First Stage Delivery Trip

[Adam]

After over a year and a half of development and several months of fabricating, work on the first stage of the first production kits is wrapping up. It's now time to start shipping.

We've met a couple of our local customers but most of the others have only communicated with us online. We really want to meet as many of the builders as possible, so we figured it would be awesome to deliver some of the frames in person. Conveniently, four of our customers are located relatively close to one another (about 5 hours between each one). This sounds like a good opportunity for a road trip.

In just a couple of days, my parents and I will be delivering four frames on a weekend road trip. It's a lot of driving, but it'll definitely be worth it to meet these four builders.

Here's a map of the route we will be taking:

The plan is to leave Thursday afternoon/evening, heading Northeast. Friday afternoon we will deliver the first frame in Indiana. Saturday we will deliver frames in Illinois and Iowa. On Sunday we will deliver the last frame in Kansas and head home.

As an added bonus, a future Goblin builder (whose frame will be built in the second run of production frames) plans to come by our last stop to meet us and see a frame in person.

Right now we are working on the last of the first stage components while waiting for the last frame to get back from powder coating. We are also restoring our old trailer and building a framework to support four frames on the trailer. I'll share pics of the trailer later.

I'll update this thread as we go about our road trip.

 

[Ben Jammin]

So close yet so far away!

Let me know if the 13th is going to work out for my pickup at the shop.

 

[Jkean949]

I am looking forward to it; see you guys Sunday!

 

[Adam]

We have left the shop with the four frames on the trailer and more pieces in our SUV.

The plan is to get a few hours of driving done tonight and finish the drive to Matt's place tomorrow.

We were able to nest the frames on our old/new trailer by building a framework that the frames slide and built on to. The Goblin frames and framework are around 1000 pounds so it's actually a pretty light load for our trailer.

We wrapped each frame in several layers of stretch wrap to protect from the elements and from potential projectiles.

The weather for the trip looks pretty rainy with a little snow but at least it isn't going to be entirely frozen. I'll update you guys as we go.

 

[DanPerryy]

What a nice looking rig!!!

 

[Adam]

Thanks Dan. I'm probably going to post a build log about the trailer soon. It looks so much better now.

We are halfway to Matt's place. Besides some fog this morning, the weather has been great.

 

[DanPerryy]

Matt is in Olathe KS? If so tell him that I go to Ottawa KS several times a year for business. I expect to get a ride in his car. BTW I tried to get a 2009 MT Cobalt - flood damage and 142000 miles. I bid $500 and it went for $550. I will try again. I would like to change rear end ratio, I do not think it is possible with the AT.

 

[PHerder]

John is the builder in Olathe, KS (like John posted in the post just after this one! ) He is the last delivery on Adam's trip.

BTW, there is a MT Cobalt in Dallas you might look at.

http://www.copart.com/us/Lot/32928215

I was going to try to get it BUT no where to store it while I am waiting on the Dodge City house (and shop) to be built.

 

[Jkean949]

HI Dan, it's actually me that is in Olathe (John)...as soon as I get it together you are more than welcome. In fact, that could be a good thing for the Goblin community if owners are willing to let people come check them out...obviously would have to be a volunteer sort of scenario...it's worth kicking around.

 

[cMatt]

First Goblin frame has arrived at its home!

 

[Adam]

It was good meeting you in person after so many months.

Next delivery is Jay tomorrow morning.

 

[Adam]

Jay's frame has been delivered.

Now we are headed toward Iowa to deliver Shawn's frame tonight. It's snowing on us now but it isn't bad. The weather has been much better than we expected after seeing the forecasts earlier in the week.

 

[PHerder]

Good to meet all of you!

In the picture attachment... John (builder from Olathe), Lonny and Adam from left to right.

Did I mention it was ~ 5-6 degrees F!!! Although Lonny and Adam saw -19 (!!!!!) on the trip!

 

[DanPerryy]

-19 degrees - Did I mention to you that here in Texas we have also been having an extreme cold streak? I think it nearly got to 40 degrees.

 

[PHerder]

-19 degrees - Did I mention to you that here in Texas we have also been having an extreme cold streak? I think it nearly got to 40 degrees.

I spent 13 years in the Fort Worth area so I know how the weather is there.

Retired out of the USAF in 1990 @ Carswell AFB and they then closed the base (actually made it a Navel Reserve base) and then escaped Texas in 1999.

I miss the "milder" weather but don't miss the fire ants.

 

[Adam]

It was cold in Kansas but not quite -19. We did see -9 on our car's gauges. The weather app said it felt like -23 with the wind. It really took your breath away stepping out in that.

I never posted about delivering Shawn's car but if you look over in his build log you'll see lots of pics of it. He showed us around his shops (automotive and hot rod). He also did an oil change in our tow rig since the oil life % expired during our trip. Thanks for doing that Shawn.

This morning we delivered John's car and got to meet future Goblin builder Paul who drove up from a couple of hours away. John's donor is mostly stripped and the hull will be hauled off soon. Paul can't get his car until he moves to his new place in a few months.

We are so glad we went on this delivery trip and got to meet all of these builders.