slider cost - d@mn!

[Dusty]

i made a set for my 80. as cristo said the 80 is a trick to fab sliders for if you want a good pair. 900 bucks is a deal.

 

[sleeoffroad]

If there were 12 options for sliders available, and the market was 1,000 a month, they'd be cheaper. The competition would drive it. The current options for sliders for an 80 might all be quality options, but there isn't enough competition there to drive the price down.

It's simple ecconomics - course I'm not an ecconomicist

Good explanation, but it does not cover everything. 1000 per year 80 series sliders are way optimistic.

The other factor that comes into play is that due to the small volume, they have to be made locally and assembled by hand. I can not see doing the same quality product, mass produce it (like 100 at a time) and do it for much less than we currently do it.

So the next step is either automate, or have them made somewhere with cheaper labor costs. Automate is not really an option for small quantities, so that means having them done outside the US. Once you do that, transportation becomes and issue. So does quality control. Hate to get a container of sliders delivered from China and they are all wrong

The Jeep market had volume associated with it, but you are also dealing with much simpler products in terms of design, fit and fabrication as well as size. Less material, less place to store, finish costs are less etc etc. UPS Shippable, no cusom pallets to ship them on etc.

 

[alvarorb]

I've been hard wheeling my 80 for almost 4 years using Christo's sliders and I have nothing but good things to say about them. I have gotten every penny out of them and even more.

Regards


Alvaro

 

[MaddBaggins]

The price on steel has been rising steadily for years now. When was the last time Christo raised his price more than a few bucks. The cost of his materials has gone up a lot for sure but he has managed to keep a pretty fair price for his product.

 

[cruiserman]

This is probably it, it's like space shuttles...they are expensive because there's not a big demand for them

Low demand = low price .

 

[TiredIronGRB]

Low demand = low price .

Maybe demand is the wrong term, "Market" is more like it.

 

[Gumby]

I've built three pair now for 80s. There is no question that Christo's are well worth every penny.

When people ask me what they should do, I tell 'em straight up after your labor, you are ahead of the game to buy Slee. You'll be happier.

 

[concretejungle]

I've built three pair now for 80s. There is no question that Christo's are well worth every penny.

When people ask me what they should do, I tell 'em straight up after your labor, you are ahead of the game to buy Slee. You'll be happier.

I totally agree. When i built mine, and i had a ton of help from a friend who had all the tools needed and had the spare time to get the steel while i was at work. It still took a while. When they were finished i took a step back and thought about all the time it took to track down and purchase the steel, find a place to supply the ubolts, find the nuts and washers for the u bolts, have a garage to work in, have a good welder to use, have a good drill press to use, have a good band saw to use, have a good angle grinder to use, purchase paint to paint them, i am not sure i came out way ahead of just buying a set from Slee or Hanna.

I think if a shade tree guy like myself were to make some for board members, i'm not sure i could sell them for any less than $450 and stay ahead. When you look at that, you are pretty darn close to Christo's price and i would much rather Christo have liability than me.

 

[Gumby]

there's no way I could make and sell them for less than $500. That would be painted, not powdercoated.

 

[george_tlc]

After building 6 sets (including my own) a few years ago how many have I made since.... 0.... Paid for my kaymar rack, my welder & plasma cutter - after that I have more fun things to do with my time than make sliders...

I get the occasional email asking about making full sliders or just the outriggers - I tell the folk "go directly to Christo, do not pass go".

george.

 

[concretejungle]

But, thanks to you George, i have sliders and a little warm spot in my heart for having a hand in their construction. Couldn't say that if i just gave my credit card number to Ken or Christo.

 

[MoGas]

I'm going to build a set of George's. I may have an advantage as at my work I have use of the welding shop, machine shop and a water jet. I can put the plans from George's website that are in AutoCad directly into the waterjet computer and put in a sheet of steel or the tubing stock and go have a cup of coffee. Then measure and weld. I should have no more than a weekend into them.

 

[nakman]

Ok, that would be a slight advantage then, eh?

I still love my sliders. Every time I get in the truck I look at them and admire how they're not only pretty cool looking but oh so functional.. That feeling still exists, long after the similar sensation I had about tires & bumpers has faded away.. well maybe not bumpers, but tires definitely. But my sliders were cheap- less than 5% of what I paid for the truck. And even though that particular CC bill is history, the dividends keep coming. great ROI, IMO!

 

[MaddBaggins]

Example: my front bumper. I love it and wouldn't trade it for 2 ARB's, but...
I have good connections for steel and still spent $55 on the 8' needed, spent another $50 on flap disc sanders and grinder wheels, agreed on $400 to my buddy who had the knowledge, equipment and skill to pull it off, $10 worth of primer and black paint, $80 for a Warn reciever shackle and D-ring and another $10 for the receiver pin.
So we're talkin $605 for my custom front bumper, plus I spent a lot of time helping with the cutting and grinding. My bumper is original, and I love it. Did I save money? Not much.
I already have $400 into my rear bumper with the steel, spindles, and latches for a dual swing out bumper and haven't even started that project yet.

Am I gonna make sliders? NO! I called Slee today and ordered my set, money well spent, he has already engineered the product and battle tested it. I'll have those installed next week. It'll be a few months before I can get my buddy to help me with the rear bumper.

 

[Beowulf]

I should have no more than a weekend into them.

Hee hee hee. Wanna bet a case of Keystone Light?

-B-

 

[lx450landcruiser]

Hee hee hee. Wanna bet a case of Keystone Light?

-B-

Wasnt there a problem with the cad numbers? as in once plate came out backwards? or was this fixed?

Non the less MoGas you wanna "print me out the steel plates too? ill weld them in prescott?

mike

 

[Walking Eagle]

Good explanation, but it does not cover everything. 1000 per year 80 series sliders are way optimistic.

It's not way optimistic, it's a number pulled out of my hairy butt to make the math work. I have no idea how many a year for Jeeps or Trooper either, I couldn't even make a SWAG at it. I just figured the perportions were close enough to make the point.

 

[sleeoffroad]

It's not way optimistic, it's a number pulled out of my hairy butt to make the math work. I have no idea how many a year for Jeeps or Trooper either, I couldn't even make a SWAG at it. I just figured the perportions were close enough to make the point.

Figured that but not the part about the hairy but If indeed the number were 1000 a year I would be really happy.

 

[green_machine]

If indeed the number were 1000 a year I would be really happy.

No Shiat.

I'd quit making gates and sculpture for 24 a year!

j

 

[MH_Stevens]

Other than Slee and Hanna who makes sliders for FJZ80?