Thinking about producing trail covers...

[stupidboy]

Mike, please look at my build, I'm ready to cut.

 

[BroncoDesign]

Mike, please look at my build, I'm ready to cut.

Pat-
That truck looks NICE! Too bad you couldn't find a decent halfcab....

So let me guess, you wanna cut the fenders and you're waiting on me to make the flares right???? I'll call Suzie today and find out what happened to the molds. She's probably over her head with work like me.

When you get done, Ben's purple playtoy will have a Yankee cousin. ;D

 

[BroncoDesign]

Trail Cover Update

Serguei has examined the cover and knows what I suspected- The covers aren't Sunbrella. If they were, he'd have stopped making them long before he did because its $21/yd times 6 yds or $126 just for the material. He's looking at making the first couple in Sunbrella to test because he has the material on hand but is looking at a better (more waterproof) material for future covers;

VINYL-TEX 18 oz. Vinyl Coated Fabric
18 oz. 61" Imported Vinyl Coated Fabric

PVC Coated Polyester fabric.

UV Resistant and Mildew Resistant.

Applications Include:
Trucks and Equipment Canopies Dry Bags
Curtains Tarps Shelters
VINYL-TEX Technical Data
Base fabric - 5.2 OZ. SY 100% polyester
Coating - PVC
Width - 61 inches
Total Weight -18 oz. per square yard
Tear strength - 81/83 lbs.
Tensile strength - 444/441 lbs.
Low temperature, -40 degrees F.
Flame resistance - Unknown
Shade Factor - 100%

This shouldn't sag as much but will be harder to fold up. It would definitely be better on the trailer going down the road. He says the reason the sides were short was to get under a certain ammount of material keeping the cost down. Have to see samples before proceeding. Its available in 9-10 colors. NO you can't have pink Tasker....

 

[tasker]

i'd be ok with yellow too......or fuchsia!

 

[ransil]

Serguei has examined the cover and knows what I suspected- The covers aren't Sunbrella. If they were, he'd have stopped making them long before he did because its $21/yd times 6 yds or $126 just for the material. He's looking at making the first couple in Sunbrella to test because he has the material on hand but is looking at a better (more waterproof) material for future covers;

VINYL-TEX 18 oz. Vinyl Coated Fabric
18 oz. 61" Imported Vinyl Coated Fabric

PVC Coated Polyester fabric.

UV Resistant and Mildew Resistant.

Applications Include:
Trucks and Equipment Canopies Dry Bags
Curtains Tarps Shelters
VINYL-TEX Technical Data
Base fabric - 5.2 OZ. SY 100% polyester
Coating - PVC
Width - 61 inches
Total Weight -18 oz. per square yard
Tear strength - 81/83 lbs.
Tensile strength - 444/441 lbs.
Low temperature, -40 degrees F.
Flame resistance - Unknown
Shade Factor - 100%

This shouldn't sag as much but will be harder to fold up. It would definitely be better on the trailer going down the road. He says the reason the sides were short was to get under a certain ammount of material keeping the cost down. Have to see samples before proceeding. Its available in 9-10 colors. NO you can't have pink Tasker....

dug this up out of old threads:
"It is a marine fabric with one of it's specific uses being boat covers that is highly water repellant. It is not water proof like vinyl would be though. I.E. If water puddles up in the center it could potentially seep through if left there long enough. (For long term storage I would run a 2x2 or so board across inside anywhere that could build up water) If he is familiar with Sunbrella fabric (Which is what the canback and Galens doors were using) then this fabric is a tighter weave that seems to be more water repellant than it is. Keep in mind that you do not want an absolutely waterproof material because it doesn't breathe at all and can cuase other problems. I have tested it using a garden hose both with a pressure nozzle against the sides and by allowing water to run onto the top to puddle up. (As much as possible which was in only one small area about 12" in diameter) In both cases I couldn't find any evidence of leaking. (I even took my hand and rubbed the area under the puddle such as that which would cause a tent to leak) As far as holding up I ran it down the freeway at 70 yesterday with the front edge stretched over my mirror mounts (To see if it was durable enough to hold up even stretched over the edges of the mounts). It was on the freeway for about an hour and held up just fine."

and

Here are some features:
- Sea Mark/Sunbrella outer skin. Sunbrella has an excellent reputation in the marine industry of providing a marine canvas that stands up to the elements. This is available in about 10 different colors using Sea Mark and about 40 additional colors using standard Sunbrella. (Sea Mark is a Sunbrella with a vinyl backing added to it)

just and FYI

 

[BroncoDesign]

First "Trail Tub" Pics and bump

Serguei is still researching materials for the covers. Found a place to get fabric in 5000 yd minimums but don't think you guys are going to by 400 covers anytime soon...

Heres progress pics on Trail Tub No1. Should be done by the weekend. Still tweaking and fitting the sides. I have to make and fit the inner roadster door panels and the inner quarter panels then its bonding time and done.

