what do y'all think

I wanted to see what y'all think about my new idea. I am trying to find ways to earn extra money to live on so here's the scoop.

This would only apply to San Antonio area within 25 miles of my house, but I was thinking of offering preventive maintenence services delivered to your home mostly for JKs but not limited to. Kinda of a mobile oil/lube service for those with not enough time or no experience or desire to do diff, trans, transfer, and oil services. It would not apply to our attendees to the jeep install days or those who wanted to be taught how to do it here at my house, but rather those who just rather not do it for whatever reason. I could come to you or you could come to me based on the circumstances and what needed to be done. Some folks can't work on there jeeps in apartments and in some neighborhoods so they spend way to much on people who don't know crap about our jeeps. This could service could also be a good deal for those who don't have the time or tools. I would offer very accomidating scheduling on an appointment basis.

I was thinking of pricing it like this:

oil/filter change. $15 if you supply oil/filter, $40 if i do with non-synthetic motor oil, $60 if do with synthetic mobil one based on todays prices

Diff services (removal of pan, replacement of RTV gasket, refill) $25 if you supply fluids/gasket $50 if i do with conventional/ or $75 if i do with synthetic/ if you had limitited slip on the rear i would charge a $15 surcharge to get the needed additive

Transfer case (drain and then refill with ATF4) $ 15 if you supply, $ 45-60 if i supply depending on how much fluid i put back in.

AutoTransmission (removal of pan, replacement of filter, and, replacement of RTV gasket refill with ATF 4) $40 if you supply, $100 if i supply

Standard Transmission (drain and refill) $25 if you supply and $60 if i supply

battery replacements - $15 if you have the battery. if i get it for you $20 plus price of battery



I would even do other mods exclusively in my garage like:

U joint replacements

tie rod/drag link swaps

axle shaft replacements

Full Axle swaps (no gears just swapping over one axle to another)

Suspension lifts (bolt on applications only till i learn how to weld)

Drive Shaft removal/installs

Shock replacements

bumber installs

slider installs

Tire rotations

Air intake installs

Header installs

Anything you want cut or drilled

other misc items not listed that i feel comfortable doing



What do you think guys? Do you know anyone that might be interested?

Sounds like a good idea. I would talk to Randy about volume discounts /pricing on Amsoil. Might be able to get it cheaper than mobile 1. Not sure, tho. haven't priced it lately. but your prices seem reasonable. you might even be able to post up threads on some sites.

thanks for replying Richard

yup. if you end up doing it, as sad as it sounds, I'll prolly end up taking you up on your services. not that I don't / can't do those things myself, but TIME TIME TIME is always the issue for me

I'd rather spend the $$ having someone I can trust do it than spending the time and getting a ride to drop it off at a shop.

let me know when you are ready

Amsoil dude....I'll put together a price to convert a JK completely to synthetic. I would like to use someone's JK as a test mule to get some actual numbers of improvement, but I don't have the capital to buy the oil right now. Let me know maybe we can both benefit from this....


Amsoil air filters kick the crap out of K&N....more flow, filter better

That's a good idea jon

Hey every one I'll do it for 5 dollars less than jon haha J/K

It sounds like a great idea. I like doing the basics, just recently did my oil and diff fluid changes. I haven't done the Transfer Case or Transmission before so I could see my self watching you do it a few times. What about plugs/wires, and belts, etc. to add to the list?

My only concern would be getting your name out there. I could be wrong, but it seems like most folks on here (and other forums) do some or most of this type of work already so I think your clientele would be from others. Again, I could be wrong about that. I'd sport a JonsJeep Mobile Service sticker/magnet on my JK for you.

You could probably make a lot doing this in your neighborhood, oil & lube type stuff (not just Jeeps) - especially doing it after hours when most folks have time but the shops are closed.

Just my $0.02.

Art

sounds bad ass

good ideas Art

Hey another idea is to add inspection stickers to your list - I have no idea what is needed to be certified in this though. Just a thought, probably a stupid one!

JK4AER wrote:

It sounds like a great idea. I like doing the basics, just recently did my oil and diff fluid changes. I haven't done the Transfer Case or Transmission before so I could see my self watching you do it a few times. What about plugs/wires, and belts, etc. to add to the list?

My only concern would be getting your name out there. I could be wrong, but it seems like most folks on here (and other forums) do some or most of this type of work already so I think your clientele would be from others. Again, I could be wrong about that. I'd sport a JonsJeep Mobile Service sticker/magnet on my JK for you.

