Number of Labor Hours for a Towed vehicle install?

[Soon2BDP]

What’s a reasonable number of a professional (Transwest RV) install labor hours for a towed vehicle install including everything (Blue Ox Tow Bar, Electrical, Blue Ox Face Plate install (‘18 GMC Canyon Pick -Up), Air Force One brake system, lights etc.). One estimate that I received so far is 14.5 hours. Reasonable or not? More/less, how many?

[Playtime_II]

It depends on the mods needed to be made to the vehicle. Some are easy...bolt swap and no grill trimming for the brackets, comvenient place to mount the brake box and easy access for wiring runs, tail light diods, etc. Others are a real PITA and can easily be an 18hr task. Seen it both ways.

[Two_Jayhawks]

Generally speaking I think 14.5 hours is high. If they quoted that high it tells me they might not do many of them.

[Ava]

I installed the base plate, Roadmaster invisibrake and light wiring myself in my toad. The base plate suggested about 2 hours, the brake system information said about 5 hours and he wiring was another couple hours.
It took me longer than that as I needed to read the directions several times, decide where to install the brake components, remove and replace several interior panels and ensure it works properly.
A qualified shop with this kind of experience should be quicker but will probably take at least a full day and then some time to test and adjust everything.

[rgatijnet1]

Did they tell you they will keep the vehicle for two days?
The time seems a little high but maybe they know about the skill level of the "technician in training" better than we do.
Personally I would think that they can get things done in one day. I had a Blue Ox face plate and the diodes for the lights installed in about 4 1/2 hours and they had to basically take a lot of the front end apart on my Chevrolet HHR. I watched them for awhile and it was obvious that the technician knew what he was doing.
Every vehicle is different and I did not have a braking system installed. As far as installing the tow bar, 15 minutes is plenty of time to push it in to your hitch and install the pin. A little longer if you install the anti rattle type lock with it.

[Bruce_Brown]

Blue Ox says 3.5 hours for the base - looking at the instructions I'd believe that.

The Air Force one System looks to me like it might take about the same.

Figure an hour for the lights (probably less, but figure that) and you're looking at 8 hours. A smart shop would give themselves a little extra time on that, so a 10-12 hour quote doesn't seem way out of line.

My question would be is the install price a firm quote or an estimate? If they estimated 14 but did it in 6 how are you being charged? Same with if it goes bad - if they say 14 and it takes them 18 are you paying more?

[wildmanbaker]

The web sites for the equipment you mentioned, usually have installation instructions that can be printed out. Maybe print them out and take them to the installer for a true estimate.

[Soon2BDP]

Also over estimating makes for a nice surprise for the customer and an even nicer “surprise” for the dealer.
Thanks all for your replies. Looks like I have some research to do looking for estimated labor time for each part.

[ScottG]

When they quote a high number of hours, it's because they don't know what they're getting into and want to make sure they don't lose money on the deal.

[Jeffe]

The Blue Ox website posts the installation hours required for specific baseplates and light kits. My local shop accepted those hours.

I think my Ford 150 was about 2 1/2 hours for the baseplate and a hour for the light kit.

[imgoin4it]

I believe every one of those manufacturers list the number of hours it takes to install / accomplish those actions. My mobile tech told me the Air Force one was listed as taking 2 hours to install so that’s what he charged even though it took him 7 hours. Said it wasn’t right to charge for his “ going to school “ time for the first one.. Don’t know about all together, but seems high too me.

[donn0128]

Oh, you meant towed? A good mechanic should be able to install the brackets in an hour or so. But that depends on the vehicle. As for the rest? IMHO everything should be able to be done in one day.