New website

[Tony Radford]

Dudes and dudettes, check out my new website. It finished propogating today: www.serpentexpress.com. There are a couple of corrections with verbage, but nothing major. I am braced for any positive or negative comments.

[RedCSX1]

Seams very expensive and feel it will be a hard sell. Most people can pick up an enclosed trailer for a little more that what you are charging for the tent on wheels. But I wish you luck.

Morgan

[Tony Radford]

Thanks Morgan. Putting a "tent on wheels" that is solid and stable at 70+ mph speeds is probably harder than you think. My intent was not to compete with the typical enclosed trailer. If you have a heavy duty tow vehicle and a place to put a full-sized enclosed trailer, that may be your ticket. I like having something I can safely tow behind my Dakota, doesn't block my view in traffic, breaks down for easy storage (some counties will not allow storage of enclosed trailers at residences) and can double as an open trailer if desired. There may be a few other folks who fit into that category.

[Cracker]

Whenever I hear "seems expensive” I always ask, compared to what? NEW, USED, OPEN or CLOSED? Although I don't have a trailer I was very close to purchasing one last year but held off. That trailer is the all aluminum OPEN trailer that was being discounted to me for a cool $4,200! Remember - OPEN trailer! The cheapest closed trailer (NEW) I found to fit my application (COBRA) was just under 6K at the cheapest (lowest price) trailer distributor in GA.

Tony, you have a good idea, IF it performs even reasonably well you'll have plenty of customers. BTW, the premium priced open trailers were (are?) actually backordered - don't ever let someone talk you into providing more but charging drastically less for comparable or greater benefits & performance!!!

Seems to me Tony the only thing your SerpentExpress can't deliver are SA Shelby cars.
Sorry guys, I couldn't resist - with the talk of "real expensive" and Shelby Cobra's the two just don't go hand & hand. Hey Morgan, we share one common thread - our faith! Best wishes and all in fun but something to practically think about.

[Johan]

I like it.

[RedCSX1]

OK, now that I have more time to respond. Tony, I commend you, it takes a lot of guts to start a business. I know how hard it is to find that right product at the right price point that will make you money. I work for the Largest wine company in the world, we are constantly looking at price point for out products. Maybe I let that carry over in my comment in this thread

With that said I did take a closer look at your Serpent Hauler. When I first looked at it I did not realize that the trailer came with the portable cover. Therefore I have to retract my original comments and say yes it’s a reasonable price for a nice product.

Oh and if you can deliver my CSX Cobra any quicker than Shelby I will take one.

Cracker- All in fun, Oh and I think we have more than our faith in common.

Oh as a point of trivia,
My Grandfather had a very successful business in the 50's, point of reference 2nd largest ad campaign in America at one point with CocaCola being number 1

http://www.sec.state.la.us/ARCHIVES/.../leblanc-1.htm

[Cracker]

Morgan

Thanks for the info on your Granddaddy - that's really cool! Can we still use that slang? I appreciate your opinions and everyone else's. I should've known you were a good 'ole southerner at heart! You know you’re in the South when a centimeter of snow falls (like it has today) and everything shuts down!!!!

[Tony Radford]

Thanks Morgan. I went a few different routes before I found one that works. Your're on your own with the CSX. Based on prior posts, I wouldn't touch that one with a ten foot pole!

Tony, a centimeter? Our neighboorhood in Dacula looks like Anchorage! It took me 20 minutes to get out of the driveway. I spun off Fence Rd. twice trying to get to HW 324. When I was coming in, I passed a couple of kids who built a snowman on the side of an embankment. It fell over and left two 3' diameter snowballs in the middle of the other lane. Yikes! We may be seeing something about that on this evening's news.

[Alex Donghi]

Tony
I will be calling you!!!! Somehow we need to burn in the acc

[Alex Donghi]

Well I clicked on the submit button before I finished
Anyway we need to figuer out how to get the acc logo on that cover

[Double Venom]

Tony,
That was / is awesome! I know of a guy that knows a guy that (did) builds the same thing in Bowling Green, Ohio. I could never figure out why his business didn't take off like wildfire! He had a fantastic product, but he definately did not have the internet!

I wish you luck and I think the price is right on! Now lets deal

DV... I like it

[PNJSNAK]

Tony: what about towing in the rain! Is there any protection from the moisture thrown up under the trailer to affect the inside of the cover and the car that would be under it? Just curious. I am looking for a low cost to get into being able to bring the car a longer distance without worrying about the weather.
Jim

[G.R.]

Nice economical trailer Tony

I agree with JIM---what about the open underside? If there was a removable panel(option) it would fairly well seal the car from the elements.

Being able to tow your car with out having to also buy a brute of a truck/suv needed with an enclosed trailer sure makes sense.


my 1/2 cent worth


nice product

[excelguru]

I like it. I'm interested in the whether the material is waterproof or water resistant. One could resolve the open-floor issue by simply using a full-floor trailer.

How much to modify an existing full-floor trailer?

[Tony Radford]

Hey guys, thanks for the comments. The trailer has a full floor. I suppose some of the build photos are confusing. The trailer in the pics has an open center which I covered with removable panels that have weather seals, hinges, tapped fasteners etc. The subsequent copies will be fully decked in diamond treadplate. My original intent was to have a removable center deck to provide access to the underside of my car. It is a nice feature, but it takes too long to fabricate. Jim, it's sealed up pretty tight. If it didn't keep the car safe and dry through a rain storm, I would have considered it a failure. Keith, the material is 18 oz polyester backed vinyl, the material is used for tonneau covers and other automotive applications. It is water proof, UV resistant, has welded joints and double stitching for seams, zippers and weather flaps. The material is very nice and pretty expensive.

[OneFastRide]

Hi Tony -
Very spiffy idea. The main advantage I can see to such an arrangement (besides cost) is relatibely low weight, and perhaps subsequently avoioding the expense of a mega tow vehicle. I don't see the weight specified anywhere on your website. Did I miss it?
Good luck with the venture!
Steve

[GeorgiaSnake]

Hey Tony - nice website - good luck. Now with that said don't corner the market before I get mine on the road

Randy

[Alex Donghi]

I already talked to Tony I got dibbs on No. 2

[Tony Radford]

Steve, I haven't weighted it, but it should come out in the 1,600-1,700 lb range.

Randy, the first guy to the market takes the bullets. Hopefully the market will be softened up for you by the time you get here.