Dealership Charges For Large Tires and Winch??

[SRO]

No, not putting them in the same bucket, just saying that 50-60/hour is what the insurance industry published rates were in 2009 around here.
Hard to believe a quality shop will still be at the 2009 rate level, and shops I have dealt with (pros that do top work) charged more just 5 years ago.
($60/hour body and finish is what was reported as average in 2009)

Mechanical work is different.


So if your shops around you are still working at 2009 rates, WOW.

It's about 65. In 2009 it was under 50. As of 11/2023 nationwide was around 60 average for body and paint. Really expensive markets like Seattle were still in the 70s. I'm sure I have a national average somewhere around here but it was right around 60 in 2023 for body and paint hours

Sponsored

 

[ShadowsPapa]

It's about 65. In 2009 it was under 50. As of 11/2023 nationwide was around 60 average for body and paint. Really expensive markets like Seattle were still in the 70s. I'm sure I have a national average somewhere around here but it was right around 60 in 2023 for body and paint hours

I would actually be interested in the real hard numbers if you have the 2023 or heck, even 2022 is close enough.
Can't hurt to know some other info and what's current.

this is from 2009, last stuff I bothered getting is 14 years old, and it's Iowa -

State Farm
Body & Refinish: $60
Frame: $65
Mechanical: Not Provided
Paint & Materials: $38

Progressive
Body & Refinish: $60
Frame: $65
Mechanical: $70
Paint & Materials: $38

Farm Bureau
Body & Refinish: $60
Frame: $65
Mechanical: $75
Paint & Materials: $38

American Family
Body & Refinish: $60
Frame: $65
Mechanical: $70
Paint & Materials: $38

Nationwide
Body & Refinish: $57-$58
Frame: $58-$60
Mechanical: $60
Paint & Materials: $36

That's body shop work - and I'm not a fan of a body shop doing mechanical, nor would I want the master tech at the Jeep dealership doing body and paint work. (I don't even want me doing it at this point - gave it up after my last total restoration/repaint)

Mechanic rates at Jeep dealerships are typically 150-180 or so per hour. The one I go to - like did the transmission replacement on our JLU, says only "we're close to 200/hour".

 

[Lost1wing]

I would actually be interested in the real hard numbers if you have the 2023 or heck, even 2022 is close enough.
Can't hurt to know some other info and what's current.

this is from 2009, last stuff I bothered getting is 14 years old, and it's Iowa -

State Farm
Body & Refinish: $60
Frame: $65
Mechanical: Not Provided
Paint & Materials: $38

Progressive
Body & Refinish: $60
Frame: $65
Mechanical: $70
Paint & Materials: $38

Farm Bureau
Body & Refinish: $60
Frame: $65
Mechanical: $75
Paint & Materials: $38

American Family
Body & Refinish: $60
Frame: $65
Mechanical: $70
Paint & Materials: $38

Nationwide
Body & Refinish: $57-$58
Frame: $58-$60
Mechanical: $60
Paint & Materials: $36

That's body shop work - and I'm not a fan of a body shop doing mechanical, nor would I want the master tech at the Jeep dealership doing body and paint work. (I don't even want me doing it at this point - gave it up after my last total restoration/repaint)

Mechanic rates at Jeep dealerships are typically 150-180 or so per hour. The one I go to - like did the transmission replacement on our JLU, says only "we're close to 200/hour".

This is what my friend just sent me. I remembered it a bit wrong. Still not far off.

 

[SRO]

I would actually be interested in the real hard numbers if you have the 2023 or heck, even 2022 is close enough.
Can't hurt to know some other info and what's current.

this is from 2009, last stuff I bothered getting is 14 years old, and it's Iowa -

State Farm
Body & Refinish: $60
Frame: $65
Mechanical: Not Provided
Paint & Materials: $38

Progressive
Body & Refinish: $60
Frame: $65
Mechanical: $70
Paint & Materials: $38

Farm Bureau
Body & Refinish: $60
Frame: $65
Mechanical: $75
Paint & Materials: $38

American Family
Body & Refinish: $60
Frame: $65
Mechanical: $70
Paint & Materials: $38

Nationwide
Body & Refinish: $57-$58
Frame: $58-$60
Mechanical: $60
Paint & Materials: $36

That's body shop work - and I'm not a fan of a body shop doing mechanical, nor would I want the master tech at the Jeep dealership doing body and paint work. (I don't even want me doing it at this point - gave it up after my last total restoration/repaint)

Mechanic rates at Jeep dealerships are typically 150-180 or so per hour. The one I go to - like did the transmission replacement on our JLU, says only "we're close to 200/hour".

