I'm looking add a 2 inch receiver hitch. I've found prices from $299 to $599. WTH?
I don't suppose anyone on here is making a few at an actual reasonable cost?
When someone actually *makes* something, I don't mind them charging for their product.
*opposed to flipping a $20 something they won at auction for $900
That said, I base value on quality. If it's a "weld it yourself kit", the quality will be on who welds it so the parts are only worth what I can have the local fab shop spit out for me. And some save on shipping by letting you purchase your own receiver box. In the end, if you have a fab shop near you then that's always going to be the most cost effective.
It goes back to if you value you time above your money or visa-versa,
But yeah, that's about $60-80 worth of 1/4" raw steel stock and a $20 receiver tube. No complex angles. Pretty easy to cut with a hand grinder/cutting wheel. Curves take some time to do right, but beyond that it's a three hour DIY job.
I invested in a welding rig and it paid for itself in a year. I have a steel supplier about 20 minutes from the house. And if something is beyond my scope, there are fab shops all over this town.