custom build vs brand name add ons

[t4r4life]

most places charge 100/hr for custom build stuff i was wondering if its worth it to make ur runner custom build or just buy bolt on stuff

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

It depends what you want outta your truck. For example I just installed long tubes on my truck and running a hot tune on it. Now I want to upgrade the rest of the exhaust, y pipe and catback. I could buy the bolt ons like a urd y and some catback from magnaflow, borla, ganador, gibson, etc. they might be fine and show some decent gains but the problem with them is the where they meet on the flange they close down to about .9-1 in. So in that respect APR and I are building a custom exhaust for my truck where they don't close down at all and have the appropriate length and dynamiter to deal with the pressures and temp of the exhaust to gain the most HP and TQ. To sum it up bolt ons are nice but thats what they are. They give you the least headaches both for install and maintenance and since more people will have bolt ons compared to custom work trouble shooting will be much easier as well if there are any problems.

 

[Offroader5]

I think it comes down to what you really want out of the upgrade. Let's take a rear bumper as an example. If you want to just upgrade your bumper so you gain the strength over a stock bumper and you don't want to have to figure it out yourself...then buy the bolt on where they have already done all the math, prototyping, and fitment.

There are only a couple companies that make a rear bumper for my 4th gen. Either I live with what's available as a bolt on (and pay for that r&d), or I think of something custom and build it myself for a fraction of the cost. This of course doesn't include your labor to build it...but if thats something you can do anyway..then why not. Not only will I save a bit of cash, but I'll have the bumper I want in terms of functionality and looks...plus it's not what you'd find on every other 4th gen runner.

This is of course based on doing my own fabrication. If you were having someone build your custom design rear bumper, it may end up being a wash in terms of cost to buy the bolt on.

I don't mind doing a bit of labor on my rigs...makes it unique compared to others on the road.

 

[ChoochCharlie]

Bolt up is fine. Custom is fine. What does the trick for you and your truck. Truth.

Now, here's my opinion. Custom is sweet. Bolt up works, but I respect custom so much more. But only if you and your friends did it yourselves. Having it done is OK I guess, but I hate talking to a dude about his truck and he knows nothing, cause all he did was write a check. Then again, when the guy knows all about it, and had it done to his design and ideas because he can't weld, that's OK too.
I guess I just really respect knowledge and skill, and knowing when to call in the pro is not a bad thing.

 

[fourwd1]

It depends a lot on your capabilities, If you can custom fab stuff, fantastic.
If you can buy stuff and bolt it on yourself, great.
If you can buy stuff and pay to have it installed, I want to be your friend.
On my truck I custom designed, fabricated, and installed everything, just to see if I could. Turned out exceptionally well.
If you built it it comes in handy when you break it, you know how to fix it.

 

[810moto]

It depends a lot on your capabilities, If you can custom fab stuff, fantastic.
If you can buy stuff and bolt it on yourself, great.
If you can buy stuff and pay to have it installed, I want to be your friend.
On my truck I custom designed, fabricated, and installed everything, just to see if I could. Turned out exceptionally well.
If you built it it comes in handy when you break it, you know how to fix it.

man you hit the nail on the head.