tiltmeter meeting

[dullpain]

Re: tiltmeter

I had a mid 80's Toyotoa Four Runner (first year they came out?) that had a factory installed inclinometer as well as altimeter. Don't know if they are still installing or not?? I got to order one of these things for my 5700!!

 

[Bradey]

Re: tiltmeter

Hate to bring this up, but "black box" obviously reminds one of an airplane's black box. You don't mean a device that would record your tractors status (forward speed, throttle, pto state, and tilt/angle) at the moment of impact? That would be a little too scary. Excuse my "black" humor.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: tiltmeter

Mark, so far it is the type you have now. Trying to keep
the cost down, and that one is relatively inexpensive.
Research has shown that most will not pay too much more.
Qualified to test? Does a bear doo doo in the woods ?????
Between you, me and Jack W. we ought to do great. (Jack
sometimes volunteers his time also).Let me get caught up
(yeah right) with this marketing thing and I will start
work on it again. Thanks so much Mark. Rick

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: tiltmeter

By the way Guys,
I have two Major farm related magazines looking at this
site. Neither one knew it existed. THEY DO NOW !!!!!
They have agreed to look at opinions for a possible story.
Both seemed interested. Rick

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Mark,
would you look at my post under TRACTOR SAFETY, about a
new way to mount tiltmeters? I would like your opinion,
and anyone elses I can get. I spent last two days
traveling to tractor dealers to look at every possible
tractor brand and model. This idea seemed easiest and
cheapest. Should work, and no holes in tractor required.
Thank you for your opinion. Rick

 

[RobertN]

Re: tiltmeter

I knew a couple people a few years back that had ForeRunners with the factory tiltmeter. They both rolled while off-road. When the situation got sticky, they had no time to divide thier attention between driving and watching the meter. The meter showed they were OK as the were going in, but then a tire dipped in a rut and they were on thier side. When the unforseen dip occured, they had no time to watch the meter, they were concentrating on driving.

They(tilit meter) probably help to gauge general work, but the dynamics of off-roading or tractoring bring in too many variables; unseen hole, x vs y tilt ratios, slippery surface that you slide sideways on, speed, ect.

One question that Rick might ask, is why did Toyota drop thier tiltmeters? Most people here like the idea of the tiltmeter(I don't care for them, but it's just one opinion). You would assume most unexpierienced off-roaders would like them too. So, Toyota must have had some pressing reason why to drop them.

It may be worthwhile to try and contact Toyota.

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

 

[RBManufacturing]

Re: tiltmeter

Hi RobertN
I get alot of calls from guys with 4w.d. s.u.vs. Still
seems to be a fair market for the meters as after market
device. However, I know from speaking to some of them that
they drive much faster (part of the fun) than we tractor
buffs do. Also, suspension give on a sudden drop can add to
momentum of side force adding to roll-over potential.
A large s.u.v. dealer in Nashville puts some on as a free
give away for buying the rig. He says Toyota probably
quit using them for two reasons. One, as you said, not
much use on s.u.v. Two, because the 4 w.d. boys did not
use them to necessarily prevent roll, as they did to push
their limit to see HOW STEEP THEY COULD GO. They are out to
push the limit of their machines on a slope, unlike tractor
owners who want to avoid the extreme limits. I have one on
my Toyota pickup. Not 4 w.d. Just enjoy it being there.
Comes in handy on sales trips. Can show slope to others
by going up-down for comparison purposes. Some are
suprised that a slope is as steep as it was. FEW ever guess
exact degrees. Thank you for your comments. Keep em coming
guys!!!!! Two more engineers were given this site address
today. BTW. One I gave site to last week was not an engineer
as I thought. Purchasing agent. Both worth knowing in my
opinion. Rick

Rick Hedgecock
R&B Manufacturing

 

[Bird]

Re: tiltmeter

RobertN, no one's claiming a tiltmeter is a substitute for common sense; just another tool that can frequently be helpful. Of course, if I had my way, my car, truck, and tractor all would have an instrument panel that would put most airplanes to shame./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird

 

[MChalkley]

Re: tiltmeter

Rick - I'd sure be interested in hearing what the folks you point to this web site have to say about it, if you hear anything and are at liberty to tell us.

MarkC

 

[JerryG]

Re: tiltmeter

MarkC,
My eyes are not as good as they once were. Could you tell me what the tractor in your signature is towing? And by the way, it looks real good.
JerryG

 

[MChalkley]

Re: tiltmeter

JerryG - Why, it's a very large cup, of course. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

MarkC

 

[JerryG]

Re: tiltmeter

Mark,
I should have known/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif. What would a L4310 be without a Chalkley cup?
JerryG

 

[RBManufacturing]

Re: tiltmeter

Mark,
So far, the ones I have talked to AFTER they reviewed the
site almost always say same thing. "Did not know site
existed," " Very interesting site". "Interesting comments"
"Will try to occasionally review comments to see what
is being said about tiltmeters, and other subjects."

