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Hi I have recently posted on here for information on how to set up as a mobile service engineer and gained some background info on courses etc.

Could any current engineers please tell me what specialist tools are required or even better if you have time and patience a full list of tools required for the job, just to give me an insight to what i may already have and what i would need to purchase.

Many thanks

Paul

Quote: Originally posted by michael on 27/1/2010

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torque wrench of a high loading for the one shot wheel nuts,most people would not have one.290+ - 10 Nm , 214 lbs + - 7.5 lbs.

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Dave 101

I thank you for your advice, however i am fully conversant with setting up and the continued running of a business, as i have over the past 17 years run two businesses sucessfully after creating them from scratch.

I am fully conversant with advertising strategies, website usage, vans and livery, customer bases amongst other subjects you have mentioned, including the dreaded taxman!!!!!!

I will not be jumping into this quickly but at the minute just testing the water and gathering enough info to asess whether it is something i wish to pursue in the near future. I am currently still running my own business of a different nature, but looking to sell this on when i have gained some qualifications and experience and face a new challenge on my own.

I am just weighing up the pro's and con's and getting an idea of courses, set up costs, running costs etc, all which you will agree are required for a sucessful business plan when the time comes. I do appologise if i have made it sound like i was planning becoming a service engineer overnight, although i know people out there will have done, that road is not for me!!

regards

Paul

Quote: Originally posted by discoverytdi on 28/1/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by michael on 27/1/2010

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torque wrench of a high loading for the one shot wheel nuts,most people would not have one.290+ - 10 Nm , 214 lbs + - 7.5 lbs.

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and if it's a BPW chassis they can be as high as 330nm on certain types

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thanks for that its worth knowing for the future,an expensive bit of kit required for this.

Our van is manufactered on the outskirts of London and the manufacturer is also the Dealer.

I live in Argyll in Scotland and clearly it is impractical to expect me to travel that far south to get its annual service done.
So, by arrangement with the manufacturer, I get someone local to do this service and the nearest Qualified Service Engineer happens to be a Mobile one. Very handy for me.

The point I am making is that whoever does the Sevicing on my van, has to be approved by the van's manufacturer and I would imagine that Annual Servicing by a Mobile Caravan Engineer would be his Bread & Butter.

And, for me, having had work carried out on my van in both other Dealers Workshops and, in front of me by a Mobile Engineer, I will go for the Mobile Engineer every time. His stamp on my receipt inspires a great deal more confidence and peace of mind than any workshop's.

It would take a long time for anyone to build up a reputation amongst Caravan Manufacturers and Dealers before they would allow their customers to choose you as a reputable and reliable Service Engineer for their vans.

Dave 101

Got a good, newish, reliable van already for my existing business at the mo so thats a good chunk of cash i dont need to invest. I would still be running my existing business on the side, working evenings and weekends whilst i attend courses and gain some experience. When i feel confident enough to go alone, i will slowly phase out my existing business once my customer base has built up enough on the servicing side, although i am prepared for this to take quite a while to establish.

I should be able to cover my wages constantly using this method, maybe a little tiring at times, but you dont get anywhere without effort!!!! Once i feel i can earn enough from the servicing, i can slow down and eventually quit my other business.

Its all a while of yet, as i say just getting a feel for the courses, cost of tools ( i do have an extensive selection of engineering tools, but will need a few specialist tools) and the best way to go about it, which has become much clearer this week thanks to all the advice on here!!!