Mobile Detailing setup in a car? Show me pics!

OTSDetail

OTSDetail

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I know at least a few of you detail out of a normal sedan or car. I am looking to possibly get in to mobile detailing in the spring to expand my business and am looking for ideas for making it work in a sedan! I currently have a 2014 Mustang (not gonna detail out of) and my 2005 Focus ZX4 sedan. I am looking for ideas for an in car detailing setup. I don't need to go full out since I'm still not a high volume shop, so hypothetically a 25 gallon water tank would do me just fine. If you do it out of a car, show me your setup! I am not opposed to putting a hitch on the car and towing a light trailer setup either, but for practicality a price purposes, a full in car setup would be ideal!
 
I do mobile details out of a c6 corvette. 2 5 gallon buckets, vacuum, detail box, all the supplies, water hose etc



 
Daviddear30 said:
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where did you get that platform from? that's awesome! And yeah I have basically everything setup to be completely self-sufficient minus a water source. Basically exactly like your setup now, just havent bothered fitting it in the car yet since I'm looking to get a tank and everything else fitted in there. Do you just tell customers you need their water source?
 
I would say do noooottt get a water tank. Use the customers water/electricity, it honestly is not a big deal.

Sure you might get a few customers that want their cars detailed at work, but the added headaches/upkeep/money that you'll have to go through isn't worth it IMO.

I also offer mobile services and I strictly use the customer water and electricity. 99% of the time I work at their home
 
DetailGroove said:
I would say do noooottt get a water tank. Use the customers water/electricity, it honestly is not a big deal.

Sure you might get a few customers that want their cars detailed at work, but the added headaches/upkeep/money that you'll have to go through isn't worth it IMO.

I also offer mobile services and I strictly use the customer water and electricity. 99% of the time I work at their home
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a lot of possible business here is in office parks though. that's where I think I would get most of my business so I'd kinda like to be self-sufficient in that regard.
 
Here's my set up in my Chevy HHR http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...ew-hhr-panel-my-mobile-detailing-vehicle.html the full/final setup is all in page 5 of the thread. I have the 25 gallon water tank for rinseless washes for when I cant get access, but 95% of the time I use customers water/power. I wouldn't trade this setup for anything, my "work van" is actually driving a pretty sweet car. I'd highly recommend an HHR for a mobile detailing rig if you're open to buying a new car and it would be pretty easy to add a small generator and water pump to the tank to make it completely self-sustaining. Josue (mrclean on here I believe) has a very solar setup with water pump and generator. Search for it and you can find his full thread too.
 
Thumbs up to Jarred's answer, he knows his stuff. Another good vehicle for this is a Ford Transit, that is if you are buying a vehicle for this purpose.
 
Here's my HHR
watermark.php


Here's Josue's HHR
hhr_paint_coating_-2.jpg


And his whole thread on his build too http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...rs/76233-hhr-panel-mobile-detailing-unit.html
 
FinishingTouchA said:
Thumbs up to Jarred's answer, he knows his stuff. Another good vehicle for this is a Ford Transit, that is if you are buying a vehicle for this purpose.
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Thanks Ryan! Hopefully that car of mine starts getting a little less work as I trasition to the shop. And yes, if you're willing to go up in price to a transit, then that type of van pretty much can't be beat for a mobile detailing setup.
 
I do it in a 2012 kia rio 5 hatch
Boss g21
Couple boxes of products
2 buckets
Dp blower
But i dont currently do interior so no shop vac,steamer, nor extractor.

I Plan to get me a 60s or early 70s wagon to accommodate. ..along with race lol
 
nothingface5384 said:
I do it in a 2012 kia rio 5 hatch

Boss g21

Couple boxes of products

2 buckets

Dp blower

But i dont currently do interior so no shop vac,steamer, nor extractor.



I Plan to get me a 60s or early 70s wagon to accommodate. ..along with race lol
Click to expand...


That's exactly what I've always wanted a classic wagon mobile detail unit!
 
I have a Saturn Sky, a 2 seater roadster with the smallest truck I've ever seen.

My setup:

1.5 liter Kwazar pump sprayer with waterless wash

2 gallon contract sprayer.

Adam's detailing bag filled with about 14 16oz bottles of various products, Wheel Woolies, hex grip applicators, a leather brush and about 15 MF towels some MF applicator sponges. And a Nanoskin sponge.

My Metro Vac-N-Blo canister vacuum in the metro bag with a 50 foot extension cord + some various detailing stuff.

*IF* I need it for jobs that day my Vapamore steam cleaner.

I have a tiny bit of trunk space, I keep an extra gallon of distilled water, a 4oz bottle of waterless wash concentrate. A long handle fender brush and a few other things.

Most of my stuff's in my passanger seat, it kind of looks like a clown car with all the things I end up getting out when I'm at a clients house. But, I'm not really without anything I need. I do only waterless or rinseless, if it's a rinseless I have a 3 gallon bucket with solution, a bunch of MF's + a lid in the seat. But I do just about only waterless now. I'd like to have a truck, or at least a car with a back seat and bigger trunk. But I make use of what I have at the moment. Sometimes I fill my 3 gallon bucket with products or tools and have my dolly so I have something to sit on while I detail. Product wise I have everything I could find that works great without needing to be hosed off. The only thing I can't do to the standards I want are wheels. Perhaps one day someone will make a color changing wheel product that can be removed with a damp towel :D
 
FinishingTouchA said:
That's exactly what I've always wanted a classic wagon mobile detail unit!
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I've been looking for a transit connect for a long time. Gotta meet strict requirements though cuz i don't have a lot of extra money to spend on one. which is essentially why i want to do it out of my car.
 
jarred767 said:
Here's my set up in my Chevy HHR http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...ew-hhr-panel-my-mobile-detailing-vehicle.html the full/final setup is all in page 5 of the thread. I have the 25 gallon water tank for rinseless washes for when I cant get access, but 95% of the time I use customers water/power. I wouldn't trade this setup for anything, my "work van" is actually driving a pretty sweet car. I'd highly recommend an HHR for a mobile detailing rig if you're open to buying a new car and it would be pretty easy to add a small generator and water pump to the tank to make it completely self-sustaining. Josue (mrclean on here I believe) has a very solar setup with water pump and generator. Search for it and you can find his full thread too.
Click to expand...

Yeah I've read your thread a few months ago. I love this setup. You are my inspiration for when the time comes to get a transit connect!
 
OTSDetail said:
a lot of possible business here is in office parks though. that's where I think I would get most of my business so I'd kinda like to be self-sufficient in that regard.
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Have many customers come to you asking to have their car detailed in a business lot?

I assumed that was going to happen too so I went out and bought a generator for interior cleanings.

99% of the time I ended up at my customers location.

Even if they want it done at their place of business, explaining that you don't have water/electricity, the customer will be okay with it and schedule it at their home
 
I would not suggest using a car to do mobile detailing. It is certainly possible but you will find yourself in a situation where you will be very restricted on what equipment you can carry.

I use a 7 passenger Dodge Caravan that was converted into a cargo mini-van by removing all the seats except the front 2 ones.

So even with that much space, I have to make compromises on what I can bring with me. And I don't even have a hot water extractor yet (next purchase this spring).

If I had to do it out of a car, I would be pulling my hair out trying to fit everything.
 
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