Sponsored

LOL...local shops charging me $400 to put level kit on my Ranger.

AzScorpion

Moderator
First Name
Dave
Joined
Jul 25, 2019
Threads
335
Messages
26,314
Reaction score
132,520
Location
Back Home In AZ!
Vehicle(s)
2023 Ford Ranger Tremor
Occupation
Retired...Full Time Slacker
I watched brain surgery on YouTube and pretty sure I'm ready to give it a go. Any volunteers? ?

Ummm...o_O


Abi-Normal.webp
Sponsored

 

KJRR

Well-Known Member
First Name
KJ
Joined
Feb 1, 2020
Threads
14
Messages
2,022
Reaction score
10,482
Location
Cleveland, OH
Vehicle(s)
'19 Ford Ranger, '14 Ford Edge, '74 VW Type 181
Occupation
Professional Curmudgeon
I guess I always look at any job I could do in terms of time and investment. How many new tools do I need (get?) to buy? How long will it take me to muddle through it? I take the $ for the tools, add it to my time (figured at my hourly wage) and add them up. Now I take that total and subtract it from the total to have the professional do it. And that's the number I refer to as the convenience fee. If I can stomach that amount, I pay it. If not, I do it myself. Generally it comes down to what's my free time worth to me in $$$.
Well put John and I do the same but I add in the "aggravation" fee also. Some jobs like this one you know there's going to be issues and do I want to deal with it? I can usually make more money at my job than the aggravations is worth so for me (as long as I have a shop I can trust) it's well worth it to pay someone else. I've spent enough years crawling under vehicles fixing stuff that "should've been easy" only to have it take 2-3 times as long. My free time is valuable now. :)
You guys nailed it. I put an hourly rate on my time and the older you get, the higher the rate goes. Also time involved, some things would take me much longer than a pro thus raising the total cost.
Oil change and tire rotation? Cheap and easy and gives me the opportunity to check out other things that may be needed on the vehicle. Brake jobs are a maybe. Caliper replacements I farm out.
Now on the old, weekend car, I'll pull an engine and tear it apart, but it's all fun and time doesn't matter.:wink:
 

ScottyT

Well-Known Member
First Name
Scott
Joined
Jan 9, 2022
Threads
3
Messages
181
Reaction score
353
Location
South Jersey
Vehicle(s)
None
I guess I always look at any job I could do in terms of time and investment. How many new tools do I need (get?) to buy? How long will it take me to muddle through it? I take the $ for the tools, add it to my time (figured at my hourly wage) and add them up. Now I take that total and subtract it from the total to have the professional do it. And that's the number I refer to as the convenience fee. If I can stomach that amount, I pay it. If not, I do it myself. Generally it comes down to what's my free time worth to me in $$$.
Well put John and I do the same but I add in the "aggravation" fee also. Some jobs like this one you know there's going to be issues and do I want to deal with it? I can usually make more money at my job than the aggravations is worth so for me (as long as I have a shop I can trust) it's well worth it to pay someone else. I've spent enough years crawling under vehicles fixing stuff that "should've been easy" only to have it take 2-3 times as long. My free time is valuable now. :)
Exactly. My same thoughts. How long would it take me? What tools do I need? Do I know someone that can help and have the tools already? Been there, done that.

A 2-3 job for a professional may take you 6-8 plus aggrevation, free time loss, and a pissed off wife for being in the garage all day.

Some things are just worth paying for.
 

rydfree

Well-Known Member
First Name
Benny
Joined
Sep 3, 2021
Threads
16
Messages
985
Reaction score
3,689
Location
Alabama
Vehicle(s)
2020 Ranger FX4 Super crew Lariet - Mercedes GLK
Occupation
Maintenance
Vehicle Showcase
1
Well put John and I do the same but I add in the "aggravation" fee also. Some jobs like this one you know there's going to be issues and do I want to deal with it? I can usually make more money at my job than the aggravations is worth so for me (as long as I have a shop I can trust) it's well worth it to pay someone else. I've spent enough years crawling under vehicles fixing stuff that "should've been easy" only to have it take 2-3 times as long. My free time is valuable now. :)


:explode:
Day 2 Of A 45 Min Install.jpg
You are always one broken bolt away from any task becoming an all day job .
 

Jbroke

Well-Known Member
First Name
Jimmy
Joined
Apr 13, 2020
Threads
14
Messages
375
Reaction score
947
Location
Atlanta
Vehicle(s)
2019 Ranger Lariat 2WD
Occupation
Sports
You put $400 in title then $350 in post? With alignment that’s not a terrible price, keep shopping if you think it’s not a good price or learn to DIY for free *shrug*
 


Deleted member 9836

Sounds about right. Even my local mechanic shop here in TN bumped labor from $98 an hour to $120 on January 1st. Gotta love the inflation tax....
 

