Has anyone contacted Thatched recently? I've been calling and emailing to no avail. David, are you still out there?
Javier
javier_velador@lexus.com
Javier
javier_velador@lexus.com
Thatched Roof Garage
- Thread starter jvelador
- Start date
9
96'RoVaTrUcK
Guest
Good luck getting david on the phone thats pretty tuff to do. Im lucky to only live 25 min away from him. I spoke with him 2 weeks ago and he has been back from the UK for a few weeks now. But good luck getting up with him.
Thanks for the Feedback
You guys did not tear me up as bad as I had thought. The overal goal with this truck is to make it look just like a Series to a casual observer.
So far so good. Here are some lessons learned.
A R380 Short throw gear box will not work in a Defender Style truck. The shifter sits to far back the on the case. A conversion can be done, but the box has to come all the way down. Very expensive. Ordered a LT77 to replace the R380.
Defender Sterring will work with just minor alterations. The sterring wheel sits to close to the drivers seat and blockes the windshild. To make it work I had to shorten the steering drop shaft by 2 inches and machine in the stop channel. Once complete I welded a support baracket to make it stout and secure. Pictrues to follow
Thanks Again
You guys did not tear me up as bad as I had thought. The overal goal with this truck is to make it look just like a Series to a casual observer.
So far so good. Here are some lessons learned.
A R380 Short throw gear box will not work in a Defender Style truck. The shifter sits to far back the on the case. A conversion can be done, but the box has to come all the way down. Very expensive. Ordered a LT77 to replace the R380.
Defender Sterring will work with just minor alterations. The sterring wheel sits to close to the drivers seat and blockes the windshild. To make it work I had to shorten the steering drop shaft by 2 inches and machine in the stop channel. Once complete I welded a support baracket to make it stout and secure. Pictrues to follow
Thanks Again
David was gone to the UK for a couple of weeks, but got back a couple of weeks ago. Being a one-man shop, he's often in the middle of welding up a hybrid chassis or a transmission swap, and can't drop stuff to grab the phone.
Lots of people call and email, but if it seems to be general friendly chit-chat type stuff, then he has to hold off on returning those calls until he gets the one that are related to getting parts sent out, sent out. And, those keep him awfully busy alone. I help out when I'm there, but I've been gone to Pittsburgh the past week, and my weekends haven't been my own the past month, so I've not been over to try to fight back the tide.... so between not having help on top of playing catch-up while being gone, amongst all the other things going on (friends moving, business development, etc.), it's a catch-as-catch-can proposition.
A) Call him. When the machine catches it, leave a message. Name, phone number, what parts you're needing. As soon as he can, he'll get back w/ you and let you know what's in stock, arrange shipping, etc.
B) Emailing with a followup to a phonecall is a good idea, but don't depend on it alone. With the number of emails that come in to my box, which is miniscule compared to his, it's easy to miss some between spam. Always have an email accompanied by a call.
C) Be patient. If he could be doing four of five things simultaneously (well, actually, he usually is, make that twelve, fifteen things simultaneously), he would be, and still would be constantly busy.
L8R,
-L
Lots of people call and email, but if it seems to be general friendly chit-chat type stuff, then he has to hold off on returning those calls until he gets the one that are related to getting parts sent out, sent out. And, those keep him awfully busy alone. I help out when I'm there, but I've been gone to Pittsburgh the past week, and my weekends haven't been my own the past month, so I've not been over to try to fight back the tide.... so between not having help on top of playing catch-up while being gone, amongst all the other things going on (friends moving, business development, etc.), it's a catch-as-catch-can proposition.
A) Call him. When the machine catches it, leave a message. Name, phone number, what parts you're needing. As soon as he can, he'll get back w/ you and let you know what's in stock, arrange shipping, etc.
B) Emailing with a followup to a phonecall is a good idea, but don't depend on it alone. With the number of emails that come in to my box, which is miniscule compared to his, it's easy to miss some between spam. Always have an email accompanied by a call.
C) Be patient. If he could be doing four of five things simultaneously (well, actually, he usually is, make that twelve, fifteen things simultaneously), he would be, and still would be constantly busy.
