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

[AzScorpion]

I watched brain surgery on YouTube and pretty sure I'm ready to give it a go. Any volunteers? ?

Ummm...

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[KJRR]

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.

 

[ScottyT]

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 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 are always one broken bolt away from any task becoming an all day job .

 

[Jbroke]

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]

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]

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.

 

[Tracy Bowman]

I watched brain surgery on YouTube and pretty sure I'm ready to give it a go. Any volunteers? ?

You guys crack me up.

 

[JimG_AZ]

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]

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]

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]

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. "

 

[SSingh1975]

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]

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.

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