Build-It-Yourself Attachment KITS...How much interest would there be???

[EverythingAttachments]

I also posted this in the Build-It-Yourself section but I thought it would fit here as well.

I have been thinking about this and wanted to see how much interest there would be. This is an idea I would borrow from Ikea, the furniture store where you get a box full of parts and instructions and assemble everything yourself EXCEPT my idea has to do with what we all love. Build-a-bear? nope....... TRACTOR ATTACHMENTS!!!!

How many people out there would be interested in ordering a kit to build your own attachments(box blade, scrape blade, disc harrow etc.)??
Our components are cut and indexed by our plasma cutter or laser so they fit together perfectly with little room for error. As long as you have the mechanical ability, a square, a flat surface to work on, as well as a welder then this may be for you. I would also include an assembly video along with all of the nuts/bolts and other hardware needed to build your attachments. You would also be able to paint(not included) your attachment whatever color you choose.
Besides the feeling of accomplishment when you've finished building your own attachment, you will have also saved yourself some money which I think we all are for!!
The kits would be limited to products that we build at our facility here in NC and the list of those attachments is growing all the time.

Let me know what you guys think of this. It's only an idea now and I'd like to know if we can turn it into something!

 

[BRBurns]

I would be interested in theory anyway. It would depend on the price reduction, and price/availability of the materials for me to buy them myself. I'm not currenty in the market for anything either.

 

[mikehaugen]

I agree with BRBurns. I would definitely be interested, but would have to be a decent price reduction. I enjoy building stuff but saving $100 off of a $1500 attachment is probably not worth it. If were talking 25-30%, then definitely. I know it all depends on what the item is since different attachments are going to require different amounts of assembly. I will be in the market for a box blade in the near future, and possibly a box frame disc in the more distant future.

 

[Guesseral]

I agree with BRBurns. I would definitely be interested, but would have to be a decent price reduction. I enjoy building stuff but saving $100 off of a $1500 attachment is probably not worth it. If were talking 25-30%, then definitely. I know it all depends on what the item is since different attachments are going to require different amounts of assembly. I will be in the market for a box blade in the near future, and possibly a box frame disc in the more distant future.

Ditto all of that. Really do enjoy building things also. This would be really interesting, but of course the cost savings would have to be worth while!

 

[EverythingAttachments]

The reduction would be significant due to the reduction of labor, paint, welding supplies and shipping costs, and it would vary from one attachment to the other. The kit would include every bolt, nut, screw, and shank that is required to build the attachment, and all the parts would be cut and bent to the specifications needed for simple assembly. The attachments that are almost 100% manufactured in our factory, like the plows, would have a larger reduction in price than say a cultipacker that has the cast iron wheels which we purchase from a 3rd party.

 

[catdozer]

Have to say the same thing. I would be very interested in these kits. I like doing things myself to save a buck and while building it see what weak points I could see and reinforce.

As landplanes are getting more popular. I can see you selling a lot of them as kits

 

[PhysAssist]

The reduction would be significant due to the reduction of labor, paint, welding supplies and shipping costs, and it would vary from one attachment to the other. The kit would include every bolt, nut, screw, and shank that is required to build the attachment, and all the parts would be cut and bent to the specifications needed for simple assembly. The attachments that are almost 100% manufactured in our factory, like the plows, would have a larger reduction in price than say a cultipacker that has the cast iron wheels which we purchase from a 3rd party.

I hate to be a ditto, but if the price was right I think a lot of us would bite.

It's hard to see how it could be anything but good for you either, because if they don't sell, you can put them back into the production process.

If the process flies, you would save a lot with the labor reduction, hopfully passing a significant portion on to us...

Thomas
No matter where you go; there you are...

 

[EverythingAttachments]

To all the TBN members and everyone else,
At the moment this is just a thought, but I keep thinking about it more and more, because with the laser we are able to cut indexing holes and location spots where it is almost like putting a tinker toy together for our attachments built on our new laser. The main thing anyone needs is a flat table, and a square, and as I mentioned earlier general mechanical and welding ability is also required. My first thought on savings depending upon the attachment, would be at the least 25%, and at the most possibly as much as 50% off! I look forward to reading more of your thoughts, so I can organize what really needs to be done to be able to make this Ikea idea work.
Thanks,
Ted

 

[mikehaugen]

Sounds good Ted, hopefully you get it figured out. There will be a whole lot of people here waiting in anticipation now that you have brought this up.

