Why I really dislike the local Fab shops

Amen to that man. Most of the guys here are in over their head at huge shops and the overhead charges are reflected in the price, of everything. But some of them are just in it for the money and because of the lack of customers the price is nuts. One of these shops has eight, four post lifts and all of which sit empty four of the six days they're open. One of the reasons if shotty work, but hey, not my business.

 

this guy = tha shitttttttt!!!!!!

 

I recently saw a thread about a guy that was building some 1st gen plate bumpers that were tasteful and if I remember correctly, priced pretty good. I wanna say the $600 range. This included winch mount and 2 shackles with 3/4" hangers for them. I'm sure it was here on TW. I
ll check my posts and find him...

 

Must have been Relentless. lol Those bumpers are screaming my name. haha

 

Here it is.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/relentless-fabrication/99151-official-1st-gen-front-bumper.html

 

Do it your self

$840 welder
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/millermatic_140_autoset/
~$400 2'x4' 3/16 steel plate x4(you can probably make a rear with this much steel)
you can save a ton if you have your own welder drill and side grinder

 

For those prices just get one shipped from out here. Or try not custom. Allpro makes a good tube/winch bumper for like $500.

 

Definitely Relentless Fab. Those look sweet.

 

They got it you want it, thats the reason.

 

im not sure how much you want to spend but you can pick up a bumper from relentless fab. For 650 right now. Probably cost you 150 to ship it. I sent my deposit last night. I got a few extras on mine so it cost a little more, but if you wanted to do the fog light holes and the hoop by yourself you can save some money.

 

Thats good you made $450 profit but a real fab shop wouldn't make anywhere near that much profit on something like that. A one off bumper will probably take 10+ hours for them to complete at a minimum of $80/hr these days. Fab shops have a lot of overhead to take care of before they can turn a profit unlike you. They have to pay for all of their tools, rent, insurance, etc. If a plate bumper like that was mass produced by that company they could probably sell it for around $500 but that is because they only have to take measurements and work the design once so they can build a jig.