Hot Rods Last Refuge '29 RPU

This weekend I took delivery of my '29 RPU body and frame from Last Refuge.

I recommend them highly.

I am very impressed with the detail of the frame.
The kick up is radiused, not just mitered.
The way they handle the welds on the corners is pretty cool. the cuts are done off the corner, so when the welds are ground back, no material is removed from the higher stressed areas.
Nice little details that look cool and add a lot of integrity to the structure.

The body is really slick too. All the lines are really crisp and inner panels thoughtfully executed.

Definately worth the wait.

 

So, how long was the wait? Did you buy it on Ebay or off their website.

 

Last Refuge Hot Rods.......SUCKS!!

 

Why do they suck? I've never dealt with them before.

 

I got it direct from them.

The wait? It was probably about 3 months or so.
I've got so many projects going on, I can't remember.
Could have been more or less...

I've read that they can be a little slow, but I can't complain. For the money, I can't see anyone beating it. I guess in this world of McDonalds and FedEx, people just want everything yesterday.

I'd rather support the little guys in this economy, anyway...

 

unfortunately, Norbert has not earned himself the greatest reputation here.

For a person that CAN do some outstanding work, he often fails in the customer service department, and takes WAY too long to deliver product purchased.

search a little, and you will quickly see why many H.A.M.B.ers have written him off.

 

Yah, I did a search.

Anyone who started a business from zero will hold some sympathy. (I've got CNC subs running me out of time now, so I am living it... perhaps that's why I can overlook some drama.)

Bottom line, I can only comment on what I have experienced personally and I am happy.

 

There's two things you don't say here on the HAMB.....
Rat rod and Last Refuge Hot Rods, because they both SUCK!

Good luck on your new project!

 

Lets see some pics of the new project.

 

Dude, tell us how you really feel.

 

Will post soon.

We are still pulling the bits together.

I am leveraging my buddy Bill Jagenow of Brothers' Customs outside of Detroit for the build.

Bill built the engine (and a ton of other stuff) in Larry Smith's '32 that won Best of Show at the Detroit Autorama. That engine was just nuts... Twin plug head, SCOT blower. You couldn't swing a dead cat around that engine without hitting something way cool and equally expensive.....

Bill is finishing some details on my Maserati for me at the moment.
After that, we'll pull the trigger on the '29.

The truck is just going to be something dead simple but violent enough to scare the poop out of my 5 year old.

 

Why do they suck ...? What complaint do you have about them...? I have one of there model A beds that I got from them a couple of years ago and it is pretty nice.....

 

Todd (SPARKSWILLFLY) has every right to be extremely pissed with me, I screwed up his order big time, we were going through some growth and TIG welder problems, you name it I was dealing with it. Eventually after a long wait Todd had his product and a refund, which was not easy for us at the time. I guess I shouldnt have called him a crybaby whiner. As it turns out it was a pretty good description. By the way Todd decided to sell his project a while back and unknown to him I posed as an interested buyer. He went on and on about the great quality of Last Refuge and how good it was, I just kept it to myself until now. We have come a long way and we are still not perfect. As always ask about lead times before ordering. We are releasing a Cabrio version of the RPU ( roll up windows) and a 32 roadster soon. Keep the prayers coming.

 

You had problems with them too? Or, just going by someone else's issue...

Guys remember, there are always three sides of any customer service story, sellers, buyers and the truth...

Sometimes there are circumstances beyond someones control, sometimes somes expectations of said service are too high...

So unless someone personally has issues with someones company, don't post hear say. If you had problems start your thread or post your reply but don't start hanging on someone elses good service experience bashing...

 

I've seen a Last Refuse 28-29 RPU cab and a Brookville, whatever the cost differance is BROOKVILLE is were I'd spend my money.

 

Is your avatar" hellsapoppin" at Dover?
JimV

 

No, that's "ALLEY Oop" the Lyndwood that I'm restoring, it ran side by side with Hellsapopin and I parked it along side it at a meet 10 or more years ago.

