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Going Mobile

wlhequipment

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2017
Messages
489
Location
Sheridan, CO
Occupation
Mechanic
Hey guys,
Been awhile since I posted. I have a question for you - I'm going mobile. What should I put in the truck?

Here's a little about what I'm doing. I've been a technician in one way or another for 30 years. 4 years ago, I opened my own shop, and I've been doing ok, but just ok. I want to draw in more customers, and I believe the best way to do that is to offer to bring the shop to them. I wish I had a Freightliner with an IMT maintainer and a 10 T crane, but all I have to start with is a 3/4T Dodge and a Harbor body. It's almost ready to go; I'm fabricating the bumper today. I do it all, from regular fluid and filter changes to engine rebuilds. I do welding and fabricating, machining and milling. I'm kind of a jack of all trades kinda guy, which works well, because I'm a one man operation (although I hope to change that). For instance right now in my shop is a ditch witch with a lugging motor, a concrete pump with worn wear parts, and a track steer that I'm replacing the injectors on (damn Perkins 854).

So, I'm thinking about starting small. Offering something simple like lube and maybe hydraulic hoses (I make those too). I'd need to carry a couple barrels, some simple tools, and of course lots of hose and hose ends. The truck is going to have a generator and a compressor on it, so I'm good there.

I want to work on machines, not cars. I hate cars, they're too damn small, and the owners are too damn crazy. My goal is to foster relationships with more local contractors, and bring more machines to the shop.

Anyway, that's kind of what I was thinking. What do you guys think? I can't go full service, I can't put a crane on it. I have helper springs, but with just the body, I'm already coming close to GVWR, so I have to keep it simple. What would you do?

Thanks!
 

funwithfuel

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2017
Messages
5,518
Location
Will county Illinois
Occupation
Mechanic
Got any pics of yer ride? Might help to know what you're working with in order to make recommendations.
You said you're in a 2500 ram, which generation? What axles do you have? Gas or diesel? Stick or auto, 2 or 4wd? Are you dragging a little trailer, have you considered it? One of the members here had a cool set up on a trailer for doing services. Salvage tank and diaphragm pump , grease keg and pump, all his fluids. It was pretty snazzy. His name eludes me now. Maybe look at the thread for ultimate service truck , there's a few others. Some guys are posting their scratch built rigs in process. Lots of terrific ideas, maybe some you could implement for yourself (steal);)
 

td25c

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2009
Messages
5,250
Location
indiana
You are making a smart move with mobile service .

Equipment don't break down in the shop .

Customers will appreciate the service and hand you $ for it .

My advice it keep it small & simple . Don't try to carry the whole shop on the truck .

Set of wrenches & sockets metric & standard . Welder , torch tanks , & an air compressor . Nothing big & fancy …... And you got yourself a " Money Machine " .

" The Who " breaks it down pretty fast . Going Mobile .

 

wlhequipment

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2017
Messages
489
Location
Sheridan, CO
Occupation
Mechanic
Thanks guys here’s my rig. She’s a beaut. It’s a little hard to tell, but it had a bed extension off the back. I took it off because I thought it was too much weight too far back. Not to mention, it would have made setting up the receiver a problem. Anyhow, it’s a 2500 4x4 auto 5.7 hemi. 190K miles, but I rebuilt the engine and trans last year. Runs good looks bad :).
 

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RZucker

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2013
Messages
4,077
Location
Wherever I end up
Occupation
Mechanic/welder
Thanks guys here’s my rig. She’s a beaut. It’s a little hard to tell, but it had a bed extension off the back. I took it off because I thought it was too much weight too far back. Not to mention, it would have made setting up the receiver a problem. Anyhow, it’s a 2500 4x4 auto 5.7 hemi. 190K miles, but I rebuilt the engine and trans last year. Runs good looks bad :).
I think you should weigh that setup as soon as possible, that dually bed is more than likely heavier than you think it is. Depending on the door sticker you might consider a dual rear wheel kit with air bags or switch to a dual rear wheel axle. I have had several single rear wheel 3500's both Dodge and Ford with service bodies and it doesn't take much to overload them fast. Mine usually had a Bobcat welder, a 13HP 30 gallon air compressor and a lot of tools. 11,000 lbs gross was pretty common.
Which brings up another thought... Run the best heavy duty tires you can. I run Toyo M-55's on mine and have never had a flat, except the time the tire joint put regular rubber valve stems in the rim, blew it out of the rim running 90 psi on the rear tires.
 

Numbfingers

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2016
Messages
136
Location
Alaska
Occupation
mechanic
I started out with a 2500 Ram. Took my long bed off and installed a cheap utility bed. Once I was loaded up with a wheelbarrow compressor, generator, and tools, my truck was sagging. Added air bags and then mount bolts started popping. Those utility beds weigh a lot. Took that off and put the long bed back on and replaced the worn out springs. Went to a medium duty chassis.
 

wlhequipment

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2017
Messages
489
Location
Sheridan, CO
Occupation
Mechanic
She's porky no doubt. I said in my OP, I'm close to gross. It weighed 7200 before I removed the bed. According to the (not terribly) helpful people up at Harbor, the body weighs 1500. I have a 2T forklift, and it had to work a little to get that thing up, so I'm thinking the weight is close. Assuming the bed, cross box (with chains, comealongs, trailer couplers etc) bed rails, and tailgate weigh 500, then (7200 - 500 + 1500) = 8200, and gross is 8800. So yeah I'm real close. I have helper springs, but it's heavy. I will weigh it though :)

This is just meant as really nothing more than a market analysis. My plan is to generate more business for the shop. I imagine this only going a year maybe, then sell the body, put my regular bed back on (probably replace the springs like numbfingers said), and move on with my life. That said, if this mobile thing generates real revenue, then of course I'll plug the right equipment in. I'm a tool slut, I can't pass an opportunity to buy heavy stuff. There's alot of chassis cabs out there.

