When I say off road shop.....

CLRracer

CLRracer

Mopar Nut
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Archer Lodge
What do you think of?

Lifts, tires, bolt on goodies etc? Gear/locker install, suspension work? Fabrication work?

Short backstory: Old Man is buying an auto repair shop. Being the opportunist I am I told him we could slap "off road" to the end of the name and install lift kits (at least the front half) for young posers with Daddy's money :flipoff2:. His reply was "well what does an off road shop do?"

So here I am asking you guys and gals. Not being a dedicated "off road shop" per se I could realistically see the shop doing anything short of major custom fab work like cages and link suspension, but if fab work like that is the back bone of an "off road shop" then we'll just stick to fixing broke junk. Or be a "truck accessory" location and mark up tool boxes and fender flares :lol:.

I know this is a very broad topic with limited information, so discuss, ask questions, tell me I'm an idiot....

Duane
 
I would think a lot of lift, tires, winches, steps, lightbars...like you said "bolt ons". We have a lot of request to put on that type of stuff here at our tire shop. We generally don't mess with it unless it is a frequent customer. Our labor rate is high enough that it is not cost effective for the customer to pay enough to make it worth the technicians time. I think "fab shop" when I think of cages and four link setup.
 
ECGS
 
I think of parts dealers buying for dealer prices, selling for retail to customers that want the warm fuzzy feeling of a warranty without hassle. And when asked for, technical knowledge and insight that is extremely valuable.
Also, Ive noticed that behind every good off-road shop there is that one mastermind that holds the place together. They do the gear installs, parts rebuilds and the tube work. Typically they're all great people that earn a living helping truck enthusiasts andwheelers alike spend their money wisely. I constantly give shoutouts to CFS off-road, performance 4x4 and West Wateree off-road because these guys are the ones I've wheeled with for years, traded parts with, learned from, and shared a few beers with. When I stop by I'm treated like family. Rock on gentlemen!
 
I'd probably stick with bolt on stuff. Liability insurance will probably not allow "custom modifications" without being really expensive.
 
LBarr2002 said:
I feel like "off road shops" make their money on selling and installing bolt ons. Being able to set up gears, build cages, etc is a bonus.
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There are NO "off-road shops" in Winston Salem that can change gears.

You have to go to @Oliver's (driveshaft shop) for gear changes in Winston. Which is sad (because Off-road shops SHOULD be doing this service)

Even Toms 4x4 in Lexington won't change gears. TOM's 4x4!!!! There's something really messed up about that IMHO

You can buy a YETI....even some nice LUND chrome accents at all the offroad shops here in town, but RCV's? Ring and Pinion install? Atlas transfer case? Nope....ironically all available at @Oliver's
 
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Having "off road" on your name may very well steer potential new customers away unintentionally that just need brakes changed out on their Acura.

May be good or bad depending on current and potential customer base.
 
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CasterTroy said:
There are NO "off-road shops" in Winston Salem that can change gears.

You have to go to @Oliver's (driveshaft shop) for gear changes in Winston. Which is sad (because Off-road shops SHOULD be doing this service)

Even Toms 4x4 in Lexington won't change gears. TOM's 4x4!!!! There's something really messed up about that IMHO

You can buy a YETI....even some nice LUND chrome accents at all the offroad shops here in town, but RCV's? Ring and Pinion install? Atlas transfer case? Nope....ironically all available at @Oliver's
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That's because it's Toms tire shop with a new generation running it.

On to the question at hand.
Think 4 wheel parts. Mostly sell offroad stuff, but installs it also. A fabrication shop is different than a sales/repair shop.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
CasterTroy said:
Even Toms 4x4 in Lexington won't change gears. TOM's 4x4!!!! There's something really messed up about that IMHO

You can buy a YETI....even some nice LUND chrome accents at all the offroad shops here in town, but RCV's? Ring and Pinion install? Atlas transfer case? Nope....ironically all available at @Oliver's
Click to expand...

I live in Lexington and something about Tom's that has always annoyed me was that they are only open Monday through Friday and only until 5pm. It almost like they are only open for business to people that work 2nd shift, 3rd shift, or don't work at all and pay with daddy's money instead.
 
Let the vehicles you work on be your advertisement. Cars, trucks, jeeps, buggies....dump trucks....School buses... ?
Nothing says off-road shop like a lifted crawler parked in front just like a hotrod shop would have a big block powered racecar with 12" wide slicks parked up front.
 
superman27344 said:
I live in Lexington and something about Tom's that has always annoyed me was that they are only open Monday through Friday and only until 5pm. It almost like they are only open for business to people that work 2nd shift, 3rd shift, or don't work at all and pay with daddy's money instead.
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YES!!! that too chapped my ass like a 4ft flame
 
The closest thing I think we have to an actual 4x4 shop in the Piedmont is Galloway's (regardless of how you feel about them). They offer it all. One of the last times I was there, they were doing an SAS. I wouldn't necessarily call them a fab shop...but they are what I think of when I think 4x4 shop.
 
Infamous1 said:
I would think a lot of lift, tires, winches, steps, lightbars...like you said "bolt ons". We have a lot of request to put on that type of stuff here at our tire shop. We generally don't mess with it unless it is a frequent customer. Our labor rate is high enough that it is not cost effective for the customer to pay enough to make it worth the technicians time. I think "fab shop" when I think of cages and four link setup.
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You and I are pretty much on the same page.

drkelly said:
ECGS
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While definitely off road oriented, I do not consider them an off road shop. I consider them a gear and axle shop. Do they do more than that? Sure, but it appears to me their bread and butter is axle stuff. Just like Oliver's is a drive shaft shop to me.

CasterTroy said:
There are NO "off-road shops" in Winston Salem that can change gears.

