Quote:
Originally Posted by BR3W CITY
$2500 ALL IN is what I would consider a legit budget kit, assuming (as mentioned above) that the quality of all peices is comparable to parts one would put together themselves.
Here's why:
Most likely the kit would be 3link as its the cheapest/simplest design, and can be very easily setup for multiple generations of trucks minimizing your costs on multiple SKU's for the kit.
The kit would contain convoluted bags and not sleeve bags. I feel sleeve bags are inferior, but often what get tossed into "cheap" kits. Also, that the size of the bags be appropriate for the vehicle in question (i.e. not selling people a 5" bag for a 3500 truck rear).
The kit would contain at minimum enough valves and switches for FB, and use quality rebuildable brass valves.
A control box for FB
A decent volume compressor and at minimum 10gal of tank space.
The kit would contain DOT line, assortment of fittings, and a cutting tool.
The kit would contain shock relocation mounts if needed (but NOT include shocks, which I feel is a place best left to the consumer to spend what their budget allows).
Putting all that together yourself can come in under $2500, but nickle and dime things like fittings, switches etc are the things that seems to really skyrocket the cost. That $2500 pricetag would basically ensure enough material to setup almost any generation of truck, and have enough room in the margin that you wouldn't have to try to "make up" the margin on other parts later. It would also be cheap enough that someone wanting to go FBSS, or add compressors or tanks..would have enough room in say a $5k budget to do so and still come out ahead.
In general, I also feel that $2500 seems to be the breaking point for the single-purchase budget of most middle class enthusiasts. Its cheap enough that a highschool or college kid who works hard and saves can afford it in a summer or two, or that a family man can write the check and still pay his mortgage that month.......yet its expensive enough that the expectation of paying for quality still exists.
Can someone build their own kit and have it cost $500, sure. Can someone build their own kit and have it cost $15k, hell yes its happened (double cantilever on air cylinders)....but I think $2500 is cheap enough to be "worth it" even for a DIY'er who was considering piecing it together.
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Thanks for the feedback!
This particular project will be to provide a kit that is more geared to those with modest mechanical skills, and not wanting to modify the front inner wheel tubs and bed floors.
The bulk of the cost will be in the air management.
I would only really question one comment that was made in reference to the sleeved bag... they definitely aren't inferior to a double convoluted bag. They each have their place and are designed/intended to be used and function in a certain way.
There's a reason that the majority of reputable companies that design and manufacture their own kits run a sleeved bag on the rear of a truck the majority of the time if not almost always.
Nate