Thanks Mike.
I recently was invited to tour ODG,and couldn't have been more exited to see this place than a 12 year old kid visiting willy wonka and the chocolate factory!
The first place I got to visit was the r&d, lots of cool stuff being thought up here.Then we toured the gear plant, where they were making precision gears, the smallest I saw was a gear that goes into everyones electric meter at home, to super high tollerance gears made for the logging industry.
Then, I got to see the holy grail of it all...where argos are made.I was impressed how all the metal parts are coated inside and out,ie the tubing.Then I got to see how a sheet of plastic gets transformed into the top of an argo...cool!
They run two production lines, one for the XT's,and one for all other units,and it sounds like when they get really busy,they can run three shifts.The one thing I really wanted to see, but didn't get that far, was seeing a tranny get built, and tested.
The one thing that really suprised me the most however,was having dinner with all the "big wigs". I can't thank them enough for taking the time to talk with us,and share their enthusiasm and passion for argos.I actually got to meet the original owner,whos father started the company in germany I believe.
The real icing on the cake came later that day when all the units argo make where lined up outside, I mean ALL of them,search and rescue,the new outfitter, and scout,XT units,the duck comander....all of them...maybe 30?,they all had the keys in...eeennnyy meeeenynnny miiiiiinnyyy moe,take your pick, and take it to the "testing grounds" 100yds away, where we got to play,er test any unit we wanted.The one that didnt get dirty, and was under a tent next to the testing grounds was the LX.....WOW...cranberry and silver,new beadlock tires,high speed tranny,and last but not least....a HUGE marine grade stereo,huge amp,and I believe 6 speakers...LOUD! This unit would fit in perfect at mud nationals in texas!!!!
Thanks again ODG for taking the time, a trip not soon forgotten!!