@AB where going 2 have 2 keep an eye on Ben, he might have 2 start paying for being a vendor soon :)
I'm sure I could turn a blind eye though if one just happened 2 turn up on my door step *LMAO*
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@AB where going 2 have 2 keep an eye on Ben, he might have 2 start paying for being a vendor soon :)
I'm sure I could turn a blind eye though if one just happened 2 turn up on my door step *LMAO*
Might be able to arrange something... :-)
Seriously though - we're in need of some feedback on pricing.
What would you think is a reasonable price to pay for a waterproof, dustproof, breathable utility box designed for the roof rack, the boat, or the back of a quad? Smooth interior for cleaning, stacks well and nests when empty and the lid is removed. The seals are better than SpaceCase/Rhino whatevers/Tuff boxes and no metal hinges or rivets to rust out or warp either. It's tall enough inside for full size 'cordial' bottles or cornflake packets, and strong enough for at least a 120kg bloke to sit/stand on (think it will be higher, but have only tested to 120kg).
First model has 55 litre volume.
We've got some ideas on where price will land, particularly if we cut out the distributors and just do it ourselves to keep it real.
Thoughts?
Hi guys, just got the first testers out of the mould. Checking tolerances and feature usability, and then we'll load them up with glass reinforcing, a custom seal and the goretex vents. After that will be destruction testing, which should be the fun bit.
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...018/02/128.jpgFirst testers by Ben Kincade,
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...018/02/129.jpgFirst Testers 1 by Ben Kincade,
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...018/02/130.jpgFirst testers 2 by Ben Kincade,
Looks great Ben!
In regards pricing suggestions requested: As a family touring setup inside a GU wagon say, we would be adding up a complete fitout. Around $1k not including a fridge slide and cargo barrier would be fair IMHO. Not sure how many ‘Open Sky’ boxes that would equate to mate? IIRC your design concept was for varying size combinations to fill a GU chockers (4 big ones or 2big/4 small maybe?)
FWIW Our wagon I reckon we spent around $1k years back on a way too heavy draw system and Bunnings assorted placcy tubs all but destroyed now. My ute has multiple Rhino 1200mm, 900mm & now 600mm cases at around $200-$300+ each still going strong but the seals glue are crap and they are very annoying to clean spills inside with humps/ridges everywhere!! (Rhino’s are only suited to long chainsaws/loose heavy tools/big yabby pots/big BBQ plates etc...IMO)
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G’Day Ben, I’ll be in the market for some tough boxes soon but not sure you’ll be able to accomodate.
I’d be looking at something 1800mm wide but I think a better option would be 1x 1200mm and 1x 600mm
Was there any product dimensions in this thread? Sorry couldn’t find them.
Also, I need something by at least beginning of September.
Let me know how you are progressing as I haven’t seen much that I like yet
Cheers
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Thinking the weight alone of 2 space cases on your roof might be a tad heavy on some style of trips.Quote:
Originally Posted by MudRunnerTD
they look the the same as my fully lockable ammo/battery box
Nah the blowmould plastic space cases are.pretty light and used by many on the roof. I use a Oztent for touring so I need something that will fit a particular space on the roof. I also need something for the camper trailer although these could be better than I need there..Quote:
Originally Posted by threedogs
I would certainly consider these inside the GU beside the fridge on top of the drawers too. Bring it.
G'day mate - this first one is only a 'utility box' at 550 length. We are thinking that we should do another one at double the length that still will stack with these ones, but doing this one step at a time. Doubt we will ever get to 1800mm long, but I guess the market demand is what drives it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Maxhead
A short YouTube clip on some of the testing failures and use of the tie-down points.
https://youtu.be/GbP5EiFrL0w
Very impressive guysQuote:
Originally Posted by FNQGU
Bit of an update - our final prototype has arrived (after much stuffing around), and we'll be aiming to put it through some real-world tests over the coming weeks. Planning a bush trip as soon as I get home from work. Testing seals, tie-down points and how they stack. Overall we are really happy with the results so far. Next step is testing various compounds in real life.
