You guys make it sound so beautiful, factory replacement parts at next-to-nothing prices. I want in!
First, how do I locate one? Web? Yellow pages?
Do all junk/salvage yards let you "pull"?
So how do you guys go... I mean, what do you take with you?
How do you deal with the dogs?
I want the whole skinny on this mecca of metal!

Well, generally speaking you'll do better with this outside of New Jersey, that's for sure -- as I posted in the 98 Rodeo tail light thread, NJ junkyards tend to be piles upon piles of cars and trucks, no rhyme or reason to anything, all on top of 5 feet of mud. You have to trudge through it all, and usually when you find the part you need, it's either broken or there's another car on top of it and you can't get to it.

Best pick-and-pull I've been to was somewhere in Westchester County, NY, IIRC, but even that wasn't terribly well organized. At least they had all the 4x4's in one area, anyway, instead of randomly all over the place. Plus most of the vehicles weren't double-stacked, so at least I didn't have to jack up cars off the top of what I needed....

I've heard great stories about pick-n-pull yards elsewhere tho. Cars and trucks propped up with two tires under each wheel so you can get underneath without a jack, gravel drainage beds underneath them so you can lay there and not be in 5 feet of mud, etc, etc... But not in Jersey that I've found, that's for sure.

Usually if and when I go (I try not to unless I REALLY need it) I go once to locate the part I need, and a second time to actually get it. This is mostly because you can usually get the parts you need with basic hand tools, but sometimes it takes specialty tools to get to them -- like, for instance, a high-lift jack to get the car on top of what you need off of there.... Kinda stinks really. Worst part about it is, the places I go to aren't even true pick-n-pulls -- usually if you're doing all the work anyway, they charge you pennies on the dollar... But where I go, I go through all that drama to get the parts I need, then they charge me as if THEY did all the work! Bastards! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Nonetheless, when I really need it, it's a much better option than paying dealer retail...

-Chris

There's Harry's U pull it
http://www.wegotused.com/

there's E Z pull
http://www.joesusedautoparts.com/calendar.htm

Bring tools, maybe a prybar, gloves, boots, maybe a jack depending on what parts you're looking for. A lot of the stuff that would be under the vehicle is often trash since they get dropped on the ground or mangled by fork lifts.

Not all yards will let you go out and get your own parts. I guess there are different insurance risks?

Don't worry about "junkyard dog". he died several years ago. R.I.P.

The local wrecking yards here in Oregon sound like they are a lot nicer than the ones on the east coast.
Here all the cars are organized by rows with a large ariel photo in the office to see what section you need to go to.
There are no cars stacked on top of each other, and each car has makeshift stands under each corner made of 2 rims welded together like a T.
Ask them what part you want and they tell you where its at.
Take your tools out and find your goodies.

BTW I have never seen a dog at a junkyard before.

The ones I go to in Lancaster, PA have rows of chevys, fords, dodges, etc. Cars at one end, trucks in the middle and minivans at the other. Ask at the desk where a certain make model is and they tell you what row to go to. If you find something you can't get to or don't have the right tool they'll pull it for you. Oh and they do have a dog lying there, friendly mutt.

Richmond VA has one. Haven't been to this one yet, going this week though. one buck gets you in the door, the rest is up to you. bad thing is they don't inventory there stuff, nor will they answer the phone. they just want you to show up and do your stuff

And don't forget their snappy TV commercials! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

The junkyard's here in East TN aren't bad. The cars are typically organized by make (at most places). And if they arent organixed the people can tell you exactly where they are at. Nothing double stacked at all.

Harry's U-pull it will not allow any kind of jack, just so you know. As far a tools. Basic hand tools, a good socket set, allen wrenches, BFH, and something to lay on will do pretty good for tools. One thing you might want would be a dolley or a heavy duty cart with large rubber wheels.

I also saw a large double decker cart with big rubber tires tools very organized in the top shelf and the parts pulled went on the lower shelf. This thing had to be 2 feet wide and 5-6 feet long. Nice cart.

gkramer youa are close to me hea.
they do have such creative adverising don't they <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />