PACARs prices are almost criminal.

Ahhhhh, the sheer beauty of free market capitalism.

Good on you for being a bit smarter than the average bear.

 

Isn't that kinda like driving a Benz and complaining parts are overpriced...? OTOH, I had a key made at a dealer for my 379 for $4, and couldn't pass up a Pete hat for $5. OTOOH, I once had to get wiper blades at that dealer just above Corning CA (for a Volvo) and they were $16 a pop. If they'd been $100 I'd have had to pay it.

 

I used to be in the Harley business years ago. At that time a lot of the premium dealer parts were of lower quality than some of the aftermarket parts, or were made for Harley By the same aftermarket companies that some counter guy would tell you were nothing but junk. There are only so many companies out there that make things like springs, or pistons, batteries, etc. there are lots of parts on trucks, cars, motorcycles, etc that you might have twenty brands to choose from, that are all made by the same two or three manufactures. When looking at a lot of OEM parts, you may be buying an inferior product for a premium price, you are paying for the name on the box or bag it comes in, not the part. This is not true for all things , and some parts there simply is no aftermarket for. I guess moral of the story is purchase things wisely. My guess is Volvo , Cat, DD, and cummins probably do not make oil and air filters, but I know they cost a hell of a lot more then the aftermarket ones do.

Adam

 

Definatly look around, my local KW dealer is a rip off, I got online at peterbuiltparts.com, I bought a bunk heater for 875 shipped, my kw dealer wanted 1250, also on other parts I can save 25% to 50% if I can get the part number.

 

'Zactly. They create an illusion of choice, and their legal prey are those who measure quality by price. NAPA doesn't have factories all over the country manufacturing every part of every vehicle that bears their name.

 

Yeah, exact same issue with an air compressor on my truck. CAT was in the $600 range for a black one with their logo(made by Bendix) vs the one at the local KW dealer without the logo in the $300 range(made by Bendix too). Exact same compressor, just different paint & logo. Asked if maybe the CAT version came with all the fittings or the relief valve to justify some of the expense & the answer was NO.

 

I used to own a Mack Superliner. You want to talk about high priced parts. And nowhere else to get them except from Mack

 

And if you buy a can of yellow paint and spray it, it looks exactly the same.

 

It pays to look around, I broke an upper hood pivot, Pete wanted to sell me the whole hinge and pivot for $450, the upper piece only for $300, I found it used online at a place for $135, when I got there, they sold it to me for $80.