Field Notes
Guides, gear, and build features
Field Notes is where ModShops USA shares practical reference for enthusiasts: how to choose a shop, what good work costs, gear worth running, and features on the builders behind real rigs. It is written to be useful first and to help you find the right shop near you, second.
How-ToAug 4, 20267 min read
Suspension Tuning Is a Different Job Than Installing a Lift
A bolt-in lift is a parts swap. Tuning is what makes it ride. What setup work involves, and when to ask a shop for it instead of living with the result.
How-ToJul 31, 20266 min read
What a Tire Shop Should Check Before It Mounts Your Off-Road Tires
Off-road tires are a different job than all-seasons. What competent fitting involves, and why the cheapest mount-and-balance is rarely the cheapest outcome.
IndustryJul 24, 20266 min read
Why Some Shops Won't Touch Someone Else's Parts
Why some shops refuse to install parts you bought online: the warranty, liability, and comeback-work reasons, and how to tell a fair no from a margin grab.
How-ToJul 21, 20266 min read
Lift First or Tires First? Getting the Order Right
Tire size drives every other choice on a build. Here's the decision order that keeps you from buying a lift twice or regearing after the fact.
How-ToJul 20, 20266 min read
What a Good Shop Quote Actually Looks Like
How to read a 4x4 build quote — what a legitimate one itemizes, which omissions signal trouble, and the supporting work that becomes a surprise bill.
How-ToJun 8, 20263 min read
Lift Kits Explained: Suspension, Body, and Leveling
What the main types of lift kit do, how they differ, and how to choose the right amount of lift for your build and budget.
How-ToMay 20, 20262 min read
How to Choose a 4×4 Shop You Can Trust
A practical, no-nonsense guide to vetting an off-road shop before you hand over your rig and your money.