We first saw Sean Cooley’s classic VIAIR equipped GMC truck at Lone Star Throwdown 2018. Since then, he has made his debut across the country, driving from coast to coast. Throughout his adventures, he’s been able to meet and network with mini truckers from all walks of life. He is known as the “Forest Gump” of the mini truck scene and is putting his VIAIR compressors to the ultimate test!
We had a chance to catch up with Sean while he is still on the road to enlighten us with his experience on this wild journey:
What inspired you to begin this coast-to-coast journey?
I had planned to move from my southeast Texas hometown to the Austin area. Since I had a good amount of money saved up, I decided to go on a little adventure to see all the beautiful places this country has to offer.
What was the craziest experience you’ve had while out on the open road?
So many come to mind! Coming up on cows and deer standing in the middle of the road, horrible drivers almost hitting me, driving up past 10,000 feet on snow covered mountains, sleeping down a dirt road in Moab, Utah…Overall, I’ve met amazing people who have helped me in any way they could, and have even opened up their homes to me. That really blew me away.
Which notable places did you go, which were your favorites?
Big Bend was stunning, Bryce Canyon, Arches National Park, Grand Canyon is always a majestic sight, Yosemite Valley. These are just a few locations that I’ve loved so far, but I could go on and on!
Approximately how many shows did you attend while out on the road?
So far, I’ve only attended Cruise to the Pines in Arizona, and a couple of local shows in the Salt Lake area while I was staying with some new friends there. I hope to go to some more, but we’ll see what time allows and where I am at the time.
What is your favorite part of being in the air suspension community?
The people and friends that I have met over the years, some of who are like family now. And obviously building, seeing, and being seen in cool trucks.
Most popular truck trend you noticed this year?
Not one trend stands out, but I have seen a lot more people building trucks with full pre-fabbed custom chassis – especially from Phat Phabz. Also, the use of full automated air management from companies like Accuair and Airlift are becoming the norm. A general improvement in overall build quality is really present lately. We’ve come a long way from “just cut it up, and get it on the road”.
Do you think a VIAIR compressor should be vital tool in every air suspension setup?
Yes, for sure. I can’t think of another electric compressor that I would run for myself, or recommend to someone.
Would you recommend this trip to others or what would you do differently?
It takes a lot of guts to take a brand new and freshly-painted build out on the open road like this. But regardless, I would absolutely recommend this experience to anyone who is confident in the durability of their ride. If I had to do something differently, I’d say budgeting for more hotel stays would be nice since I’m primarily tent camping.
What is your favorite part about owning VIAIR compressors?
No compressor is perfect and will last forever, but the 444s have yet to let me down, and I use them just about all day every day. I like how readily available they are and at a price point that’s affordable for just about anyone.
Sean has proved throughout his travels that VIAIR is the heart of any air suspension system by putting his compressors through extreme testing and verifying VIAIR is your vital air source!
And remember, if you have any further questions, you can always contact us:
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