Starting up a mobil unit and have a few questions

Jakerooni · 01-12-08, 09:48

Yep. I've decided to start a mobil unit based out my fixed location shop. Got a good crew all hyped up about it. But I have a few questions for the mobil guys.

First off the trailer- Been following the other trailer set up threads so I have some good clues.. But. Size wise. I'm looking at 6'x10's and 7'x12's. Only online though. Is there's a choice prefence? Is one or the other either too big or to small? I plan on being completly self sufficent unlike the other mobil guys aroud here that show up to a job site with a milk crate of products in the back of their car and have to use the owners electricity and water and then charge them for it. So I need the room for a water tank and a generator as well as all the other goodies.

Next the water tank. Is the freshwater reseve tank from and RV enough? What is the norm to use and where does one find it? What kind of gallon size. My P/W does about 2.3/gpm I don't need to go stupid but I don't want to cut myself short. (ie I don't need a 500/gal tank but would a 60/ gal be enough?)

I already have a air compressor, tons of extra product and supplies, shop vacs, wheels and D/A's, garden hoses, extension cords, and air-lines. I don't have obviously the trailer the generator or the water tank. What size generator should I be looking at? Any good name brands to consider, Thinking I want a compact extractor as well. My Mytee Grand Prix 100hp is just to big to lug around all over the place. I need something that will perform up to at the very least that level of extractor but in a smaller compact size.

My timeline on this is to collect all the stuff for the build out this month. Start my build out and initial advertising next month. Get my first set of contacts finalize the build out and then send the trailer in for wrapping, and train the crew on anything specific they may be weak in and heavily advertise the mobil unit in March and be fully up and operational by mid april. Any advise in reaching this goal is greatly appreciated.

Showroom Shine · 01-12-08, 10:43

I'm in the mobile business also. I do not have a trailer. All my equipment and products are in the locked back of my EXT. My avatar! I carry 80 gallons of water, heated extractor, wet vac & blower combo, presure washer, Coleman powemate generator,
2 rotories, Flex, and a variety of products rags etc. Sounds like you have a good plan.
Since I do not have any employees yet I can't help there. All I know is to train them well. As good as You are. Make sure they respect the client. Remember Your employees are an Extension of YOU! Good Luck!

Jakerooni · 01-12-08, 10:57

Yea I had thought about getting something like an ecoline van or something. But just picking up a trailer in the sizes mentioned is proving to be a cheaper alternative. I can haul it around with my explorer. At least for this first summer I'll be the one heading out with the mobil crew where my head detailer here will run the fix location. Although I'll probably be in and out all day so I'll still be heavily involved in both aspects. I just don't want to make a huge purchase and slap down thousands of dollars on something that's not what I need. Just want to make sure I'm looking at the correct size bracket and I'm not missing anything vital for mobil detailing.

SShine · 01-12-08, 11:24

I should be getting a trailer monday. Im looking at 6x10, 6x12 and 7x12's. Im financing it so the payments between the 3 are pretty close. I might get the 7x12 because they are slightly taller and me being 6'2, it helps.

either way, I think anything 6x10 and greater would be fine. A 6x10 can easily fit a water tank, PW, generator shelves, etc. But 7x12's are just marginally more expensive.

ajbarnes · 01-12-08, 04:34

Unless you are primarily doing alot of commerical, office park, & boat detailing jobs, getting a large trailer may not be a good idea. You have to also think about manueverability (SP?) at your customers' homes. Large trailers work excellent for lawn care operators because they have to park on the street and they can just simply drive their mowers right off the trailer and get to work. With mobile detailing, if you have to park on the street, efficiency can become a serious problem given that you have several different items you're going to need to do a job and you would have to do alot of walking back and forth.

If you plan on doing more residential, I would suggest a 5x8 trailer. If you plan on doing more commercial work, I would go larger.

I know "TexasTB" runs a 5x8 and he fits everything in there comfortably. I think there is a thread around that shows pictures and the process of completing the interior.

SShine · 01-12-08, 04:49

a 6x10 isnt that much larger than a 5x8, but will hold alot more. 6x10's arent THAT big.

Jakerooni · 01-14-08, 07:10

Yea one of my main goals this summer is to hit up alot of the marina's We have quite a few with in a couple hours of driving. And I've gotten some real good leads on a few of them.

mirrorfinishman · 01-14-08, 08:05

Jake,

You may find the marinas to be very similar to doing wholesale work for car dealerships. Once they get you in and get you going with plenty of work, they may slowly begin to try cutting the price they pay, due to the excess work they are giving you. Hey, if you can deal with their antics then by all means, go for it. However, don't be surprised to see other detailers in the same marina doing similar work. What it all comes down to is how cheap they can get the job done. And while all of this is going on, you can be assured that they are getting top dollar from their clients.

Personally, I decided a long, long time ago to go out there and round up my own retail boat detailing clients and not bother playing games with marina wholesale work. It's a lot more fun knowing I am the one getting top dollar, without having to share anything with the marinas.

Jakerooni · 01-14-08, 08:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by VaSuperShine

I use to carry my own water and power, no need in certain markets. If you're planning on getting haggled by cashiers at banks who want their car washed for ten bucks I'd say it's more a headache than anything. Using the clients electric and water is much preferred by the people I work for, why would they want the noise of a generator or water pump or pressure washer going in their driveways, it's funny most of the higher end details I see on autopia are done by guys who carry their products in the trunk of their car, to me it's like graduating to another level, and saves much money on the upkeep and cost of operation.

You may have a very valid point there. I honestly don't know. Most of the detailing I've done outside of being an employee at a detail shop was either in my own or my cousins driveway where the customers brought their stuff to us. I'm just in the mindset right now of if I was a customer would I want them using my stuff and then charging me for it?? Simple answer. No. But who knows. you'll probably prove to be right with the noise at least. I'll adapt as needed and my learning curve goes up. Hopefully your right and I'll just need to show up on site with a bucket and a wheel.. Think about the cost savings then LOL

Jakerooni · 01-14-08, 08:44

Oh and Frank. As far as the marina's go. so far the price list I've gotten from them is $1000 to wash the hull and $2000 to wash and wax the hull. Local detailers are trying to get and wash for $300 and wash and wax for $800. I currently charge $15/lf for deoxidizing polish and sealing. So this if I can get it would be a huge raise in my profit margin. I could show up ready to do a full and charge half of what the marina's charge and have work all day long.

Stephenwz968 · 01-14-08, 09:21

I know in my area doing washes at business complexes or reality offices can bring in some big money, and having a portable setup is a necessity.

Steve

Showroom Shine · 01-14-08, 09:35

As stated by some of the other people, the pluses and minuses of fixed or mobile are many. Carrying your own water and power has it's advantages and disadvantages too.
Me personally if a person was to come to my house to detail my vehicle and ask to use my water & electric I would want to know their price. The added water and electric use will show up on my bill. Also some cities utility rates just went up, some of the increases have been significant too. These are just some things to consider. MO with a few facts, Things are going up, and we are all having to PAY!