Newsletter

Newsletter 2-26

A lot has happened since the last news letter.  The shop got very busy with other contracts and was not able to spend any time working on The Ruff Racks.  So busy that I was considering discontinuing The Ruff Rack and moving on.  However, I really don’t want to disappoint a lot of dogs.  

I did some restructuring and started to look at the design and realized that I can’t spend 2 weeks to make one. I must get faster. The first step was I must find some help with some of less specialized parts of the process. 

It took a great amount of time interviewing people and shops and finally I was able to find some help that is allowing me to sub out some of the work. Powder coating and cutting the sheet metal are the most time consuming steps that can be done by someone other than me.   

Through the process of becoming more efficient, I have figured out a way of combining how I put The Ruff Rack together so it almost builds itself.  

With a lot of planning I was able to  come up with a way that turns what I do into a kit that an expert isn’t required to build it.

The kit built Ruff Rack looks virtually identical to the ones that I build in my shop with some very subtle differences.  

I’ve designed the kit in a way that it almost builds itself.  I’m working on the instructional video that shows every step and how long everything takes.  If you or friend isn’t able to weld it, a local fab shop can easily do it and you’ll know exactly how long it takes.  

The mounts are still a crucial part of The Ruff Rack.  For Harley-Davidson owners, purchasing a solo tour pack bracket will be the easiest way to mount The Ruff Rack.  For the Large Ruff Rack, a custom shop quick disconnect bracket is needed because an aftermarket bracket will bend with the added leverage.  I build the brackets with much thicker steel and I changed the geometry to make bending impossible.  For all other bikes, you’ll need the bolt on brackets or a luggage rack to bolt to.  

I’ll concentrate on everyone in the queue before I make the kit available to the general public.  I appreciate everyone’s patience. I’m doing my best to have everything ready before the summer riding season starts.   

I’m currently looking for someone that can take over the sewing and I’m working on the instructional videos of how to build The Ruff Rack.  

Tim. 

Update 12/10/2025

Over the last few weeks I have been able to finish and ship out 3 Ruff Racks.  I have a Large that I need to sew the upholstery for and create the placards and it will be ready to ship. 
I had a Suzuki M50 that I built a double for.  The complexity of designing the quick release mount was such that the lady that owns the bike trailered it from Texas to Tennessee for me to do the design and install.  It was my first attempt of a quick disconnect bracket of something other than a Harley-Davidson.  After 3 days it was all complete and she returned home safely.
While doing maintenance on one of my machines, I fell and injured my elbow.  I’ve been doing my best to work through the pain in the hopes that I would heal in a few days and things would get back to normal.  After over a month, I’ve realized that this injury is not healing and seems to be getting worse. Now I have to wait for an appointment with my orthopedic surgeon.  I’ve been trying to find some help in the shop but after giving 4 different people a chance I realized that it took longer and I had to do most things again myself.  I was working with a shop out of state to do most of the production of The Ruff Rack itself while I built the brackets.  That didn’t pan out. Without any outside support and with this injury, I’m forced to put a pause on everything while I recover.  I already feel bad enough about my elbow making everything in my life difficult but I really regret the frustration and disappointment that those in the queue must feel.  I hope that in a few weeks I can get treatment for this injury and pick up where I left off. 

The Ruff Rack Pack newsletter #4

10/22/2025

Since the last newsletter, Jaxon and Bodie got theirs installed and Cody’s was shipped.  The Ruff Racks for Eddie, Xena, and Sass were completed and shipped.  Sass and Xena were the first to get the new one piece custom Ruff Rack bracket. 

This week I will be working on designing a one piece quick disconnect bracket for a Suzuki. The design will require gathering some dimensions that are difficult to obtain through text messages. I look forward to posting how we accomplish this on the Ruff Rack Facebook page. 

Thank you for reading the newsletter.  

If anyone needs to pause or isn’t interested in being in the queue any longer, send me a message and I’ll update it.  

Dogs of the Queue

1.Gracie and Gabriel-210

2.Chocolate-360

3.Voltaire-France

4.Owen-774

5.Xenah and Tiahna-530

6.Basil-402

7.Petey-860

8.Ernie-937

9.Daisy-661

10.Dan-360

11.Diesel-709

12.Sally-760

13.Tank-484

14.Violet-330

15.Mr. Moose-702

16.Trixie-409

17.Ralph-605

18.CJ-678

19.Truman-336

20.Ryder-818

21.Meatloaf-713

22.Gabe-931

23.Whiskey-048

24.Dice-402

25.Tater-830

26.Soho-514

27.Roy-817

28.Cedar-778

29.Teddy-619

30.Charley/Cassie-780

31.Gypsy-309

32.Major-573

33.Nyx-970

34.Trinity-540

35.Phoenix-Josh

36.Venus-33

37.Raijin-813

38.Beau (Sarah)