Considering Building Sliders/Bumpers - Land Rovers Only

OldnDirty · 06-01-2009, 12:31 PM

I'm considering building rock sliders and/or rear bumpers to sell on an as ordered basis. I would like some suggestions on features or options that people are looking for. Right now I'm going to build a rear bumper with a swing out tire carrier for my RRC and then a set of sliders. When I'm done with that, I'll try to find someone with a Disco (maybe) to use as a template. This will be a slow process at first because I have a semi full time job and am just looking to suplement my income. Hopefully I can turn this into a business along with detailing, maintenance, and installation of other accessories.

Thanks guys,
Brian

Disco Mike · 06-01-2009, 01:49 PM

Save yourself a lot of time, money and effort. There is little or no profit in do this and between the cost of material and frieght you won't be able to cover your cost.

OldnDirty · 06-01-2009, 02:12 PM

Thanks for your support. Have you priced steel lately? Cheap. How do you know it's not worth my time? Especially if I'm doing this for SUPLEMENTAL income. I enjoy metal working/welding, so if I can do something that I enjoy, and make some money while doing it, why not? I was asking for recomendations for options or features, not OPINIONS whether you thinks it's financially feasible or not.

BullDogSix · 06-01-2009, 02:50 PM

Because most people are cheap, and will not be willing to pay you what you want for your items...remember shipping will play a bigger part in your pricing than you think. Mabey if you keep it local, and cut out the shipping, then it might be worth it...but to ship across country...you'll find that it will be too expensive. I'd still give the local thing a shot though.

tcpfl · 06-01-2009, 05:51 PM

Do you have a finished product we could see?

Ultraviolet · 06-01-2009, 06:20 PM

hell, if it's something you enjoy even if you don't make any money off of it, i say go for it. (yea, and pics too)

Stevelkinevil · 06-01-2009, 06:36 PM

wow everyones been soooooooo helpfull! lol. If you can somehow make the stuff cheaper than the competitors with comparable quality i say go for it! also maybe consider some other avenues a little less saturated, maybe affordable safari racks? or maybe some p38 stuff? not alot of that out there.

OldnDirty · 06-01-2009, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcpfl

Do you have a finished product we could see?

I started this thread to see if there were any options or features that people are looking for. I haven't fabricated anything yet.

OldnDirty · 06-01-2009, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevelkinevil

wow everyones been soooooooo helpfull! lol. If you can somehow make the stuff cheaper than the competitors with comparable quality i say go for it! also maybe consider some other avenues a little less saturated, maybe affordable safari racks? or maybe some p38 stuff? not alot of that out there.

Thanks for your input. I'm planning on making a rack soon.

stolenheron · 06-01-2009, 08:44 PM

go for it man. you should have no shortage of business thanks to all the LR forums out there on the net.

keep me posted and let me know if you begin making products for a D2.

tcpfl · 06-02-2009, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldnDirty

I started this thread to see if there were any options or features that people are looking for. I haven't fabricated anything yet.

Okay... here's what I'm looking for. A strong and awesome looking front winch bumper for a 2004 DII. Oh yeah, a strong and awesome looking rear bumper with recovery points and a swing-out tire carrier. Both at a price I won't have to take a 2nd mortgage out on the house for.

Disco Mike · 06-02-2009, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldnDirty

Thanks for your support. Have you priced steel lately? Cheap. How do you know it's not worth my time? Especially if I'm doing this for SUPLEMENTAL income. I enjoy metal working/welding, so if I can do something that I enjoy, and make some money while doing it, why not? I was asking for recomendations for options or features, not OPINIONS whether you thinks it's financially feasible or not.

Well, one thing you need to do is make sure it is financially feasible and even more so look at all the old and new competition you will have to out do to be able to sell any new products.
If it is not feasible, why put all this time and effort into some that you will loose money doing, if you don't look at this first, you won't make be able to compete.
If you are not open to people and their options, you do have a lot to learn about business of any kind, part or full time.

p76rangie · 06-02-2009, 08:00 AM

For the rear, make sure you keep a good departure angle and try and protect the rear quarter panels as much as possible. Both from side and upward impacts. Take into account that steel will flex a fair amount when hit, so don't try and make them a too tight a fit with the panels. You should try and integrate a square type tow hitch into the rear bar, this will also then allow you to offer a recovery point that fits into the receiver.

For the side bars, I believe the straight rock sliders are a waste of time. Most of the things I hit are sideways and not from underneath. So a solid side step setup with built in rock sliders is a better idea.

Never been much of a fan of the spare wheel holders on the rear bumpers. If you have the wheel sitting out or too low, it will get clobbered on steep climbs. Have it too high and you will need a solid bar as you cannot see out the back and you will continually back into things. Maybe you could built in reversing sensors or a reversing camera into the design

OldnDirty · 06-02-2009, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disco Mike

If you are not open to people and their options, you do have a lot to learn about business of any kind, part or full time.

Did you not read my post completely? I was asking for people's input as to what features or options they are looking for. What I am not looking for is opinions whether or not you think it's financially feasible. I appreciate your concern though. That is my choice ultimately. I have been is business for myself for 15 years, so I know a thing or two about how to conduct myself. I understand the time value of money and when to consider something a waste of time. Right now I'm doing sort of a "market analysis" of what people would like to see. I believe that most of the vendors out there right now are inflating their prices just because of the Land Rover name and the misconception that Land Rover owners have all sorts of money to throw around. I think that a rear bumper can be fabricated for far less than the $900 to $1100 that I'm seeing online.

michaels · 06-02-2009, 06:17 PM

they can be fabricated for less. nate does sliders for $415 shipped. i build sliders as well and can do them for $400 not including shipping, but it comes to only $10/hour with all costs considered, and i have a plasma cutter to cut time down to fractions of how long it takes to saw. realistically, i need $500 plus shipping. luckily i have a dealer friend who wants to support my side business and doesn't mind paying someone local, and not have to deal with shipping (i deliver by hand) for their DIIs and RRCs. FWIW, a DI and RRC SWB sliders with be indentical. DII slider will be 1 inch shorter on both ends of the slider. make them accordingly.