L8R,
-L
9
96'RoVaTrUcK
Guest
hey leslie how ya been, i havent seenya in big stone or Gc in a while. I saw your wifes disco on stone drive the other day. We should get together and grab some lunch in BSG one day when im at the college. Drop me a Pm or something
I bought a truck that he had apparently shipped over (althought I got it from a different shop than TRG). I emailed him and asked him about it, and he replied quickly enough. I told him I was going to buy it and that I would immediately place some parts orders to get the rig (a '65 IIa) up to snuff.
I called two or three times, leaving detailed messages, and sent maybe three detailed messages. Never got a response.
And unfortunately all my business will now go to Brit Pac or Rovers North.
Dave
'65 IIa 88"
I called two or three times, leaving detailed messages, and sent maybe three detailed messages. Never got a response.
And unfortunately all my business will now go to Brit Pac or Rovers North.
Dave
'65 IIa 88"
Jordan,
I regularly spot your Disco in the parking lot as I'm heading back to the office from lunch, or at the market there at Moccasin Gap... and, of course, seen you those couple of times around Lynn Garden & Carters Valley int....
Lunch sometime sounds fine.... we'll not be in for most of this week, of course, but in a week or two.... we'll make arrangements, maybe at Little Mexico?
Oh, Rodney said hi...
Dave,
When was it you sent the messages? If you happened to send them just before he went, while he was gone, and when he just got back from one of his trips, it may have just been one of those things.... I can't say for sure, just guessing. TRG is a one-man shop, and, while he's got most of the things that you need to keep a Series running, and a selection of some "hen's teeth" items too, there are those things that he doesn't have.... on several occasions I've been there when he called someone back to let 'em know he was out-of-stock on a particular item, but would let them know who happens to have it. Some things, like wiring harnesses, he'll send you straight to the source... why order a British Wiring wiring harness through him when you can get it directly? If Dave can save you money that way, he'll help out all he can.... If it happens that the particular item wasn't something in stock, and the first message arrived as he was heading out town, then maybe he was going to check to see if he could get them in for you before he called back. As you are probably aware of, right now the exchange rate is really bad, and the margin on parts is extremely slim if you don't really jack up prices. In order to keep parts affordable, it means cutting the margin, and shipping more at once, fewer times.... There are some things, like blank commision plates, he just isn't gonna have, you have to call up RN or BP. Some things, like Rangie floormats or Disco lamp-guards, he's not going to stock... he could special order, or will just send you to AB or RDS... Anyway.... w/o knowing more details as what you were needing or when you called, I can't give you any specifics... and I'm not really offering to, I'm just pointing out some of the facts. Being as small as TRG is, it has disadvantages given the constraints, but it has advantages too, in that you're always dealing with the boss and not a salesperson who doesn't know a II from a IIa....
FWIW.....
-L
I regularly spot your Disco in the parking lot as I'm heading back to the office from lunch, or at the market there at Moccasin Gap... and, of course, seen you those couple of times around Lynn Garden & Carters Valley int....
Lunch sometime sounds fine.... we'll not be in for most of this week, of course, but in a week or two.... we'll make arrangements, maybe at Little Mexico?
Oh, Rodney said hi...
Dave,
When was it you sent the messages? If you happened to send them just before he went, while he was gone, and when he just got back from one of his trips, it may have just been one of those things.... I can't say for sure, just guessing. TRG is a one-man shop, and, while he's got most of the things that you need to keep a Series running, and a selection of some "hen's teeth" items too, there are those things that he doesn't have.... on several occasions I've been there when he called someone back to let 'em know he was out-of-stock on a particular item, but would let them know who happens to have it. Some things, like wiring harnesses, he'll send you straight to the source... why order a British Wiring wiring harness through him when you can get it directly? If Dave can save you money that way, he'll help out all he can.... If it happens that the particular item wasn't something in stock, and the first message arrived as he was heading out town, then maybe he was going to check to see if he could get them in for you before he called back. As you are probably aware of, right now the exchange rate is really bad, and the margin on parts is extremely slim if you don't really jack up prices. In order to keep parts affordable, it means cutting the margin, and shipping more at once, fewer times.... There are some things, like blank commision plates, he just isn't gonna have, you have to call up RN or BP. Some things, like Rangie floormats or Disco lamp-guards, he's not going to stock... he could special order, or will just send you to AB or RDS... Anyway.... w/o knowing more details as what you were needing or when you called, I can't give you any specifics... and I'm not really offering to, I'm just pointing out some of the facts. Being as small as TRG is, it has disadvantages given the constraints, but it has advantages too, in that you're always dealing with the boss and not a salesperson who doesn't know a II from a IIa....
