Hondo Garage's New Thing

I would prefer bolts personally. Plugs like that always go missing on me. Bolts probably fit GFC's long term durability ethos better than plastic/rubber plugs, and the weight impact is minor.

Plus I hope to put those threaded inserts to good use in the near future holding....stuff. I'll be happy to not have to source a fastener from my collection.

 

Why not just use a dab of silicon adhesive? It's easily removable.

 

Have any of you GFC owners dealt with having the camper in a decent-sized hailstorm? We get a few "good" hailstorms where I live every summer, and one of my last remaining concerns before I possibly order a GFC is how well the side panels and roof will take a beating (obviously a major factor would be how big the hail is).

I'm hoping at the very least that the side panels and roof would be reasonably priced enough to replace in case they become damaged and unusable from a hailstorm? Just wondering if anyone has dealt with a scenario like this.

 

Nah, that's too simple. It didn't require any engineering, CAD programs or 3D printing. Couldn't possibly work..........

 

Anyone purchase additional insurance for their GFC? Checked my policy and it only covers up to $5000 in custom parts and cannot be increased.

 

I have coverage from GEICO and it has been a smooth process to add $4k in front/rear bumpers and $800 for sliders. It only increased my rate by $3 a month. I asked about limits and if I could continue to add and they didn't see any issue. I'll be adding my GFC next month when I pick it up.

 

P.S. I am excited and sad....they updated the leaderboard today and I am one way from this last production batch that was started. It is so close I can almost taste the smokey Montana air.

 

Any east coast GFC's being built???????????????????????????????????????????????????

If I remember correctly the numbers for the other East Coast builds seem to have been skipped right over. My last email correspondence with Elise said I should be expecting my "white glover" at the end of August, which as I'm sure you all are aware is only a week away. Add the minimal 3 day drive from Montana with a trailer, unless they're getting ready to load my camper it's NOT going to be here in August either.....

I know we all have been awesome at remaining positive about delays and everything because we all love Hondo Garage and Graeme, but Jeez, I paid in full in March, I was originally told May delivery, I've been using a ground tent for the entire summer, now it looks like they're going to miss August as well...

Unless I'm wrong and other East Coast builds are currently being built or are complete, I'll be lucky if I see it in Sept.... Please someone from the Right Coast chime in and let me know that your build is almost done and I shouldn't give up hope.

It was 42 degrees here the other night, I'd sure be nice to have my GFC before the snow moves in....

-YOTA

Full disclaimer my camper is "Complete" and they did offer to ship if I was in a hurry but said they'd be out here in August so I figured that'd be fine... Hopefully I didn't shoot myself in the foot there.

 

I have not been through hail, yet. But I can assure you the roof material is going to give all but the >baseball sized hail a run for its money. Your unprotected truck panels/glass will suffer far greater damage than the GFC. Think boat hull strong.

The side panels are thicker than I had expected. Still very light, yet tougher than any aluminum tool box I've ever owned. Not sure of actual panel thickness... but again, your truck's panels will dent with a stiff breeze compared to the GFC's panels.

Cabana mode, in a hailstorm... Probably safer than being in the driver's seat. Crack a cold one and wait it out.

 

My concern is I’m not too sure any other East Coast campers are even being built right now. 49 & 50 i think are East Coast if i remember and they seem to have been skipped over. Though i could be mistaken. If they aren’t building anymore for out here it’s tough to justify coming way out here anytime soon

 

Thank you, Ralston! I have been very curious about this and I definitely appreciate the response!

I think as far as mother nature is concerned, hail is about the only issue I can foresee that might really be problematic for me once I get a GFC.

 

I think that I am fifty one. I am in a similar boat as you, paid in March not realizing my deposit didn't really hold my spot in line so I went from 29 to 51. Still was told May... I am able to stay positive as I still have a RTT setup that keeps me dry and elevated, but damn it would be nice to have myGFC.
I think I saw my frame in that last shot GFC posted as I opted for a custom color. I'm in Mass, and plan on having mine shipped, or whited gloved, what ever ends up being faster. I sent Elise a email the other day wondering what my time frame was, and just got back that mass email that explained the manufacturing hiccups that they were having in the supply chain. I will try and contact them again soon to see whats up.

 

@YOTA 4X4 The email a few months ago said I'm #50, but I have a higher number on the leaderboard, and have been "In Production" since the leaderboard was released. The production update a couple days ago mentioned a shortage of extrusion material that's recently been addressed. I'm assuming that's the reason for the lack of updates at the top of the leaderboard. That's just a guess as I haven't spoken with anybody from GFC since I verified my build with Elise a couple weeks ago.

I feel your pain. I'm camping for a bike race next weekend, and with my topper currently at Leer for warranty repair, I'm gonna have to dig the tent out of storage and sleep on the ground like some sort of peasant.

 

I hope this is not another casualty of the tariff war that could lead to another price increase?

 

I'm really confused. How many people are receiving emails from GFC reliably? It seems like I get every third or fourth email but I am missing the majority.

 

Didn't sound like it from the update we received on Wednesday. Just sounds like the supplier had a delay in meeting the demand, and GFC didn't have enough material on hand to weather it. Moving forward they say they're going to order more material each month.

I know there is only so much they can do when their suppliers can't or don't adjust to the surge in demand for the materials they're ordering, but I also think they will do better in terms of forecasting supply and mfg. squeezes now that they have a dedicated project manager. Has to be hard to keep up with all those details when you're also trying to continue design/R&D work, marketing/business development, and your business partner is constantly on the road delivering campers.

 

In the same boat. I’m definitely not recieving the emails everyone is talking about. I have a few, certainly not all....

 

Question for anyone that has one of these already. Can you check your mattress on the permanently mounted side and see if the foam is actually the full width of the camper top? My mattress foam is about 4" less wide than the platform for it on the permanent side, whereas the foam on the removable panels is full width. Makes sheets stay on like shit and it's noticeable when sleeping with a few upstairs.

 

Just went back through my Spam and trash folders..... nothing. For that matter i never received the email with the leaderboard on it either, got that from a few people on here....

I guess i feel a little better that some communication is flowing, even if it’s not flowing to me.

Re-signed up for emails on the website, but I’d kind of assume there’s an email list of PAID customers that’s different from the generic one anyone could receive but who knows.

Here’s to hoping, I guess we all (me included) got spoiled with updates on here in the beginning. Now i feel like I’m not hearing anything, which apparently is happening to a few others as well.

 

If your camper is already built, why don't you fly to Bozman, rent a truck, load the camper and drive back home and install it on your truck?
OTOH, why not drive to Bozman? If you can, take a week or two off from work, drive your truck to Bozman, load your camper and take a short vacation in a beautiful part of the country?