My Mobile Detailing Set-Up and Organization

W

Whitethunder46

New member
First off let me say this. About 5 months ago I decided to start a detailing business. It is on the side as of now and I'm starting slow until I have more time, money, and means to put into it. After all, I'll get more out of it the more I put in if I do everything correctly.



So I thought I'd share with everyone how I'm set up and how I'm able to move everything around. I firmly believe that organization is key to doing quick details and not taking more time than needed. Quality always comes first, but organization is crucial.



First up are my 2, 5gal. buckets. Black and red for my colors and at the bottom of each are a color matching grit guard. In one bucket I have all my tools, Shmitts, etc. I also have a large black bath towel that I like to lay on the ground once I'm at a site. I then take all of my detailing tools and ley them out on this. This takes an extra 10 seconds, but saves me much time later when I would fumbling around for tools.

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Here are 3 milk cartons I picked up for free. They stack on top of each other for easy space saving and they are ver sturdy. Notice the black/red colors again.

In one container are my polishes/waxes/compounds/sealants/etc. These are all re-bottled in 8oz. and 16oz. bottles.

The next container holds some of my 24oz. spray bottles with black fine mist sprayers and smaller 12oz. spray bottles that I use for my less "used" chemicals. The black fine mist sprayers are low enough where I can stack my third carton on top of this.

As just stated, the third carton (one with the black towel), has the rest of the spray bottles. These all have the red high volume sprayers (red? who would of guessed). However, these poke through the top and so I can not stack another carton on top.

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Here are some examples of my bottles. I re-size 95% of the stuff I get so I can carry it easier. I use 8oz. bottles for polishes/compounds/protectants/etc. I use 16oz. bottles for my soaps and rinseless washings. 24 oz. spray bottles with either a black fine mist sprayer or a red high volume sprayer (depends on the chemicals purpose) and 12 oz. spray bottles used for the "lesser" used chemicals.

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I keep all my MF's, Guzzlers, hand applicators, tire dressing pads, #0000 steel wool, Edge Pads, chemical resistan gloves, 4" Edge pads and WG's polishing pal in this Meguiar's Duffle bag. (I'm going to be ordering AG's bag for it's a little larger)

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I keep my PC in a Stanley tool box that I lined with 1" foam for protection. The fit is perfect and is the box is very light. (yes, I do have the HD version.)

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Ridgid 4gal/5HP wet/dry vac for vacuuming. I got the car kit which contains an 11 foot 1 7/8" hose and it's accompaning attachments. They are smaller, but they certainly get the job done.

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Here is my pressure washer set up. Karcher 1400PSI with a 25ft. extension hose. Notice there are quick connects coming from the hose and the PW (both for the garden hose and the PW hose)

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Here is my 100ft. Yellow Jacket 12/3 extension cord and my 50ft. Craftsman hose along with a water softener filter. Again, notice quick connects and a shut off valve from the water softener and the garden hose. When I set up, I manually screw the 2ft. green hose in the customer's water spicket, then quick connect into the water softener, garden hose and then PW. Quick connects galore!!!

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Here's an idea I came up with after running into a problem with the water softener. The softener wouldn't stand up right (even though it's rather heavy). I went to Lowe's and picked up this all metal garden hose guard (it was one piece)

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I took a hax saw and cut off the bottom piece (the prong piece) and then got some industrial velcro. After metal sanding the bottom of the prong piece and applied the velcro and the adjoining piece of velcro to the bottom of the water softener. Now I can simply stick the velcro's together and then stick the water filter into the ground where it WONT fall over!

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An my "desk." Haha! It's just at the foot of my bed, but it's all I need. I have here some extra flyers, my appointment book which I carry with me, and my "client's box/list." When I get a call and if the client is new, I will get their name, phone number and address at the very least. I will also try to get the year,make, and model of the car along with their E-Mail. I now have all their info on "record" and can simply look this up for a future appointment. Easy enough for me. Sure, computer might be easier, but I'm working on that. Also, on the card I can keep personal notes to myself of what I have done to their vehicle in the past.

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Thanks for the interest!
 
The organization is great and I agree, it is key. I love the water softener idea along with most of your other ideas. How long does a full detail usually take you with this sort of setup as apposed to a full detail you would predict yourself doing unorganized?
 
