Bought a van!!

[T3 AutoDetails]

Hello Geeks,

Well been browsing since January for a decent priced and decent shape AWD Astro cargo van and today one went up for sale and I snagged her up. I pick her up in the mourning

This is my biggest business purchase yet. I'm stoked about building it over time to my likings and what not but have lots of reading to do.

My main question would be with setting up water and power and what everyone else who is mobile is going with? Say 150 Gal tank or what? I have my father in law who will help me with the tear down and build up as money allows. Right now i'm just happy to not be detailing out of my Audi anymore

Will post pics up sometime tomo!

 

[TopThatDetail]

Congrats on the purchase of the van, IMO I think 150gallon tank is a bit much 1200 pounds of water, depending on how busy you are maybe look at a 50-75gallon tank

 

[JonFD]

I use a 55 gal tank and its enough unless you need to do more then 7-8 washes a day. I use roughly 4-7 gallons on a wash.(not including 2 gallons in 2 bucket wash method) My Karcher pressure washer is attached and is 1.4gpm.

 

[T3 AutoDetails]

Congrats on the purchase of the van, IMO I think 150gallon tank is a bit much 1200 pounds of water, depending on how busy you are maybe look at a 50-75gallon tank

Thanks maybe I should go smaller

I use a 55 gal tank and its enough unless you need to do more then 7-8 washes a day. I use roughly 4-7 gallons on a wash.(not including 2 gallons in 2 bucket wash method) My Karcher pressure washer is attached and is 1.4gpm.

I would be doing about 4 a day but wasn't sure on the sizing I needed for a tank. If you don't mind can you send a PM with the link where you got your tank?

 

[T3 AutoDetails]

Pics as promised. Little damage on the drivers side but nothing major to make me not want to buy it. Trip to the body shop will fix that no problem.

Big thing for me was the van is 13 1/2 years old with ZERO rust and the engine was sound with low miles! On to the pics

Lots to do! Better keep working and budgeting out what needs to be addressed!!

 

[Zapa]

Thats a great snag for sure. Nice pick up

 

[6supersport7]

I am in the process of getting my astro set up as well. I will be paying close attention to this thread, maybe I can get some ideas. Good Luck!






Louisville Auto Detailing

 

[Goodys]

nice van, i'm hoping to be picking something up in the next two months as well. Gonna be paying attention to this.

 

[Bunky]

Nice looking for van for sure.

 

[T3 AutoDetails]

Thats a great snag for sure. Nice pick up

Thanks :xyxthumbs:

I am in the process of getting my astro set up as well. I will be paying close attention to this thread, maybe I can get some ideas. Good Luck!

I won't be going crazy at first I'm going to take my time building it so it wont be nothing over night. I will buy things here and there but more than likely with my bills and family to take care of wont be fully mobile for a few months.

I started this whole venture with zero capital (well about $100 bucks) and just work and put back in. So i'm not working with a line of credit or huge amounts of money. Good thing is everything I have I own and no one can come and take it. Paid cash except AGO thats debit ofc :dblthumb2:

nice van, i'm hoping to be picking something up in the next two months as well. Gonna be paying attention to this.

Thanks man! Like I stated before though I don't want to let anyone down thinking I have all the funds to build it right away. I've only been in business since April and had no capital except a PT job to get me started strictly for detailing supplies. I now rely on detailing FT for income and providing for my family. So I apologize if it's not quite as fast as others may build theirs.

nice van, i'm hoping to be picking something up in the next two months as well. Gonna be paying attention to this.

Thanks man.

 

[jwgreen6]

Nice van! Take good care of it and it should last you many years. A friend of mine has the Safari version and it has turned over more than 240K miles.

These vans use a fiberglass leaf spring in the rear. You might want to upgrade to a steel spring for added capacity.

 

[Pureshine]

look good post more pictures when you get it set up

 

[T3 AutoDetails]

Nice van! Take good care of it and it should last you many years. A friend of mine has the Safari version and it has turned over more than 240K miles.

These vans use a fiberglass leaf spring in the rear. You might want to upgrade to a steel spring for added capacity.

Thanks :xyxthumbs:. Never knew about the leaf springs that's is something I think I need to look into. rops:

look good post more pictures when you get it set up

Thanks Todd rops: If the work flow keeps up maybe i'll have her done by December the way I envision it. Pricing it so far is going to be about 3-4K for everything including the vinyls on the exterior and getting the 2 dents on the driver side fixed. First thing I need to do is get some new rotors and some pads all the way around.

 

[Goodys]

Thanks man! Like I stated before though I don't want to let anyone down thinking I have all the funds to build it right away. I've only been in business since April and had no capital except a PT job to get me started strictly for detailing supplies. I now rely on detailing FT for income and providing for my family. So I apologize if it's not quite as fast as others may build theirs.

I know how it is providing for your family. Im going to be putting in a solid 3-4 year attempt at getting this business going part time and in a new state. Although I have a FT in the Navy its still a struggle sometimes to be the only one working and providing for the wife and child. Then trying to set aside money for "savings" impossible lol. Slow builds are what I can appreciate. Just keep it positive. :dblthumb2:

 

[Calendyr]

That van looks really good. Can I you tell me how much you paid for it? I have to buy a vehicle soon for my detailing company and I have not decided what to do yet. A van seems the best option but I am really concerned about gas usage. Right now all I have would easilly fit in a small car. The one advantage of having a van is being able to carry water... thing is, I don't know how often I will need that. How often do you guys use you own water vs using client's faucet?