I'll try to dig it up- I know I saw it in a recent newsletter- but the average is in the 60s. Way back in the day I worked in a body shop, then for Progressive (I left there in 06, it was 45-50/hr. Now I work for a Cities and Counties Pool. Even the shop the Mercedes/Porsche dealer sends out to here is in the 60s and I can get a similar rate in Salt Lake or Portland. I can get custom fab work done for firetrucks for around 100/hr. I have never ever seen anything even close to what you were talking about for body work even on specialty equipment which is typically quite a bit more than standard auto.

 

[Charles 236]

Just for swapping out cams, I don't ever pull the bumper, it is not in the way. I do remove the wheels and lower the Jeep onto 2x4 blocks to get it as low as possible. I do this with any Wrangler or Gladiator, it makes it easier to reach the engine. I do always remove the battery tray and power distribution center if I am pulling the right valve cover. I have never been paid extra for pulling the wheels, but it makes it easier for me.

 

[CrazyCooter]

Any time something aftermarket is in the way, I bill more for it....It's only fair? The OP's estimate might be a bit on the high side though. I haven't started billing for oversized tires/aftermarket lugs, but it most definitely takes longer and I had to buy a special tire lift assist since dead lifting 100lb+ tire combos all day tears up a person's back and shoulders.

In our city the last time I looked into mechanical labor rates locally.....GMC/Caddy $225hr, Jeep/Chrysler $200hr, Big-O $140hr. Euros in the bigger cities are over $300! Even the average thrust angle alignment is $120+. My shop rate is right in the middle at $181. I'm sure there are others lower and higher if I looked longer.

Utilities have doubled since 2021, insurance has gone up 50% since 2018, and my rent just rent up 10% expecting it do do that annually from now on. Party is over.....Inflation has kicked in full effect! To pay an efficient tech a decent wage, that cost the shop $45hr alone before any holidays, vacation, health insurance, or bonuses.

 

[Jtschnel]

I tend to agree, those mods do make the job more time consuming. I’d do as suggested earlier, ask about what needs to come off to reduce or eliminate the extra charges, then decide if you want to do it yourself.

 

[Minty JL]

show up with tools and remove it yourself

I would just tell to eat a dick and go to another dealer. Google reviews go along ways in todays customer service world

 

[Minty JL]

Any time something aftermarket is in the way, I bill more for it....It's only fair? The OP's estimate might be a bit on the high side though. I haven't started billing for oversized tires/aftermarket lugs, but it most definitely takes longer and I had to buy a special tire lift assist since dead lifting 100lb+ tire combos all day tears up a person's back and shoulders.

In our city the last time I looked into mechanical labor rates locally.....GMC/Caddy $225hr, Jeep/Chrysler $200hr, Big-O $140hr. Euros in the bigger cities are over $300! Even the average thrust angle alignment is $120+. My shop rate is right in the middle at $181. I'm sure there are others lower and higher if I looked longer.

Utilities have doubled since 2021, insurance has gone up 50% since 2018, and my rent just rent up 10% expecting it do do that annually from now on. Party is over.....Inflation has kicked in full effect! To pay an efficient tech a decent wage, that cost the shop $45hr alone before any holidays, vacation, health insurance, or bonuses.

Yeah the average consumer plays dumb when it comes to the operational cost of running a business; most don't understand how many line items there are with insurance alone IE workman's comp, health, property, liability and so on.

So $181 hr - $45 hr for the Tech only leaves the shop with $136.............. Go ahead and research how much it cost to either lease commercial C2 property or even build; that's a huge amount of overhead before a single wrench is turned.

I've worked as a tech and at the operational level.

 

[guarnibl]

show up with tools and remove it yourself

this — as others said the tire charge is most likely BS but removing and reinstalling aftermarket equipment might not be.

