the perfect mobile detail vehicle?

rousher99

rousher99

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i need some advice from you mobile detailers. what is the perfect vehicle for detailing.
1.ford 150 cargo van
2. dodge sprinter
3. suburban/excursion
4.truck with trailer

i was personaly looking at either an excursion or a dodge sprinter. any advice is apriciated
-kory
 
Depends on lots of things. First is this business only or mixed business and personal use. Second, are you taking water with you or using water onsite (or other options).

If it was for business only and taking my own water, I'd go with the Sprinter. If it was mixed personal and business, I'd go with a truck or SUV and a trailer.

What I'd like would be a used Range Rover, I don't carry that much water so the size would be good, and its very nice inside and if I needed it to, it can tow quite a lot.
 
AeroCleanse said:
Depends on lots of things. First is this business only or mixed business and personal use. Second, are you taking water with you or using water onsite (or other options).

If it was for business only and taking my own water, I'd go with the Sprinter. If it was mixed personal and business, I'd go with a truck or SUV and a trailer.

What I'd like would be a used Range Rover, I don't carry that much water so the size would be good, and its very nice inside and if I needed it to, it can tow quite a lot.
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I know the sprinters are popular in the UK, our company just started buying them for a few departments. I personally don't like the high center of gravity.

I have always been a fan of the truck/trailer combo.
You can right part of the truck off as a business expense and still have a personal vehicle.

I would look at weight of tools, chemicals, etc and if you are going to carry water. at 8.35lbs per gallon it gets heavy fast.

The E150 is only a half ton van. I owned one many years ago. It was a good van just not built for a lot of weight

I would seriously look at what you plan to carry and start there.

Good luck.
 
i plan on having a 60-100 gallon water tank. pressure washer, power generator, carpet extractor.and a shop vac.. i would like to have a shelf on one side if i got a van. for my products. a trailer kinda looks like it will be alot of space in my drive way. because i have a lowered 4 cylinder truck id have to get a bigger truck... oh and what AeroCleanse said about wanting a range rover. that also was something i was thinking of. but i didnt think there would be enough room. but that is the truck my fiance wants. its her (dream car) so id get alot of crap from that.
 
rousher99 said:
i plan on having a 60-100 gallon water tank. pressure washer, power generator, carpet extractor.and a shop vac.. i would like to have a shelf on one side if i got a van. for my products. a trailer kinda looks like it will be alot of space in my drive way. because i have a lowered 4 cylinder truck id have to get a bigger truck... oh and what AeroCleanse said about wanting a range rover. that also was something i was thinking of. but i didnt think there would be enough room. but that is the truck my fiance wants. its her (dream car) so id get alot of crap from that.
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At least her dream truck would always be clean :D

So your looking to carry 500-800lbs of water and 150-200lbs of equipment.

thats a decent amount of weight to carry, I am sure there are those around here with their experiance that can chime in with what they have found works best etc.

I just look at it from the mechanical point of brakes, wear and tear on the drive train, tires. (cheap tires wear fast weak side walls) etc. I would look at a 3/4 ton minimum myself with a tow package (most tow packages have external oil/trans coolers) for helping with cooling for the extra load on the drive train.
I understand budget, is this a full time profession, cost of start up etc. weigh in heavly on your choices.

And I'm sure there are others who have first hand experiance,

Just some food for thought.
 
Hey Rousher,

We've been in business for a year and a half and have used a Sport Trac with an open 5 x 8 trailer towed behind. While it served its purpose, we've recently bought a GMC 1500 cargo van to take its place.

With the truck and trailer we took up more space, and when in a tight parking lot it presented some problems. We'd often have to unhook the trailer and park the truck elsewhere just to make it work. Another issue was signage, and the lack of it. This new van is at the painters now, and will have signage all over it as soon as the paint has cured. Our previous setup only had a sign on the back, and really didn't look as professional as I would have liked. Our new setup will be one huge rolling advertisement when it's completed.
 
TMD said:
Hey Rousher,

We've been in business for a year and a half and have used a Sport Trac with an open 5 x 8 trailer towed behind. While it served its purpose, we've recently bought a GMC 1500 cargo van to take its place.

With the truck and trailer we took up more space, and when in a tight parking lot it presented some problems. We'd often have to unhook the trailer and park the truck elsewhere just to make it work. Another issue was signage, and the lack of it. This new van is at the painters now, and will have signage all over it as soon as the paint has cured. Our previous setup only had a sign on the back, and really didn't look as professional as I would have liked. Our new setup will be one huge rolling advertisement when it's completed.
Click to expand...

that is what i was looking at also. a truck can usualy get a big sticker in the back window and some decals on the doors and the tailgate. thats where i was thinking the humongus excursion or a cargo van would be nice because of the advertisement oportunities

i also was thinking of a 5x8 trailer but that would be 2 things i would have to buy. truck and trailer.

-kory
 
would anyone happen to have pictures of there van, truck, trailer or suv
 
police package tahoe or used ambulance....

personally i have a ex homeland security 05 expedition i purchased with a bad fender hlight and hood with 30kmiles for 3800..

its actually not to bad on gas and hauls everything
neat and easy..
 
Do a search for mobile detailers on this site. I think the pics of my set up is still there! I sent you a pm.
 
megsuser91 said:
how about a chevy Box truck????
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i try to stay away form the Chevy's. its a personal thing.. would be best to drive something i like.. nice choice though.. im thinking now, more along the lines of a ford E250 cargo van or a dodge sprinter 2500. but i still havent found any pictures of mobile suv's. so i cant be too sure yet
 
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