Flipping Jeeps
Junior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 15,016
Likes: 11
From: +34° 25' 35.67", -81° 21' 12.04"
Year: 1993
Engine: 4.0
Generally speaking, "flipping cars" is for a quick flip. How long did it take you to sell your first jeep? I don't think it was quick.
Also you are not a dealer and can not do things a dealer would be able to do. How long does it take to get a title back from DMV? Around here in NY it's 3 months. That would be 3 months of money tied up into a single jeep.
Personally if I were you, I'd total buy any $200 or cheap jeep around you. Then you would have projects and parts jeeps at your disposal.
Also you are not a dealer and can not do things a dealer would be able to do. How long does it take to get a title back from DMV? Around here in NY it's 3 months. That would be 3 months of money tied up into a single jeep.
Personally if I were you, I'd total buy any $200 or cheap jeep around you. Then you would have projects and parts jeeps at your disposal.
I can have the title to anything I buy that same day.
Honestly, there's not enough money in it.
When you come across a steal and you know it's an easy fix then go for it.
I sure wouldn't count on the money for income.
I bought a 05 Liberty a while back with a locked down motor for 1k. Rebuilt the motor for about 1800 and sold it for 7k... I made a chunk of change off of it but it was a one time opportunity. It took a lot of time and effort to rebuild the motor...
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,387
Likes: 1
From: The Florida State University
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I-6 4.0 L
Oh you meant fixing lol. Yeah, I agree with lowrange on this one. The money just isn't there with the Cherokees just yet. Flipping is big for the 60's-70's era vehicles. Cherokees just aren't it right now. I say give it another 10 years and then you will see the off-road community getting bigger while the demand increases for these vehicles. My $.02 for what its worth.
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
Model: Cherokee
if youre on craigslist as much as i am, at least in south florida, the same cherokees have been for sale for months...maybe a year. and then the seller gets mad when i offer $900. its called supply and demand. the market just isnt there for these gas guzzling machines.
CF Veteran
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 1
From: Santa Rosa, California
Year: 1987 Comanche,1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L Renix
Oh you meant fixing lol. Yeah, I agree with lowrange on this one. The money just isn't there with the Cherokees just yet. Flipping is big for the 60's-70's era vehicles. Cherokees just aren't it right now. I say give it another 10 years and then you will see the off-road community getting bigger while the demand increases for these vehicles. My $.02 for what its worth.
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,825
Likes: 2
From: Indianapolis
Year: '99 and '91
Model: Cherokee
it's a risky game. you've got to sell cars that the people in your area use the most. for me, sacramento = hondas
me and my dad have considered getting into the car flipping game. lots of really cheap ones pop up at pick n pull and they sell them complete
but for it to be even remotely profitable it would almost have to be a full time job
if you have the resources (space, tools, time, and coin) give it a try if you think you've got it. broaden your horizons though not all the money is in jeeps
me and my dad have considered getting into the car flipping game. lots of really cheap ones pop up at pick n pull and they sell them complete
but for it to be even remotely profitable it would almost have to be a full time job
if you have the resources (space, tools, time, and coin) give it a try if you think you've got it. broaden your horizons though not all the money is in jeeps
I've been considering doing the same. The idea stemmed from "damn, I could buy that xj and throw on a JY head BAM make $800" I then realized how dumb it would be to only do Jeeps. I'm just going to stick with things I see a ton of at JYs.
I'll be taking a chunk of my tax money to the car auctions next year to try and get the ball rolling. I have the tools the space and I don't have a job.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 328
Likes: 2
From: SW KY
Good place to start if you want to go this route
http://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa...&searchPg=Main
http://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa...&searchPg=Main
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,613
Likes: 0
From: Summerville, South Carolina
Year: 99
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Appreciate all the opinions guys. I have hardly any money in this jeep so I may try to resell this one and double my money on it. Then scower CL for any Cheap jeeps I see. This time I'm goin 4x4 and once I find one I'll decide whether or not to continue to play the game or just build it
Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
From: Gonzales, Louisiana
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
One of the benefits of a vehicle that you are intimately familiar with is that you might know the solution to a problem that the average person doesn't. If I see an ad for a $750 Cherokee that "just stopped running", I'm headed out with cash in hand. I'll bring a compression tester and a code scanner with me (if it's OBD2), keep my mouth shut about what I think is wrong with it, and offer them 500 bucks. Around here - Anything that has a clear title and runs is worth a grand no matter what kind of condition it's in. If the AC works, make it $1500.
