Can't wait!
ARCHIVE Owl plug-and-play LX courtesy/puddle replacement and rock lights
- Thread starter Ramathorn15
- Start date
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I'll try to get some photos today.
- Thread starter
- #44
Thanks for the review @nnnnnate!
Here's my plan as of now. I have enough material to make 4 more sets of lights. I'm going to make them and send them out according to the list. If all goes well and everyone is happy, I'll order more parts and keep the run going.
A couple things I've learned from building the first set. First, they take me about 3-4 hours per set and with a full time job it's hard to do these quicky. So hopefully you guys can bare with me. Second, and this might upset some, is that shipping and materials costs more than I expected. For that reason I'm going to have to raise the prices on the sets if there's still a demand for me to make them after the next 4 go out. I'm not totally sure what they will be, but definitely within the same ballpark they're in now.
Thanks guys! If you're #2-5 on the list expect me to be getting in touch in the next week or two.
Here's my plan as of now. I have enough material to make 4 more sets of lights. I'm going to make them and send them out according to the list. If all goes well and everyone is happy, I'll order more parts and keep the run going.
A couple things I've learned from building the first set. First, they take me about 3-4 hours per set and with a full time job it's hard to do these quicky. So hopefully you guys can bare with me. Second, and this might upset some, is that shipping and materials costs more than I expected. For that reason I'm going to have to raise the prices on the sets if there's still a demand for me to make them after the next 4 go out. I'm not totally sure what they will be, but definitely within the same ballpark they're in now.
Thanks guys! If you're #2-5 on the list expect me to be getting in touch in the next week or two.
Have you considered selling your design, instead of your time? Offer a blueprint and links to the materials and products you buy and sell it as a plan/kit that we can make ourselves? Again, just an idea, i won't suggest a price, but if you doubled your money for your time seems like win win and would let others go cheap on components or experiment with other configurations. Just the way I think about this stuff. An alternative would be to get a metal shop to produce the plates and just sell those and a list of the rest of the components.
BTW i'm interested in one, but I'd rather build one like you, than buy one, but am happy to help you out for your time spent on figuring out the kinks, sources for good components/hardware and such.
BTW i'm interested in one, but I'd rather build one like you, than buy one, but am happy to help you out for your time spent on figuring out the kinks, sources for good components/hardware and such.
Hey @Ramathorn15 I'm #6 on the list and am still very much looking forward to getting a set. Please let me know how to send payment! Thanks again
- Thread starter
- #47
Problem with this is by the time you buy the lights, a box of heat shrink, two connectors, shielding, and wire; you're already at way more than I would charge for a whole set.
Then even if you have the plans for the brackets, buying all the metal and metal working tools or having someone make them for you will get you well over $200.
Im planning on expanding to sell just the brackets, the set without connectors, and a complete plug and play set. I'll probably start working with my shop to see if having them make the brackets in bulk is feasible price wise.
Thanks for the input!
Understood!
I have most all that stuff already, which is why the plans apeal to me. When budget allows i'll be buying a set based on what you have up on offer. Thanks for the kind response!
- Thread starter
- #49
I'd like some input from all of you on the list.
I took my template brackets to a fabrication shop today to get an estimate of how much they would charge me to cut and bend the brackets. They would be done with a machine so they would be way more symmetrical and would look much better than mine which are made completely by hand.
The problem is the cost goes up a decent bit.
So here are the two options I'm left with now.
#1. Keep hand making the kits at a price of about $120 shipped. It would take about a week a kit for me to build and they will be obviously hand built.
#2 charge about 175-200 shipped for kits with machine cut brackets. This route I could get the kits out much quicker.
I plan to offer in-between options too for kits without the plugs and just sell the brackets.
The issue is I have to order in relatively large scale to keep the price down. To do $175-200 per kit, I have to start with an order of 15 kits (60 brackets).
I guess the question is this, is $175-200 too much for you to consider for 4 - 18 gauge stainless brackets and 4 LEDs that are plug and play? And would you be out if I went that route?
I appreciate your input guys! It's always been a passion of mine to make things for cars and I'm hoping this might be my foot in the door to bigger projects if it goes well.
I took my template brackets to a fabrication shop today to get an estimate of how much they would charge me to cut and bend the brackets. They would be done with a machine so they would be way more symmetrical and would look much better than mine which are made completely by hand.
The problem is the cost goes up a decent bit.
So here are the two options I'm left with now.
#1. Keep hand making the kits at a price of about $120 shipped. It would take about a week a kit for me to build and they will be obviously hand built.
#2 charge about 175-200 shipped for kits with machine cut brackets. This route I could get the kits out much quicker.
I plan to offer in-between options too for kits without the plugs and just sell the brackets.
The issue is I have to order in relatively large scale to keep the price down. To do $175-200 per kit, I have to start with an order of 15 kits (60 brackets).
I guess the question is this, is $175-200 too much for you to consider for 4 - 18 gauge stainless brackets and 4 LEDs that are plug and play? And would you be out if I went that route?
