Why not doing your own repairs will make you go bankrupt.

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by kay_ray, Apr 1, 2023.

  1. kay_ray

    kay_ray Medium Load Member

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    As the title says . If you cant do or learn to do your own repairs you will most likely go bankrupt paying these shops 200$+ hourly labour for doing a half ### job. As a new owner op start watching some youtube videos and start learning basic stuff and start carrying basic tools . I know some old school guys who can change their own tire on side of the road under 2 hours And i know some new o/o who will call roadside for a broken clamp.one of my friend recently got quoted 3500$ to change front leaf spring busings on his truck .500$ in oem parts and 3000$ in labor .thats 15 hour of labor to do a 3 hour job.did the job in the parking lot for a steak dinner at texas roadhouse.with these freight rates i dont know how anyone can afford these high shop prices.
     
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  3. OscarGoldman

    OscarGoldman Light Load Member

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    I buy new with extended warranty to not have to deal with this.
     
  4. Opendeckin

    Opendeckin Medium Load Member

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    I've done well just building a relationship with an independent shop and continually working with them. I've been running a 1995 truck my whole time as an owner op though.
     
  5. Last Call

    Last Call Road Train Member

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    Till its in the shop for 6 weeks waiting on back ordered parts
    Just remember the warranty is only as good as the shop doing the work ... most dealership shops I would question the ability. of 75% of the technicians
     
    Vampire, kros, cke and 22 others Thank this.
  6. OscarGoldman

    OscarGoldman Light Load Member

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    Downtime is easier to deal with if one is prepared for it. But repair costs plus downtime is a killer as I would bet that 50 percent of the 1 truck O/O's are not financially prepared.

     
  7. Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

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    Same, I have zero interest in working an old truck again. And I don’t need to work 365 days a year so if it’s in for warranty stuff then that’s just time off for me.
     
  8. abyliks

    abyliks Road Train Member

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    I pick and choose.

    I can do a set of 8 tires in just under 2 hours, last time, the tire guy kept the casings and swapped me the labor,

    injector, I probably could of done, but I’d rather let the guy that’s been a Cummins mechanic for 25 years do it so I don’t screw it up

    if I couldn’t afford to send anything out, at any given point in time though, I should probably sell the truck and go flip burgers some where
     
  9. skallagrime

    skallagrime Road Train Member

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    He was quoted that perhaps, but thats just an extremely dishonest shop, good on him for not taking them up on that.

    but i have had a 1500$ bill on those bushings AND both leaf springs, u bolts and shocks as well, labor included, dropped off friday, picked up monday.

    I dont disagree you should be able and willing to get dirty to save a buck, but knowing WHERE to go and who to avoid is more important
     
  10. Last Call

    Last Call Road Train Member

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    I can't dispute your theory..
    Other than when Iam in the shop spending x amount of time repairing or replacing something ..
    1 I know its fixed correctly
    2 it also save me down time & most times hiden problems that are cheaper & easier to fix before they become a major costly repair & I can shop around for the parts and buy the best quality I can find
    I can't take a chance on being broke down looking for a shop that can do Warranty work right away
     
  11. Last Call

    Last Call Road Train Member

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    Time off with no income generated but I bet the payments don't stop because the truck is in the shop do they ? So Technically. It's costing you money
    Some people are mechanically challenged.. so its easier to write a check because I have never seen a Warranty. Pay for 100% of a repair
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 1, 2023
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