Hitch Cover Ordering

Brucecris · Mar 28, 2021

We are open!

Hi everyone. We are thrilled to announce that ordering is open for the Explorer ST hitch cover! Head on over to Zeus3D.net and get your order in. We are taking 10% off on all orders until April 11.

https://zeus3d.net/store/ols/products/2020-explorer-st-hitch-cover

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Nbk4t5e · Mar 28, 2021

Brucecris said:

If I order it unpainted can it be wrapped with vinyl ?

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SwagSolo · Mar 28, 2021

Any photos of carbon examples?

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F=MA · Mar 28, 2021

Please consider making a smaller flat option (with friction fit reciever connection) that is surrounded by the OEM bumper on four sides. Afterall, the idea is to cover the electrical plug and hitch receiver not redesign the look of the rear end of the truck. This current version changes the overall appearance of the rear bumper and is too boxy looking imho.

UNBROKEN · Mar 28, 2021

F=MA said:

Do you really think they didn’t consider that? If it’s smaller like you say and only uses the receiver you would never be able to fit your hand behind it to pin/unpin it.

F=MA · Mar 28, 2021

That's why I suggested friction fit. That's what my current hitch cover has for retention and I haven't lost it yet. They could also make it attach using a magnet.

zdubyadubya · Mar 28, 2021

Nbk4t5e said:

If your brain is in the same spot mine is (I'm 100% going to wrap it), a gloss surface is better for vinyl adhesion (and more importantly removal/replacement) than a raw 3-d print or unpainted.

Muddydogs · Mar 28, 2021

Wow $400 plus for painted and $300 for a piece of plastic? Ya right good luck with that.

Brucecris · Mar 28, 2021

Muddydogs said:

Yeah. I’m looking into this. We need to make some hard decisions.

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Nbk4t5e · Mar 28, 2021

zdubyadubya said:

Same page for sure.

I want to do the same forged carbon wrap.

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UNBROKEN · Mar 28, 2021

Nbk4t5e said:

That would be cool with the other stuff you have.

Nbk4t5e · Mar 28, 2021

UNBROKEN said:

Just want to make sure it will stick.

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Edified · Mar 28, 2021

Looks awesome!

GearHead_1 · Mar 28, 2021

I mean no offense with this post. I’ve got to admit when I first saw this item show up on the forum I thought thats a great idea and a good way to spend $100. Admittedly, I’m clueless as to the costs of 3D printing, I‘m sorry, I had no idea.

rjacobs · Mar 28, 2021

yea the $300 base cost puts it out for me.

The $100-$120 for the custom paint options isnt a KILLER honestly as small batch custom painting isnt cheap, but if you paint in batches I am sure you can cut that cost down a ton. BUT you can probably only do gloss or flat black in batches. I would guess paint matched to the body color will be few and far between so hard to justify painting batches of say 10 of each body color to have sitting around.

I would be down for either gloss(to match the piano black) or flat black(to match the rest of the bumper), but I think max for me would be 150-200.

I'm not trying to put down your work because I know it takes a ton of time to develop something like this and obviously that time quotient goes into the final product cost as you have to recoup that. I went down the path years ago of doing custom gauge pods for Subaru's and we spent weeks working on molds and what not and the only way to do it, at the time, was custom hand laid fiberglass(and all the work that entails) and when we approached the community with the price there was interest, but nowhere near what we needed in order to ever make it worth while. We scrapped the idea and I had sunk a bunch of my own money and time into it with zero to show for it.

Brucecris · Mar 29, 2021

GearHead_1 said:

I’m well aware man and I promise all of you guys and gals that the only reason these are so costly is due to the tremendous finishing work involved. It’s the best we could really do at this time outside of going to China or submitting a $10k order to an injection molding house for just 30 pieces. But me and Zeus3d are haven’t stopped the train. We have a part that works but is labor intensive to produce. We are going to keep considering other avenues because if nobody does anything else about the lack of appearance goodies like real replacement rear spoiler or body extensions or lips then I will definitely try. That’s the only reason I did this. Frankly it’s the only reason I made my wheels too.

Anyway. I truly appreciate the honesty and wouldn’t expect anything less. I will definitely be trying to be more open about pricing in the future if we do more stuff. And I’m still going to find a way to simplify this more to bring it down. Thanks again.

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Brucecris · Mar 29, 2021

rjacobs said:

Yes. This is the true dilemma. There’s a product that we think fills a gap. I saw it and tried to fill it. But when it comes to mass producing even a batch of 30 - it was either DIY with Zeus3d printing and finishing everything and then handing it to a painter or shipping it to an injection and vacuum company. We went to, and continue to negotiate with them but they simply want too much up front for a limited batch - which I knew. However, even talking to other printing farms, they aren’t using the right material for an external car part (brittle, will melt or deform due to heat) - and I’m not going down like that. So yes - it’s costly due to hand-time and 3rd party paint but I assure you guys that we’re gonna keep trying. Thanks

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Blue Beast · Mar 29, 2021

Thanks

Nbk4t5e · Mar 29, 2021

Ordered. Now let’s get that front lip/splitter going sir !!

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UNBROKEN · Mar 29, 2021

Nbk4t5e said:

And rocker extension for the sides.

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