Running a successful company can be tough. However, there are a few perks that can make it more enjoyable. In the automotive aftermarket world, to showcase your company’s products, service and abilities, it helps to have a shop truck. In some cases, that ends up a rough and tumble light duty truck that has a few products on it that generally get used and abused while running parts around town. Other times something spectacular is born.

Jake Mitchell, owner of Jake’s Custom Diesel in Norman, Oklahoma didn’t want another beater shop truck. He wanted something much more. Down at the shop, Mitchell’s company specializes in just about every modification you can do to a diesel truck. Custom paint, suspension kits, motor rebuilds, replacements and upgrades, Jake’s Custom Diesel does it all. Having intense pride in his work, Mitchell wanted a truck that stood out from the rest and accurately depicted the high level of quality and craftsmanship that comes out of his shop. Mitchell and his team certainly set the bar high with this gorgeous monster.

Using a 2011 Ford F-250 Crew Cab FX4 Lariat as a blank slate, the team went to town and had their way with the virgin truck. Mitchell picked this truck up at a salvage auction. Why was it at the auction? Well…it was just too hot for anyone to handle after it was struck by lightning. Spending about nine months to rebuild the truck, the team fixed and replaced every electronic module from bumper to bumper.

Off the factory line, the ¾ ton truck came with a tire burning 400 horsepower and 800 pound foot torque 6.7L Powerstroke V8 turbo diesel. Ford claimed the engine had the “best diesel fuel economy, power, and torque in the class” for the 2011 model year. To edge up the numbers, Mitchell freed up exhaust flow by utilizing a Sinister EGR Delete kit, followed by a Flo-Pro 4-inch down pipe back dual exhaust pipe system, muffler delete, and 6-inch tips nestled under the rear quarter panels. For extra control over the engine management computer, a Warhammer Tuner from Spartan was plugged in. A few bucks well spent to gain substantial horsepower and torque increases.

The stock Ford TorqShift 6-speed automatic transmission sits behind the power plant. The transmission may be stock, but with the claimed 10 million miles of cumulative heavy use testing Ford has put on them, it’s not likely Mitchell will have any problems with it.

To add some altitude with attitude, Mitchell chose to lift the 4-wheel drive truck using a Fabtech Motorsports 10-inch Radius Arm System with Dirt Logic 2.25-inch monotube shocks handling the bump control. The Fabtech kit is specifically designed to elevate the truck without sacrificing ride and alignment adjustability. Wanting to gain just a little bit more clearance, Mitchell opted to add in an additional 2-inch spacer above the new coil spring. To help keep the front differential centered in the right spot as the truck hauls down the road, a Fabtech adjustable trac-bar was bolted in. For better steering control, a Dirt Logic Dual Steering Stabilizer kit was bolted in. The dual monotube shocks help to counteract unwanted steering wobble and aid in smooth steering movements. All the suspension and steering components were treated to a coating of True Blue powder coating down at Jennings Powdercoat in Norman, Oklahoma.

With a desire to keep the tail end of the truck up level with the front, Mitchell commissioned Miles Flight of Flight Fabrication to build a custom set of lift blocks to be added on below the Fabtech lifted leaf springs. Wanting to keep potential spring wrap under control during heavy right-footed maneuvers, Flight Fabrication also built a custom one-off set of rear traction bars. Each rear component also received a healthy coating of True Blue powder coating.

Getting the traction to the ground, Mitchell bolted a set of Fuel Two-piece Maverick wheels. A staggering 22-inch diameter and 14-inch wide, these wheels will blow your mind. 40-inch tall and 15.50-inch wide Toyo MT tires were wrapped around the custom painted wheels and provide the grip Mitchell needs no matter what terrain he attacks.

The interior of the truck stayed mostly stock, so as to not mess with factory comfort. A Pioneer X4500BT touch screen head unit was swapped in to add some in-cab entertainment and Bluetooth capabilities. The audio signal heads out to a Kicker amp and then out to Kicker mid and high speakers. Outside, the truck is quite a bit more modified. AMP Research full length retractable Power Step Running Boards help driver and passengers boost themselves in elevation to match the truck for easier entry and exit.

Lighting all around was increased using Recon Mirror Lights, LED Third Brake Light and LED Smoked Lens Taillights. The Original Equipment Ford headlights were meticulously taken apart and custom airbrushed. The airbrushing is one of the qualities that has really set this truck head and shoulders above the rest. Juan Carlos of Chicago, Illinois hand brushed every bit of custom paint on this Ford. Countless hours of finger cramping work were put into the art along nearly every panel of this truck. Every skull, flame, and smoke line was freehand painted without using a single stencil. Using silver as a base, the truck was accented with various shades of blue and black that form some gruesomely awesome scenes. Carlos even worked the truck’s back up sensors into a couple of the skulls on the rear bumper to keep everything blended perfectly.

Jake Mitchell set out to build a truck that would show what his shop could do, advertise the products he sells, as well as build himself a daily driver that was just plain cool. He certainly succeeded.

Recently, Diesel Army featured another truck with some similarities. Dalton Mitchell, Jake’s brother and mechanic, built up a gorgeous truck as well that can be seen here. For more information on Jake Mitchell and his company, Jake’s Custom Diesel, head over to their Facebook and Instagram pages.