Hoist Hire

[fieds83]

If you were able to hire a hoist in a workshop when you needed to do anything major on your car, would you? Rather then paying someone else to do the work on the car. If you could hire a hoist at $35/hour rather then paying 60-80 per hour labour for a workshop to do the job it would also be much easier than laying on your back pullig out gearboxes and so on.

Discuss.

[Cubes]

$280 for a day/8hrs.

How would it work for storage of the car while waiting on parts or repairs?

Would that include full use of all tools and facilities? i.e gearbox lifts, rattle guns, welders etc

Even with the use of a gearbox lift $35 for myself is a tad steep as the only items could do with a hoist is the gearbox, diff and subframe.

Currently I work on the car by myself with it on jack stands. I find it quite easy.

Gearbox: 2 hydraulic jacks, rope to tie the rear of the gearbox to the jack so it doesn't slip off when rotating the box to clear the starter lump lift in to position and clunk and its in. Providing you got the clutch alignment correct.

Diff: You can get it out within an hour using a piece of rope to lower/lift the diff in position with some ratchet ringys.

Subframe: Super easy in and out within 1-2hrs; couple of jacks, remove the brakes, tail shaft and earth wire. Remove 4 bolts and lower the subframe down; then slide it out. If your replacing subframe bushes add another hour or two.

In the past I've always worked from a pit which; while it is easy as your standing lifting the gearbox is a pain in the arse and more difficult to work on the car by your self; a gearbox swap or clutch change on the ground with jack stands is MUCH easier to do when your by yourself.

So for myself owning a RWD GTST. Likely no as doing it on the ground with jack stands is actually quite easy providing you put some thought in to it.

That won't stop me buying a s/h hoist and gearbox lift in the future.

Which is what I assume you have done?

[fieds83]

It definately relates more to anything underbody ie gearbox, clutch, starter motor, diffs, exhausts, suspension components, brakes, wiring, fuel lines, steering and general servicing. It is a lot easier than getting up and down off the ground for me as i have a bad lower back as do many people not to mention easier access to tools etc.

Its actually a business that a frined and i are considering in the new year, we are just after input from the wider car enthusiest community as to what type of facilities to offer.

Mostly byo tools though things such as rattle guns, welders, trans jacks etc would be available for hire. General items would be on sale on site also eg oils, batteries, elictrical fittings, various tools. Hand tools would require an eagle eye as they go missing in the blink of an eye, they may be made available with a reasonable deposit. On site food and drinks would also be available.

Storage would also be available for any jobs that were to take more than a day in the form of lock up garages within the main building. Waste oil disposal facilities would also be available as would discounted in house towing services. $280 for 8 hours is pretty good as majority of jobs should not take that long especially with easy access to the underbody of the car. It makes any work on four wheel drive a heap easier and its a damn sight cheaper than using any mechanic especially if your a touch savvy with the tools.

By the way, this entales a workshop with the capacity to house 8-10 hoists comfortably with storage facilities.

This is just a general concept i have been discusing with a few people lately and something i may embark on within the new year. I know over the last 10+ years that i have been playing with cars i could have used a service like this for many jobs. A lot of people these days have limited space to work on their cars and are exposed to open air and the elements when working in their cars. Storage can also become an issue for people with many people only having single car garages, carports or on street parking. For me the worst bit has been knowing that i can do the job myself yet having to pay someone as i have not had the facilities(actually, i have been quite lucky and had access to my uncles workshop most of the time but when i have not it has been a pain) to perform the work.

My mate and i will be putting together the finer details over the coming months.

Any input for usefull facilities etc will be appreciated.