American vehicles are (usually) cheap to repair, but I've turned more profits on European cars than anything. They are more desirable, and the kind of people who buy them don't usually split hairs over 500 bucks here or there. You can lose your shirt on a VW or BMW, but if you know what to look for and where to get parts from, you can easily double your money. The dealership parts and service for those vehicles is so ridiculously priced, many owners just decide to cut their losses and sell cheap when faced with a repair bill. I bought two Passats for under 1K each. One needed new control arms (which is a $2200 dealer job) and one needed a new catalytic converter ($1100 dealer part) and wouldn't pass inspection. I sold both of those cars for 4 grand each quick. Resist the urge to price your vehicle "fair". There are tons of "fairly priced" vehicles out there. Price it cheap so you get noticed, sell it fast, and move on to the next project. Its a hobby for me, but I certainly wouldn't want to try making a living out of it. I enjoy fixing things that other people have given up on, as well as making a little money. It's also kinda fun to be the guy that gives someone a sweet deal on a car they would'nt have been able to afford otherwise. If I sell a 5K car for 4K, it's no sweat off my back when I only have 1500 in it, but they don't need to know that.
It can be fun, but know what you're getting into first. Do some research, check compression, spend your money only on things that pertain to bringing a car back to factory specs, don't gamble your rent money on a flip, and for God's sake, NEVER buy a Japanese or European car that says it "needs a timing belt"...
Good luck!
American vehicles are (usually) cheap to repair, but I've turned more profits on European cars than anything. They are more desirable, and the kind of people who buy them don't usually split hairs over 500 bucks here or there. You can lose your shirt on a VW or BMW, but if you know what to look for and where to get parts from, you can easily double your money. The dealership parts and service for those vehicles is so ridiculously priced, many owners just decide to cut their losses and sell cheap when faced with a repair bill. I bought two Passats for under 1K each. One needed new control arms (which is a $2200 dealer job) and one needed a new catalytic converter ($1100 dealer part) and wouldn't pass inspection. I sold both of those cars for 4 grand each quick. Resist the urge to price your vehicle "fair". There are tons of "fairly priced" vehicles out there. Price it cheap so you get noticed, sell it fast, and move on to the next project. Its a hobby for me, but I certainly wouldn't want to try making a living out of it. I enjoy fixing things that other people have given up on, as well as making a little money. It's also kinda fun to be the guy that gives someone a sweet deal on a car they would'nt have been able to afford otherwise. If I sell a 5K car for 4K, it's no sweat off my back when I only have 1500 in it, but they don't need to know that.
It can be fun, but know what you're getting into first. Do some research, check compression, spend your money only on things that pertain to bringing a car back to factory specs, don't gamble your rent money on a flip, and for God's sake, NEVER buy a Japanese or European car that says it "needs a timing belt"...
Good luck!
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 860
Likes: 0
From: middleburg fl
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
One of the benefits of a vehicle that you are intimately familiar with is that you might know the solution to a problem that the average person doesn't. If I see an ad for a $750 Cherokee that "just stopped running", I'm headed out with cash in hand. I'll bring a compression tester and a code scanner with me (if it's OBD2), keep my mouth shut about what I think is wrong with it, and offer them 500 bucks. Around here - Anything that has a clear title and runs is worth a grand no matter what kind of condition it's in. If the AC works, make it $1500.
American vehicles are (usually) cheap to repair, but I've turned more profits on European cars than anything. They are more desirable, and the kind of people who buy them don't usually split hairs over 500 bucks here or there. You can lose your shirt on a VW or BMW, but if you know what to look for and where to get parts from, you can easily double your money. The dealership parts and service for those vehicles is so ridiculously priced, many owners just decide to cut their losses and sell cheap when faced with a repair bill. I bought two Passats for under 1K each. One needed new control arms (which is a $2200 dealer job) and one needed a new catalytic converter ($1100 dealer part) and wouldn't pass inspection. I sold both of those cars for 4 grand each quick. Resist the urge to price your vehicle "fair". There are tons of "fairly priced" vehicles out there. Price it cheap so you get noticed, sell it fast, and move on to the next project. Its a hobby for me, but I certainly wouldn't want to try making a living out of it. I enjoy fixing things that other people have given up on, as well as making a little money. It's also kinda fun to be the guy that gives someone a sweet deal on a car they would'nt have been able to afford otherwise. If I sell a 5K car for 4K, it's no sweat off my back when I only have 1500 in it, but they don't need to know that.
