Hi Guys, I would like some pros and cons on the subject of using a truck or trailer for detailing? I didn't include a van for the reason that I have a truck now I work out of, so I would like to have other opions on the truck or trailer question? If you use a truck does it have a shell/topper?, if you use a trailer is it enclosed or open? Thanks in advance, Bob
I would suggest an enclosed trailer and here's why: The ease of keeping everything located in the trailer. No loading before/unloading after every job. Just unhook the trailer and DONE. Plus, the sides of the trailer make great advertising space.
Trailer... I've been debating this a ton while starting up my business.... I'm thinking of sticking with a van though....
I have a trailer and a Sprinter van. If you can do the van, do it!!!! However, the trailer is nice if you don't want to have a vehicle dedicated expressly for detailing.
Yea that was my main reason for thinking of a trailer! starting someone of in detailing with free equipment...mine! Thanks guys. Bob
man i hate trailers!! my wife and i operate a separate business where a trailer is mandatory(horses dont fit in a van) and even a small horse trailer is a pain at times. if you are not well versed on backing up with a trailer it can be a pain in the butt. we have had several close calls on some small streets that do not lend well to backing a trailer up in a drive way. my other gripe with trailers is having to park off site a bit. i had a buddy who towed a trailer and i went with him to help. well we got to the house and there was no street parking for a truck and trailer with in 4 houses. we had to un hook the trailer and push it in the drive way, what a pain and time consuming. i use my suburban, everything i've ever needed has fit and can take 3 people with me. i wish i had money for a dedicated van but right now its sort of slow and cant really afford it. maybe for the new year i will get a savanna xl, black with red and white colors. put it on 24" rims, small stereo. whoo hoo i can see it now
I have been contemplating this for a while now. I have been using a van for about 11 years and have really wanted a trailer but as advs1 said, some areas are not trailer friendly. As well, if you have a truck, why tow a trailer? Now your trying to manouver 30-35' of truck and trailer. Everything you need will easily fit into a pickup. Hell, I took my Passat wagon the other day as my van was being serviced and got everything including a 10x10 ezup and electric pwasher in the back without folding the seats down. Here are some pics of my van. Maybe these will help you.
I got stuck in a parking lot with my truck and trailer once... one entrance/exit, a car parked on the street after I pulled in, literally could not get out...
I've been very happy with my F250. Extended cab, long bed, 2WD, 7.3L Power Stroke diesel, 6-speed manual transmission. Like most of us, I don't carry my own water supply, I do house calls instead. The truck is very good. The rear seats fold flat into a nice, perfectly flat storage floor. The floor has a couple cutouts, where the latch strikers are for the folding seatback, that make for nice tie-downs if need be. I have the following stuff inside the cab when I go to a detail: - 1 large plastic bin with interior stuff - 1 large plastic bin with exterior stuff - 1 wide but short bin with pads and backing plates (the kind of bin that goes under a bed) - Toolbox with Makita, PC, extension cords, lights, masking tape, which sits in a laundry hamper that I put used towels in on site - 1 large-ish, 3-drawer cabinet full of microfiber; I just carry the whole thing out from the garage. It's bulky, but light, so I bring the whole collection - PTG - 1 small plastic bin where I store my drying towels This all fits in the cab like it was designed to go in there. I bought the bins that I did because I measured them to fit in there just so. The one small plastic towel bin sits on the passenger side floor, but I could just as easily put it in the back with the rest of the stuff. When I get to a site, I open the driver side doors, and out come the exterior and interior bins. This leaves the passenger side; the drawers to the 3-drawer towel cabinet face outward, so I can keep the towels inside the truck in bad weather. It's got amazing A/C, which makes it a nice place to sit and take a rest on a hot day. Since it's a diesel, it doesn't cost much fuel at all to have it sit there and idle for 5-10 minutes. In the bed go my buckets, wet/dry vac, and my large portable canopy. Two buckets have tight fitting lids. The Griot's bucket carries some rarely used items, like metal polish, along with other small items like a couple SV brushes and a Furz-off. The second, normal bucket has whatever LSPs I'm bringing along. The third bucket is my "wheel bucket," and the brushes that live inside it just travel around in that. I don't have a camper shell or a tonneau, and I doubt that I'll get one. They look nice and everything, but they're expensive, and so far, I haven't seen a compelling need for one. I know a lot of people like vans, and I considered one. Actually, a van was my first choice, but I found this F250 for an incredible price that I couldn't pass up. I had a difficult time finding a van for a decent price that wasn't beat to hell, and finding a diesel van is close to impossible. I think the pickup platform, versus a van, is a mixed bag. A van offers secure, lockable storage, and keeps your stuff dry. As of now, though, my truck offers the same. Additionally, as many of you know, I autocross a LOT. Having the big F250 diesel means I've got a vehicle that can serve as a very capable tow vehicle for towing the S2000 to far away events. We went all the way through the Appalachian mountains on the way to Nationals this year, and I never took it out of 5th gear.