 

Pictures, pictures. pictures. Less talk and more pictures.
________________________________________________________________________
Like I told the kid, "Your music's not too loud, it's just like OKC, it sucks!"

 

On the Brookville vs Last Refuge comment,
We Love Brookville, without them the repro business would still be patch panels and fiberglass. We have a different product, Brookville does a nice job of reproducing Henry steel while I build a newer version. Our steel body accomodates the larger driver that wasnt too common in the 20's. We stretch the Cab a bit and have a slightly curved rear profile. We use steel dies instead of Kirksite for crisper lines. We use Laser cut parts instead of die cut stampings. Our channeled car is not a compromise and is designed to be a channeled car from the subframe up. You dont have to hack up a perfectly nice body and scab up a subframe to make a channeled car. Price is lower too, you get a car , bed and frame for around 5k. Simply the best deal in Hot Rodding. Who knows if Henry had CNC mills and a Laser cutter his car might have looked a lot like mine. Our frames are nice too.

 

I got a 33/34 bed from last refuge several years ago, I was very pleased, yes it took a little while to get it, but I have more time than money, so I just worked on other aspects of the project while waiting for the bed. It's not like I was getting screwed out of it, and every time I called or e-mailed I got somebody, Norby most of the time. If I had the extra dough, I'd order one of his RPU packages in a heartbeat, I've seen them and they are awsome!

 

I got a 34 bed from him four years ago. It took longer than expected, but it was a great price, and the quality was there. I give Norb props, and would buy from him again.
Sometimes in the industry there is alot of growing pains. Im glad he is on here to defend himself.

Rob

 

Warning, warning, danger, danger! I bought a rpu package a while back. At first glance i was happy with my last refuge purchase but 300 hours of work later I would not do it again. Sorry to tell ya if you don't already know but that cab is primered for a reason. IT ALREADY HAS A GALLON OF BONDO IN IT! as for the welds and radius work on the frame, cut them open and have a look. Mine had NO penetration and sprung open under load. I also had to re-work the cab as it was asymmetrical. My bed measured perfectly diagonal and level but looked seriously crooked against the cab. I centerlined the cab and it was 1 1/4" wider from center to passenger side than center to driver side. To sum this up: Norbert, stick to making truck beds. That's what you're good at! A Brookville stretched 30-31 cab is ready for paint and I would have been much better off and already on the road. Man my chest feels better! Thanks.

 

I'd be interest in Norb's responce to Troyz accusations.

Frank

 

Am I alone in thinking that Devin LaDawri sounds like a stripper's stage name? Bring on those tassels...

 

I didn't accuse. I stated facts.

 

Hey, have I ever told you guys........LAST REFUGE SUCKS!

 

Ok I will put my 2 cent in on this subject. I would go with Brookville if I could go back in time. They are more $$ for a reason the product is better. That said 5K is not a bad deal for steel cab and bed but you get what you pay for.Just thought I would tell my experience with it.

 

This is the first rpu I built. It was a brookville. It was expensive to build and I agree you do get what you pay for. My post was to give prospective buyers some insight as I have now built both. I know the amount of work it takes. I bought the last refuge because the picture looked really good and the price was right. I should have found a cheap basket case henry ford body and patched it up. It would have been the same amount of work. I would have purchased the last refuge truck bed. They are nice. My posts were not meant to be a smear job but I do have experience both ways and hope someone can benefit from the expensive & time consuming mistakes I've made.

 

I had some sour dealings with" Last Refuse" also. Ended up cutting my losses and buying a real one. They still owe me money, my first refund check bounced, and that was about 3 years ago. It's hard to run a small business when the demand is greater then your capabilities.

 

Eventually after a long wait Todd had his product and a refund, which was not easy for us at the time. I guess I shouldnt have called him a crybaby whiner. As it turns out it was a pretty good description.

Norbert
There must be a lot of crybaby whiners around .
Just ask Todd,or the Local lady with the Mercedes you were supposed to restore,or ask dirty 31 about your chassis components etc etc