Conversations with Paul Baxter

Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul Baxter.

Hi Paul, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began my career as a professional mechanic in 2008, working for local repair shops in Mesa, Arizona. After acquiring some ASE certifications, I moved to California in either 2012 or 2013, where I joined Woodland Hills Auto Gallery Lamborghini as a technician. During that time, I also established my company, Baxter Auto LLC, providing mobile mechanic services on the side.
After a few years, I decided to leave Lamborghini and return to Mesa, as I was not particularly fond of living in California. I continued to grow my mobile mechanic business here, building a strong clientele. Recognizing the need for a dedicated shop location to further expand, I rented a couple of bays from an old friend who owned an auto repair shop. To avoid competing with him, I launched Bullet Proof Offroad, specializing in off-roading services, a passion of mine. This initial location was in Apache Junction.
As the workload increased, I hired my good friend, Shane Symolon, an extremely experienced professional in the off-road scene, as a technician. The company continued to thrive, eventually leading us to acquire our own shop location in Mesa.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The journey has not been smooth in some aspects. I expanded the company further by launching an e-commerce site to sell parts online. This expansion occurred during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic, but after a couple of years, it was successfully up and running.

Shortly thereafter, we encountered unfortunate trademark issues with our original name. In January 2025, we underwent a challenging rebranding process, emerging as Thirteen Fifty Offroad. Fortunately, our loyal customers, who know and trust us, were unaffected by the name change, and we continue to experience growth. We also successfully secured our trademark for Thirteen Fifty Offroad this year, ensuring that this particular challenge will not be repeated. The name “Thirteen Fifty” symbolizes the American flag, representing its 13 stripes and 50 stars.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We remain committed to providing the highest quality of work on all our customers’ vehicles, treating them as if they were our own. Our motto, “quality not quantity,” reflects this dedication.

We specialize in off-road vehicle upgrades, suspension, gear changes, lockers, full builds, maintenance, and repairs, including custom suspension, LS swaps, and various performance enhancements. Our commitment to detail distinguishes us from competitors, as we focus on completing every job correctly the first time, saving our customers both time and money.

While we are best known for our work on Jeep and Toyota vehicles, we also service other brands, such as Raptors, Trx, and others.

I am particularly proud of my highly skilled and dedicated team. Their expertise and commitment are integral to our company’s success.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
We are currently planning our next phase of growth, which primarily involves moving to a larger facility. Our current space significantly limits our operational capacity, and a bigger shop will allow us to continue offering our specialized services on a larger scale.

In addition to expanding our physical footprint, we aim to recruit several highly skilled technicians to join our team. This will enable us to significantly reduce customer wait times, which currently range from one week to two months depending on the season. Our ultimate goal is to become the premier high-end off-road shop for enthusiasts in the area.

Pricing:

• Hourly labor rate is 145.00

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.1350offroad.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1350offroad
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1350offroad