05-02-2019, 01:54 PM
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#211
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Real Name: Chad
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Plan on waiting, folks. Was just notified that my "will-ship date" of 04/30 was just extended into next week. FWIW - I ordered mine on 03/19/19
6+ weeks for a component containing CNC cut parts and off-the-shelf cut aluminum extrusion?
Don't get me started.
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2016 TE - 2.5 Icon Stage 2 Ext Coilovers, Icon 2.0 Remote Res rear shocks - RCI sliders & skids - Custom front LED in-grill mount - Rigid - General ATX 275/70 - SCS Wheels, Terrapod RTTx, Raingler, Baja Designs, Rhino Rack.
Last edited by Terrapod; 05-02-2019 at 04:16 PM.
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05-02-2019, 04:27 PM
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#212
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Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Black Hills of South Dakota
Age: 38
Posts: 806
Real Name: Caleb
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Black Hills of South Dakota
Age: 38
Posts: 806
Real Name: Caleb
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Terrapod
Plan on waiting, folks. Was just notified that my "will-ship date" of 04/30 was just extended into next week. FWIW - I ordered mine on 03/19/19
6+ weeks for a component containing CNC cut parts and off-the-shelf cut aluminum extrusion?
Don't get me started.
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We are very sorry for the delay. We had issues with a bunch of parts getting made incorrectly from the laser company. They had to cut and form an entire new batch of parts and send them out to us. Since that happened it knocked us off the schedule with the powder coat company. We couldn't drop of the parts at PC right away because they were already busy with other jobs and had to get those done first before getting our ladder parts in again. One mistake at the beginning of the chain sets things back a lot.
The parts are currently getting coated today and tomorrow and we will be shipping LOTS of ladders next week.
We are still learning how to get ahead of the curve on keeping these ladders in stock. Its the only product that we have ever tried to offer in stock and powder coated. They are also selling way faster than expected so we have been running out of them quickly.
We have already placed another large order for more of them from the laser company to stay ahead of the orders that we expect to continue coming in.
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Owner/Operator of C4 Fabrication. specializing in custom built Toyota off-road products. www.c4fabrication.com
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05-03-2019, 08:35 AM
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#213
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Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Colorado
Posts: 314
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Colorado
Posts: 314
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Terrapod
Plan on waiting, folks. Was just notified that my "will-ship date" of 04/30 was just extended into next week. FWIW - I ordered mine on 03/19/19
6+ weeks for a component containing CNC cut parts and off-the-shelf cut aluminum extrusion?
Don't get me started.
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There is a lot more to developing and producing a product than you realize. This is what I do for a living, heading up design for a 4 billion dollar company and things still get hung up on suppliers and manufactures. Let alone dealing with MOQ issues, assembly, warehousing for a companies budgeting. I think their reputation speaks for itself. Plus the ladder is not a private label product as you suggest.
I requested that the hardware (nuts, bolts, washers) be sent out early so I could have them powder coated black at PCbolts before the ladder was shipped. Zero push back, nothing but friendly customer service, and I had them within 3 days. Wow. Not something a company that doesn’t care would do.
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2019 ORP, 6112/5160, Eibach load leveling springs #250, Cornfed 1/2 in front spacers, JBA UCA, RCI alum skids, TRD Pro skid, TRD Pro grill, TRD Pro valances, Baja S8 30”, 3x Baja LP4 and Baja fogs, Rays 10, Toyo AT3 185/55, Canvasback, tinted windows, clear mask, UpTop Alpha rack w/ custom fairing, Borla, AFE CAI, URD MAF, Switch Pros, Power Trays, single ARB, rod vault, iKamper X-Cover, 23Zero 270 awning, Baja scene lights, Baja S2 rear fog/camp lights, RSG KDSS skid and sliders, Coco Mats, Ellis shift knobs, C4 ladder, Kenwood DNX696S/iData link, Morimoto XB Gen2, Morimoto Tails, custom 80/20 platform with slider, RokBlokz XL, WeBoost, C4 Low Pro w/ high clearance, Warn VR10 with Factor55, etc
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05-03-2019, 08:49 AM
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#214
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Member
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Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 373
Real Name: Chad
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 373
Real Name: Chad
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SnowYeti
There is a lot more to developing and producing a product than you realize. This is what I do for a living, heading up design for a 4 billion dollar company and things still get hung up on suppliers and manufactures. Let alone dealing with MOQ issues, assembly, warehousing for a companies budgeting. I think their reputation speaks for itself. Plus the ladder is not a private label product as you suggest.
