

| Subject: | Re: NEW TIE DOWN FOR THE VANAGON LUGGAGE RACK IS COMING |
| From: | Roger Sisler |
| Date: | Wed, 6 Feb 2008 15:45:57 -0500 |
Thanks for the interest, everyone. I need to say that I only recently came to the understanding that I would have to do this myself. Estimates are knocked waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out of the ball park, otherwise. Maybe now I know why no good tie down yet exists. The GW tie down is $5 with dinky bolts and even dinker washer.The OEM is $3.50 without bolts. GW sells those M6 pop top bolts for $1.25 each. Those bolts are be a tiny bit smaller than the 1/4-20 bolts I will supply( in bronze ) . I also will supply bronze fender washers that are 1 inch in diameter with lock nuts of some kind. <aybe a plate that spans the two bolt holes for the reverse side, instead of washers.So.... looks like the bolts and stuff alone will cost $3-$4 per tie down. If people are willing to buy the OEM tie down for $3.50 and compareable bolts for $4, that is $7.50 each. But, my tie down is better than OEM( but is still only bronze)so even though it is not considering that this is made one at a time , by hand, The cost is about $9 each so far. Maybe more. I need ob but foam, investment casting, bronze, ect. If I pay myself $5 hour, I will still probably loose money. Hey, its a hobby! Not competetive with GW, but so what!
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