FWIW.....
-L
9
96'RoVaTrUcK
Guest
yeah man little mex sounds good to me i get out at 12:05. I want to see how your project rover is coming along. If you have any pics email them to me if u get a chance, jblankenbecler5001@email.vccs.edu.
thanks jmb
thanks jmb
Trg
I love TRG and DG-he is a good egg. Just talk to his machine and tell hime what you need. After you meet the guy if you ever do you will instantly like the guy. That reminds me that I need some new stuff so I'll call him.
I love TRG and DG-he is a good egg. Just talk to his machine and tell hime what you need. After you meet the guy if you ever do you will instantly like the guy. That reminds me that I need some new stuff so I'll call him.
Trg
David Gage is a stand up guy. He backs all product that goes through his shop and has a better knowledge of Series Rovers than most . He is a one man shop as Leslie says and at times a bit like a one armed paper hanger with a sore thumb . Follow Les's instructions and if David can help he'll get back to you.
David Gage is a stand up guy. He backs all product that goes through his shop and has a better knowledge of Series Rovers than most . He is a one man shop as Leslie says and at times a bit like a one armed paper hanger with a sore thumb . Follow Les's instructions and if David can help he'll get back to you.
Even though i drive a Disco 2 i still stop by and talk to David all the time. Luckly i live in Kingsport so im 5 min away from Thatched. He is a great resource to have and a very friendly guy. He really knows his stuff. 
I'm an idiot. I bought a 66 109 station wagon 2 years ago, with NO mechanical or automotive skills. The first thing I learned was David Gage at Thatched Roof. Bought many many parts from him. He TALKS to you, helps you, explains things. I've learned much from him. I've bought parts from DAP, Wise Owl, RN, and BA and others. TRG always my favorite. I keep hearing he's only doing restorations now, and I can't even begin to tell you how badly I feel about losing a great Series part source, and a great conversation. Always there with the right advice. How odd these days that the old time Series owners and the new to LR both like him.
Anyone starting a business, or improving it, should look to David as a great example of making the customer happy, smarter all while enjoying the conversation.
Anyone starting a business, or improving it, should look to David as a great example of making the customer happy, smarter all while enjoying the conversation.
He is only doing restos now but he will look/hunt/pillage to get you your series parts, he just doesnt stock them anymore.
You mean a Jeep with a Land Rover sticker is NOT a Land Rover? Its a CJ109. I'm pretty sure its a LR, parts cost more, it has wacky wiring, and its fun to take to the mall.
Speaking of which.... what are you driving these days bitch?
Speaking of which.... what are you driving these days bitch?
Went in the barn tonite and fired the "BITCH" up. Damn nice smell.
What am I driving? I'd like to drive you
What am I driving? I'd like to drive you
Well...
I've left at least three messages from him. Since some of you live close by, would you mind relaying a message? I'm ready to buy a LR safari rack for my '94 soft top Defender, I need a price plus shipping to ship to zip 90501 at work or 91411 at home.
I'd greatly appreciate it. Hopefully he still has my number from the messages.
Javier
jvelador
at yahoo
dot com
I've left at least three messages from him. Since some of you live close by, would you mind relaying a message? I'm ready to buy a LR safari rack for my '94 soft top Defender, I need a price plus shipping to ship to zip 90501 at work or 91411 at home.
I'd greatly appreciate it. Hopefully he still has my number from the messages.
Javier
jvelador
at yahoo
dot com