Sorry guys I got busy at work. Ok by way of update my orders from CCOT finally arrived. Everything very well packed. I went with them for most of the body related crap, e.g. weatherstripping, nuts and bolts for hinges, hood hardware, emblems etc. Everything arrived except for the bezel which is on backorder. I know that folks have issues with them but I can say that I have had good experience working with them. In particular Gaylon really did a good job consolidating several orders and working with me while I found a shipping solution that made economic sense. Thanks.
I am now waiting on the lift kit from SOR which should start arriving any day. Again I want to give a big shout out to Paul from SOR who patiently answered and complimented my newbie questions and gave me really good info and worked with me on shipping by breaking the order up into separate packages thereby keeping each package under max shipping weight and within my budget. Paul was especially quick in catching everything as it was headed out the door when we realized that the shocks that come with the kit could not be shipped by air (twin chamber gas filled
). He recalculated the order price, had the package re-packed and still got it out quickly. I expect it all anytime this week.
As you guys know I had a dead battery a ways back and my plan to buy Optimas was frustrated by lack of a local dealer. I ended up getting a cheapo from the local version of Costco so I could get around town while I could figure out something else. At least it wasn't leaking like the one from the PO. As luck would have it I had occassion to call Optima basically to grouse about the lack of any local option. I ended uo talking to J.C. the regional sales manager and a great guy. I told him that I after the bad battery incident I had decided to go with the Hell Roaring dual battery setup. He thought the world of those guys ( Shout out to Mike and the Hell Roaring crew, thanks!) and let me in on the fact that he had just signed up a local company to carry the Optima line here in El Sal and gave me the name of the owner and all of his contact info. After which we spopke about overseas wheeling and how once I'm done with the project I'm looking to hook up with a local club. He told me to stay in contact and that he would sponsor club events with banners, hats, tee shirts etc. He also wants me to hook him up on any club mailing lists so that he can be in on events as he travels up and down Central and South America and is always looking for like minded folks to hang with. When I asked why he was willing to do sponsorships etc, he said that Optima wouldn't be the company that it is today if not for the support of the 4x4 community when it was starting out He said the company really appreciated 4x4 folks and was always looking to support their activities. I told him that I would post up this conversation as I thought that it was great that he was extending support like that.