Hondo Garage's New Thing

I'll grab them after work. What exactly do you want by 'a driver's side'?

 

Its going to be a rushed trip which sucks but I want to do it. I have never been out East and although the shipping is very reasonable with white glove install I still wanted to spend that $750 on gas and travel actually getting the camper. I have a total of 16 days off, 10 of which are dedicated to getting the GFC, passing through yellowstone, seeing moab, and seeing the grand canyon then heading back East. The other 6 are getting my wife home (Macon) and then heading back to NC for the Overland Expo. My tentative scheduled plan:
Fri Oct 26th: Leave after work, hoping to get somewhere in TN and sleep.
Sat Oct 27th: Drive a long ways, shooting for an 800 mile day.
Sun Oct 28th: Shooting for another 800 mile day.
Mon Oct 29th: Arrive at GFC to install at some point, find a place to camp, hopefully can make it to yellowstone after install.
Tue Oct 30th: Look around yellowstone and make our way to Moab.
Wed Oct 31st: Ride Moab
Thu Nov 1st: Ride Moab
Fri Nov 2nd: Make our way to the 4 corners, then grand canyon to sleep
Sat Nov 3rd: Ride around grand canyon, head home, late night driving
Sun Nov 4th: Driving home
Mon Nov 5th: Arrive home at some point
Tue Nov 6th: Rest
Wed Nov 7th: Head to NC and explore
Thu Nov 8th: Explore
Fri Nov 9th:Overland Expo East
Nov 10th: Overland Expo East
Nov 11th: Overland Expo East, head home

I would like to spend more time out West but the people coming with me (Wife and 1 other car) dont have that much vacation/time so I need to get them back in town before I head to Expo East.

If I am being honest, I plan on moving out West at some point but the idea of quitting my job (1st and only company ive been with so far), selling my house, and moving out West where I dont personally know anyone is terrifying (I am 26 w/ 5 year industrial experience and just got my 3rd week PTO).

 

being the pivoting point doesnt cause some concern?

 

I work in a ceiling tile manufacturing plant, basically a papermill. I have 3 years process engineer (paint and fabrication, quality, projects) experience and 2 years production supervisor experience, so far. I am currently a production supervisor in the boardmill (similar paper mill) and work on a rotating shift. 7 days (3rd), 2 days off, 7 days (2nd), 1 day off, 7 days (1st), 4 days off. The schedule blows but that is how I am able to take so much time off for trips without using as much vacation.

 

Off insta, forgot who but someone mentioned this earlier about rubbing paint off. Its nice that GFC attacks these concerns with nice touches to improve the camper.

 

I don't have any concerns with the pivot point. The (extremely minor mind you) variation in the extrusion doesn't add any stress to the hinge pieces.

My concern was that the variation I was seeing was the whole thing deforming around the stuff left in the sleeping area- and it could act on the pivot point like using pencil/pen as a bookmark in a hard backed book. Over time it could damage the spine.

 

I think what you're trying to say is the stuff left in the sleeping area will act as a fulcrum and put excess load on the hinge over time.

 

oooo shit, looks like their solution to the powder coat issue. Remove the bumper screw/bolt, attach aluminum bushing.

@socalktk you see this?

 

That side panel latch is one of the few complaints I have. Compared to everything else, that setup seems half-ass.

 

A profile shot from the driver's side showing the whole truck would be awesome

gonna throw it on my truck in photoshop for shits n giggles

 

With that kind of experience (plants, etc) you would think you should talk with Graeme more seriously. I was actually looking to work with them before Go Fast was even a thing. They have Aerocontinental as well which does full fledged aerospace aluminum welded campers; think earthroamer style. There are a lot of plant type operations with breweries out west as well. I’m sure there is more...The key/hardship is accepting the higher cost of living which was a huge factor in my relocation to MI from WA.

 

Sounds like an awesome trip!!!!



I realize this is the GFC not a life coaching thread but.....

Do it. Do it soon!!!! I have always and i mean always wanted to live out west, Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, you get the idea. But I always had a “reason” keeping me in F*cking NY. School, Job, Fiancé, Job again, now wife (not the same as fiancé). My point is the longer you wait the harder it is.

I’m 38 now, I’m in the power field. Spent a good while as an Aux Operator on a commercial Nuclear Reactor. Great job, made almost more money than i could spend. (Too good to leave)

Well a few years ago they announced impending closure so I looked at jobs ANYWHERE but NY, had an offer in Eastern Washington State (Columbia Station). We while all this was going on I met a new girl fell in love Bla Bla Bla, long story short she really didn’t want to leave her family... so i stayed because I love her.

I found another job operating a powerhouse here in NY, so we didn’t have to move. About 6 months later the State and Goverment reached out and saved my old Nuke Station. Offered me my job back as a journeyman full rate (takes 4 years to get there is you start from scratch).

That was rotating 12 hour shift work. I was miserable so i stayed where I am. I am happy, my wife is my best friend and I love my job. But I’m still in freaking NY.

I hope you see my point, and realize I’m not rambling. Take the chance, just do it. You only live once. I’m getting to the point where I’m just too invested to leave. At this point I’m looking at retiring around 55 and moving west (which the wife seems to be good with).

I say do it!!! Oh and if i would have went to CO 15 years ago, I would have been able to afford it. Housing has tripled since than.... what are you waiting for go!!!

There are some negatives to the West you should be aware of of course. High cost of living being one, but a severe lack of Water in a lot of places and fires is another. I have family that recently left Sante Fe, and moved to Asheville NC because they were sick of having no lawn and not having enough water to do much of anything.... NY sucks but i live 3 miles from Lake Ontario. Never gonna run out of water here.

 

Right, and the extrusion becomes the lever.

I was trying to relate the situation to an example a broad audience would be familiar with, not just those who think in terms of Newtonian mechanics.

Also - I don't think the hinge would give a shit either way - it's super beefy. Interface between the machined hinge and the extrusion or the extrusion and the roof panel is where I would expect the weak point to be.

Thanks for your help though!

 

Thanks, I have been looking an even sent applications but havent fully committed but I want to. Im ready and have begun submitting applications again. Anywhere out west would be nice but hoping for Utah since its centralized. Im open to any good opportunity. I too am married but she is ok with moving West as of now. Its just a huge undertaking and starting over is scary but I really want to give it a shot. Our plan is to move, if I can get a similar paying job, and get into a tiny home on a small slice of land or something similar. Thanks for the encouragement and sorry for clogging the thread.

 

You’re welcome. And i wouldn’t worry about clogging the thread this freaking thing has 4500 posts and I’ve read every single one. We’ve run the gamut of just about everything there is. Good luck with your future endeavors. Maybe we can put together a trip west in the future if you don’t get moved there right away. It’s super hard to find someone that can take a few weeks off to go. Besides Moab i sure would love to visit Ouray Colorado. Ever see those trails!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I would be open to that! My vacation days reset in January so I will have 15 days again. I might buy another week next year.

 

Yeah i did see it. I messaged them, but havent heard bck yet.

 

Just heard from Elise and it looks like I'm build #119 with a build date of Nov. 19th. The stoke is real.

 

PM inbound.

 

From my recent trip to Zion area.