Growing up, Emily Eckert always wanted a big truck. That passion grew from not only wanting a “truck life” but wanting to know everything about them. And anything diesel peeked her interest.
“I started into diesel trucks when I was 18 years old,” Emily explained. “I started with a ‘99 regular cab 7.3L 5 speed and from there on I was hooked. I moved into a 6.0L Ford, to a 6.4L Ford, tried a 5.9 Cummins and finally fell in love with a 6.7L Ford.”
When she got the Ford Lariat, it was just too low to the ground and didn’t fit her style of driving. “I threw the truck on a 6-inch Rough Country lift with some Bilstein shocks, tunes/deletes with 5-inch MBRP exhaust (Allen Diesel Performance), Outlaw Fab custom mounts and traction bars, 24x14 American Force Wheels wrapped with 35 AMP Mud Attacks (Krowned Kustomz), color match powder/paint (Elite Powder Coatings), custom LED lights all around (HiOn Lumens) and a sponsorship for some pretty cool front and rear bumpers by Fusion Bumpers.”
Emily had been to numerous truck shows with most of her trucks.
“There's nothing better than the aroma of people with the same passion that you have,” she explained. “It's also super funny when someone comes to tell that your boyfriend has a really good-looking truck and you respond, ‘Well thank you but this one is mine.’"
Emily’s goal is to some day have her truck in the SEMA show. “I am also in the works for putting on my own truck event,” she said. “I have a ton of resources that are extremely interested in donating. Yes, donating. I am wanting a truck event that will have all proceeds go to three local non-profit organizations.”
Emily loves the idea of doing something she loves while helping others at the same time.
“I'm extremely lucky to be able to have a part in a life like the one God gave me,” she explains. “He has blessed me with one heck of a support system. My ADP (Allen Diesel Performance) boys, Outlaw Fab crew, Tanner Allen Racing and my closest friends have countless sleepless nights from working on my pickup to have it ready for different events. I really don't think I could have made moves without the ones closest to me.”
Emily got to where she is now through a lot of hard work and effort.
“I grew up rough,” she explained. She was 14 years old when she got her first job. And she stayed at that job for the next eight years.
“For me working wasn't an option,” she said. “If I wanted something I had to get it myself.”
She sacrificed college for work. “It made me grow up fast,” she explained. When she was 22 she started work for a scrap metal recycling facility … and fell in love with it.
“I started there as a bookkeeper and now I have the official title of General Manager,” Emily said. “Some may think it's crazy to see a little 5-foot-2 blonde running a scrap yard but I think that is what adds the fun to my job … not to mention the company owner and his family have grown to be like my own family.”
Emily said they have become a huge part of her support system.
In August 2018, Emily and her fiancé started their own business—Krowned Kustomz. “We hook people up with wheels, tires, lifts and other accessories,” she said. “I couldn't be more blessed with where life has placed me because of how much fun I'm having living it.”
Sponsors
Krowned Kustomz
Wheels,Tires & Lifts
Alpha, IL
563.260.6875
Allen Diesel Performance
Swisher, IA
319.550.0655
Outlaw Fab
Dyersville, IA
563.580.3836
Elite Powder Coatings
Edgewood, IA
www.elitecoatingsiowa.com
HiOn Lumens
www.hionlumenslighting.com
Fusion Bumpers
888.779.3377
www.fusionbumpers.com