Jmiller07 said:
The organization is great and I agree, it is key. I love the water softener idea along with most of your other ideas. How long does a full detail usually take you with this sort of setup as apposed to a full detail you would predict yourself doing unorganized?
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Let me put it this way. Doing a full detail, I certainly can see myself saving 15-30 minutes. If I carried large bottles such as 32oz, 64oz, and 128oz. That is just a ton of room and a ton to unload.



Also, If I didn't have so many quick connects, and ways to curl up the hoses, cords, etc. it would literally take me about 10 min. just to do this. The quick connects also are useful when curling up the garden hose. Just connect one end to the other for a non-ending loop. This will keep all the water inside the hose and not leak out. Sure, I could do this w/out quick connects, but I don't want to twist the hose tightly every time.



Also, laying all my tools out in the beginning on a large towels saves a ton of time. I'm able to grab whatever I need right away and it's all at my sight/fingertips.



I also know where all my polishes are etc. etc. For instance, one row in one carton is my entire XMT line. the other row is Optimum and CK's glazes. The next, AIO's, gels, sealants, etc.

I also forgot to mention that I use a red tipped capped for my multiple leather conditioners and a larger sample bottle for car wash soaps.
 
Great thread!



Do you mind me asking where you purchased your bottles from? I really like the idea for space savings, but do you find that it is harder to find exactly the product you are looking for when all the bottles pretty much look the same. I know they all have labels, but obviously you can't really see alot of them when they are in the milk crate.



Is there still any equipment you plan on getting such as an air compressor, carpet extractor and steamer if you don't already have those? Although they are pretty large investments to make, especially when first starting out... I feel as if these are must have's to really be efficient and perform top quality details. Even though I put myself in huge debt by purchasing these big ticket items, I have absolutely no regrets because I truly believe that they will pay for themselves many times over in the long run.
 
Great thread indeed... The only advice/help I can offer is the customer info on the computer... I use Microsoft Excel to record the client's Name, address, phone, car info, then I also write what I did to the car, date performed, estimate, total time, final price, etc... Like you said above, it really helps to be able to look up the person when they come back a 2nd/3rd whatever time... keeping track of prices helps me always lower it by a little or stay the same of the work is more involved for a repeat customer...



Everything seems greatly organized and I wish you luck in all future endeavors



-Ivan



ps. If you want the Excel file I have as an example feel free to PM and ask for it.
 
Very Cool. Great organization. Great way to start out. I started the same way, the only difference I did was invest in a generator and put retractable cord reels on it. Much quicker than winding or rolling. I used all the brass quick connects too (Home Depot).



Are you using ONR or soap/pressure washer for most of your jobs? I started out using my pressure washer (Karcher) at that time, and I found myself taking up to an hour before and after just in set up and break down. Now I use ONR for most every customer and what a difference in time, just for setup and breakdown, I easily save the hour or less.



PS: ALways carry a regular hose sprayer or nozzle. Take it from me, the pressure wahers break, and it sucks when their is no nozzle or sprayer to use. I went through 3 different pressure washers, just from use they break, and it sucks when your in the middle of a job.



Keep up the great work.
 
Thanks everyone!



clnfrk... I got the bottles from usplastics.com. They are actually rather close to me I think because I literally have the bottles on my doorstep less than 24 hours after submitting my orders. These guys are the BOMB. I know off the top of my head which chemical is what, usually with the first grab. The red tips are leather conditioners, the larger bottles are soaps, etc. etc. The polishes/compounds are all lined up together, etc etc. Also, since all the bottles are see through, (and most chemicals have their unique color), I know by the color as well.



As of now, I have everything I plan on getting. I'm not going to have that much room. I also simply am doing this as a side job as of now, and hopefully once it takes off, I'll think about going full time.



lecchilo... I may convert everything to computer, but I don't want to have to boot up my computer everytime a customer calls to try and answer questions or jot down information. I do have that card/list box pictured above with 4x6 index cards. I write everything down on these cards and they are filed in alphabetical order. When someone calls, I just pull out the card and everything is right there. It works for me as of now.



BDaly84... I use DP's 4n1 whenever possible. If it's a nicer vehicle that's already in good shape, or I've already applied wax to it a few weeks prior, then I like to use the Pressure Washer and a boutique shampoo (DG 901 right now). Also, if I'm doing a full detail on the car, I like to use a PW and a harsher soap (NXT) to help clean the vehicle. And again, I use the PW for engine details.