I requested that the hardware (nuts, bolts, washers) be sent out early so I could have them powder coated black at PCbolts before the ladder was shipped. Zero push back, nothing but friendly customer service, and I had them within 3 days. Wow. Not something a company that doesn’t care would do.
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20+ years as an industrial designer, fabricator, inventor and developer of products. I know all of this very, very well.
If you want to open that can of worms...by all means.
Creating a product means not only developing/engineering the product for use, but also efficient manufacturing, and enabling redundancies for suppliers, vendors and materials. One fails, the second picks up the slack and so on.
Happy to discuss the efficiencies of supply chain vs in-house solutions.
That all said - I applaud these smaller businesses on giving it a go. It is by no-means easy. (i.e. working for "the man" vs doing it yourself - two VERY different things.) However, most are not aware of what is truly needed to release a product to market and the ramifications associated with doing so. Be it...production efficiency, materials, marketing budgets, and managing customer expectations...etc.
The power of the interwebs can be intoxicating. The monies associated are even more-so.
__________________
2016 TE - 2.5 Icon Stage 2 Ext Coilovers, Icon 2.0 Remote Res rear shocks - RCI sliders & skids - Custom front LED in-grill mount - Rigid - General ATX 275/70 - SCS Wheels, Terrapod RTTx, Raingler, Baja Designs, Rhino Rack.
Last edited by Terrapod; 05-03-2019 at 09:06 AM.
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05-03-2019, 09:44 AM
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#215
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Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Colorado
Posts: 314
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Colorado
Posts: 314
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Terrapod
20+ years as an industrial designer, fabricator, inventor and developer of products. I know all of this very, very well.
If you want to open that can of worms...by all means.
Creating a product means not only developing/engineering the product for use, but also efficient manufacturing, and enabling redundancies for suppliers, vendors and materials. One fails, the second picks up the slack and so on.
Happy to discuss the efficiencies of supply chain vs in-house solutions.
That all said - I applaud these smaller businesses on giving it a go. It is by no-means easy. (i.e. working for "the man" vs doing it yourself - two VERY different things.) However, most are not aware of what is truly needed to release a product to market and the ramifications associated with doing so. Be it...production efficiency, materials, marketing budgets, and managing customer expectations...etc.
The power of the interwebs can be intoxicating. The monies associated are even more-so.
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Well I don’t want to “open a can of worms” with my 30+ years experience as an industrial designer and ME or my 50+ patents. It seems you know that it is not easy. Yet.....
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2019 ORP, 6112/5160, Eibach load leveling springs #250, Cornfed 1/2 in front spacers, JBA UCA, RCI alum skids, TRD Pro skid, TRD Pro grill, TRD Pro valances, Baja S8 30”, 3x Baja LP4 and Baja fogs, Rays 10, Toyo AT3 185/55, Canvasback, tinted windows, clear mask, UpTop Alpha rack w/ custom fairing, Borla, AFE CAI, URD MAF, Switch Pros, Power Trays, single ARB, rod vault, iKamper X-Cover, 23Zero 270 awning, Baja scene lights, Baja S2 rear fog/camp lights, RSG KDSS skid and sliders, Coco Mats, Ellis shift knobs, C4 ladder, Kenwood DNX696S/iData link, Morimoto XB Gen2, Morimoto Tails, custom 80/20 platform with slider, RokBlokz XL, WeBoost, C4 Low Pro w/ high clearance, Warn VR10 with Factor55, etc
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05-03-2019, 10:02 AM
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#216
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Member
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Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 373
Real Name: Chad
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Join Date: Nov 2016
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SnowYeti
Well I don’t want to “open a can of worms” with my 30+ years experience as an industrial designer and ME or my 50+ patents. It seems you know that it is not easy. Yet.....
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See PM.
__________________
2016 TE - 2.5 Icon Stage 2 Ext Coilovers, Icon 2.0 Remote Res rear shocks - RCI sliders & skids - Custom front LED in-grill mount - Rigid - General ATX 275/70 - SCS Wheels, Terrapod RTTx, Raingler, Baja Designs, Rhino Rack.