Ranger54

Well-Known Member
First Name
Ben
Joined
Jan 16, 2021
Threads
27
Messages
338
Reaction score
1,466
Location
Northwest Arkansas
Vehicle(s)
2020 Ford Ranger Lariat FX4
Occupation
Service advisor
UPDATE: Called another shop (specializing in Jeep lifts) and was quoted $320 so I booked appointment immediately.

thanks fellas ! Much appreciated.
Yup. We are at $330 including alignment and that’s more than fair for both parties.
 

troutspinner

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2021
Threads
8
Messages
191
Reaction score
555
Location
SE Pa
Vehicle(s)
Tacoma
I seem to alternate. Lol. This is my 4th truck I’ve leveled. I did the first one, a shop did the second, I did the third and this one I had a shop do it. Who knows what the next one will be. Maybe none, I swear I’m keeping this truck until it’s a pile of rust.
 

JimG_AZ

Well-Known Member
First Name
Jim
Joined
Aug 25, 2019
Threads
2
Messages
565
Reaction score
922
Location
Phoenix, AZ
Vehicle(s)
2021 Ranger XLT FX4
I had mine done at Brakes Plus. They had recently opened here (2019) in Goodyear and I knew a few people who had work done to their Jeeps and were happy. The manager and several workers are into trucks, Jeeps and off roading and do a really good job there. They always check my alignment and level kit and re-torque anything if necessary for free. They just had to do another alignment after 2 years and only charged me $80.00. I'm really happy with them and it's rare out here to find a good honest business with reasonable prices.
Thanks. If I decide to put a leveling kit on, I'll PM you for the info.
 

McLeadslinger

Well-Known Member
First Name
Trevor
Joined
Sep 18, 2021
Threads
24
Messages
764
Reaction score
1,881
Location
Pikeville NC
Vehicle(s)
2019 Ford Ranger XLT FX4 Sport.
Occupation
Aircraft Electrician
Paying any amount of money to have a level installed is a waste IMO. The same amount of effort and instal cost could be used to
Install a REAL suspension upgrade like coilovers.

if you pay to have someone do work for you, don’t come on here like you did something. I’m a beat to hell 45 year old vet and still do all my own work unless it’s for warranty. I’m just hearing excuses as to why you “can’t” do something. In todays world of lazy people, it’s just easier to throw money at someone.
 

RangerRandy

Well-Known Member
First Name
Randy
Joined
Jan 16, 2022
Threads
3
Messages
194
Reaction score
1,007
Location
Hiram
Vehicle(s)
2020 Ford Ranger
Occupation
Paint and Body
I don't think $400 is a bad price. I'm not mechanically inclined to do it myself. So, I paid exactly $400 for the Rough Country kit, plus installation with alignment out the door. Drove away with a smile on my face and didn't have to get my hands dirty trying to something I'm not qualified to do.
I'll just stick to what I know. Paint and Body. LOL
 

THLONE

Well-Known Member
First Name
Thom
Joined
Feb 12, 2019
Threads
10
Messages
1,456
Reaction score
2,177
Location
Tucson,AZ
Vehicle(s)
68 Chev C-20, 2019 Ford Ranger XL 4X4
Occupation
internet wise guy
Vehicle Showcase
1
Many many years ago the Boss told me that the car owner and his friend wanted to watch me tear down his Jetaway auto trans so next time they could do it their selves. Boss told me to teardown as fast as I could and spread the parts all over. I did that and when I was done the boys said "holy shoot we aint never going to try to do that. "
 
OP
OP
SSingh1975

SSingh1975

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2018
Threads
21
Messages
94
Reaction score
354
Location
Elk Grove, CA
Vehicle(s)
['21 Ford Ranger XLT (Tremor) , BMW IX Electric
Hah....exactly. Since u also work in healthcare, I'm sure u are in the same boat as me..working 60 hour workweeks and then supporting department over weekend..no real vacation since last 18 months. Short staffed and sometimes, you don't even know if u put sugar in your coffee.

Then whatever energy is left, that goes to family committments and walking the bloody dog who does nothing but sit all day waiting for me to come home and feed him..lol.

Side note, all the best to ya..our Covid/infections have come down A LOT so things have started going back to normal which means I can now work less, enjoy more and perhaps start watching Youtube videos on how to level a Ford ranger ;).

Cheers!

I guess I always look at any job I could do in terms of time and investment. How many new tools do I need (get?) to buy? How long will it take me to muddle through it? I take the $ for the tools, add it to my time (figured at my hourly wage) and add them up. Now I take that total and subtract it from the total to have the professional do it. And that's the number I refer to as the convenience fee. If I can stomach that amount, I pay it. If not, I do it myself. Generally it comes down to what's my free time worth to me in $$$.
 

Aaron77

Active Member
First Name
Aaron
Joined
Apr 22, 2021
Threads
5
Messages
37
Reaction score
94
Location
California Escapee
Vehicle(s)
2021 Ranger FX4
My dealer charged me $500 for my level. For dealer prices I thought that was good. It included the alignment and retightening 300 miles later.

I've also had enough times where I cheaped out at smaller shops and ended up paying more to fix their screw ups, so I don't mind paying a little more if I'm confident they know what they are doing. Some dealers are terrible though, but so far I've been happy with mine.
Sponsored

 
 








Top