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Labor cost to build these bumpers

Honky Lips

Honky Lips

Welcome to the shit show.
Joined
May 21, 2020
Member Number
876
Messages
371
Loc
Omaha, Ne “ish”
So how much would a guy expect to pay in labor to have bumpers like these built? Supplying all materials, steel, flap wheels, gas and wire for the welder, drill bits, etc. so only cost is labor to be charged.

and, you have a few months to do it when you have free time. no rush.
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389A693D-FB4E-48EF-AEA9-1EBB4ADCD93D.jpeg
 
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Honky Lips said:
would you think 300-500 per bumper would be a legit price to charge someone. doing it on the side, not in a professional shop.
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I would charge $500/ea for labor on those all day.

Then when the customer says “such and such sells them cheaper.” (Usually some bullshit Chinese company, my response is buy those if you don’t want to pay for custom fab and I’ll install them for $300/e
 
While I cant see all the details like mounting and internal gussets id say $1200 front and $800+ rear.

A high quality production front bumper is $2k+ so a custom should be more.
 
Steve300xcw said:
That means jack shit. What it your time worth?

I would figure $125/hr to start
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just because you dont have plasma tables and you cut it with a 4.5" grinder doesnt mean you can charge shop fees and take 10 times as long. if you dont fab for a living or build shit for people stay out of this thread because your opinion is jack shit. and if you do fab, then you should know how long it would take you and be able to offer a price range. which is it?
 
2big bronco said:
While I cant see all the details like mounting and internal gussets id say $1200 front and $800+ rear.

A high quality production front bumper is $2k+ so a custom should be more.
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as a side job after work to make extra money type of thing? were not talking a real shop.
 
Starting from scratch with a plate of steel? By the time you bring it to my shop, give me a line up of what you want, I get started, lay it out, cut, fit/fab, finish weld, flap disc to get nice edges, etc. Could be a solid 5 - 8 hours each. That doesn't include test fitting it to the vehicle or my cleanup afterwards. Maybe more.
 
white-rhino said:
Starting from scratch with a plate of steel? By the time you bring it to my shop, give me a line up of what you want, I get started, lay it out, cut, fit/fab, finish weld, flap disc to get nice edges, etc. Could be a solid 5 - 8 hours each. That doesn't include test fitting it to the vehicle or my cleanup afterwards. Maybe more.
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thank you for having an answer that utilized brain function. that makes good sense
 
You asked how much for labor and I answered your question.

Sorry if you didnt like it.

Take a step back, forget that your a hack in your garage trying to make some beer money with an old tombstone an a harbor freight grinder. And ask youself what is your time worth?
 
Steve300xcw said:
You asked how much for labor and I answered your question.

Sorry if you didnt like it.

Take a step back, forget that your a hack in your garage trying to make some beer money with an old tombstone an a harbor freight grinder. And ask youself what is your time worth?
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youre trying to charge real shop price and thats the dumb part. not the time. and if your labor is that much, as a side gig guy, youd never get any work when a person can take it to a professional shop with better equipment that will take far less time.
 
Honky Lips said:
389A693D-FB4E-48EF-AEA9-1EBB4ADCD93D.jpeg
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Should be free the way the receiver tube was drilled and cut. Otherwise they don't look bad for dirt road fab.
2K per bumper if you want it straight and with minimal grinding marks.
1K per bumper if you don't care if its straight or weld appearance does not matter.
The geometry is not simple on these and would take some time to layout correctly. If you were to copy a set then price could drop in half.
 
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white-rhino said:
Starting from scratch with a plate of steel? By the time you bring it to my shop, give me a line up of what you want, I get started, lay it out, cut, fit/fab, finish weld, flap disc to get nice edges, etc. Could be a solid 5 - 8 hours each. That doesn't include test fitting it to the vehicle or my cleanup afterwards. Maybe more.
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5-8 hours on the front? Really?
 
Grendel said:
5-8 hours on the front? Really?
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high or low? id say a bit on the high side. and am i wrong when saying, doing it for a extra income on the side, youre not a shop, no insurance, no overhead, dont even build it in a garage, you build it in the back yard with your welder on the porch. so you cant charge labor for eery hour because you dont even have a plasma table. so you gotta be realistic your hour by hour profit margin isnt what you could be in a shop with more equipment.

also, you have a few months to build it as time allows since its a no rush side gig.
 
"Built" as in you supplied cut to size material and a detailed print with dimensions etc?

If you make it as easy as possible for whoevers building it it's going to be as cheap as possible.
 
WESTOF7 said:
"Built" as in you supplied cut to size material and a detailed print with dimensions etc?

If you make it as easy as possible for whoevers building it it's going to be as cheap as possible.
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built as in i bring you a sheet of steel. and you do this over the course of a few months as time allows to earn side money.
 
HYDRODYNAMIC said:
Should be free the way the receiver tube was drilled and cut. Otherwise they don't look bad for dirt road fab.
2K per bumper if you want it straight and with minimal grinding marks.
1K per bumper if you don't care if its straight or weld appearance does not matter.
The geometry is not simple on these and would take some time to layout correctly. If you were to copy a set then price could drop in half.
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thats what youd charge to do it over the course of a few months on the side at home? not doing it for a living.
 
Honky Lips said:
high or low? id say a bit on the high side. and am i wrong when saying, doing it for a extra income on the side, youre not a shop, no insurance, no overhead, dont even build it in a garage, you build it in the back yard with your welder on the porch. so you cant charge labor for eery hour because you dont even have a plasma table. so you gotta be realistic your hour by hour profit margin isnt what you could be in a shop with more equipment.

also, you have a few months to build it as time allows since its a no rush side gig.
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Now you're changing the game. He's low. So are you.
 
Honky Lips said:
thats what youd charge to do it over the course of a few months on the side at home? not doing it for a living.
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I think where you are going wrong is determining your labor rate.
Determine what a professional shop would charge = time X labor rate.
Then you can adjust to how fast or slow or productive you are.
It might take a month or more for a shop to have time to get it in and then finish it in one day with a couple people.
 
HYDRODYNAMIC said:
I think where you are going wrong is determining your labor rate.
Determine what a professional shop would charge = time X labor rate.
Then you can adjust to how fast or slow or productive you are.
It might take a month or more for a shop to have time to get it in and then finish it in one day with a couple people.
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what do you think a fair labor rate for a shadetree job with basic tools should be? to be clear im not trying to argue, just trying to make sure people are on the same page. side job, at your leisure, etc.
 
Honky Lips said:
what do you think a fair labor rate for a shadetree job with basic tools should be?
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1200 for the front, 800 for the rear, if doing them solo.

It's not a perfect truck and not a perfect bumper. But there's 15 hours in the front and 10 plus in the rear.
 
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