 

[Wolf Island Diver]

Theres nothing unreasonable about charging labor to remove aftermarket stuff or mods. It’s unreasonable to expect them to do free work because we added stuff. It’s a business.

The only question is how reasonable is their estimate and we’re missing some info here. What’s their labor rate? You can certainly ask that. It’s hard to tell how reasonable it is without knowing what they actually estimate for time. The repair may not typically require removing wheels but because of their size it’s an issue. So they may be charging for that but we don’t know. If the job requires removing the front tires anyway, removing a 35 vs 33 shouldn’t increase the price. That’s chickenshit. If the grill has to come off, the winch is definitely an issue that will take time for them.

They also build in fudge factor for the simple reality that lots of modded vehicles are done poorly by shadetree mechanics and butcher off road shops. The technician could be inheriting some nightmare jackleg winch install. Also keep in mind that a lot of dealerships and technicians hate modded vehicles. Part of it’s because people balk at paying for labor to take off their mods to get to stuff. They sometimes price thing to not get your business.

Theres another angle I haven’t seen anyone mention that’s worth discussing. Personally, I don’t want dealer techs touching my mods. I don’t want someone who doesn’t know what I did rooting around in my stuff. I label all of my aftermarket electrical connections, winch cutoff, etc., but still. My dealership has disconnected random stuff for no reason.

As a general rule, I remove as much aftermarket stuff as I can from my vehicle prior to taking it in. For a Uconnect repair, I took all my Ram crap off the dash. I don’t want them having to disconnect and keep track of and reinstall all of that. If I was ever going to have them do a repair that necessitated removing the grill I would absolutely 100% remove my winch, lights AND bumper, throw my license plate up in the window (Virginia) and drive it in. I wouldn’t want them trying to remove and reinstall a stupid AEV bumper. I’d charge someone $1000 to deal with one of those. Even a simpler bumper is a pita, with a winch bolted to it. I’d recommend taking that off yourself. You’ll also know it was done right and not by a pissed off technician who drew the short straw and has to deal with the modded vehicle.

 

[AstroZombie]

I would just tell to eat a dick and go to another dealer. Google reviews go along ways in todays customer service world

not with me. 2 google review and 10 months still waiting for warranty parts. I even emailed the GM, since the service manager and the parts manager are just paperweights.

 

[Lost1wing]

Is the bumper/grill required to be removed? Is it normally done in that manner? Is the bumper with a winch an inconvenience and they saw as an opportunity to milk the customer? There is this thing of customer service that has been dwindling away. I'm not seeing tires or bumper/winch combo of being an obstacle.

I'm wondering if they will charge him for that work and never remove the items. A little torque stripe would be nice.

 

[RubiconDONN]

As some indicated. You are getting screwed. Plane and simple. Price wise… Then again, some agreements among others here, mods factor towards repair time setbacks. Shouldn’t be though to really stop you or help you out the door by losing your business. I think we are all missing that part.

I’d say do two things: 1) call Stellantis and complaint to corporate about it 2) leave some google and yelp reviews. Target DealerRater Reviews site too. Apply both the service manager and advisor names. Double back at some point again for review. This does tend to shift economics and factors of how Stellantis (CDJR) does business and work with dealerships, forcing them to shift business tactics or explore change on their end.

If you were in California at mine. I’d slide this under the rug or minimum if there were pinned prices to be made for “installed mods removal” for my techs; a reasonable fee + discount on entire service at least... As trying to rob you and play it as your fault when that Gladiator isn’t even that modded compared to stock sold units is just wild and maddening.

Anyways, status update?

 

[Dickster]

Yeah the average consumer plays dumb when it comes to the operational cost of running a business; most don't understand how many line items there are with insurance alone IE workman's comp, health, property, liability and so on.

So $181 hr - $45 hr for the Tech only leaves the shop with $136.............. Go ahead and research how much it cost to either lease commercial C2 property or even build; that's a huge amount of overhead before a single wrench is turned.

I've worked as a tech and at the operational level.

most people that never owned a company have no idea what the financial burden is, and no one works for free. You own a company to make money not just own a company.

No Joke i pay the highest workers comp rate on the market for my guy. workers comp $40k a year, Liability insurance with umbrella is $70k a year. auto/building insurance $25,000 a year. I am just a small podunk sheet metal operation as well.

Sponsored