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05-07-2019, 11:05 AM
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#217
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Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Minnetonka, MN
Posts: 518
Real Name: Andrew
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Join Date: Oct 2016
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Quote:
Originally Posted by C4 Fabrication
We are very sorry for the delay. We had issues with a bunch of parts getting made incorrectly from the laser company. They had to cut and form an entire new batch of parts and send them out to us. Since that happened it knocked us off the schedule with the powder coat company. We couldn't drop of the parts at PC right away because they were already busy with other jobs and had to get those done first before getting our ladder parts in again. One mistake at the beginning of the chain sets things back a lot.
The parts are currently getting coated today and tomorrow and we will be shipping LOTS of ladders next week.
We are still learning how to get ahead of the curve on keeping these ladders in stock. Its the only product that we have ever tried to offer in stock and powder coated. They are also selling way faster than expected so we have been running out of them quickly.
We have already placed another large order for more of them from the laser company to stay ahead of the orders that we expect to continue coming in.
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Hello C4, I ordered a ladder on 4/2/19, I never received an email about being pushed back to the end of May. I would assume I'm in the same boat as well? Thank you for the great customer service, looking forward to my ladder!
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08' Limited V8 (2020-Current)
17' TRD Pro (Sold: 2017-2020) - Update/Mod/Build/Adventure Thread
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05-07-2019, 03:34 PM
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#218
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Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Black Hills of South Dakota
Age: 38
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Real Name: Caleb
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Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Black Hills of South Dakota
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aelarson
Hello C4, I ordered a ladder on 4/2/19, I never received an email about being pushed back to the end of May. I would assume I'm in the same boat as well? Thank you for the great customer service, looking forward to my ladder!
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Hi, what is your order number? We can take a look and give you an update. We are starting to get parts back from the powder coat shop in batches of 10 complete ladders. Of course we get the first set back and almost half of them were not fully coated and some of the parts were scratched! We had to send them back to get redone right away. So yet another hold up that is really frustrating us.
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Owner/Operator of C4 Fabrication. specializing in custom built Toyota off-road products. www.c4fabrication.com
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05-23-2019, 11:01 AM
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#219
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Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Minnetonka, MN
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Real Name: Andrew
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Join Date: Oct 2016
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Quote:
Originally Posted by C4 Fabrication
Hi, what is your order number? We can take a look and give you an update. We are starting to get parts back from the powder coat shop in batches of 10 complete ladders. Of course we get the first set back and almost half of them were not fully coated and some of the parts were scratched! We had to send them back to get redone right away. So yet another hold up that is really frustrating us.
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Just received shipping confirmation today. Should have it next week!
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08' Limited V8 (2020-Current)
17' TRD Pro (Sold: 2017-2020) - Update/Mod/Build/Adventure Thread
08' Urban Runner (Sold: 2010-2017)
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05-23-2019, 11:16 AM
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#220
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Join Date: Nov 2016
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aelarson
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Me too!!
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2016 TE - 2.5 Icon Stage 2 Ext Coilovers, Icon 2.0 Remote Res rear shocks - RCI sliders & skids - Custom front LED in-grill mount - Rigid - General ATX 275/70 - SCS Wheels, Terrapod RTTx, Raingler, Baja Designs, Rhino Rack.
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05-29-2019, 09:51 AM
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#221
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Join Date: Oct 2016
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Got my ladder last night and tried to install. It's a tricky little sucker to get right. Unfortunately I nicked up my paint in a couple spots trying to get the alignment correct. I couldn't get the top plate to sit flat (the edge that wraps around the back side of the hatch is lifting) so I called off the install at 10:00pm. I tried installing with the ladder components tight, I tried with everything loose, I felt like I tried everything (obviously I didn't because I couldn't get it right) Going to give it another whirl on Thursday. Anyone have tips to get this right?
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08' Limited V8 (2020-Current)
17' TRD Pro (Sold: 2017-2020) - Update/Mod/Build/Adventure Thread
08' Urban Runner (Sold: 2010-2017)
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05-29-2019, 10:05 AM
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#222
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: san diego
Posts: 3,193
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aelarson
Got my ladder last night and tried to install. It's a tricky little sucker to get right. Unfortunately I nicked up my paint in a couple spots trying to get the alignment correct. I couldn't get the top plate to sit flat (the edge that wraps around the back side of the hatch is lifting) so I called off the install at 10:00pm. I tried installing with the ladder components tight, I tried with everything loose, I felt like I tried everything (obviously I didn't because I couldn't get it right) Going to give it another whirl on Thursday. Anyone have tips to get this right?
