Inside RJ Fab: The Mind Behind Some of Off-Road’s Wildest Builds

RJ Fab, aka Rob Lindsay

Rob Lindsay is a name that carries a weight with it, and it’s a name that also carries a sense of urgency and passion in the off-road world. Rob’s business name, RJ Fab, is well-known and worshiped and is a name that every builder from coast to coast should know by now. If you don’t, well, let this article be a reminder to you that he is nothing short of one of the greatest builders and engineers in the off-road scene.

Rob is the owner and creator of RJ Fab, based out of Hesperia, California. He is a no-BS type of guy when it comes to this work, his employees, and his reputation. Nothing about Rob can be described in a humble and calm manner, but don’t let his legendary status fool you. He is one of the most down-to-earth and humble people I have ever come across in the world of off-road. He welcomed me to his home, garage, shop, and even poolside while I traveled to Hesperia to take a look at the many things he had going on. From the dream garage to the arsenal of heavy-hitter cars to some of the fabrication and engineering masterpieces unfolding in his shop, there was something new and exciting in every corner. There is history hanging from the walls, from past magazine features to new, present-day features from channels like Autotopia LA and many more! Just walking around, I felt overwhelmed by the incredible degree of workmanship in his shop.

The multiple RJ Fab employees all share the same passion as RJ. Just look at these photos; this is the raw and pure image of this shop—it’s clean and organized and is well-thought-out and well-designed. Rob is an organized man with many tools and is no slouch when it comes to welding godlike dimes along every seam of metal in the shop. His welder of choice? Well, the welder that many will say, including myself, is the very best—Miller. These famous blue machines last longer than most people’s New Year’s resolutions.

Rob didn’t just choose this life—he actually fell into it at a young age. He always liked creating things and coming up with artwork, and Rob always had a knack for the details in everything he did. Back in high school, Rob started this fab journey by building a sand rail for himself and then slowly getting into a Nissan 240Z and a Chevy Camaro. After he built his Camaro, people started to reach out and inquire about hiring Rob to build their cars. It wasn’t until 2000 when he quit his daytime job and pursued the fabrication life full-time.

After many years, Rob found himself in a spot where he wanted to build his own creation that we have actually featured here in TREAD Magazine. Rob’s insane Ford Ranger came out in 2017 when he finally buttoned up all the pieces. Once that Ranger hit the off-road world and evolved the luxury prerunner scene, Robert’s fab work took off. He then began working on building record-setting drag racing chassis, luxury prerunners, off-road vehicles, and cars that are showcased and featured worldwide all across the internet.

Building is a way of life for RJ, and even though it’s what we know him best for, it isn’t all he does. Rob is newly engaged, and we congratulate him on his life journey! He spends days riding bikes on the beach and bar hopping with his fiancé. This is how life should be.

While catching up with Rob, we asked him what the most difficult part of a build is when it comes to learning. His response is that no part is easier than the next, and no part is more difficult than the next. What he finds most challenging is the packing of it all. So what does that all mean? Well, RJ doesn’t just bolt on stuff that is made for every rig out there. No, his work is custom fabricated, designed, engineered, and meticulously gone over with the craziest shock setups and wildest builds you will ever find. Fitting a massive motor into a small engine bay or trophy truck suspension in a family SUV is his challenge, and he handles it with precision and always sees it through to the very end of the build. He creates space that doesn’t exist and makes everything work together to give the most unique creations to his clients. These vehicles aren’t just builds; when you get close and look at the welds, the bodywork, the fitting, the accessibility, and the formation of these parts is ART!

Visiting RJ’s compound and talking with him, I learned that he is one of the most humble and honest guys I’ve ever met. He’s straightforward and responsive, and while I was outside, he offered me water and food and told me to come hang out like I was one of his own. He throws barbecues for his employees often, and they all sit down together in the shop and enjoy shared relaxation time. But don’t let the sitting down and cold drinks fool you—these guys all put in some serious work. I showed up early at 9 a.m., and they were already in the shop taking care of business.

Trust me, we will be seeing a lot more of RJ and his builds over the next two years because of what he has planned and what he is currently creating in his shop. Rob enjoys these builds; it’s his passion. He finds the challenge to be his interest, and his interest is driven by his ability to create. What is Rob’s cup of tea, though, when it comes to these projects? Is it motors, axles, or bending tubes? Actually, it’s none of the above. RJ loves his suspension, chassis, and exhaust work! These are three aspects of a vehicle that are shown and tested the most, in my opinion. You can’t have a good suspension without a stable chassis, and you can’t have a good motor without a well-designed exhaust setup.

As with any business, Rob does find his hardships, and his most common one is the group of people who want excellent work but don’t want to pay the price of excellent work. We have all dealt with those folks before, and it is frustrating—especially when work like Rob’s goes beyond what is usually asked of a regular shop or builder. We asked Rob if he would go back and change anything about his journey, and he said he would not let fear stand in his way ever again. I can go on forever about the amazing builder RJ is and about and the badass man he has become over the years, but we have a lot more writing to do.

We thank RJ and his team for showing me around their compound—it was a welcoming experience for sure. We are excited to cover much more of RJ and his crazy builds in future issues. Until the next one, tread on!