Factory Trip Update

I am getting ready to fly back to the U.S. after another successful factory trip. As of today, we have completed the first container load of molded bases! Now they just need to be assembled...

One of my goals when I arrived here was to confirm that the casters ordered were the ones received. Check. The next factor that is critical is that the casters must be installed in the correct configuration. One of the really neat features of this tire dolly is the ease with which it can be steered. Check out the video of the 4 year old steering a load of tires around some cones and you will see what I mean. The reason that works is because two of the five casters are mounted parallel to each other and they are rigid, non-swivel. It just won't do to have those installed in the wrong positions! We have confirmed an assembly line setup that will make that as humanly fool-proof as possible. Check. The next thing I was concerned about is that proper torque is applied to the screws that hold those casters in place. HDPE material is soft and flexible. We could not have installers with heavy air tools twisting those screws right past design specs. We were able to specify tools that would limit this tendency and Quality Control procedures to check that the tools remain accurate. Check. Lastly, we needed to make sure we had the perimeter decal created out of durable material that could also be removed by the end user if desired. Those will be done today, alas, after I have gone home. Semi-Check.

All in all, a very good trip. We have been hoping for a delivery to the U.S. prior to the end of the year. We are still on track for that, but barely. I have been assured that all casters will be installed on the first 1250 units by next Saturday the 19th. They will be boxed and shipped immediately on completion, so if the boat is fast enough, and we clear customs in Oakland fast enough, we should be able to fulfill orders the first week of January as promised.

Going to catch a plane!

Production Update

Just a heads up for all of you who stepped up and pre-ordered TruStack Tire Dollies at the SEMA Show and afterwards. The factory has received its shipment of raw material and has begun molding the HDPE base units. We expect those to be completed by mid-week next week, and I intend to be there for quality control.

A couple other small details will be confirmed while there such as the decorative stripe around the dolly and we are working on sourcing some lash straps so they can be purchased here if so desired.

All in all, we appear to be right on track with what we communicated at the SEMA Show: Depending on Ocean Crossing times, we could have product in country in December with shipping to customers late December or first week of January.

Thank you for pre-ordering this Brand New Tool! You will be the FIRST people to receive and begin saving time and money with this product.

Pure Cheese. "Amateur" doesn't begin to describe this video. :)

Just for fun we took some pictures and video of the TruStack Tire Dolly Mascot as it walked around the show looking for people to be eaten... er,.. to be frightened. It seemed especially enamored with a particular booth that featured a greenish truck, as well as its own booth, the TruStack Tire Dolly Booth. Oh. And the Global Media Award displayed at the end? It's not for the video. Trust me.

Wyatt Steers a Tire Stack

This is an amateur video of my 4 year old Grandson controlling a whole stack of tires by himself using the superior steering characteristics of the TruStack Tire Dolly. He steers it around cones while looking pretty funny with his hat on backwards. Oh, well. He and his brother got milkshakes at In-n-Out, then I gave them back to their Mom on a sugar high!

In this amateur video, Wyatt, a 4 year old boy, easily controls a load of tires as he steers a TruStack Tire Dolly around cones. This demonstrates the value of our patent pending caster configuration and the stability of a load of tires lashed to the center anchor point.

Fun with T-Rex

We had a great time at the SEMA Show. A common sight at the show is the use of a variety of methods of gaining attention. Dressed up chickens, freebies, incredibly beautiful displays of Automotive Machinery. And a T-Rex.

First Customer! Thank you Andrei of All Star Tire in Long Beach California!

Our SEMA Debut was FANTASTIC! So many saw the value in this product so quickly that we were busy all week showing it off. We even forgot to eat! Many pre-ordered right at the show to take advantage of our special debut pricing, but Andrei Karapetian was First, and he'll always be Number One with us. Thank you Andrei and All Star Tire of Long Beach, CA.

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Another Tooling Update

The central core of the tool, machined and ready to go. Tooling is on schedule to be completed by the middle of this month. "First shots" to follow, then we will have the "real thing" in our hands and can begin final tests.

Tooling Update!

Here we go! At long last it appears that the production of the tooling required to mold the TruStack Tire Dolly base is proceeding smoothly. There have been several hiccups (normal) along the way as the CAD files were refined and re-refined to ensure that the finished product will be strong and correct. Here are a couple of pictures of the machining involved in creating this tool

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T-Rex foiled again!

Another drawing by Artist Reese Banke, this one illustrating how stable a TruStack Tire Display is when the tires are locked down to the dolly.

 

Barrel-Stack Bounce

Don’t get me wrong, I love Tire Clamp-Carts... so fast and easy to move large quantities of barrel-stacked tires. But every time you need to be gentle, it’s impossible. 

It’s especially irritating to move displays on a daily basis. Maybe not so bad at night when you are closing the store and moving displays in, because who cares how straight that barrel stack looks while hanging out overnight in the dark? It’s in the morning while setting them out that a clamp cart does it’s damage, because you simply cannot tilt a tire stack back 45 degrees and then set it back upright without the stack shifting or bouncing out of position when it is finally placed.

Now if you and your crew are professional, and who among us doesn’t desire that, you will obviously want to take the extra time needed to straighten the stack up. You will spend time lining up the tire labels, repositioning your pricing information, and setting that top tire up in a way that is uniform and consistent with the way your other displays are set up.

And of course, you must do all this at a time when you are also making coffee for customers, preparing reports and plans for the day, waiting for a full crew to arrive, and dealing with early-bird customers.

Wouldn't it be better to set those barrel-stack displays permanently on a TruStack Tire Dolly? Build the display once. Build it straight, line up the labels, add marketing signs, set the top tire vertical and at just the right angle, and cinch it all to the dolly using the built in anchor system. Now you and your crew can simply roll the display out every morning, and roll it back in every night, and it will keep that professional look right up to the minute you sell them.

Twitter

Yes I finally did it. You can follow Chariot Concepts and TruStack Tire Dolly on Twitter @Chariot4Tires. We'll try to be interesting. Really. 

Psalm 104:3 "He makes the clouds his Chariot, and rides the wings of the wind."

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