dougy_fresh

Ok, it has been a long time dream of mine to own my own shop, mostly doing custom work and some repair work. I'm at a point in my life right now where I have to make the decision of whether I'm going to do it or not. I'm pretty sure I am, because honestly I'm tired of working for other people, making them money while they sit on their rumps. I have kind of done this before, I basically ran a shop for a of couple years, but do to disagreements with the owner, went and got another job. I'm not out to get rich, I just want to support my son and give him the best life I can while enjoying what I do.

Basically, what I'm looking for is input from my fellow XJ owners. What would you like to see built? My prices would basically blow the competitors out of the water. I have been calling around this morning getting steel prices to see what I could build certain things for. I have some ideas in my head for things to build, bumpers, skidplates, gastank skids, sliders, 1/4 panel armor, etc. Are there any other items you would like to see? I'm really not looking to do suspensions because of the legal liabilities of such a thing.

Thank you for any input.

1990cherokee

stick with armor and bumpers everyone needs that stuff. then once your shop kicks off start selling gears and what not. just my .02

JSmith0055

i agree, gears are confusing sh** the more pros the better

swamper

Well, if your prices are gonna blow the competitors out of the water, I'd like to have a set of tube doors, and a custom rack. (I can weld, but not that good.) Anyway, if you feel thats your goal, go for it, you only live once.

mtparker97

i say go for it. ive always wanted to own my own shop too just havnt the guts yet to get out of the service and make that leap. gotta support the family. anyways good luck. i know it takes a ton of dedication and sacrifices but i say with the right mind set you can do it.

ryno903

I could use some bumpers at a good price. I would really like to have a rear tube bumper with spare carrier.

XJs-R-us

Ide be up for some 1/4" armor!!! I like the way you think!

Also some Unibody frame stiffeners/plating.
Rollcages.
Axle Trusses.
Pretty much anything that will make my XJ stronger, Ide be interested in.

You should also offer custom work...That would bring in alot of business too, I would think...

dougy_fresh

Thank you for the input guys. Tube doors are a definate if I can figure out a good way to make a latch setup that both looks good and functions good. I'm not sure if I would be interested in building roof racks, that's a massive item to ship, maybe though. As far as rollcages go, they are in the same category to me as suspension, to much legal liability there. Axle trusses and frame stiffeners would be easy enough to build, guess I could add them to the list.

so far I'm planning:
-front and rear bumpers
-sliders
-skidplates
-tube doors
-possibly roof racks
-unibody reinforcements
-axle trusses
-armor, though i'm unsure on what thickness to go with. 1/8, 3/16, or 1/4
-tail light boxes, with and without lights

Any other input or ideas?

jiffy

all the items seem like a good start. how about making a storage rack for the trunk. similar to the Olympic Mountaineer rack that Quadratec sells for $200. i think that's a good product to fab & to sell with a competitive price.

89eliminator

you gotta do something that not many other companies do, what that is i dont know. everyone does bumpers and sliders so you wont get much business from that.