Attachment 75269
A link to our testing results from a 4 day trip into Western Qld. All up we are pretty bloody happy with it.
https://openskytouring.com/4wd-touri...4-box-testing/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1Fr...ature=youtu.be
Just saw your post on FB, looks awesome mate!!!
Looks great Ben, hope you don't mind but I edited your post and added the video
No worries. Couldn't work out how to embed the youtube video, but the link will have to do.
Also, once I get a few of the final boxes I'd be keen to send some down AB. Maybe someone is doing a trip shortly who could give us some further real world testing and evaluation? Don't need trolls, just some reality checks as we are trying hard to make it as good as it can be and at the best value it can be. My thoughts are that there are too many super expensive products out there and we would love to make something 100% Aussie that is available at excellent value. This box is afterall just an idea from a couple of 4wdrivers wanting something better, not big business wanting profits!
Yeh I noticed you had tried and deleted, It done my head in but managed 2 embed it for you.Quote:
Originally Posted by FNQGU
Man you guys have done well on this, looks top notch
Thanks Todd, did I mention beers and camping were had on a river recently... We also nailed a few barra... might need to get your truck working again I reckon.
Obviously I would like to pay as little as possible, but I hate paying 2, 3, 4 times for the same thing.
I am very interested in your product and will be keeping a keen eye on the pricing.
Thanks for the feedback mate. We are looking at a proper warranty on a well designed and built product that should last a bloody long time. I'm the same, I don't want to pay twice, but want a product to do the job it was designed for and last the test of time, and that is what this has been about. Our own expectations on the design phases have been extremely high and we were gobsmacked when once asked by a potential manufacturer "how long do you want this to last for? We can design that in?" Needless to say we didn't go with that mob!
We reckon we can bring it in at a very reasonable price for the boxes it ticks. As soon as we know exactly what it will be made of we will set pricing.
Appreciate the support and feedback.
Awesome... really, really well done.
If you can hit a good price point with the quality of that product then I reckon you're on a big winner.
My Plano in the back of the GQ was $150 odd has the big O ring seal in the lid but doesn't keep dust out which is disappointing given the blurb on them .
The trip were starting next week to the Cape and Kimberly makes me wish I'd looked into yours sooner for the back seat area , seats are removed and have a false floor but making good use of the area would be easier with the expedition box and we've been trialling different methods to make the storage of gear a bit neater and easier to get to .
Will look into it further for next years trip .
Two of these sit nicely side by side across the Patrol when the seats are rolled forward. With the seats out you would have access to all of the footwells as a bonus.
Quote:
Originally Posted by the evil twin
I'll echo that Ben.
Foot wells gone I basically have a flat floor , the idea was with tubs and crates it's all easy to remove rather than dedicated shelves then I get to use the available room at other times when not on the tracks .Quote:
Originally Posted by FNQGU
Guys, I am wondering if anyone might help me out with a very short questionaire? It would take about 5 mins of your time to answer 8 short questions. Basically I need some data for a conversation with the Accountants and it would help me out enormously.
Please PM me if you are willing and able.
Cheers in advance!
Ben
Mb was passing it around the office mate..
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Cheers mate - have got about 8 replies so far. Its been great but would love a few more.
These are the basic questions below - but if anyone response could you please respond to me via a cut and paste and a PM. I'll be happy to summarise all the input and put it up here for interest's sake if anyone is keen.
This is the link to the video showing the box if needed - https://openskytouring.com/
Quick Questionaire - Expedition Box
Q. Now that you have seen the Expedition Box prototype, are your initial impressions positive or negative?
Q. What features do you like the most?
Q. Are there any features that you do not like?
Q. Where would you use a box of this type?
Q. What would you use it for?
Q. Do you see any other areas for using this product?
Q. What would you see as the biggest competitor for the Expedition Box?
Q. What would you expect the Expedition box to cost?
Q. How many would you buy if you were to purchase the Expedition Box?
I reckon you guys are on a winner with this product
A demo on how to use the tie-down points on the Expedition Box when securing it on a roof rack
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZIqZqaKYhw&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZIqZqaKYhw
Thanks mate - it is starting to feel very real now.
