I'm glad you feel that way. At this point I feel like I should keep supplying these as long as people need them. It was rather involved to get the shop interested in these but they have been nice to keep making them as it is not a large quantity to them. I keep thinking it will dry up but lots of new people are coming along.
That alone is encouraging for our community of Hummer owners.
Hope you can learn from my mistakes lol

 

Just sent you a PM about the skids

 

Whenever another batch of skids are ready, I'll buy a set of 4 for my 2006 Hummer H3 if you could put me on your list, thanks.

 

Ok I will check back to see who ask for some. I'm sorry it has taken so long. They really have been good in the past about getting them out. I gotta be diplomatic to keep the source going.
I bumped up the order since I originally reordered so I should have enough for awhile.
Thanks.

 

Hunner, thanks for staying on top of this. Looking forward to them coming in. Any time table on when or if your getting more rack sleeves?

 

any updates?

 

Interrested in a set when the next batch is ready.

 

Guys I'm working on them. I think they are cut just not bent and welded.
Waiting on them to finish up and tear down their jigs in the presses after they complete the big order they had from someone else. Really big and continuing.

 

The skids are a different story now.
If you have followed the threads my original fabricator dropped me as he got a huge contract and would no longer provide them at any price.
I was getting a really good deal from them as they needed the work back then.
So even though I have kept the price the same for several batches and absorbed some of the cost I will have to charge more now and make less to keep the price down.
I am getting quotes two and 1/2 times to 6 times my previous cost!
I had five places work up quotes but already see the average is way up.
We got off cheap for a while.
One place called and is twice what I thought was already a really high price so I have to pickup my pattern and drawings from those jerks.
The old price was $165 shipped which I knew was a bargain but not sure anyone knew how good. Hopefully the USPS won't go belly up before I ship these.
More negotiating and talking this up I found a place that a close friend is related to the owners, so has offered me a better deal on a one time basis.
I will have to charge $200 plus $15 shipping to cover expenses, of fabrication and material, shipping, PayPal, income tax, media material and time. I have to run this thru my business to buy them wholesale as again that is the only way they are set up to sell. I also was hit with a minimum now of 40 sets. So I cannot justify throwing out thousands up front for this next batch. I'm not sure how much longer the market will absorb these items. The place that has now agreed to cut me a set for fitment will use a plasma table rather than laser. It was explained and shown to me the slightly beveled edge the plasma torch creates. I want the holes punched for a clean and accurate fit to the ubolts and test fit them to see what happens.
I guess for something we are going to bash over rocks that is not a problem for the other edges.
I invested and speculated in some Hummer parts and had to replace some of my equipment in my boat repair business and pay estimated taxes. I'm still looking for Obam' to "build" my business but he has not showed up yet to powerwash/sand blast with my 4000 psi machines in 110 degree temperatures?
I have to finally accept payment first, make the deposit when I have enough and then start production. Times are tough and to do this legally and cover my business expenses and claim the income I have to do it right. This is just a side project to serve the Hummer community on the forums and I have to be careful with my capitol outlay.
If it all blows up and goes to **** in a hand basket I will of course refund any money collected.
These as most know by now are custom built "skids" that are wider than some others, thicker (1/4 inch), protect the shock mount and provide a "skid" surface to get you over things and DO NOT pre-compress your shock two inches, loosing travel.
I have put the same set I had on my 06 after trying the 3/16 for awhile and upgrading to 1/4, on my 08 thru all of my journeys and feel that has been a good test of their durability.
I have a list of those that have waited and explained at that time the increase was probably going to hit us on this next order I just did not know how much.
So if these pre-sell I will honor the list in the order that I have received the requests.
If not I'm done.
As always until I get my set in two weeks and check them out I don't want payment. Hopefully at that time they will give me a production date and I can make a deposit to begin when I have enough orders to pay.
I don't claim to be a big business and to play it safe I have to put this out there to see what happens.
It would wipe out my play money for making trips and has already caused me to cancel some plans to pay it all up front.
Sorry for the reality check and sticker shock from our oringinal runs of these. It is what it is and I will do my best to get this going. I shopped hard to get the best price.
I just need a confirmation of how many still want these at that price.
Sincerly
Dave Hunter aka Hunner
DBA Secondwind Services

UPS also just delivered 30 of the steering rack sleeves.
Still $40 shipped.
Paypal
1secondwind@comcast.net
don't gift me and do include your forum name.

 

Question.. Why are they welded between the bolt holes?