What vehicle for mobile valeting?

[inflames]

As the title says, what vehicle would you choose?

The reason for asking is that my friend asked me last night to help him after all this is over to go look at trucks with him. Like a Ls200 warriors with a cabin etc, I am more than happy to help him as this two pairs of eyes are better than one. I was curious to why, I have known that he has talked about starting his own mobile valeting/detailing business for sometime. I wish all the best and I will be helping out if needs the help to get it off the ground.
But I always thought a VW caddy or a transit would be better?

 

[sovietspybob]

A good friend used to do this and he had a Vauxhall Vivaro. You need somewhere with good access to the big water tank in the back so a regular sized van with side door seems ideal, you'll be going in and out a lot to get different things so having it at a sensible height seems a good idea rather than reaching up in to the back of a pickup with only 1 way in? A pickup just seems like you're making issues for yourself for no benefit?

 

[Orionaut]

As the title says, what vehicle would you choose?

The reason for asking is that my friend asked me last night to help him after all this is over to go look at trucks with him. Like a Ls200 warriors with a cabin etc, I am more than happy to help him as this two pairs of eyes are better than one. I was curious to why, I have known that he has talked about starting his own mobile valeting/detailing business for sometime. I wish all the best and I will be helping out if needs the help to get it off the ground.
But I always thought a VW caddy or a transit would be better?

Having worked out of a van for many years.

One thing to consider is how heavy/bulky is the equipment that he is wanting to carry on it.

Cab/pickups are fine general purpose vehicles, and unlike something like a Transit are more suited for social use when you are not working (Which is why they are popular with small self employed operations) but like all vehicles of this type, the load bed is quite high and only has limited capacity.

He will have to think about how much stuff he is going to need to carry, and how much it weighs (And to allow extra capacity for the extra stuff that he will end up realising that he needs once he has run the business for a while).

 

[inflames]

Having worked out of a van for many years.

One thing to consider is how heavy/bulky is the equipment that he is wanting to carry on it.

Cab/pickups are fine general purpose vehicles, and unlike something like a Transit are more suited for social use when you are not working (Which is why they are popular with small self employed operations) but like all vehicles of this type, the load bed is quite high and only has limited capacity.

He will have to think about how much stuff he is going to need to carry, and how much it weighs (And to allow extra capacity for the extra stuff that he will end up realising that he needs once he has run the business for a while).

Thanks, I wanted to be able to help and advice him about when we start looking around. As the last thing I would want, is for him to is to waste money on the wrong vehicle at the start. I am going to be speaking to him tonight again and point out your advice thanks. To be honest I better ask him what his budget is? Maybe that why he was looking at trucks???

 

[tsinc80697]

A guy I follow on instagram uses a Transit but before that he had a Renault Kangoo. He said he started using a Fiesta so I wouldn't worry too much about having the perfect vehicle for it as you can work out of anything. All depends what equipment he has really.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9bK5rQHtoQ/

 

[cheesyboy]

Just be aware on payload (and take into account that an optional hardtop can sometimes take you below the limit), as any double cab pickup has to have a 1 Tonne payload or more or it is classed as a car for capital allowances.

 

[shaank]

Mondeo / Diesel 5 series.

Tourings.

 

[adam cool dude]

There is a reason the Transit is the biggest selling van. Perfect for this kind of job. I would hate a smaller one like a Connect as getting all your gear in and out would be tiresome.

 

[inflames]

There is a reason the Transit is the biggest selling van. Perfect for this kind of job. I would hate a smaller one like a Connect as getting all your gear in and out would be tiresome.

100% agree, the Transit is a great van, i use to drive one a lot in a pervious job and the amout of gear we use to load in one. I think a SWB transit would ideal for him or a VW Caddy what seems to be the van guys seem to use when he starts in this.

 

[233]

transit or similar

plenty payload for a decent sized water tank and generator

and for the love of god use a baffled water tank

and remember if your washing 7/8 cars a day your needing close to 3/4 ton of water on board

 

[Rroff]

A pickup is more suited to where you are making a compromise between different needs (trust me on this ) - for this kind of thing the specialisation of something like a panel van would win out unless he has other requirements.

 

[233]

also if your not wanting to carry a ton of water (literally around constantly ) get a standpipe licence from your local waterboard up here in Scotland its about £15 a week, but your then allowed to take as much as you want from a hydrant, (you'll also need a hydrant key as well)

means you have an unlimted water supply pretty much anywhere that gets mains water supply

 

[sovietspybob]

also if your not wanting to carry a ton of water (literally around constantly ) get a standpipe licence from your local waterboard up here in Scotland its about £15 a week, but your then allowed to take as much as you want from a hydrant, (you'll also need a hydrant key as well)

means you have an unlimted water supply pretty much anywhere that gets mains water supply

Yeah that's a really good tip, the guy i know who used to do it went through loads of water, like said literally a ton of water in the back of the van at the start of the day.

 

[233]

would probably guesstimate if your doing a proper wash on a decent size car 100 litres of water?

so a standpipe and a 3/400 litre tank would be ideal especially in a smaller van

just remember a baffled tank for safety, last thing you want is to be slamming the brakes on in a van carrying a a load of water in a standard tank​

 

[K.C. Leblanc]

When comparing vans be very aware that two similar vans may be specced for different payloads. He really needs to start by working out what kit he needs and how much it will weigh.

I guess he's going to be using a pressure washer. How is he going to power it?

 

[Django x2]

Transit or VW with a deployable awning/gazebo

 

[Orionaut]

just remember a baffled tank for safety, last thing you want is to be slamming the brakes on in a van carrying a a load of water in a standard tank

Quoted for truth.

Just to point out for people who do not appreciate the significance.

If you have to brake hard or crash in a vehicle with liquid on board, the liquid will come back and smack you even after you have stopped.

It might even do so several times.

Even with baffles this can be nasty.

No baffles = ******!

 

[inflames]

I have a few days off from using a computer and smart phone (apart from the occasional phone call), i am back. He does haver a very detailed list of the bits he needs to included a baffled tank! The reasoning for his choice of a truck over a van is due to his wife not driving and he still needs a vehicle to be somewhat practicable. He was very open to the idea of a VW T5 or transit with a row seat behind, but a caddy was a not visable. My hat is off to him, he has been using the current situation to his research and business plan.

 

[sigma]

Is there much money to be made in the valet world? I'd have through the decent money comes from detailing. Appreciate that one has to start somewhere though.

A guy I follow on instagram uses a Transit but before that he had a Renault Kangoo. He said he started using a Fiesta so I wouldn't worry too much about having the perfect vehicle for it as you can work out of anything. All depends what equipment he has really.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9bK5rQHtoQ/

Just read this. The guy makes £3k a week according to one of those links/the news article.

That's not to be sniffed at! I presume that's revenue and to be fair he does seem to do detailing rather than just valet.

Edit - well, I found the actual article which talks about one week where he earned £2800, so the journalist clearly turned that into the headline that he does the same every week. I guess nobody really knows as it depends on the type of jobs and the frequency.

 

[233]

I would say so cant get a mobile valeted up in Glasgow pre lockdown with less than a weeks notice and those that are decent are booked weeks in advance


And you tend to find those who get one car valeted will want 2 or 3 done at a time