Built on Grit, Lifted by Community: Tad’s Gratitude Letter from HEO Trailers
If there’s one thread that’s been consistent through this entire journey, it’s this: nothing about HEO has been simple—but everything has been worth it.
From the first spark of an idea to buy Highland Expedition Outfitters from Jeff and Kate, to the endless twists and turns of the actual deal, to the moment I shut the door on a 27’ Penske truck packed full of gear and pointed it toward Colorado… every part of this adventure has been a roller coaster. The best kind. The kind that scares you a little, pushes you a lot, and shows you exactly what you’re made of.
Setting up the shop for the first time. Finishing that very first trailer. Getting HEO back out into the world. All huge moments. But honestly? None of them compare to the people who’ve shown up along the way.
People who started as vendors or service providers and quickly became real friends—Geoff, this absolutely means you. From the initial design huddles at Station 26, to my endless revisions to those designs, to Tennessee, to the recent pep talks – you have been the stoutest of friends. And Brooke – your support, encouragement, straight talk and unending willingness to go above and beyond – it took some convincing at the start, but I love where you’ve taken us. And Aaron – always there with a design improvement (nice rack!) and a word (or paragraph) of encouragement.
Old friends who stepped up without hesitation—Tanner (expert advice, invaluable referrals, recommendations and unflagging encouragement), Liesl (I love our logo! This woman has some real design chops) and Marci and Carson.
And new friends who jumped in with time, ideas, skills, and good energy—Spencer, Jesus, Angie, Michael, Josh (@ LavaBox), Casey (@LawsWhiskey).I don’t think I’ll ever be able to fully express how humbling and heart-filling that support has been.
The Hard Parts (Because They’re Part of the Story Too)
There’s been struggle, too.
Money is tight.
Time is tighter.
And loneliness—well, that’s real when you’re building something from the ground up.
Then came the curveball: a sudden 40% rent hike.
The kind of news that can knock the wind out of you.
But instead of sinking, I watched this community rise.
In three days—three days—Andre found new shop space.
Mike, my new landlord, couldn’t have been more supportive, encouraging, or generous.
And when it came time to actually move, people showed up. Gloves on. Ready to work. Giving up their Labor Day weekend because they believed in this thing as much as I do.
Geoff and Dawn (I’m still shocked Dawn showed up to help a stranger—thank you).
Tanner, who brought breakfast because he just gets it.
Jen, Mike, Nacho—Nacho, who was once “just a neighbor,” showed up for two straight days with his truck, trailer, forklift, lunch for everyone and more wisdom than I can ever repay.
I’m not sure what I did to deserve this crew, but I will never stop trying to say thank you.
To Everyone Who Spread the Word
To the folks who shared posts, tagged us, sent friends our way, showed up to spontaneous photoshoots, jumped in for a last-minute video, gave advice, made introductions, and kept the fire lit:
Thank you.
You’re fueling something bigger than just a trailer company.
Special shoutout to Sam Hock and the crew at Rigs & Brews for continuously including us, lifting us up, helping us find our footing in the Colorado overland community, and making sure people know what HEO is all about. (As well as fully testing the capabilities (and resilience…IYKYK…of the trailers.)
HEO Isn’t Just a Trailer — It’s a Community
At its core, HEO is about access:
Access to the wild.
Access to adventure.
Access to a kind of camping that doesn’t require a trust fund.
But I don’t get to build trailers without the people who build me back up every time something punches us in the teeth.
So this post is simple:
Thank you.
For the hands-on help.
For the late-night advice.
For the tough conversations.
For the encouragement.
For every shoutout, every share, every “you got this.”
For believing in the vision, the grit, and the long game.
HEO is still just getting started.
And we’re only here because of the humans who stepped up when it mattered.
Here’s to more trailers, more trails, more stories, and more people who make all of it unforgettable. Thanks for reading Tad’s Gratitude Letter.
— Tad Rogers
Owner, HEO Trailers
Built in Colorado. Built because of you.
Adventure Awaits. Welcome to the next era of HEO.
Join the Adventure
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