 

[Guesseral]

The one thing I haven't seen mentioned (sorry if its there) are instructions for assembly. I would assume they would be included but you know what happens when you assume. Where as I really do like looking at a picture and trying to just build something to match, I also realize that my eggo is sometimes a little to large and like to have something to read (I know bad bad) while enjoying a beer just in case you know! :confused3:

 

[Luremaker]

The reduction would be significant due to the reduction of labor, paint, welding supplies and shipping costs, and it would vary from one attachment to the other. The kit would include every bolt, nut, screw, and shank that is required to build the attachment, and all the parts would be cut and bent to the specifications needed for simple assembly. The attachments that are almost 100% manufactured in our factory, like the plows, would have a larger reduction in price than say a cultipacker that has the cast iron wheels which we purchase from a 3rd party.

A great ideal! :thumbsup: You could even have a "library" of implements listed online without a single piece in inventory and only send the kit out to be cut and formed after an order has been placed. That way even if only a few are ordered per year no inventory is required. I can see this would take a great deal of planning.

You may actually get a number of backyard attachment builders using you as a high quality supplier.

 

[kiotiken]

Sounds great in theory, but I'm not so sure it'll work out for anybody as well as they hope, including EA. I have a welder and I love building stuff and doing custom fab work, but I also know my welding skills are still at the novice level. Would I trust my welds in a tug of war with my 7000lbs tractor, I'm not sure, most of them maybe. As far as resale value of the attachment goes, I see a problem for all the getr' done welders out there. Paint is also something that some people do well and others don't. Lots of paint just gets scraped off anyway, but having some paint stick to something that lives outside is important.

I can see this turning into a bit of a nightmare for EA when people start welding the wrong pieces together. I also don't know how warranty would work, if an attachment is not working properly or breaks, it's likely because you welded it crooked or incorrectly.

 

[Biggreenavalanche]

Definitely interested...if there's a significant price reduction ...

Rich

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Just my :2cents:, But this HAS to be one of your best ideas yet Ted. I think that it could be a win win for everybody. The only catch is that the purchaser should know their realistic capabilities. But IMO that is the purchaser's responsibility.

 

[scott123456789]

It should not be any different then buying bulk metal from a welding supply store. The only issue I could see is with fitup but once again that comes down to people's ability to actually weld as needed.

 

[megaboz]

Well I guess i am going to be one of the kill-joys. Bolt together sure, good idea. Weld it yourself, bad idea. Warranty, truthfully I would warranty anything else that someone assembled. No telling how many bolts, washers, nuts they didn't put in right, tight enough.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[kneedeep]

Just my :2cents:, But this HAS to be one of your best ideas yet Ted. I think that it could be a win win for everybody. The only catch is that the purchaser should know their realistic capabilities. But IMO that is the purchaser's responsibility.

AGREE :2cents:

Ready to purchase the first Cultipacker kit :thumbsup:

 

[jenkinsph]

Well I guess i am going to be one of the kill-joys. Bolt together sure, good idea. Weld it yourself, bad idea. Warranty, truthfully I would warranty anything else that someone assembled. No telling how many bolts, washers, nuts they didn't put in right, tight enough

Just my 2 cents.

Sometimes you do stuff on your own and take responsibility for the outcome. No hand holding needed or wanted. If a warranty is important then buy a complete assembled unit instead.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Sometimes you do stuff on your own and take responsibility for the outcome. No hand holding needed or wanted. If a warranty is important then buy a complete assembled unit instead.

Exactly, I couldn't have said it better. :drink:

 

[Whisper35]

I'd be really interested in your idea. I would like to eventually get a box blade for my JD3720. If I could actually build it that would be even better. The savings would have to significant though, because the shipping cost will be.
Either way, I think that it is a good idea and a viable option. Keep us informed.