Guys. I'm needing some help. I went to a junkyard a few times as a kid, but I was pretty young. Now, I have the desires to get some goodies and have no clue how it works at a pick and pull.

Do you go up to the counter and ask them for a part (ex. front springs off a Grand Cherokee) and they tell you how much it would cost. Then, you pay and then pull it and hope it's worth the money? Can you negotiate the price withmost places?

Or, does it happen some other way?

Please walk me through it.

Also, the basic tools needed for a PNP '

Thanks gentlemen.

 

differnt every where you go. some places you go to counter ask for the part and they bring it to you. some let you yest the part, some don't.

other like the one i go to let you walk in with your tools and walk acres of un oraganized cars searching for what you need. you pull you inspect, (and in heavy cases) you carry the part to the counter and pay.

never buy a part from any place that won't let you test it.

 

Every PNP that I have been to basically works the same way. You pay a fee, typically 1$ to get on the lot and look for the vehicle and parts you want. You remove the parts and carry them to the counter for payment. The prics are usually set and non-negotiable but are usually set fairly low.

They do not keep a list of what parts are availble from each vehicle as it would take extensive man hours to catalog them all. Not to mention the douchebags that will intentionally break one part to get to another just so they do not have to actually remove it. So it is kind of like a treasure hunt.

As far as tools, take everything you think you might need and then some. It nevers hurts to be prepare for anything. Most PNPs will allow power tools like a cordless drill or cordless impact and some will even allow a cordless sawzall. But I have not been to one yet that will allow you to carry in a jack of any kind for insurance reasons.

 

tools tools tools... don't be the D-bag that breaks parts to get what you want.

heres the place i go, called Trouts. no entry fee, no oragnization, vitually no rules, (ie my 4 yr in coverall holding a wiper arm)

 

I'm sure they're all different. The one I go to you take your car in, drive around looking (the place is friggin huge), get what you need then go find the owner. You show him what you got and try to haggle him down lol. He'll even flip a car over for you if what you need from the underside is worth it to him.

 

long story short. just go and ask "hey how does it work HERE..." it's not an uncommon question at junk yards cause each one has it's own set up.

thats awesome that he'll flip a car for easy access. i'm sure it totals it, but great customer sevice. HAHA

 

if your around CA area, Pick-N-Pull is pretty decent. $2 entry fee to look around, pull your own parts. prices are pretty cheap as well, they have an online price catalog to give you an idea of what your looking at. ive never heard of the "cant bring your own jack". I mean if you gotta drop a tranny/TC what they expect you to do...bring a tool box and at least get your $2 back in nick knacks and what have you.

 

Cool, I just didn't want to walk in and ask the dumb question. But since it isn't dumb after all, I will. I didn't know about the jack. Make sense (timber.......) but that sucks for suspension parts. Got to be a chore to grab some of those!

 

We have both Pic A Part and Pull A Part here, both have hoists in case your pulling engines and other large parts. The only tools they do not allow are torches which bites but it's an insurance thing. Both places are laid out by make and both have lots of XJ's of vrious years. Best thing if your going after large parts or a lot of parts is to get a wheelbarrow or wagon to haul your tools and parts with. I use a wagon that has removable side panels, works great!