I have either not reached the right people yet, or I feel
that sometimes I am getting passed around. Hard to tell.
The magazines I have talked to were more promising. Will
try to hit more soon. I believe most feel that I am
asking them to review site and run story as an advertising
gimmick. I can see how that would look. I am hoping
someone will do a non-biased story. I will gladly supply
names of two other companies that make tiltmeters.
(inclinometers). No name has to be mentioned. Just a story
about the meters in general, with comments from this site
included, as well as other sources. Maybe my hopes of
suppling a useful needed product, at a good price, that
could possibly save a few lives would go over big might
have been in error. Maybe the want and need is not as great
as I felt it was. From this site, it appears I was right.
However, from trying to get a major o.e.m. to feel same
way is not progressing same way. Myself and Brenda are the
only two full time employees. It is hard to do everything
with two people. Marketing not my strong suit. Determined
to keep trying. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe not. Time will
tell.I can say one thing. I have numerous small o.e.m.
buyers that feel liability is definately reduced with
meters. Forklift mfg. 3 truck o.e.ms. Logging equip. o.e.m.
Scissor lift o.e.m. Const. equip. o.e.m.(similar to tractor)
all are small, but proud to have them. Numbers are small
per year. Maybe I'm just feeling the let down after my trip.
No bad news, but no good either. Thanks for listening to
the babble. Rick


Rick Hedgecock
R&B Manufacturing

 

[BobT]

Re: tiltmeter

Rick,

You sure can wear your tongue out yapping at those corporate heads, that's for sure. They take a looooong time to decide anything, I know.

I think your best best is to go direct to the tractor owners, and also via the dealer network. It may take YEARS before you strike a real OEM deal. And when you do, you'll have to gear up production, hire more workers, get loans, etc., etc. They will then wind up dictating terms, prices and profits to you, and often just rip off your idea after a year or two. If they see hundreds, then thousands of owners putting Tiltmeters(TM) on, and saving accidents, they will pursue you, in the end, and you can negotiate from a much stronger position.

My experience is that the BEST marketing results are always from PR --- press releases, stories, etc. It takes a little effort, but a one or two page "article", based upon a press release and interview (at virtually "no cost" to you) in a prominent magazine can be worth $10-20,000 (if you had to buy space ads (which most small businesses could never afford).

Jay Conrad Levinson (do a search on Amazon) has written several phenomenal books on these kinds of "guerilla marketing" techniques. Buy one of his books for $20 and I think you'll explode your sales.

I know the struggle gets you down from time to time, but --- Be persistent!

BobT.
A Indiana Boy

 

[bpence]

Re: tiltmeter

Rick, growing a business can be discouraging at times. Persistance is pretty important.

I've talked with a couple of tractor dealerships over the past couple of weeks and neither was aware of the products you offer. I still think some type of marketing approach for dealers might yield positive results.

I gave both of the dealers (owners) your name and phone number and pointed them at this site as well. Hopefully they'll call and start the dealer network ball rolling.

Bob Pence

 

[RBManufacturing]

Re: tiltmeter

Bob,And Bob,
Thank you both. I have had small press release in 20-30.
Farm magazines. Only allowed to run once each. Sales

picked up during ad period. Fell off afterwards. Payments
on equipment continued. Spend alot on ads. When ad costs
$300.00 to $3000.00 it is hard to make even cost of ad back
on $40.00 item.Will continue. We are set up to handle
much more business if it comes. Thanks for tip on book.
Will try to find today. And thanks for tipping off dealers.
As always, Thanks Guys. Rick

Rick Hedgecock
R&B Manufacturing

 

[BobT]

Re: tiltmeter

Rick,

Buying quarter, half and full page display ads will "kill" you. They rarely pay off. It is very hard to track sales to any specific ad.

Instead, use direct selling methods. Sell the unit direct from the ad. That way, you can track exact ad performace. Try to find magazines with classified sections. Those are cheap.

I agree with the idea to get dealers to act as a sales channel. Problem is getting to them. It will cost $1 plus per mailing peice to dealers. And it is pretty expensive to personally call on each dealer. But you can experiment and find the best way to reach them profitably.

You should set up a kind of "mini-web site, devoted only to selling the Tiltmeter(TM). Put all of your sales info, plus strong testiomonials, and allow them to order and pay right online. I think that would work very well as a sales channel.

Send me a private message with your email, and if you are interested I will outline the exact steps I am talking about.

Here's the book I was talking about on Amazon Mastering Guerrilla Marketing, by Jay Conrad Levinson.

BobT.
A Indiana Boy

 

[RBManufacturing]

Re: tiltmeter

Hi Bob,
Thank you sir. I will order book probably tomorrow.
I will e-mail soon also. I have a machine break down
in the shop. Will most likeky take all night to repair.
Local machine shop agreed to stay open late to help.
We are currently working on such a site. You can order
on line at my site. (www.tiltmeter.com.) Sir, I appreciate
your help. And all the guys here. Look for e-mail soon.
Again, Thanks.Rick

Rick Hedgecock
R&B Manufacturing

 

[RobertN]

Re: tiltmeter

Rick, you made a good point. At what angle will something go over...

I have always liked rock crawling in a Jeep. That's when you wind up with gearing lower than most tractors have and REALLY creep /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

You might try the 4x4 market, by trying companies liek:
http://www.4wheelparts.com/
http://www.central4wd.com/
Or try ad's in Petersens 4 wheel & Off Road

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

 

[RBManufacturing]

Re: tiltmeter

RobertN,
Thanks, WILL DO. Rick

Rick Hedgecock
R&B Manufacturing