I have one 50ft. hose right now, but the all black Craftsman hoses are on sale right now, so I may go pick up another for emergencies and simply for longer length.



Thanks all!
 
Whitethunder46 said:
lecchilo... I may convert everything to computer, but I don't want to have to boot up my computer everytime a customer calls to try and answer questions or jot down information. I do have that card/list box pictured above with 4x6 index cards. I write everything down on these cards and they are filed in alphabetical order. When someone calls, I just pull out the card and everything is right there. It works for me as of now.
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Oh I didn't mean get rid of the pen/paper, I have the same thing going on. I just like to have it on the computer as well that's all.
 
You might want to invest in a chemical dispense system at home. This system can deliver 1 gpm, or 4 gpm and mix your chemicals exactly each time! You just set the dial and push the button.



This will cut down on time and make quality control better. They are not that expensive when you consider product costs and time.



Rob Regan
 
WCD said:
You might want to invest in a chemical dispense system at home. This system can deliver 1 gpm, or 4 gpm and mix your chemicals exactly each time! You just set the dial and push the button.



This will cut down on time and make quality control better. They are not that expensive when you consider product costs and time.



Rob Regan
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I might look into it. All my chemicals that involve diluting or mixing are in 24oz. graduated spray bottles. The graduated bottles make mixing very easy.
 
Whitethunder46 - You are my idol!! Very organized and seem to have it all figured out. I'm taking notes here and plan on getting organized similarly.



I did notice one thing was missing though, a rotary. Do you not use one?
 
rkf76 said:
Whitethunder46 - You are my idol!! Very organized and seem to have it all figured out. I'm taking notes here and plan on getting organized similarly.



I did notice one thing was missing though, a rotary. Do you not use one?
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As of now I'm using the PC. I plan on ordering a Metabo in the near future.
 
White thunder, what do you mean by graduated spray bottles?



Also i went to usplastics website and they have like 10 different types of spray bottles, i like the ones you have, which ones are those on their website??



I love your system of rebottling everything, it will save tons of time, thanks for the tip, I will order some bottles tonight.



Everything looks good man, thanks for the inspiration to get organized again!



Jim
 
Thank you for posting this. It's nice to see something like this when your trying to start yourself. It set's up an example and ideas for those getting started.
 
Whitethunder46 said:
As of now I'm using the PC. I plan on ordering a Metabo in the near future.
Click to expand...
Rotaries are fun but can cause some serious problems if you aren't careful. I guess I'll find out this weekend if i'm brave or stupid for tackling an 02 S430 with my rotary, only the second time I'll have ever used one.
 
kleraudio said:
White thunder, what do you mean by graduated spray bottles?



Also i went to usplastics website and they have like 10 different types of spray bottles, i like the ones you have, which ones are those on their website??



I love your system of rebottling everything, it will save tons of time, thanks for the tip, I will order some bottles tonight.



Everything looks good man, thanks for the inspiration to get organized again!



Jim
Click to expand...



Graduated bottles are with markings on the side. Mine are marked every ounce until 24oz.'s These work great for diluting. The one shown is just a degreaser 1:1. Filled with distilled water till 12oz., than the degreaser up to the 24oz. line.

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The spray bottles I have pictured are from Wal-Mart and Meijer's. The larger (24oz.) bottles are from Wal-Mart with Autogeek's Chemical resistant sprayers. These are the graduated bottles. The smaller bottles (12oz.) are from Meijer's with a pretty good sprayer already. However, from now on, I'm going to get these spray bottles from USplastics instead of the 12oz. bottles. They are 16 oz. bottles and the same width as the 12oz., so I don't lose any room. However they are taller, but still short enough where I can stack a crate on top, which is key for me.

Chemical Resistant Viton® Spray Bottles - US Plastic Corporation



Sample bottles: Clear PVC Round Bottles with Caps - US Plastic Corporation

And I bought the appropriate dispensing caps with them.

I think I've bought around 35 different bottles and about 30 unique dispensing caps. All of this was around $35-40 with shipping.



The reason i posted this was for all the guys who might start a business or just for those looking for ideas. I don't know how many times I wish I had some ideas when I started.
 
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