Hondo Garage's New Thing

Can you share where you got the knobs?

 

More progress. 67 campers done. Mine is finally ready to ship. Original build #58.

 

I saw that last night along with more in productions... creeping closer to my 185!

 

I'm a big fan of this latest leader board update.

 

I got an email from elise, my camper snuck in before the extrusion ran out so all mine is waiting on is panels from powder coating. Im #94 on the leaderboard. Paid in April.

 

Since we're talking leader board updates (and hopefully done with the maxtrax shaming), I got an email yesterday that the GFC man would be in my hood early next week!

I'm pretty excited.

 

On those latch handles, some of you might not know but they are an adjustable handle so if you pull up on the handle (or back in this case) you can reposition the handle without turning the screw. If you want to upgrade or change it up we get them from this company: www.jwwinco.com They have lots of other styles. We chose the adjustable handle style because they work really well with gloved hands.

On another note, here's one example of what "In Production" might mean. Space Frames ready for powder:

 

I really want to put a deposit in - stupid bills and stuff....

 

oh sure - try and make it easy.... Who do you work for??? (sarcasm)... I'll be seriously looking in Dec. Also waiting on a small legal bout to be concluded. Shoddy contractors suck...

 

Nope. Deposits are not refundable. We are making very large commitments on material orders based on those deposits so we need them to be representative of serious intent to buy when the time comes. You could probably sell your spot to someone else if you needed to back out though.

 

That’s awesome to hear. Congrats.

 

The adjustable nature of them is why I like them so much. They’re almost identical, albeit plastic handles, to the QR levers I have on a few rifles. They’re good and I likely will not replace them even when locks are available.

 

I'm sure its optimistic, but I hope one of those frames is mine.

 

It looks like they need to build their own powder coating facility otherwise there will be a bottleneck in production for the forseeable future.
About 330 orders; 67 built.
I can see them expanding the product line with their excellent design skills to include larger more complex campers and associated acessories.

 

I’m looking for better clearance to the rear for a small awning. A latch that sticks out less would allow the awning to mount an inch or more closer to the extrusion. Then it’s a problem with how to access the latches. Can the rear tube that the latches are in be rotated so the slots are facing down instead of up? I’m guessing it is press-fit so that’s not going to happen.

 

I should probably search instead, but is the fitment of the 6 foot model for Tacomas the same between 2nd and 3rd gens? Ie if I bought one now would it fit on a future 3rd gen build? I recall 3rd gens having taller bed sides.

 

I believe all Tacoma's use the same frame per bed size. Theoretically you could put it on a 6ft bed 1st gen or 3rd gen.

EDIT: found on GFC site:
Is the GFC Camper a universal fit product? Or is everything truck specific?
The GFC is tailored for every truck model, so there is no universal models or shim kits to adapt from one to another. That said, there is crossover between some truck models, for instance the 1st to 3rd generation Tacoma's are all interchangeable given the same bed length.

 

Yes, and it's also even the same lower portion for a 1st gen should you you choose to go that way. 1st Gen uses different bed-side clamps though.

I'd like to know how it would fit the pre-tacoma bed, and other brand 6ft bed compact trucks, but haven't found a good source for measurements yet.

 

Thanks guys! Now I save

 

Some quick thoughts while I'm able to get online. I picked up my GFC last week in Bozeman, might have had it earlier but nobody bothered to call me to tell me it was ready. Friend let me know it was posted on the leaderboards as done 3 days before I called. Oh well.

Drove up from CA through Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Absolutely beautiful. Install went ok, though I wasn't happy that the window seal on the GFC was right up against the window seal on the cabs window. Talk about squeaking when the bed flexes. Not sure I can live with that. But I was told there wasn't any room to move it back.

I ordered the light package but there wasn't one. Might turn out to be ok since I now have some other ideas.

Slept like a baby the first night, 14hrs, both me and the dog. Quite comfortable up there, however I did not like sleeping with my head towards the narrow end. Way too claustrophobic.

Been dealing with snow and rain since I left Montana, then Wyoming and now Colorado. First in Boulder and now in Grand Junction where I stopped by Alcan springs and got measured up for some new leafs. Gonna rush make these for me so I can get back on the road soon. Will hang out in Telluride till I can pick them up and get them installed next Wed. I'm really sagging now with GFC and all my gear and supplies.

Still hard to close tent even with a panel out and no bedding up there. Hopefully will get easier.

Noticed this morning after a night of rain that there was quite a bit of water in the bed. Seemed to be coming off top frame in rear. Tent door was all closed up. Also noticed rear hatch does not seal against tail gate. Could see daylight all along the edge.

And finally noticed today the struts for the tent have chipping paint and already starting to show rust.

Sorry for the long post, still have another month or so to go in this shakedown cruise. Moab, southern Utah and north rim GC.