I just sold my van that had the ability to do both. I'm on the fence about what I'm going to do next but I'm leaning to not carrying water anymore and just hooking up where I work.
That is what I have been doing, and no one has complained yet... but I don't know about as I expand my customer base...
I don't carry water or power. It was a consideration, though, and part of the reason I decided to get a giant pickup truck. An F250 diesel won't even know 75 gallons of water is back there. :lol: Anyway, I hook up at the job as well. It's been very rare that people have wanted me to be completely mobile; I'm not doing 1 hour wash and vac details, so I guess people realize it can take longer than would be appropriate at, say, an office building parking lot. Most often, if they're not home, they just leave the car in the driveway for me, tell me where the hose and the power are, and that's it. I do sometimes wonder if I'm missing an opportunity by not carrying my own water and power. I'd rather not get lumped in with the Walmart parking lot guys if I can help it - not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just not what I want to do.
i have an 8x10 enclosed trailer i got from rightlook.com very nice set up...tons of storage, powerwasher, generator, 100 gallon water tank, 3 stage vac/extraction system. only pitfall is the diamond lining, need to strip it out and just rhino line the whole thing. I drive an 06 nissan frontier and have to towing issues at all
after being mobile there is no way i would be with out my own water and power. i think its kinda half assed to show up to detail a car and use tap water, the power is a different story. depending on what i am doing, weekly wash, full detail i use my power and water. having my own water and power has gotten me a few accounts that other guys lost because they didnt have water and power. i think using customers water is just a little un-professional. i know most people offer it but its nice to say, no sir/madame i have my own filtered water. i also hate having to worry about water spots and having my own DI water offers me more peace of mind. as far as power goes, if its a long machine detail i might take them up as it is a noise issue. especially if its late in the day. also, if you have corp accounts, some actually request you have your own water and power. we do a major company here in so cal and the last guy lost the account because he used their water and left the tap open flooding the parking lot and causing the company to be fined for wasting water during the day. when i went in to pitch the account one of the things the property management wanted was a self contained detailer. i am lucky and have a great connection for water tanks, so i have a 60 gallon in the back of my suburban that i can quickly remove.
I went and looked at them... the $21k price tag has me a little turned off... I think they could have been cheaper...
If I got rid of my water tank, I wouldn't lose one client. Pretty much everything I do is at the clients house. A lot of clients are actually surprised I don't need their water. It is convenient having it on board as I can just fire up my pwasher and go, but getting rid of it means being able to get a smaller, more fuel efficient vehicle. I do have a generator as well, but rarely use it. Everyone allows me to hook up. As for not being professional by using supplied water and electricity, I don't buy it. I see guys in dirty, disorganized vehicles with bottles and equipment strewn about driveways all the time. Now THATS unprofessional. I realize that in some places you have to pay for water, so that would most definitely be a consideration.
Yeah well in my situation I would just lease it out so I could write it off. I guess you could say I'm a prime example of what you're explaining Ken. All my clientele allow me to hook up to their water and electricity and don't think it's unprofessional at all. What they do know that's unprofessional is going to their local car wash paying for something that's not worth paying for, LoL. I'm certainly glad I have this convenience and reduced costs. However, I'm having CRSpotless issues again where I'm going through resin ridiculously fast. I'm pretty convinced it's my water quality... have to contact Chuck again...
