need to find latham steering hose and fittings for my 38 Express cruiser. WOW,, Almost $500 bucks. They are not a JIC fitting, they are #6 SAE.. Anyone know of a less expensive way to do these? Local hydraulic shop wants over $500.00 and Fountain direct is even higher. Need 4, they are 18" long

All the NAPA auto parts around here do them also. Tell them its a skid steer not a boat. Might be cheaper

When I did mine, I bought the appropriate hose new off ebay pretty cheap and had a local farm supply place put on fittings... all that farm implement stuff uses hydraulics.

The stainless fittings are the pricey part. I'd bet $300 of the quoted price is the fittings.

If you have the old fitting. They should be reusable

I went to my local Parker shop. Showed the guy there what I needed and he took care of the rest, probably about half of what the imco steering kit cost.

I will not go see my local parker guy again unless I bring some KY. Im still walking funny after the one and only time I had them make a hose for me.

The fittings are actually chrome plated brass not SS. SS does not seal well. Pricey @ $38 per fitting.

http://www.cpperformance.com/p-74585...e-fitting.aspx

Like others have suggested, I'd look at a farm supply or truck repair business. I manage a fork lift repair shop, and we use these guys for all of our hydraulic hoses. Compared to the OEM parts, they are about 1/2 the cost, and they can custom make just what you need. Their wall of fittings they have available is HUGE.

http://www.cookbrothersco.com/services.html

I forgot to add.... You can take your old hose in to them, walk right in, and wait while they make the hose on the spot! One trip and you're done.