Edited October 13, 2007 by fieds83

[Madaz]

sounds good and im sure if done correct it wont only be SAU patrons to use your service

personally unless your within a few suburbs of me i already have access to both of these either cheap or free due to relationships I've built up over the years with local businesses

that being said if your buisness was up and running when i need my next clutch and i can sucka someone into helping me install one cheap then i would use a service like this as both buisnesses ive built relations with dont have that sort of facility to change a clutch on an attesa system

[fieds83]

Some of the things we are considering are trading hours, eg staying open well into the evenings and open all weekend due to people working hours etc not allowing them to get in during normal trading hours. Having access to these sort of facilities at the drop of a hat a opposed to being fit in to other peoples schedules would also be a major incentive. I have tried to get cars ready for events in very short amounts of time more than a few times now and i know that this sort of access would be most beneficial. We are currently looking at a fairly central location close to Hindmarsh, if all goes well then maybe in the future northern and southern outlets would be introduced.

[Madaz]

defiantly i think its a great idea especially weird opening hours and you wouldn't even need to man the premises

if its people getting track cars ready and what not, people with coin you charge a $500-1000 bond returnable on nothing being broken and all tools still there

any tool kits you have on premises are the good variety and have surveillance cameras and big locks on tool kits

so the smaller the bond the less that is open to you

[fieds83]

Exactly, though the premesis would be manned for insurance purposes. If people know that the work is going to be over an extended period then we would reduce the hourly rate or come up with a daily rate including storage etc. Surveilance would also be a must because of insurance.

All tools would be marked/stamped and kits checked before and after usage.

Edited October 13, 2007 by fieds83

[Cubes]

Fields83, You have brought up a few good points..

Madaz what were you charged to replace the clutch in your GTS4? Not including the cost of the clutch. Not having tackled an AWD clutch you would have to be careful time spent on the hoist doesn't blow out. It may not be worth the hassle for such a small saving.

Have you discussed such scenario's fieds83? Have you considered charging x for a gearbox swap or y for a diff in/out?

This would no doubt be open to abuse; i.e slackers or blokes that speak as many words per day as women.

Or possibly only a perk offered to those you have built a relationship with through previous use of your services?

$35 per hour hoist use probably wouldn't be too bad for those that know their car and know what they are doing. You could drop the gearbox, lower the car and push it off to storage area while you had the flywheel aligned etc. For such a scenario what would you consider a reasonable price for storage etc?

Say it takes 1-2hrs to remove the box and 1-2hrs to install. Worse case 4hrs hoist time. So $140 + hoist/tool hire + storage time hire while the flywheel gets machined.

As you can see there's not a great saving compared to having the local reputable workshop do a clutch install for $250-$300.

Its definitely a touch and go business to invest $$ with as those that do their sums of how long something would take them may think.. bugger it; its only another $50-$150 to get some one else to do the work.

[Madaz]

yeah i was charged around $400-$450 cant 100% remember and not looking for receipt it was @ kents brake and clutch

they have done it twice now and do know skylines except what the hydrolics for the attessa is

[fieds83]

I was personally quoted $400 box in box out by a reputable workshop just 2 days ago and that is before any parts. Rates are not set in stone at this stage and car clubs would most likely be offered discounted rates due to volume. Most workshops wont even give you a fixed price these days just hourly rates, people need to judge their own competency with the spanners to work out if its worth while to them. I know plenty of people already who have been waiting for something like this to open. If you are efficient with the spanners then it can amount to quite a saving, obviously depending on what job the owner is planning to tackle. Many people just want to get a feel for their own car and be able to say they did the work themselves. There is many an aspiring young mechanic out there not mention the old stubborn ones.

The problem with sending cars to someone else to be fixed is waiting to be able to get the car booked in, then they have weekends and public holidays off. Before you know it it's been a couple of weeks since you have driven your car, quite often when you could have done the job yourself. Once you have done something on your car once it becomes much easier the next time around and therfore a less time consuming procedure.

As for mates rates, well people will need become a mate first and have something to offer me mates rates on. At the end of the day there has to be a base profit margin that cannot be open to abuse.

I would suggest for anyone attempting any work on their car to do some research first so they have a general procedure to follow. After all isn't that what forums are for/

Edited October 13, 2007 by fieds83

[Madaz]

so youll have a PC there with the net logged into SAU's tech pages

[fieds83]

Internet access is another thing on the agenda, would make it easy if you get stuck on something to get your mate to quickly look it up and print off a procedure.