TheSamba.com :: View topic - Has texasbuggys.com gone out of business?

Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:12 am

Has texasbuggys.com closed it's doors? I tried to find something on their website a few days ago, and I noticed that that it had vanished. I tried to check it out again today, and it still was not available. I tried calling the tel number that I had for them (361-753-1461) and I got a recording that the number had been disconnected.

Did I miss a previous post about this? Does anyone know the status of this company? I purchased a modified, center fill gas tank from them during my original build, along with an aluminum flip top gas lid; not sure if anyone else is carrying these products. Just for general reference, does anyone know of other companies that may be offering these exact products?

Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:14 am

Boat store / marine supplies.

Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:17 am

Boat stores carry air cooled VW gas tanks that will fit dune buggies and have been modified for center fill gas lids? Thanks Tom, I guess I will have to look closer the next time I am in West Marine.

Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:20 am

A boat store will have that stainless gas fill, but not a vw tank. Any good welder can move the neck on a tank.

It really sadden me to hear that texasbuggy closed(if it's true). They have a username on here, if I did around I might find it.

I bought one of there first buggies and have missed it since I sold it. They had really nice stuff. Their tube frame was so strong :shock:

Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:20 am

Here is a stainless one. Its pretty cool.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Stainless-Steel-Flip-Top...mp;vxp=mtr

Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:22 am

Gary0302 wrote: Boat stores carry air cooled VW gas tanks that will fit dune buggies and have been modified for center fill gas lids? Thanks Tom, I guess I will have to look closer the next time I am in West Marine.

No silly, just the cap. After all they are for boats.

Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:27 am

my texasbuggy dune buggy

Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:28 am

Okay, let me ask my question again, with some clarification;

1.) Does anyone know if texasbuggys.com actually has gone out of business?

2.) Does anyone know if a company stocks and sells gas tanks that are already set up for center fill gas lids? Yes, I am well aware that a welder can perform the task, but I am pretty sure that the neck on my center fill tank is not the same size as the standard VW neck, I am trying to find a company that is already familiar with the setup.

3.) Does anyone know where I could find the exact flip top gas lid pictured in my first post?

Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:34 am

Here is another boat flip cap just like the one in your photo. Again just the cap.

http://shopping.rexmar.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?...llsfliptop
I can make you a tank but not until I get my buggy done.

Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:36 am

http://carcraftstore.com/fliptopfuelfiller.aspx

http://www.socalautoparts.com/product_info.php/fuel-filler-cap-flip-top-p-13320

http://www.diamondperformanceparts.com/product.php?productid=16999

http://www.bargainboatparts.com/p-98870-flip-top-gas-fill.aspx

google search - "Aluminum flip top gas fill"

Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:37 am

3) http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speedway-Small-Cobra-Style-Gas-Cap,53671.html

Thu Mar 22, 2012 11:43 am

... I have nothing of value to add to this post, other than - "Hey Gary! Hope you're doing well..."

bryan

Thu Mar 22, 2012 12:26 pm

Thanks for the links for the aluminum gas fillers, I do appreciate it. Bryan, I am doing fine, thanks for your concern. Now, I don’t know any of the details on the possible demise of texasbuggys.com, but hopefully it is not because of what I suspect; that air cooled vw /dune buggy related businesses are finding it extremely difficult to keep their door open.

Because of the passing of one of it’s owners, B & K Manufacturing no longer exists. Apparently, a company in China has knocked off their featured product, the windshield frame clamp. Dino of bugshieldsbydino.com also passed away, and from what I can tell, his son is trying to keep that business open by doubling up his efforts in addition to fulfilling his responsibilities with another job. Are we going to start to see a pattern with the smaller manufacturers; that specialize in dune buggy related products, start to fall by the wayside, one by one?

I do not currently need a replacement flip top gas filler or a gas tank that has been modified for center fill. However, I do try to at least know where I can get proper replacements, if needed, and I also like to recommend those same places to others if they are looking for the same product. When there is a choice, I do try to consider how I was treated by a company with both the ordering process and customer service (price is not always a factor); I try to give repeat business to those that treated my order with respect (I realize that sounds heavy, but for some companies it appears to be a great challenge).

Thu Mar 22, 2012 2:49 pm

he is not out of bussiness, he is having server issues. shoot him an email [email protected]

Thu Mar 22, 2012 2:55 pm

Phew, I'm glad to hear that. Now when he gets the server back up let's all buy something :wink:

Don't want to lose the good old American suppliers, they are few and far between.

Thu Mar 22, 2012 3:13 pm

That is exellent news, did he happen to give you his most current telephone number as well? The one that I had listed was disconnected.

Thu Mar 22, 2012 4:16 pm

Seems like a lot of small companies that make specialty parts don't stay around too long. Seems like about 10 years is the max! If you see something you want, agan from a small company or "garage" manufacturer, better not wait around to get it thinking it'll be available a couple years from now!

Unfortunately, it looks like chineese parts may well be around forever.

Thu Mar 22, 2012 7:08 pm

Not to hijack your thread, but---

It was so good to talk to you today. I think we both can say we are fans of dune buggys :D

This is the best picture of the inside mount. I actually used a black painted piece of steel as a long "washer" to go between the bolts. I would just bolt up the hardware when the top wasn't on.

Thu Mar 22, 2012 7:10 pm

You can kinda see it here (same girl)

Fri Mar 23, 2012 1:10 am

Isn't sad though that people assume the worst just because a website goes down or a phone number changes? People who were in business before the age of the internet (if anyone can remember that) aren't always that tech minded and can be quite oblivious to the fact that their web presence has crashed. Also folks get pissed because they don't get an instant response to their emails, voicemails etc. Not everyone's got the luxury of just sitting there at a cozy office desk emailing and Facebooking all day, they're out in their shops actually doing stuff...they should be praised not criticised, the world needs more of them!!!