re dealing with precious loads in unpredictable Alaskan conditions.

Additionally, Juan points out that this package features a Lincoln Electric Air Vantage 566. This four-in-one piece is an air compressor, hydraulic pack, generator, and welder in one. When you have limited space for huge jobs, only the most efficient pieces of equipment make the cut.

The Back of the Truck —Where the Magic Happens

When Juan gets to the back of the truck, he highlights the Palfinger PSC 12529 Crane. But he doesn’t really have to. Angling up from the shiny orange truck into the sky is the sleek black arm of the crane, which can be seen from across the work truck show. This crane may look nice, but it acts tough. It can lift around 12,000lbs with ease.

And although it visually pales in comparison, Juan is sure to point out another important feature that lives on the back of the truck—his vice. As he states, “you can’t forget a good vice.” His is a Wilton, model #1780, and it’s proudly made in the USA. Juan’s mention of the vice is a reminder of the fact that every part of a service truck is important and should have to earn its place. And there’s one “last but not least” feature to do that very thing.

The Thing Juan Ibarra Has to Have on His Trucks

Just as Juan is about to complete his lap of the truck, he stops at the service body door. “Last but not least,” he says, “I got my CTech drawers.” He opens a door to reveal a full bay of MotionLatch®-equipped CTech tool drawers. He continues, “Every one of my trucks has to have CTech drawers.” When you watch him open and close the drawers, you can see why. When he pulls on the full-length drawer handle, it opens with gratifying ease. And when he goes to close it, it latches with a satisfying click. He’s sure to do it multiple times, to display just how easy it is.

But there’s more to the drawers than how effortlessly they function. Being that they’re made from aluminum, they’re incomparably strong and deceptively lightweight. This makes them the perfect drawers for a work truck like Juan’s. And though his tools haven’t made it into the drawers yet, Juan is familiar with the ease with which tools organize into CTech drawers. Not only do they stay organized, but they stay protected in the many extreme environments that Juan encounters. Like Juan says, “When it comes to drawer systems in a truck, you can’t beat CTech.”

Where to Watch Juan and His Truck in Action

After getting such a close-up view of Juan and his rig, the only question left to ask is, “where can we see more?” Juan is sure to tell us that we’ll have the chance to see more of Juan and Big Mack. Just be sure to watch the newest season of “Gold Rush: Freddy Dodge’s Mine Rescue” when it premieres on April 1st, 9 pm(PT). As far as CTech drawers, you can see more of those and get some for yourself at CTechManufacturing.com. Be sure to tell them that Juan sent you.