Full tool tour of my mobile mechanic truck setup! The equipment in my truck as a traveling mechanic!

[@Comm0ut]

Open beds mean loading and unloading tool boxes but I found a low effort way that's cheap and easy. You won't be young and bulletproof forever so this trick might keep you out of surgery and pain clinics. I hung a used Tommy Gate on my F150 years ago and love it because it's a major back saver. I don't lift anything heavy due to a bad back (which got that way lifting heavy objects, discs don't last forever). They're cheap used and when not lifting or lowering heavy items like floor jacks, engines, steel etc make a nice clean work surface. Since it's a half-ton I run Hellwig leaves and Timbren urethane springs because they don't conflict with anything and handle the extra weight easily. Used liftgates often outlive multiple trucks and all the parts are simple and available including the mount plates for different truck beds. i mechanized all my heavy lifting and horizontal moving (from machine tools to structural steel and shipping containers, not just vehicle-related) and only regret not doing that 30 years ago because it makes life easy.

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

That’s great advice thank you

[@NPurvis7622]

KZbin had you as a top hit, I hope the business keeps going well for you man, love the setup, and thanks for the video! I'll check out your other vids as well!

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

Thanks man I appreciate it!

[@BV-Auto]

Nice set up. Best of luck sir.

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

Thanks man!

[@MrGP-qk8rc]

Camper shell will help keep that equipment protected from the elements of the weather. And secured.

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

Lookin at getting a camper shell and a truck bed slide

[@mikemorales2120]

I just built one for my tacoma ( general contractor ). Two sheets of 3/4 ply . Some 1 inch roller ball bearings ( harbor freight ) works perfect and handles a ton of weight. ​@@InYourDrivewayAuto

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

@mikemorales2120 Oh cool I’ll look into that! What did you use for the slide rails?

[@mikemorales2120]

@@InYourDrivewayAuto i actually used 1 inch roller bearings from harbor freight , screwed like 30 into the the sheet and it rolls like butter

[@eddkbk34]

You're literally inspiring me. im thinking about becoming a mobile mechanic and been talking about it for quite some time now and starting to take action, what is some advice you can give for someone whos thinking about starting off on theor own business? Keep in mind ive been only woking at a reputable shop for a year now and contemplating if i should dtay and gain more experience or branch out on my own thank you in advance, all the best

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

I’d probably try to get another year of experience at least, then look at the quality of your work. Do you have any comebacks? Do you feel confident making complex repairs or diagnostics? Are your diagnostics generally accurate? If so, then go ahead! You can always cherry pick your work at first if you need to. Other than that, I know everyone says it, but the biggest piece of advice I can give is show up when you say you’re going to show up, and do what you say you’re going to do. If you say I’m going to get there at 9am to fix your car, and you actually show up at 9am and the customers car gets fixed, you’re already outperforming most of your competition.

[@zacharykarna2810]

Could also add one of those 'drymate' garage floor mats in the bed of the truck too. can grab them in different sizes off amazon cheap. Lay it down before getting to work, in case you spill any oils or for dusty brake jobs and the like. Try and minimize you're messes for your customers. Good set up so far. I've thought about mobile mechanic work myself. We'll see.

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

That’s actually a really good suggestion, I’ll grab some tomorrow!

[@loganduffy3780]

Great suggestion, hypertough has a good one I just looked up after reading your comment I’m about to get

[@DanielDroegeShow]

Since you got the compressor already, I would look at a cheap smoke machine. Lots of money in diags other techs can't do right, like with the refrigerant tank.

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

I have added a smoke machine since making this video! You’re right it’s a great investment and diag has become much easier since. Here’s a link to a short I made featuring the smoke machine in action Finding vacuum leaks, exhaust leaks, and EVAP leaks just got a whole lot easier 😎 kzbin.infocJcJ4nhYMKg?feature=share

[@Captmorgann]

My suggestion to you is if you’re not going to be switching into a truck with a service body with the built in tool box I’d look at the Milwaukee packout kits or any of the other brands that have that setup. Normal tool boxes tend to fall apart the second you get any weight in them if your on bumpy or rough roads. The best part about those setups is that it’s super easy to remove them from your truck too.

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

I’ll look into these, I do have some drawer tracks that are now completely shot so I’m going to look at the pack outs next

[@Ikepool]

@@InYourDrivewayAutoI’d also look into a montezuma box they are pricey but worth it

[@christopherwatson283]

I've had a lot of tools stolen over the years. I would not assume the area is good. I'm not going to leave them outside to just get them all snatched and be left with an empty truck bed.