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you need to make a cardboard spacer and use it during installation like the video states. Makes installing much easier.
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2016 trail 4runner, twin locked on 34's.
Can read more of my build here (2 parts):
https://www.lasfit.com/blogs/news/ho...ad-build-part1
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05-29-2019, 10:07 AM
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#223
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Join Date: Oct 2016
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Followed the instructions. Used the cardboard to make a spacer to keep the panel tight to the body. Still lifting where the tabs wrap around the back of the spoiler.
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06-01-2019, 01:26 PM
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#224
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Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Black Hills of South Dakota
Age: 38
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Real Name: Caleb
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Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Black Hills of South Dakota
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Hey everyone, we are very sorry for the fitment issues a few of you are having and we will get it resolved. There are new top mounting plates that have been formed with a new bend angle to resolve the issue. The plates should be shipping to us next week then we have to send them to powder coat. We will gladly replace the top mounting plates that have been giving issues.
Its a strange situation because the first batch of 75 ladders we made and shipped fit excellent. We made another batch of 75 that were exactly the same with zero changes. We verified that the bend angles were correct on the second batch and sent them out. Some people from that batch were having issues getting the rear portion of the top mounting plate to stay flat against the sticky foam. We weren't sure if this was user install error or what so we test fit one of those plates on our company 4runner and it gave us the same issue. To resolve that issue we increased the bend angle a bit on the top plate to help it sit down flat on the hatch. Now its causing the other end of the plate to lift up which is what a few of you are experiencing now.
We have only sent out about 20 of these with the increased bend angle. The new batch will have less bend than they do now, but slightly more than the second batch so we should be hitting that sweet spot where they fit great.
The thing that we just don't understand is how the first batch of 75 fit perfectly and the second batch didn't all fit perfectly even though the parts were verified to be exactly the same.
There have been some customers over the past few months who have trouble getting the top plate to sit correctly, but once we talk to them on the phone and explain to them a few things to try with adjustment, they always get it worked out.
Anyways point is that the new top plate should resolve any issues and we will send them out to you guys as soon as they are powder coated.
Again we are sorry for the fitment issue, but it will get resolved.
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06-01-2019, 03:20 PM
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#225
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Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Kansas City
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Thanks for tackling the issue head-on instead of trying to sweep it under the rug. That's certainly appreciated by customers, especially for niche markets.
I'm interested in the C4 ladder, and I'm still interested after the recent issues because it sounds like C4 is appropriately handling the situation. I can't spend that kind of money until I know the issue is resolved, but I plan on ordering once it is.
I have a trip planned in September, for which I will require a ladder. Hopefully, the lead times stay in my favor.
Quote:
Originally Posted by C4 Fabrication
Hey everyone, we are very sorry for the fitment issues a few of you are having and we will get it resolved. There are new top mounting plates that have been formed with a new bend angle to resolve the issue. The plates should be shipping to us next week then we have to send them to powder coat. We will gladly replace the top mounting plates that have been giving issues.
Its a strange situation because the first batch of 75 ladders we made and shipped fit excellent. We made another batch of 75 that were exactly the same with zero changes. We verified that the bend angles were correct on the second batch and sent them out. Some people from that batch were having issues getting the rear portion of the top mounting plate to stay flat against the sticky foam. We weren't sure if this was user install error or what so we test fit one of those plates on our company 4runner and it gave us the same issue. To resolve that issue we increased the bend angle a bit on the top plate to help it sit down flat on the hatch. Now its causing the other end of the plate to lift up which is what a few of you are experiencing now.
We have only sent out about 20 of these with the increased bend angle. The new batch will have less bend than they do now, but slightly more than the second batch so we should be hitting that sweet spot where they fit great.
The thing that we just don't understand is how the first batch of 75 fit perfectly and the second batch didn't all fit perfectly even though the parts were verified to be exactly the same.
There have been some customers over the past few months who have trouble getting the top plate to sit correctly, but once we talk to them on the phone and explain to them a few things to try with adjustment, they always get it worked out.
Anyways point is that the new top plate should resolve any issues and we will send them out to you guys as soon as they are powder coated.
Again we are sorry for the fitment issue, but it will get resolved.
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