Mobile detailing: a trailer; a van; a pickup truck or a little truck

2shiny

2shiny

New member
Joined
May 29, 2013
Messages
291
Reaction score
0
what do you mobile detailers have / prefer and why?
a trailer seems inpractical to me for some roads or to park it up some roads...
a van, it seems like a very good idea, but being in a van all the time. Don't know, something throws me off. and getting in and out of a van all the times...
A pickup truck sounds great, but if you put a top on it, is there enough room to get to everything? and does everything fit inside?
A little truck sounds amazing, but I worry if the size won't be a problem for some roads. I was thinking to put in some extra cabins as a mini shop. but I don't know if it's a good idea or will be a goo extra...

any comments / experiences/... are very welcome
 
I've got a 6x12 trailer, but nowdays I only use it for bigger jobs like boats/rv's or situations where I know I won't have power/water available.

Most of the time I just throw what I need into my Dodge Ram and go from there. I use rinseless washes primarily, use clients electricity and water.

A little truck would probably by ideal for you to start out, then get the trailer later on if needed for larger jobs. You do NOT have to have a generator, huge water tank, air compressor, huge pressure washer, and a whole detail shop with you to do most jobs.

In my truck I have a 1000w inverter which I run a small Ridgid vacuum or a PC off of if needed.

A trailer or van is an awesome setup that you can do anything out of, but it is often times unnecessary.
 
I'm looking at vans myself 2shiny. I'd go with a work van with internal shelving but mostly because I currently store all of my detailing equipment inside of a very small storage room attached to the house I'm renting and it's a pain to get everything in and out of it so I'd rather have a work van to store everything inside of, ya know?
 
I have an E250 ford van . I have a 100 gallon water tank , generator,and pw in it . Also a large shelf to hold gallon container s and what not . Also shelves on the door for all my 32 oz spray bottle s. I am thinking about down sizing the van to an astro possibly but idk yet. Its great have a van you can hold everything you need in there .

Sent from my SPH-L710 using AG Online
 
it just seems easy to have many products with you, so you can never forget something or run out of something. If you don't take everything with you, you might forget something when your loading the truck everyday. Or I know I will :D
But on the other hand, if you don't need half of it, it's a lot of fuel consumption for nothing, which goes off the profits...

@VisualPro: do you have a smaller watertank in your Dodge Ram just to fill some buckets for the rinseless or nothing at all?
 
I have a F150 i throw everything into and store all my supplies and gear inside a garage. A pressure washer cuts time on jobs and I would get a 6.5hp shop vac at least. You don't need much to start. Where there is a will there's a way.
 
I have been doing it for a few months now, but only mobile valeting and I have to ask if there is water and power. If they want more then a valet, they need to drop it off at my place where I have some place but nothing covered. I also have to use a pop-up gazebo.and it beats the whole point of being mobile. So I was looking to start using rinseless washes, a small watertank and a generator to power my power washer and etc.
 
what do you do if you are only prepared for rinseless washes , but a car turns out very dirty?
and are rinseless washes enough do do a enchancement? I still have some trouble getting in every nook when doing a rinseless.
wondering how big a water tank I need to put in the back as the european pick up trucks have a smaller loadding dock
 
I've worked from a trailer, Sprinter van and a covered truck.

I prefer a covered truck. Better fuel mileage, comfort and ease of use make it great. The only thing I miss about the Sprinter is the space. But because the times I go out I am only hitting one spot, I don't have to battle loading/unloading often.
 
Jean-Claude said:
I've worked from a trailer, Sprinter van and a covered truck.

I prefer a covered truck. Better fuel mileage, comfort and ease of use make it great. The only thing I miss about the Sprinter is the space. But because the times I go out I am only hitting one spot, I don't have to battle loading/unloading often.
Click to expand...
thanks, i was wondering about fuel milage... I know a truck has less space, but no need to crawl inside all the time...
would I be able to make a floor that can be pulled out a little, or would that be much?

any setup pictures from the truck?
 
2shiny said:
thanks, i was wondering about fuel milage... I know a truck has less space, but no need to crawl inside all the time...
would I be able to make a floor that can be pulled out a little, or would that be much?

any setup pictures from the truck?
Click to expand...

Well, I now work out of a shop. I still offer onsite work but it's far less common. If you're not running all over town doing many jobs a day, it's not a big deal to work from the back of a truck. If you're running all over, you need an open trailer with a pressure washer and water already set up so you can hit the ground running, imo.
 
2shiny said:
I have been doing it for a few months now, but only mobile valeting and I have to ask if there is water and power. If they want more then a valet, they need to drop it off at my place where I have some place but nothing covered. I also have to use a pop-up gazebo.and it beats the whole point of being mobile. So I was looking to start using rinseless washes, a small watertank and a generator to power my power washer and etc.
Click to expand...

This is what got my attention. By that terminology are you in Europe perhaps? Just curious. ;) (We tend to think of "valeting" as car parking.)

I've worked mostly from my shop as everything is setup here. In the summer when it's burning down hot I can put fans out, keep the doors closed and keep it cool inside. ;)

Or.... when the need arises a full sized SUV and on rare occasions even packed my little G-coupe full and headed out to a job. :) I've considered my Caddy from time to time as the trunk you can park a KIA inside! :laughing:

So yes, you can do the job from just about any vehicle. It depends on what the job(s) for the day are and you go from there. As Mark said, sometimes you need the trailer, but unless you need it, you leave it at home.
 
I'm starting out using my Volvo 240 station wagon :laughing: but its what I have. Hopefully once I finish school and practicing and start the business I would be able to up grade to a truck.
 
Small pick-up should do it too and save gas rather than getting a full size pick-up. Look into the Chevy Colorado for example.
 
cardaddy said:
This is what got my attention. By that terminology are you in Europe perhaps? Just curious. ;) (We tend to think of "valeting" as car parking.)

I've worked mostly from my shop as everything is setup here. In the summer when it's burning down hot I can put fans out, keep the doors closed and keep it cool inside. ;)

Or.... when the need arises a full sized SUV and on rare occasions even packed my little G-coupe full and headed out to a job. :) I've considered my Caddy from time to time as the trunk you can park a KIA inside! :laughing:

So yes, you can do the job from just about any vehicle. It depends on what the job(s) for the day are and you go from there. As Mark said, sometimes you need the trailer, but unless you need it, you leave it at home.
Click to expand...

yes indeed, I'm from Europe. I forget that it has a different meaning :)

I won't be using a trailer, as then I need to buy a car that can tow it + a trailer and insurance for both. Maybe when business grows.

Here in Europe, the Pickup trucks are very small, even compared to a colorado... So I doubt I'll have enough room.
I think I'll start with a decent van, and maybe look into a pickup truck + trailer later on, when the big jobs come in some more...
 
GenesisCoupe said:
Small pick-up should do it too and save gas rather than getting a full size pick-up. Look into the Chevy Colorado for example.
Click to expand...

x10.. you really dont need a huge cargo van.

im gonna get a 1998 s10 extended cab in mint condition.. customer will provide water/electricity.. no need to pull out a foam cannon, pressure, 3 BWM everyyyytimeee you go out


a pick up will do for what i have.. they hire me for my work and not for what i drive
 
after 2 years of working out of a sedan car/ trunk i went with van and i don`t look back.



APR_zpsc7885896.jpg
 
^ the transit seems to be tailor made for the mobile detailer. I want one sooooo bad!👍


SweatTheDetails.Time2Detail.com
Facebook.com/DentsAndDetails
I may be slow, but I do poor work
 
trailer and I leave it on site till done with the job.best thing I have next to my padwasher lol
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top