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

They’re locked down

[@jorgebolivar]

Advice, drop the jumper cables in favor of a Noco GBX75 or Noco GB150. Jump star dead batteries, sometimes, lead to costly issues and not pleasant conversations.

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

Thanks!

[@donaldhollums3278]

A great setup.

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

Thank you sir!

[@josephwhitehead9918]

I been thinking about getting you to do some work on my 07 tahoe ..I live in Sylacauga. I usually do my own work but not this time.

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

You can fill out the form on my website inyourdrivewayauto.com and I’d be happy to help you out!

[@BruceLyeg]

@@InYourDrivewayAuto Your website is very well done. Simple yet stylish and informative, nice

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

@BruceLyeg thank you very much! My beautiful wife created it for me, and has created some for other local businesses as well. I will be sure and pass on this compliment!

[@KevinMechanic634]

Great setup

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

Thanks!

[@eurocars_mechanic]

I love this set-up but please organise this tools

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

I’ll give it some thought 😂

[@synystermango6029]

How's doing it on your own? Thinking about doing it full time but idk I feel insecure I've been doing side work but wanna branch off

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

It has its ups and downs, but I prefer it. It’s a good bit more pressure and a LOT to learn outside of doing the actual labor. Year 1 was pretty rough at times, but God has really blessed us in year 2 and now I’m full time along with 2 part time guys. So once you work out all the kinks it’s pretty sweet

[@Thatyellow2001mustang]

I A rolling cart is general and take wheels off so u can put it in ur truck bed

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

Yes that’s exactly what I did lol

[@Thatyellow2001mustang]

No like the bigger ones that way u don’t need two boxes

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

I see what you’re saying. I most likely will get a bigger one soon, but I’ll probably still have 2 boxes. I really just need more space for tools, as soon as I get more space I get more tools to expand the variety of jobs I can take

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

It’s a never ending cycle lol

[@danielgarcia9095]

If I can give you some advice don't clean your sockets let them stay dirty that way they don't get rusted, now yes if it were indoors then I can see wipe them down after use...

[@drizen1g]

Mobile mechanic is the hardest job on Earth

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

Idk about all that but it’s certainly not easy

[@Randy-m6c]

How do you charge for your services?

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

We use Identifix to find labor times and build estimates. We apply our hourly rate to the labor time, and that’s how we price out labor costs. Parts cost involve a 15% markup, just to cover the time it take to buy all of them, pick them up, and potentially warranty if needed.

[@hunterlewis8303]

How do you handle invoicing?

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

I use the square app. I just list out the parts, part numbers, and the cost of each part, then add the labor

[@hunterlewis8303]

@@InYourDrivewayAuto Thank you. I have found invoicing to be my hardest hurdle.

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

@hunterlewis8303 no problem! If there’s anything I can do to help further, you can email me at [e-mail]

[@Liazon098]

I gotta say man you been doin that for 9 months. I'm so won't to work then compared to you. Like okay I make like a few thousand a year, still, this is like you know what's up. What kind of jobs are you doing and what jobs do you want more of???

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

Thanks man! My time cut off is 10 hours, if a job calls for more than 10 hours I turn it down. Brakes are my most common, easiest, and predictable jobs, they’re probably my favorite

[@Ireland831]

I would have to assume by now those tools have been stolen.

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

Not a single tool has been. The are locked down to the truck bed, and the boxes are locked closed

[@mikemorales2120]

Smoke crack instead of having coffee much better for efficiency on the road.

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

Word

[@roscoe7075]

Damn youre lucky non of youre tools havent got stolen

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

They’re locked down

[@ourv9603]

Before Henry Ford built his flathead V8, he built an X8 engine: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5awYWSAYtR5pLM !

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

👍🏼

[@scottshaffer1412]

Do you worry about having your tools stolen?

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

I do keep the boxes locked so that helps, but I live in a pretty good apartment complex that’s in a good area, I haven’t had any issues. Eventually I will probably get a van or camper shell that I can lock up at night

[@jorgebolivar]

A service body will suffice. Tons around cheap and in good conditions.

[@waltertur9731]

Those boxes aren't waterproof

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

I was skeptical at first as well, but I haven’t had any water in my drawers or any rust issues yet

[@alexistaboada5759]

u need more tools. you want your gas mileage to go down with how many tools you have.

[@InYourDrivewayAuto]

Agreed