Rzucker, you got a good point there, maybe I'll go get a 1T dually rear axle. I don't want to blow out my tires on day 1. I think those dually kits are shabby. An entire axle is the right call I think.

I better get to work. That's the funny thing about being your own boss. If you don't work, you don't make money. Someone oughtta figure a way around that, and let me know. Thanks!
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,422
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Had a 69 Dodge W300 SRW for a service wagon, had the wider service body where within a month I was adding a take out Motor Home wide spread DRW axle to stop the side roll sway. Was REALLY Bad and damned near dangerous where a Cop actually asked if something was broken when he stopped me. Duals buddy, in any form, a take out wide rear axle will be your friend even if have to carry two spares.
 

funwithfuel

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2017
Messages
5,518
Location
Will county Illinois
Occupation
Mechanic
I would think you would want to double wall that frame behind the cab. That Box makes the frame rigid and it won't be able to twist and flex like it was designed with the bed. If I remember correctly one ton and up had Box frames 3/4 ton and lower and open C channel.
 

td25c

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2009
Messages
5,250
Location
indiana
Thanks guys here’s my rig. She’s a beaut. It’s a little hard to tell, but it had a bed extension off the back. I took it off because I thought it was too much weight too far back. Not to mention, it would have made setting up the receiver a problem. Anyhow, it’s a 2500 4x4 auto 5.7 hemi. 190K miles, but I rebuilt the engine and trans last year. Runs good looks bad :).


I like it !

Will make a great service truck .

Our first go to rig is a Jeep Grand Cherokee with some tools in the back …
Be surprised what it can take care of on short notice . 99% of this is showing up to the job at hand & getting dirty .

Keep in mind the Customer is calling you for some knowledge . Drop some knowledge & tools down on the issue & take care of them .

Don't worry about what vehicle you show up with .


grab bucket 002[1].JPG



If the Jeep Grand Cherokee cant handle it we send in the Kenworth .

Gonna get fixed or hauled in one way or the other . LOL ! :D

100_3407[1].JPG
 
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Jonas302

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2015
Messages
1,197
Location
mn
A generator and compressor ? Why. I run a 1500 watt inverter under the seat you can get bigger but I have never needed to that will run battery chargers, fans, small grinder ect If I am laying into something with a big grinder I would have the welder trailer with anyways
Your not going to be able to bring the whole shop
 

John C.

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Messages
12,865
Location
Northwest
Occupation
Machinery & Equipment Appraiser
I think you have the right concept. A customer calls you up with a problem and you run right out there. Bang, you get an A grade for prompt service. You look it over and find the problem pretty quick and then have to decide whether on not it is an easy fix or it needs to go to the shop. Bang again, the owner has an answer of what is wrong and the beginning of a plan for a repair. My basic rule was if it was electrical I could likely fix it right there. If it was hydraulic, I had the gauge set and the fittings to figure out the problem there and let the customer decide who and how it gets fixed. The most I would do on engine problems in the field was troubleshoot and then direct traffic. Who was going to pull the motor, the customer was going to supply any necessary lifting equipment and a crew to get the thing out and to my shop. I stopped doing that kind of work years ago. Who was going to do the rebuild, if I didn't want that type of work I would find someone who I could recommend or I could stand on to get it done properly for a decent price. The same went for transmission work. I had a shop for years that worked out pretty well using your process. The big problem became trying to figure out how to get everything done without having a hole dug in the ground to throw my body into.
Once you have your customer's trust, the phone won't stop ringing.
 

Numbfingers

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2016
Messages
136
Location
Alaska
Occupation
mechanic
One other thing that crossed my mind about having that other truck out there. Having another truck out there with your business name on the side helps a lot. I have a website for my business but have only gained one customer from it. I'm not in the phone book. However, I have been approached numerous times by people asking for my card while sitting in my truck at the parts store, bank, grocery store, another customer's jobsite, etc, etc. I had a sign on the back too, and a new customer got close enough to read it then called me right away with a job. Got so busy now that I don't want anymore customers so I took it off. So to answer your OP question, get some big a$$ stickers on your truck then get it out there and be seen, it works!
 

td25c

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2009
Messages
5,250
Location
indiana
I think you have the right concept. A customer calls you up with a problem and you run right out there. Bang, you get an A grade for prompt service.

Good point John .
Customers generally call me after the " Big Bang " hits . :eek:

Phone call go's like this … " How loud was the " Bang" when the machine quit ? "

Will never work again for these A Holes !

They had me rebuild an 8-V-71Detroit on site in the dirt . Like ordering a " Happy Meal " at McDonalds .

Damn A Holes !

Blair's pictures 364[1].JPG

LOL! :D
 
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