You have to go to @Oliver's (driveshaft shop) for gear changes in Winston. Which is sad (because Off-road shops SHOULD be doing this service)

Even Toms 4x4 in Lexington won't change gears. TOM's 4x4!!!! There's something really messed up about that IMHO

You can buy a YETI....even some nice LUND chrome accents at all the offroad shops here in town, but RCV's? Ring and Pinion install? Atlas transfer case? Nope....ironically all available at @Oliver's
Click to expand...

Do you think an off road shop should be a dealer for such parts, or just have the knowledge to understand what the customer wants/needs and say "these are some options for (insert desired upgrade) and we have a few places we can get prices for you?"

rockcity said:
Having "off road" on your name may very well steer potential new customers away unintentionally that just need brakes changed out on their Acura.

May be good or bad depending on current and potential customer base.
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I understand, and there is nothing set in stone yet. Just getting some ideas and options in place. With that said the primary location is JoCo, so I think a bolt on shop will do well in conjunction with an automotive service and repair shop. But I could be wrong.

Thanks for the input guys.

Duane
 
drkelly said:
If you are not regearing axles and installing lockers, then you cannot call yourself an off road shop.
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I agree, but you and I are obviously more off road oriented than the average public.

XJsavage said:
Let the vehicles you work on be your advertisement. Cars, trucks, jeeps, buggies....dump trucks....School buses... ?
Nothing says off-road shop like a lifted crawler parked in front just like a hotrod shop would have a big block powered racecar with 12" wide slicks parked up front.
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That is a true statement and part of the plan. One location we are looking at has a used car lot as part of the package so we may be able to flip some trucks and jeeps through there.

Duane
 
rockcity said:
Having "off road" on your name may very well steer potential new customers away unintentionally that just need brakes changed out on their Acura.

May be good or bad depending on current and potential customer base.
Click to expand...


This is very true. I had several customers imply that they thought we were catering more to the off road crowd, so that I stopped keeping my buggy at the shop because it was, imo scaring away my hot rod and classic car guys business.
 
rockcity said:
Having "off road" on your name may very well steer potential new customers away unintentionally that just need brakes changed out on their Acura.

May be good or bad depending on current and potential customer base.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. Before I got bit by the off road bug (and dang does my wallet wish I smashed that bug before it bit me) I would have not gone to a place that said "off road" for work on my DD. Now that I am in the cool kids club, an off road shop to me would be a vendor where I can buy the parts and then have them installed at the same place.
 
CLRracer said:
Do you think an off road shop should be a dealer for such parts, or just have the knowledge to understand what the customer wants/needs and say "these are some options for (insert desired upgrade) and we have a few places we can get prices for you?
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I understand the concept of referring a friendly shop and having an agreement with him for referrals back to your shop. But honestly the business man in me says anytime you send a customer away you lose a potential return customer. You can't be all things to all people however, if I were to design my ideal off road shop, it would have Dave from Oliver's there and the selection and availability of 4wheelparts all in one place. But to Dave's credit, it would be advantageous to have dual signage, with off-road on one side of the building and hot rod on the other side of the building so you don't paint yourself into a corner
 
Also keep in mind too that the off-road industry is a luxury business.
Automotive in general is a necessity.
Nobody "needs" 6" of lift and 37s. But they do need a replacement alternator/starter/radiator or tires mounted and balanced so they can get to work tomorrow.
 
XJsavage said:
Also keep in mind too that the off-road industry is a luxury business.
Automotive in general is a necessity.
Nobody "needs" 6" of lift and 37s. But they do need a replacement alternator/starter/radiator or tires mounted and balanced so they can get to work tomorrow.
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Understood. We are looking at existing auto repair shops and that will be the primary income. I do believe there is a market for an off road shop in this area, but starting from scratch isn't feasible for us right now, especially for a niche market. In reality it will probably start out like @Infamous1 where we get someone looking for tires and we end up doing the lift and gears too. If that turns into an off road division of the shop then so be it.

Duane
 
Don't slap Off Road on the end unless you want to waste your time with people kicking your tires constantly. Your available pool of potential clients will shrink if you label yourself as such.
Instead get known as doing good work at a fair price. If some of that good work happens to come from the off road/ 4x4 world, so be it.
Lots of times people in our industry tend to be grinders and just go from shop to shop looking for cheap work. Learn who to say yes to and who to say no to.
For me personally, I can do pretty much anything on a car, truck or buggy. But I know what side my bread gets buttered on and stick to gear work 90% of the time. I let my good name keep me busy with people who appreciate quality work at a fair price.
 
XJsavage said:
Also keep in mind too that the off-road industry is a luxury business.
Automotive in general is a necessity.
Nobody "needs" 6" of lift and 37s. But they do need a replacement alternator/starter/radiator or tires mounted and balanced so they can get to work tomorrow.
Click to expand...

well that depends...

There are a whole lot of young adults running around on new half lifts and brand new tires and int he case of a kid who goes to school with my son, need to get jumped off everyday because they wont drop $100 for a battery....yet they will spend $3k on a paint job.

If you can cater to the luxury crowd they wont pinch pennies.
 
Ron said:
well that depends...

There are a whole lot of young adults running around on new half lifts and brand new tires and int he case of a kid who goes to school with my son, need to get jumped off everyday because they wont drop $100 for a battery....yet they will spend $3k on a paint job.

If you can cater to the luxury crowd they wont pinch pennies.
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You are very right about that. An off-road shop here in town located very close to ft Jackson sees a lot of business from enlisted soldiers looking to blow a few thousand in savings on a truck they just bought from Jim Hudson's Buick/GMC/Hummer. Still not necessity but probably accounts for 30% or more of the shops income.
 
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