Carrollton’s Nick Staten turns hobby into thriving custom fabrication business

When Nick Staten bought his first side-by-side vehicle in 2013, he didn’t expect it would directly lead to the launch of a new career. A lifelong tinkerer, he decided to build his own roll cage after seeing other riders share custom setups online.

“I figured if I messed it up, I could always take it somewhere,” he said. “My brother wanted one, so I built one for him, and he put it on Facebook. And a couple guys from the Carrollton area wanted one. So, I built them. And then it just kind of slowly grew from there.”

This became the early beginnings of Staten Built. For years, Staten balanced the growing side business with his job at Fusion Ceramics, where he had worked since age 21. But demand for his custom work kept growing. In February he took a leap and left his longtime job to pursue fabrication full time. That decision also led him to build a new garage and workshop near his home, where he moved in just this past summer.

Today, Staten’s shop specializes in custom roll cages, bumpers, tree kickers (rock sliders/side bars), doors and traction bars for trucks. Most of his builds are for Polaris RZRs, but he works on other brands such as Kawasaki as well. While his main focus is fabrication, he occasionally handles light mechanical work like installing remanufactured engines, clutch kits and ECU tuning. He has also welded safety components for farm equipment, pulling tractors and trucks.

Each project begins with a customer consultation. Staten maps out exactly what the rider wants and then gets to work, often starting with the rear bumper and moving forward to the cage, front bumper and other accessories. He uses mild steel tubing, flat steel and some aluminum, sourcing materials locally from Canton and Yorkville. Finished parts are powder-coated by a shop in Canton if the customer desires. Unlike companies that stick to a single design, Staten prides himself on one-off, customer-driven builds. Most custom cages take about two weeks, though he often works on several jobs at once.

“We can pretty much build anything they dream up, I’ll try to do it the best I can,” Staten said. “Once I get it figured out and everything goes good, it’s a pretty good feeling.”

Some builds stand out. One of his biggest challenges was a personal job creating an extra-low roll cage about 11 inches shorter than stock. To achieve the sleek profile, he cut and rebuilt the seat bases so the seats could sit lower. Another memorable project was a high-powered green buggy he modified with clutch upgrades and ECU tuning, testing it to 95 mph — faster than most off-road tires are designed to handle.

For Staten, the best part of the job is the creativity and seeing customers’ reactions.

“It’s like Christmas morning when they first see it,” he said. “It makes all the work worth it.”

Over time, he’s kept small mementos, like a stack of 75 custom plates from past builds, to remind him how far the business has come.

At home, Staten enjoys the convenience of working just steps from his house, where he lives with his wife, Lindsay, and their daughters, Braley and Brodee. Looking ahead, he hopes to continue expanding his custom fabrication work, add more truck accessories and stay focused on unique, customer-driven designs that stand out from mass-produced alternatives.

Staten can be reached at staten.built@gmail.com or 330-324-5876. His Facebook page, with photos of his work, is at facebook.com/statenbuilt.