Attachment 75637
Update on the Expedition Box from Ben
Exciting things happening - stay tuned for the pre-production sale announcement!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj-Ad2WpukQ
Thanks Todd, much appreciated!
We smashed out about a hundred boxes in 3 different materials for final testing, and we'll be drinking beers in the bush doing this over the next few weeks to make the final decisions. Pretty sure we know which one we'll go for as a General Purpose box, but we are also testing a pretty advanced material that is super strong. Just not sure it will be worth it as yet but it is bloody tough. At the moment we are thinking through the idea of doing two products. One as a GP model and one as a Pro model with the advanced material.
The GP box is bloody tough though. We've had two blokes standing on the lid and it has held up. I've also stood full weight on the long side of the box and it has bounced back into form and held the seal. Drove a truck over one too, but it collapsed eventually. The factory guys reckon the advanced material will however cope with the weight of a vehicle which is something we are about to test for ourselves.
The glass reinforced version was my favourite, but had a couple of difficulties that came about from the stiffness.
Pricing is still the biggest question getting asked and we are really hoping to be able to make the GP model come in at around the hundred and ten dollar mark, give or take. Freight is a bitch though but we're trying our best to work something affordable and reasonable for everyone and let us send it Australia wide until we find possible retailers who are interested in selling it for us.
Our reckoning is that we'll kick of a discounted pre-production sale program as soon as we settle on the material and can nail the price.
Never done this before - it is first crack at making an idea a reality, so fingers crossed, and all feedback is welcome.
If anyone wants to follow the story or understand a bit more about it, we have a website (in my signature block) and a Facebook page providing updates. When we go live with sales there will be another page link that I'll post up for those interested.
Exciting times ahead, please do keep us posted on here Ben mate, Facebook I aint on :-)
In the midst of reconfiguring the old utes storage, many Rhino boxes seals all but gone and most hardware rivots have chewed out the LLDPE construction beyond upsizing fresh rivots!
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Just finished testing mate. Making a srengthening tweak to the latches as we speak (so they grab a bit better) and we're done.
If you are interested, you can log onto the website and get in early. www.expedition134.com, or via our blog website openskytouring.com and follow the link. Pre-order pricing at 89 bucks to help us hit our production target, then they'll be 109. We are going to cop the freight mostly and try to get them out with a $10 freight charge to anywhere in Aus. Might not be doable for the longer term, but see how it goes to start with.
I am about to write up a bit more on the testing and edit up another short video on how they turned out. Unfortunately, paid job gets in the way still so I'm back in the jungle for a few weeks.
A huge thanks to everyone on here for the suggestions and help. It has been a huge challenge, hopefully it hits the mark.
Awesome Ben, didn’t realise you were so product ready mate, my bad!
Not yanking your chain but work could truly utilise decent kits too mate. PM for a pallet QLD<>Vic discussion mate [emoji106]!
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Ha!, we're probably not, but gotta start somewhere. You just gave us a reason to say "now will do!"
If I could work out the trick to embedding video's so I don't have to rely on Toddie, I'll throw up the latest one. Just got to load it on YouTube and get a link first.
Pallet to Vic no worries. Will be a few weeks yet as we just 3D printed the new latch and are now modifying the injection mould.
Excellenty! No stress mate, but please do hurry upskis :-) Buggers might buy some more service van Rhino’s too :-(
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Book me in for a pallet as well @FNQGU Pm me with the payment deets and we'll get it rolling.
i reckon id be keen on at lease a couple. maybe 3. Great Price IMO.
Awesome, thanks guys.
You can order them at expedition134.com.
Touses, I'll PM you shortly.
Yes I will be keen for 2 of them for sure. Will put an order in in a couple of weeks.
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