For most families, as we did with our two girls, they go to a hospital for the birth of their children. But on Tuesday, July 21st, we went someplace, a little out of the ordinary, to watch the birth of our new baby. The Flint Truck Assembly Plant, in Flint, Michigan, where we watched our 2015 GMC Denali 3500 DRW Diesel, come to life. She had big hips and was a little heavy for a new born, but she was healthy, tough and without question, beautiful! It was difficult go home without her but only a week later, on Tuesday, July 28th, we brought her home. And the Arctic Fox, was finally able to meet her new ride.
Joking aside, the opportunity we were given to visit the GM Flint Truck Assembly Plant and watch our truck get built was a very unique and once in a lifetime experience. Surprisingly, it was all made possible after I posted a question on the truck camping forum of RV.net, asking about the compatibility of our Arctic Fox 1150 Truck Camper and the new 2015 GMC 3500 Denali DRW. One of the responses came from a person, named Pete, who said if I was planning on having the truck built, to personal message him with contact information and he could possibly arrange for us to tour the assembly plant and watch our truck get built.
I did so and the very next day, I was contacted by two people from General Motors. One from production scheduling and the other from GM Communications. After multiple emails, back and forth, I was then asked if it would be okay to also have someone be there to take some videos. I agreed, but surprisingly, the "someone" taking videos, actually turned out to be a video crew who filmed us and our truck, the entire time it was being assembled. I was wired up with a wireless microphone and interview multiple times during the build. And as awkward as it sometimes felt to have a video camera starring at us during our four hours there, it actually turned out to be a lot of fun.
I believe what was most fascinating, is the technology and quality of the people who work on the GM assembly line. Over forty years ago, I worked on the assembly line at another truck manufacturing plant and the difference between then and now is like night and day. There is no more prying or banging on something to fit. No more having to lift a heavy part into position. And no more hung over, drunk or stoned people, carelessly slapping parts together. It was more like a precision partnership between man and technology. Where line workers are more like professional assembly people with pride in what they do, pride in their fellow team members and pride for the company they work for.
So, now that our little girl is home and the Denali and Arctic Fox are getting to know each other, the excitement is building. She may purr like a kitten but don't be fooled, she is a beast with the heart of a lion. And now, the only thing left to do, is to get her all accessorized in Torklift products and the two of them should be ready for their first adventure, together.
If the ulr copied correctly, this is the video GM took as we watched our GMC Denali 3500 DRW Diesel get built on July 21, 2015
Clicky
"The Journey is the Destination"
2015 GMC Denali 3500 DRW Duramax/Allison
TorkLift Talon Tiedowns, StableLoads and FastGuns with Locks
2012 Arctic Fox 1150 with Dry Bath with Fox Landing and Wobble Stoppers
