Date: Sat, 14 Sep 2013 12:57:02 -0700
Reply-To: Ben <syncro@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ben <syncro@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Idea about going to warmer climate for winter and servicing
Vanagons
In-Reply-To: <20130914154505.8XF9G.309112.imail@eastrmwml114>
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John Wessels tried that business model with his Unimog service. I suspect the cost of fuel alone to ferry his mobile shop (trailer even has a lift inside) with his U500 was enough to discourage many customers who were required to pay fuel cost.
In can work on a small scale and or Ken's plan for a client who has multiple vehicles in need of service. It will be more challenging to find a client willing to house a number of family members though.
BenT
sent from my electronic leash
On Sep 14, 2013, at 12:45 PM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET> wrote:
> We have a shop here that operates similarly for cars. It advertises that it will come to your house, your place of business, or your favorite fishing hole. Overhead for such an operation might be considerably lower than if one maintains a fixed shop. I have not used the service. mcneely
>
> ---- JRodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>> Ken,
>>
>> The Deep South is a good place to winter out. Onset of winter is slow -
>> and spring comes early - winters are usually mild. Summers are an
>> abomination, however.
>>
>> In Alaska an aircraft mechanic friend of mine put his whole shop in a
>> milk delivery van type truck - and traveled about fixing airplanes on
>> the spot out of his truck - even in the dead of Alaska Winter. Had a big
>> canopy hie would pull out over the work and then would go for it.
>> Perhaps something like that might work for you.
>>
>> John
>>
>> On 9/14/2013 7:59 AM, kenneth wilford (Van-Again) wrote:
>>> I am super busy here in NJ working on Vanagons and Westies for customers.
>>> However the dreaded winter is coming and even though I have a heated shop,
>>> etc. I really would like to go somewhere that is nice and warm outside
>>> during the winter months, yet still help customers and work on Vanagons for
>>> them. I had been tossing this idea around in my mind for a few days and
>>> trying to figure out how it could happen when I got a call from a customer
>>> in Hawaii. He tells me that in Oahu that there are tons of Vanagons and
>>> only one trusted mechanic that can work on them. He is super booked up
>>> (sounds familiar) so the customer suggested I could come out there and be
>>> as busy as I would want to be repairing vans. Of course it is never that
>>> simple. I have a wife and four kids so I would need air fare and also a
>>> place to stay while I am there and a shop to work out of or use as a home
>>> base.
>>>
>>> I am also thinking that Florida might be a good choice for this idea since
>>> all of the motorhomes go south for the winter.
>>>
>>> I am just putting this idea out there. Anyone on the list give me a way to
>>> make my dream of a "no winter", winter actually come to pass?
>>>
>>> --
>>> Thanks,
>>> Ken Wilford
>>> John 3:16
>>> www.vanagain.com
>>> .
>
> --
> David McNeely