Refurbishing truck bodies-any money in it?

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Just brainstorming here...     Starting out I used to do a lot of repair work on truck bodies, trailers, ect.  Anyways I just picked up a new snow plow truck and it has a very rough 12' mason dump body on it.  I have no use for a dump body so I was originally planning to cut it up for scrap.  Then I got to thinking...     To fabricate a new body like this one I would be wanting $7500+ and I'm pretty sure that the big body companies are getting that much or more for them.  I could sandblast, repair, and paint this body in 16-20 hours and probably $500 in material.  I guess that it would bring maybe $3500 (with the pump, hoist, tank, and all the stuff to install it)?    I run across bodies pretty often that would not be cost effective for customers to pay to have repaired, but I can do when things get slow to keep busy.  Does anyone have experience trying to sell refurbished truck bodies or have any opinions on what they think a refurbished body would be worth?Thanks!Beck's Welding and Fabrication, Inc.-Misc. Metals Fabrication & Installation-
Reply:In a nutshell.  No.
Reply:ditto on what sidecar saidVantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Originally Posted by SidecarFlipIn a nutshell.  No.
Reply:Shoot give it a shot and see what happens. Worst thing is you end up spending the money and time and you have a dump body on hand that you might end up using even though at the moment you say you dont need itHobart Stickmate LX235AC/160DCRanger 305GVictor 315 O/A rigHope to acquire in the next couple of years: Hypertherm PM45 and Dynasty 200DX
Reply:HIt or miss around here I have done a couple of hauler bodies and people just want something next to nothing if they are buying a used body. I did one that looked almost perfect and I couldn't get $2000 but I had one that looked pretty rough and I sold it that day for $1200 and had people lining up for it. Better just to put a feeler out there see if anyone has any interested or tell them that you do do the work and let them bring there's to be fixed that way you don't have one that you have spent all the money and time on without a certainty that you will have a positive return.Vantage 300 kubota ,miller 304 xmt ,lincoln ln 25 pro , ranger 305 G, plenty of other tools of the trade to make the sparks fly.
Reply:I agree- Put out a feeler...
Reply:I'll give it a shot.     It seems like one of those things that would make money...  IF you had a buyer.  I'm sure a truck dealer could have it sold in a week, but I may have to sit on it for a few months.  I think it would be an easy sell to someone who is looking at $7k+ for a new one.  Worst case I'll sell it on consignment at my friends shop.  He builds custom bodies full time, has the website and the dealer connection on fleet trucks and all that.  I know it will sell there.  Speaking of which, I should call him and run this idea past him.Last edited by OldSchoolPSD; 05-09-2013 at 08:42 AM.Beck's Welding and Fabrication, Inc.-Misc. Metals Fabrication & Installation-
Reply:I think it will depend on your local market.In my area if it is .10 cheaper than new you will sell it simply because it is priced less than new.The state of the economy may play a role too.When times are bad used/refurbished will sell to keep equipment on the job when new is not an option.The bottom line is I think it's worth a go.....if you make a profit you'll do it again,if not you won't
Reply:I know here if Florida the shops around my shop that refurbish trucks and equipment like which end up at Richie Bros and other auction houses, dealers etc...  all use illegals and pay them a couple of hundred a week. If that is the case up there then thier may be no money in it.  I will say that reurbishing pre emission (2007) heavy trucks is booming.
Reply:As someone learning as I go, I'd say stay away from it.I used to look at truck components, and trucks and trailers, strictly for the price.  I'd never had to repair them.  Now I look beyond the price, and see the work involved.Chances are that most buyers just want it cheap, and figure they'll keep it running.  They don't care what you've done to improve it.  It still costs "more" in their mind."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/