I appreciate your input guys! It's always been a passion of mine to make things for cars and I'm hoping this might be my foot in the door to bigger projects if it goes well.
Option 2 works for me to take some of the burden off of you from the manufacturing.
- Thread starter
- #51
Thanks for the response. Its not so much a burden as it is I want them to look like they are manufactured vs. hand made. I'll probably keep hand making them for now just to keep costs down though. Since they aren't something that's visible, I can see wanting to save money over have something aesthetically pleasing.
Great idea! I'm in for a set of these at $120 shipped and would like to be added to the list please. I think I would pay up to $150 if I could get them more quickly, but in my opinion $175-$200 would be a little much. Again, this is just my opinion and I'm sure some will disagree. Thanks for investing your time and effort in this. However you proceed, I wish you much success.
I'm just excited to have undercarriage light back! I saved all the lighting from my running board removal with the intent of reusing it, but your solution looks much better for the long term. I'll wait patiently until my name comes up on the list. Let me know when you need me to send money, and to what PayPal address.
So I'm the guy that does rig mods without telling my wife about them. Partly because she doesn't care and partly because I'm always curious to know if she is going to even notice that things are different. Rami asked me if I had been able to use them at night and what my impression of them was after having them installed.
Last night we had a thing and as my wife and I were walking back to my LX in the dark I stealthily hit the unlock button and the ground lit up. We were still at least 25 yards away and were deep in conversation about.....something important I'm sure. As soon as I did this my wife stopped talking and said "ooooooh, fancy." I didn't think that she would notice the lights but should have known better, my wife likes shiny things.
I didn't get any install pics unfortunately. I could take some pics now but they'd be just like Ramis since I have all the wires covered in shrink wrap and electrical tape.
Last night we had a thing and as my wife and I were walking back to my LX in the dark I stealthily hit the unlock button and the ground lit up. We were still at least 25 yards away and were deep in conversation about.....something important I'm sure. As soon as I did this my wife stopped talking and said "ooooooh, fancy." I didn't think that she would notice the lights but should have known better, my wife likes shiny things.
I didn't get any install pics unfortunately. I could take some pics now but they'd be just like Ramis since I have all the wires covered in shrink wrap and electrical tape.
I'm in for option 2 as well, Rami.
I'm still in for option #1. Where do I send the cheese?
Interested. PM sent.
- Thread starter
- #58
First off, you guys are awesome. I'm definitely learning a lot so thank you for being patient with all my changing directions.
Here's the plan now and it shouldn't change this time (hopefully!!)
I'm going to keep making these by hand. I think I can work through them at a decent pace. If you're #1-5 on the list or end up in #1-5 because someone drops out, you're getting the set at $100 shipped, which is actually putting me negative after considering consumables and shipping.
After the first 5, I'll have to increase the cost to account for shipping and product costs. I havent set anything in stone but I will guarantee no more than $150 shipped. I want to do the next 4 and get a better idea of my cost before setting a price.
Keep in mind, this is 4 stainless brackets custom cut, bent, filed, and drilled. Then you're getting 4 individual led lights, 2 factory connectors, wiring, and wire loom. It's a lot of product and work for a relatively small amount of money.
I also will be selling just the brackets and the kits without the connectors. The brackets alone will be a lot cheaper and the kit without the connectors will save a few bucks.
Hopefully my change of pricing doesn't scare people off. I'm learning really fast that estimating cost of these kinds of things is tough. I'm hoping this is a learning example and my next product ideas are more seamless.
Thanks again guys! I'll keep updating the list and will finalize the price once I get the next 4 sets out in the next two weeks.
If you want on the list, let me know and I'll add you!
Here's the plan now and it shouldn't change this time (hopefully!!)
I'm going to keep making these by hand. I think I can work through them at a decent pace. If you're #1-5 on the list or end up in #1-5 because someone drops out, you're getting the set at $100 shipped, which is actually putting me negative after considering consumables and shipping.
After the first 5, I'll have to increase the cost to account for shipping and product costs. I havent set anything in stone but I will guarantee no more than $150 shipped. I want to do the next 4 and get a better idea of my cost before setting a price.
Keep in mind, this is 4 stainless brackets custom cut, bent, filed, and drilled. Then you're getting 4 individual led lights, 2 factory connectors, wiring, and wire loom. It's a lot of product and work for a relatively small amount of money.
I also will be selling just the brackets and the kits without the connectors. The brackets alone will be a lot cheaper and the kit without the connectors will save a few bucks.
Hopefully my change of pricing doesn't scare people off. I'm learning really fast that estimating cost of these kinds of things is tough. I'm hoping this is a learning example and my next product ideas are more seamless.
Thanks again guys! I'll keep updating the list and will finalize the price once I get the next 4 sets out in the next two weeks.
If you want on the list, let me know and I'll add you!
That looks pretty rad, can't wait to get mine!! Can you turn them on while off-roading? Or is it just an unlock/lock/door-open function? Meant to ask this earlier...Its not a great picture but you get the idea, I took it this morning before heading to work.
