Why was “Texas Metal” canceled?

Car-centric reality TV has us used to seeing Mopars and hot rods everywhere, which is why it’s such a breath of fresh air to see “Texas Metal” take the reins of the truck customization industry on the small screen. Using the art of metal fabrication and demonstrating the creativity and skills of the Ekstensive Metal Works staff, there is no doubt that “Texas Metal” is the show that car enthusiasts and big car enthusiasts have been waiting for, when the show premiered in 2017.

That said, it hasn’t been an easy road for the show and its stars, especially considering how hard it is to stay relevant in the ever-changing reality TV industry.

Nevertheless, could these issues have led to the cancellation of “Texas Metal” or is there much more of the show to see on screen? Stay here to discover it!

Has “Texas Metal” been canceled?

Any time a show takes too long to renew, fans inevitably start to worry if a cancellation is in the works. While it was suspected that “Texas Metal” would meet such a sad fate, the truth is that not only has the show not been canceled, but more seasons are expected to premiere in the near future.

In March 2023, “Texas Metal” successfully aired its sixth season finale. This sixth episode final season was shorter than the previous one, which aired 12 episodes on a twice-monthly schedule from January to June 2022.

While it’s unclear what motivated this unstable episode structure, fans may be happy to know that there are no signs of a potential show cancellation. That being said, in 2023 “Texas Metal” premiered its first spin-off – “Loud and elevator— which steps aside a bit from Bill Carlton’s company Ekstensive Metal Works to focus on other small Houston-based companies, who also want to make a name for themselves in the local truck modification industry by competing against each other.

All in all, things seem to be going well for Bill Carlton and the show, which has made his company internationally known. Nevertheless, even if “Texas Metal” were to end soon, there is no doubt that the show left a more than good impression on all of us.

What happened to Tim and John?

One big change that fans noticed during the sixth season of “Texas Metal” was the absence of Tim “Timmy” Donelson and John Villarreal-Vega, two longtime stars of the series. It didn’t take long for fans to solve the mystery of what happened to both men, as Timmy had already announced in September 2022 that he had started a new company with John as his business partner: “he and I have been trying to run the company after work but not enough hours a day resulted in the need to make a BIG change,” he continued Instagramreferring to his departure from Ekstensive Metal Works.

As for John, he also expressed his excitement on his Instagram about the opening Timmy John’s Machinery and Manufacturing, he also confirmed that he had decided to focus on his new company and give up his job as a manufacturer for Bill Carlton, for whom he had worked for 10 years.

While news of both men’s resignations from Ekstensive Metal Works and official departure from “Texas Metal” sparked mixed opinions in the show’s fan base, that hasn’t stopped the growth of their company. As seen on Timmy John’s Machine & Fabrication’s social media accounts, the company has gained nearly 3,500 followers and is working on many projects, from their usual truck modifications to small but excellent handmade metal accessories.

What happened to Heather?

The name Heath Moore certainly sounds familiar to those who have followed “Texas Metal” since its inception. As the show’s original upholstery expert, Heath was known for his high-quality work, combining creativity and a bold attitude in designing the truck’s interior, which became a fan favorite during the early seasons.

However, Heath was nowhere to be found after the show’s fourth season and the next, making it clear that he had left “Texas Metal” for good.

While Heath has not explained the reasons for his departure to this day, it is suspected that his disappearance from the show was caused by a very difficult personal situation he went through in early 2021. COVID-19 and was having a hard time away from his family: “Except I wondered if the virus would kill you in your sleep. Not being able to touch them was the hardest part. Today is going to be great,” he wrote on one Instagram post, announcing that he had finally tested negative for the virus in March of that year.

Today, Heath is focused on Heath Moore Interiors, his upholstery company that has become extremely popular, with over 20,000 followers on Instagram and 1,000 subscribers on YouTube.

Has the show been sued?

Despite eschewing the usual dramatic touches that reality TV is known for, “Texas Metal” has not escaped real controversy. Those who watched the show from the beginning will surely remember the first episode ever, titled “Low Down and Dually” and aired in November 2017.

The episode revolved around Ekstensive Metal Works, as the staff worked to adapt not just a 2017 Mercedes Benz Sprinter and turning it into a cool and sharp-looking piece of art, as well as making it easier to use for owner Dave Shade, who hadn’t driven a car in over 15 years due to a disability. Dave was moved to tears after seeing his updated van and Bill Carlton was as happy as ever, but sadly that wasn’t the end of the story between the men.

As read further online court records, Dave sued Ekstensive Metal Works for collection in 2020. While a lock on court documents makes it difficult to know the details behind the case, the legal battle has been going on for years and is currently awaiting trial.

Success beyond television

Despite Ekstensive Metal Works gaining fame through the screen of MotorTrend’s “Texas Metal,” Ekstensive Metal Works had been known in the auto customization industry long before the show’s premiere in 2017.

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Founded in 1994, Ekstensive Metal Works is the result of both the efforts and imagination of Bill Carlton and his parents. As he recalled on the show, it all started when his father set up a small auto shop in the family’s backyard, taking the first step towards what Bill describes as the “American dream”: “having the house on the property, the shop in the back, just a perfect scenario for what he envisioned’, he said.

As the years passed, Bill learned his father’s trade and joined the business as soon as he could, adding extensions and machines without a concrete plan, just for the fun of making his parents’ dream come true. As Ekstensive Metal Works gained local fame, Bill and his collaborators’ works gained attention on major platforms such as HOT ROD Magazine, along with exhibition spots at the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association events, eventually becoming famous enough to be featured in a TV show to shine.

Overall, Bill Carlton has come a long way in making his company not only a local sensation, but expanding his fame around the world through “Texas Metal”. Despite losing a number of cast members and staff along the way, and some controversies as well, it’s clear that “Texas Metal” still has a lot to offer its audience.

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