Profiled tubing kit vs buying raw tubing and profiling yourself. Looking for input.

[Chewie]

Mark G, as if we're not poking at you enough already, I'll add to Gerry's inquiry on the Patrol.

[Mark Goldberg]

Good morning fron sunny Atlixco, Puebla, Mexico.

Chewie, asking about something we sell is not "poking at me". I was going to announce this next week when bback in TX. But your posting prompted me to respond.

We do have the tubing kits available for all the models. I have asked the guys at the factory to make one tubing kit each for each of the models. The package for the LSA Iis already sold. So we have one for the Patrol and also the 4 place available in April when our next truck comes.

My guys are doing a good job labeling each tube with a number that corresponds to a sheet of the plans with each tube identified. They are coating tubes with LPS3. The tubing is being packaged in the long hard cardboard tubes that are used as forms for pouring concrete. That is a really good and cheap packaging solution.

These first tubing packages are for the basic cage - floor, ceiling, sides and vert stab.

They are long packages so shipping options at a reasonable cost will be limited. The best option from what I know Iis a company called Forward Air. But it helps a lot if you are near one of their terminals and can pick up. Perhaps one of you guys interested will have a different or better idea for reasonable shipping. Forward Air has a map on their website of their locations.

Pricing - the tubing kits will be right around $3200. I hope guys considering the tubing kits will give us your business. At Bob's urging, we do try to make stuff so you scratch builders will have some options that are not as costly as a QB kit but still save you considerable time.

If interested, please get in touch next week when I am back in TX. Thanks. Mark

[LukeS]

Mark, I know the Canadian company offering tubing kits was splitting the longerons approximately in half for shipping purposes. The builder would then weld the longerons with an extra short tube inside the longeron at the junction with plug welds and a fishmouth joint. Are you doing the same, or would you be willing to offer such an option? Also is there a way to quote shipping to the Chicago terminal. I live in Wisconsin, so I could make that trip easily. I also want to thank you for committing the time and effort to quote these packages.

[Mark Goldberg]

The Patrol has some longerons that Bob has split on the plans for different tubes at places. We will provide those as drawn on the plans. The 4 place has full length longerons and that is how we have made these first tubing kits. If you can pick up in Chicago, then the freight service I mentioned will be able to ship at a very reasonable cost.

I would prefer to make the tubing kit as shown on the plans, but could be persuaded to do something different (like split the longerons) Iif there was a compelling reason. If you tell me you are ready to order if the freight is not too pricey - then I am happy to get a quote to pin down total cost. If you want to move forward, then contact me next week. Mark

[alaskabearhawk]

Just a suggestion, you can offer a kit without the one-piece longerons and let the builder source those tubes locally.

[LukeS]

Mark, the only reason for cutting the longerons was to reduce the shipping package size, which usually reduces the cost to ship and would make it easier to transport said package home from the shipping terminal. I don't need an exact quote until I'm ready this summer. I just wanted to know if you would quote the shipping because not everybody will; example Aircraft Spruce They just charge your credit card for the shipping and handling, and you don't know how much until you check the statement, which sucks. Your approximate price for the tubing kit beats Cartesian Tube's by $800 provided the shipping isn't too bad, so I'll definitely be contacting you this summer for a final quote with shipping.