It can be fun, but know what you're getting into first. Do some research, check compression, spend your money only on things that pertain to bringing a car back to factory specs, don't gamble your rent money on a flip, and for God's sake, NEVER buy a Japanese or European car that says it "needs a timing belt"...
Good luck!
American vehicles are (usually) cheap to repair, but I've turned more profits on European cars than anything. They are more desirable, and the kind of people who buy them don't usually split hairs over 500 bucks here or there. You can lose your shirt on a VW or BMW, but if you know what to look for and where to get parts from, you can easily double your money. The dealership parts and service for those vehicles is so ridiculously priced, many owners just decide to cut their losses and sell cheap when faced with a repair bill. I bought two Passats for under 1K each. One needed new control arms (which is a $2200 dealer job) and one needed a new catalytic converter ($1100 dealer part) and wouldn't pass inspection. I sold both of those cars for 4 grand each quick. Resist the urge to price your vehicle "fair". There are tons of "fairly priced" vehicles out there. Price it cheap so you get noticed, sell it fast, and move on to the next project. Its a hobby for me, but I certainly wouldn't want to try making a living out of it. I enjoy fixing things that other people have given up on, as well as making a little money. It's also kinda fun to be the guy that gives someone a sweet deal on a car they would'nt have been able to afford otherwise. If I sell a 5K car for 4K, it's no sweat off my back when I only have 1500 in it, but they don't need to know that.
It can be fun, but know what you're getting into first. Do some research, check compression, spend your money only on things that pertain to bringing a car back to factory specs, don't gamble your rent money on a flip, and for God's sake, NEVER buy a Japanese or European car that says it "needs a timing belt"...
Good luck!
good advise, ever watch "wheeler dealers" they only do cars that are considered collectable or interesting and i think its fair to say that most of the time they dont get most of their labor back
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,825
Likes: 2
From: Indianapolis
Year: '99 and '91
Model: Cherokee
How bout that gas monkey show? That guy has yet to NOT lose money every show I watch. Lol
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,613
Likes: 0
From: Summerville, South Carolina
Year: 99
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Originally Posted by DieselD
How bout that gas monkey show? That guy has yet to NOT lose money every show I watch. Lol
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,825
Likes: 2
From: Indianapolis
Year: '99 and '91
Model: Cherokee
Just to add to the topic.
An in law of mine does this for a living. He's told me the best money he makes is when he buys dirty, ugly cars. Not necessarily non running, but just not clean. Wash, wax, paint trim, vaccum and air freshener has made him a lot of money apparently.
Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: NW Oregon
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0HO Inline 6
Very interesting. I have also considered this, have yet to do it though. Here is what I have done though. Try flipping smaller stuff like lawn mowers. I can get a push lawn mower for free-$15 most days, put $5 into it with a carb kit usually and sell it on CL for $65. So you put 20 minutes into it and look at the returns. Now in my case I have some 12 or 13 lawn mowers (yeah I know way to many) and I have fixed about half of them, the others are either waiting on parts or are salvaged for parts. Worst case I just build up my scrap metal pile. Another good investment is buying small trailers for cheap, doing a quick restoration, and selling them. I have done 2, the first was a single axle horse (hay burner) trailer that I bought for $5, yes $5 title in hand. I had a total of $150 invested plus about 4 days to do a good restoration. Sold it for $1200 a couple weeks later. Second restoration was another single axle trailer, flat bed, looked like trash when I got it. Picked it up for $100, again total investment in the end was about $150 and I had an awesome little trailer. Sold it for $500, kinda wish I woulda' kept it now. 
The second restoration took me 2 days, that included the trip to harbor freight. Just some ideas, I have grown up learning how to fix anything and everything, both of these are easy to do plus have pretty good returns in the end. Plus, worst case you end up with scrap metal which also has value, it adds up. 
The second restoration took me 2 days, that included the trip to harbor freight. Just some ideas, I have grown up learning how to fix anything and everything, both of these are easy to do plus have pretty good returns in the end. Plus, worst case you end up with scrap metal which also has value, it adds up.