 

[BroncoDesign]

dug this up out of old threads:
"It is a marine fabric with one of it's specific uses being boat covers that is highly water repellant. It is not water proof like vinyl would be though. I.E. If water puddles up in the center it could potentially seep through if left there long enough. (For long term storage I would run a 2x2 or so board across inside anywhere that could build up water) If he is familiar with Sunbrella fabric (Which is what the canback and Galens doors were using) then this fabric is a tighter weave that seems to be more water repellant than it is. Keep in mind that you do not want an absolutely waterproof material because it doesn't breathe at all and can cuase other problems. I have tested it using a garden hose both with a pressure nozzle against the sides and by allowing water to run onto the top to puddle up. (As much as possible which was in only one small area about 12" in diameter) In both cases I couldn't find any evidence of leaking. (I even took my hand and rubbed the area under the puddle such as that which would cause a tent to leak) As far as holding up I ran it down the freeway at 70 yesterday with the front edge stretched over my mirror mounts (To see if it was durable enough to hold up even stretched over the edges of the mounts). It was on the freeway for about an hour and held up just fine."

and

Here are some features:
- Sea Mark/Sunbrella outer skin. Sunbrella has an excellent reputation in the marine industry of providing a marine canvas that stands up to the elements. This is available in about 10 different colors using Sea Mark and about 40 additional colors using standard Sunbrella. (Sea Mark is a Sunbrella with a vinyl backing added to it)

just and FYI

Thanks Ransil-
I'll pass it on to him if He hasn't seen your post already. I was wrong when I said it took 6 yds. It takes more than double that so the material price greatly effects the total cost. He has been making stuff out of Sunbrella for some time. I think the ability of the fabric to breathe is important as you said.

Mike

 

[tasker]

sooooo pick up my trail tub next week?

 

[BroncoDesign]

sooooo pick up my trail tub next week?

I have a production slot open next March..... No kidding, I'm sold up into next year. April 2012 slots are sold but I'm filling one in February, and one in March.

BTW all- Seamark is $39/yd, while regular Sunbrella is $21/yd. So a SeaMark cover could easily cost $250-300. Serguei has 20 yds of a Cordura-type material on the way. I'd love to know what the original material really was and what it cost him to make one. Can't wait to see the first one.

 

[BroncoDesign]

The designmeister is back to 8 fingers and TWO thumbs. Just left the Doc and he says I'll be back to full strength with a little flexing and strength exercising.

 

[tasker]

Can you play the Banjo now? glad to hear the healing is going well......

 

[stupidboy]

Ok Mike, here is a pic with your half cab on, I need to get this thing cut!

 

[tasker]

i have wicked shaaarp butter knife.....

 

[stupidboy]

i have wicked shaaarp butter knife.....

HAHAHAHA, but I'll need some of Mikes custom fiberglass to cover the sharp edges!!

 

[BroncoDesign]

Ok Mike, here is a pic with your half cab on, I need to get this thing cut!

Hey Pat-
That thing looks gorgeous (even with my halfcab). I called Duffs and left Suzie another message. No answer back yet. I'll call her one more time then if no molds, its a free for all. One thing I would do if I remade them (besides making the inner mounting lip and flare one piece, is to turn the outer lip in a bit so it has a finished outer edge. More work for me (always) but a better more finished product in the end. The the turned in mounting flange would mean you have to rivet them from the inside which is also more work for the installer but I think the look is worth it. Should only cost you $2-3000 per flare. ;D;D;D

 

[stupidboy]

Great, now if I could only get you on to doing it.%);D

 

[NGABronco]

The designmeister is back to 8 fingers and TWO thumbs. Just left the Doc and he says I'll be back to full strength with a little flexing and strength exercising.

Glad to hear the thumb is healing!!!!!;D;D;D Now if we can get you to the protoligist and get your other thumb removed from where ever it is, we may get some trail covers before Christmas!!!!%);D

 

[Bart]

I personally know of an upholsterer that made about a dozen tops to be sold excusively through BCBs. They are great tops made of Sunberela. I don't think they sold very well. Priced around the high $300s. How does that compare to your product? Good luck in your indevore.

 

[BroncoDesign]

;D

I personally know of an upholsterer that made about a dozen tops to be sold excusively through BCBs. They are great tops made of Sunberela. I don't think they sold very well. Priced around the high $300s. How does that compare to your product? Good luck in your indevore.

Waiting to hear back from Sergeui Bart. I know he ordered 20 yds of material (not sunbrella but some kind of Cordura). It take 13 yds to make one cover including waste cuts. At $21/Yd for sunbrella, thats why they were $300. The other guy was loosing his ass at $99 which is probably why he disappeared with peoples deposits as he was getting further and further in the hole. It was too good to be true.

I don't blame anybody for shopping price first (My wife is the king cleapskate) especially now, but you can't blame vendors for trying to make a living. I'm lucky that I have no building rent, minimal utilities, and no employees (yet), just me, tool replacement, materials, marketing, and shipping supplies. If you hate on your customers for being thrifty, you don't belong in this business. It is just a fact of life you live with because you love rusty old trucks.

As for Ben, his cover will take 50 yds because he can't leave well enough alone.... ;D;D

 

[NGABronco]

;D

As for Ben, his cover will take 50 yds because he can't leave well enough alone.... ;D;D

HaHa!!! Aw Mike, I just hope that when you're selling 10-20 covers a month, that I can tell somebody that I planted that seed!!!!!;D;D;D