I checked for the lettering, 3000-4000$ so that is one major expense right there too.

 

[rmagnus]

$3000-$4000 for a wrap is on the high side. Full size van should be about $2500. Small van about $2000. Personally I wouldn't worry about water. Yes having a small tank would be a nice stand by option but it depends on the type of business you are running. Most of my washes are waterless or Gary Dean method. I only pressure wash when detailing at my home. Using clients water is fine just something you need to coordinate.

I do recommend having your own hose and quick connects. I find many people have lousy hoses.

 

[T3 AutoDetails]

That van looks really good. Can I you tell me how much you paid for it? I have to buy a vehicle soon for my detailing company and I have not decided what to do yet. A van seems the best option but I am really concerned about gas usage. Right now all I have would easilly fit in a small car. The one advantage of having a van is being able to carry water... thing is, I don't know how often I will need that. How often do you guys use you own water vs using client's faucet?

I checked for the lettering, 3000-4000$ so that is one major expense right there too.

I paid $2525 cash. Talked him down a grand because it needs rotors and pads all the way around and needs 2 dents on the driver side fixed. They are not huge but not small enough to ignore for getting graphics.

As far as 3-4k on a wrap...No sir. You have to know how to trade services for services or get in with your local automotive groups and catch deals. I will pay no where near that for what I need done. Maybe $600 at most according to the owner at JP graphics which is my local guy as long as I take care of him on the detail side. I know he drives a Vett, and believe his wife drives a Mercedes. Either way that's the best way of doing business imho.

$3000-$4000 for a wrap is on the high side. Full size van should be about $2500. Small van about $2000. Personally I wouldn't worry about water. Yes having a small tank would be a nice stand by option but it depends on the type of business you are running. Most of my washes are waterless or Gary Dean method. I only pressure wash when detailing at my home. Using clients water is fine just something you need to coordinate.

I do recommend having your own hose and quick connects. I find many people have lousy hoses.

Water is not my biggest concern atm. I too use WW (ONR) and use the Gary Dean method from time to time. I do eventually want my own water though 55-75 gallon according to research.

I do believe getting my own hose with quick connects would be great along with a PW,20 Gallon Air compressor with attachments, And a generator to run them along with my GG6,vacuum,steamer. I'm still confused on the build and haven't had all the time to do the research I want yet for builds.

Once I get a day off I will read more into it and know what I want to do first. I even worked 11 hours today on a 04 sebring full detail for resale. Will be up early in the mourning to service a Dodge journey with a neglected interior.

 

[Calendyr]

$3000-$4000 for a wrap is on the high side. Full size van should be about $2500. Small van about $2000. Personally I wouldn't worry about water. Yes having a small tank would be a nice stand by option but it depends on the type of business you are running. Most of my washes are waterless or Gary Dean method. I only pressure wash when detailing at my home. Using clients water is fine just something you need to coordinate.

I do recommend having your own hose and quick connects. I find many people have lousy hoses.

Yep I have a no tangle hose (it tangles a lot but that's what the hose is called LOL)

Any suggestion on lenght, I was planning to bring 2 and hook them into each other if I needed more lenght.

I will have to get quick connects I guess. That would be to hook up the power washer and the water gun to the hose I assume.

 

[Calendyr]

I paid $2525 cash. Talked him down a grand because it needs rotors and pads all the way around and needs 2 dents on the driver side fixed. They are not huge but not small enough to ignore for getting graphics.

As far as 3-4k on a wrap...No sir. You have to know how to trade services for services or get in with your local automotive groups and catch deals. I will pay no where near that for what I need done. Maybe $600 at most according to the owner at JP graphics which is my local guy as long as I take care of him on the detail side. I know he drives a Vett, and believe his wife drives a Mercedes. Either way that's the best way of doing business imho.




Water is not my biggest concern atm. I too use WW (ONR) and use the Gary Dean method from time to time. I do eventually want my own water though 55-75 gallon according to research.

I do believe getting my own hose with quick connects would be great along with a PW,20 Gallon Air compressor with attachments, And a generator to run them along with my GG6,vacuum,steamer. I'm still confused on the build and haven't had all the time to do the research I want yet for builds.

Once I get a day off I will read more into it and know what I want to do first. I even worked 11 hours today on a 04 sebring full detail for resale. Will be up early in the mourning to service a Dodge journey with a neglected interior.

Great advice, I did not think about trading services for the stuff I will need. That is very interesting The place I went to for the wrap is the biggest player in town, they do all the big contracts here in Montréal. I suppose it dépends what you want and all. Not sure I can trade services at a place like that but if I were to find a smaller joint it might be easier.

 

[T3 AutoDetails]

Great advice, I did not think about trading services for the stuff I will need. That is very interesting The place I went to for the wrap is the biggest player in town, they do all the big contracts here in Montréal. I suppose it dépends what you want and all. Not sure I can trade services at a place like that but if I were to find a smaller joint it might be easier.

I try and trade services as much as I can to better my business instead of paying the cash. Easier for me that way because I have the inventory all the time. Can't always say the same for money.