You could probably make a lot doing this in your neighborhood, oil & lube type stuff (not just Jeeps) - especially doing it after hours when most folks have time but the shops are closed.

Just my $0.02.

Art

I think it's a great idea! I agree it might be a problem getting started, but I'm sure we all know some folks who aren't very hands-on with their maintenance, and If I lived in SA I would pass the word around for sure! You might consider offering the odd tire rotation as well. Get some stickers done up and one of them'll hold a much coveted place on my Jeep as well! Good luck!

Hell, I'd call you up just to gimme a hand rotating my tires!

Yeah, I will check into some stickers. In the meantime, if you knwo anyone who needs services jeep or non jeep, please pass the word.

Hey Jon,

Try putting the word out on Craigslist.

thanks tim. good idea

Well now you think of this... I just spent $161.00 on Bobby's truck for roters. I think its a great idea can you work on other types of vehicles? Bobby needs new shocks on his F150 Ford, not sure when his last oil change was.

One thought, make sure your "mobile" part does not cost you too much in gas, think about if someone lives way on the other side of town, you might say .20 cents a mile over 10 miles from your area or something.

sounds great, man! wanna do a tuneup on my K5? I'll pay your gas if you come here!

Not to put the screws to anyone......this field service thing is kinda my gig. I have been doing this for quite a while. The company I work for charges an hourly rate ($90) and a dollar a mile, from the shop to the shop. Jon, I am not saying this to scare you away, or to screw fellow jeepers, I just know that when you put the wear and tear on your rig and need tires or brakes on your "service Jeep" make sure you charge enough to cover it.

Most companies have a radius they just charge a flat rate....service call...then outside that radius is by the mile (like Renee was saying).

I think this is a great idea and wish you well, and if you get bound up on one of those character-building jobs, remember I am a phone call away. I will help any way I can.

thanks for the advice Randy and yes Matt I can do a tuneup on the K5 just call me

another thought on the travel part.

charge hourly for travel to and from, as if you're working on their rig. that covers your gas and own car repairs, but also stresses to many people that your time is important and not to abuse it - ie, drive all the way across town for a 15min job which takes you 4 gal gas and 2 hr roundtrip in traffic ...

more people would be more likely to just bring their heap TO you for 15min, than you come to them for 2hr

and the k5 is ready - it prob won't make it to you, so I would rather pay your trip than a tow when I only make it 1/2 way!!

we need a fuel line replacement too... dunno if you cam cut/crimp the existing hardline.

anytime next week or the week after.

Matt,
pm me your address and cell. we will discuss details and get you scheduled the week after next. I will be in California next week.

Great ideas on the travel cost Randy, Renee, and Matt. I am limiting myself to the San Antonio and Surrounding areas within 25 mls (50mls round trip) because of the cost of travel. Anything beyond that i will include a trip surcharge based on miles at $0.40 cents per mile.

That sounds like a GREAT idea!!!

The next time Im out that way I will have some work done fo sho!!! (especially at those prices!!)

those are good ideas, but large surcharges may scare ppl away. but, reasonable added charges would be expected.

So Jon, is this more or less a good example of an oil change based on say a 10 mile trip (20 miles round trip) ?:

Oil change: $15.00 labor
Filter: $ 5.00
Full Snythetic: $50.00 Up to 6 quarts
Milage: $ 8.00 @ $0.40 per mile X 20 miles
Waste Disposal: $ 3.00 (disposal of old oil and filter)
---------------------------------------------------------------
Total : $ 81.00 Full Synthetic


Oil change: $15.00 labor
Filter: $ 5.00
Full Snythetic: $30.00 Up to 6 quarts
Milage: $ 8.00 @ $0.40 per mile X 20 miles
Waste Disposal: $ 3.00 (disposal of old oil and filter)
---------------------------------------------------------------
Total : $ 61.00 conventional




Hard part is the balance between covering your costs and making it affordable at the same time. Most places charge ~$30.00 - $35.00 for conventional. then tack on about another $5.00 for misc charges/fee and ~$3.00 for tax. So about $38.00 - $43.00 for an oil change.

Maybe only charge mileage to the location or lower/no filter charge. Then when buying oil in bulk from a good source (cough Randy cough) that would brin the price down to ~$55.00. So $14.00 - $19.00 over the costs at a shop with the convenience of him coming to you would look attractive to prospective customers.

Just my $0.02
(yeah, i know my math isn't exact, but an estimate to get the basic idea)