Rent-a-Ramp Opportunity - Views Sought Good & Bad

[tommotech]

I’m looking for your thoughts please, good bad or indifferent.

 

There is an opportunity in Tamworth for me to create a DIY Garage, where you could book a ramp and repair your chod. This is something that would appeal to me as an owner of shite but please let me have your ideas, views and downsides.

 

I am also looking to get an idea of cost structure, how much would you realistically pay to rent a ramp for an hour / half day / full day.

 

All comments, encouragement or discouraging views welcome. Does anyone already have experience of such an establishment?

[cort16]

Lots of folk have tried it but none I know have succeeded. Folk underestimating the lengths of jobs , stuff getting stuck on ramps etc .

There was one in Glasgow for a bit it lasted about 6 months .

[Mally]

Know nothing about it, but would imagine you would need insurance, all equipment checks up to date, and to have a responsible person on hand at all times.

Also more than one ramp in case a job over runs/to do your  own jobs while you hang around.

Regarding costs, people who want to rent a ramp tend not to have a lot of spare cash.

Possibly more trouble than it's worth IMO.

[steveo3002]

never sounds cheap enough for me , id take twice as long as a pro to do the job so might as well pay him to do it , and for little jobs might as well roll around in the dirt at home 

[noseypoke]

Great idea,you would have to also have every tool under the sun and probably a first class mechanic (who's also trained in first aid) from skinned knuckles   to squashed customers.

Should think the cost of insurance would possibly kill your dreams tho.

Best of luck with your project,more power to you elbow,there's gotta be a way to make this pay it's way.

[SiC]

There was one near Bristol. Was around 2 years ish. Closed down earlier this year.

 

When I looked at using it, it was quite pricey compared to getting my local friendly garage to do jobs. Often I found the online booking calendar showing plenty of availability.

[Supernaut]

Lots of folk have tried it but none I know have succeeded. Folk underestimating the lengths of jobs , stuff getting stuck on ramps etc .

There was one in Glasgow for a bit it lasted about 6 months .

There's one in Arbroath who seems to be going from strength to strength. Ramp It Up - Angus.

 

I've been there once before. I think it was something like £50 or £60 for 4 hours, and they let us use their vast collection of professional grade tools and would lend a hand when needed. They even provided tea and biscuits!

[Cavcraft]

There's one in Warrington I think that's been going for a while. I'd imagine top notch insurance (public liability, etc) will be needed, plus a policy where people going over their alloted time face hefty charges. 

[cort16]

Biscuits might just be the key to success.

[Slowsilver]

I did look into local ramp hire recently.

I was considering hiring one to redo the underseal on my Maxi.

I was surprised to see someone else mentioned £25 per hour.

A local place in Milton Keynes hires them for £15 per hour, with the hourly rate reducing if you book more hours continuously, down to £100 for the full 8 hour day.

This includes use of electricity, compressed air and basic tools.

They also do a discount on weekdays down to £10ph.

I thought this sounded pretty reasonable.

I don't know how long they have been trading but their website says copyright 2016 so I guess they have been going for a while and not gone bust yet.

I haven't actually used them so this is not a personal recommendation but if anyone is interested they are here:

 

www.liftofframps.co.uk/

[Pillock]

You'd just need a BFO winch to drag off the inevitable Laguna or whatever that goes up for a quick balljoint and then the autobox shits itself or similar and the owner just leaves it.

[Dave_Q]

Used to be one near me, I used it once, think it was about £10 an hour or £50 for a day, but I am in DA NORF.

 

The matey said the ramp renting was just a sideline to his main business of refurbishing smart car engines. 

 

Said he didn't get many customers for it, I tried to get it touch recently to use him again but his phone number and website seem to be dead.

 

 

I think the costs of doing it properly including insurance etc would probably make it more per hour than people want to pay.

 

Also, people like us who actually want to do their own fixing, are a dying breed.

[Dead_E23]

This place in Acton has been going for a while and claims to be the first.   They've got prices on the website.

 

I notice they do MOTs, which I bet is an important component of their business and probably inspires lots of DIYers to use the bays.

[sofarsogood]

You'd just need a Cavcraft  to drag off the inevitable Laguna or whatever that goes up for a quick balljoint and then the autobox shits itself or similar and the owner just leaves it.

 

EFA

[The Moog]

I used the acton one while ago. All the bolts were rusty and I spent the whole time trying to get stuff off and couldn't. That's ignoring having the wrong bits etc.

 

A pro round here is £25/30 an hour so makes no sense to rent one.

[egg]

I posted about this recently on the wanted thread. Only one in Kent I've found is £24ph in Chatham.

 

http://www.octomotive.co.uk/ramp-hire-medway/

[DodgeRover]

What type of ramp were you thinking, I wouldn't want to lift old chod with the arm type.

 

That said for jobs like undersealing, changing diff/ axle/ gearbox oils, auto box servicing I would be happy to pay £10/15 an hour to avoid rolling about in filth on my own driveway.

 

Tools and air tools might be a sticking point though? Also welding etc you don't want to be unable to do your own work because you are constantly having to watch in case of stupidity

[tommotech]

What type of ramp were you thinking, I wouldn't want to lift old chod with the arm type.

That said for jobs like undersealing, changing diff/ axle/ gearbox oils, auto box servicing I would be happy to pay £10/15 an hour to avoid rolling about in filth on my own driveway.

Tools and air tools might be a sticking point though? Also welding etc you don't want to be unable to do your own work because you are constantly having to watch in case of stupidity

The unit I’m looking at has three useable bays so I was thinking at least one four poster, a two poster and a decent van ramp (probably hefty two post). I know that many car owners are useless these days but there are also many classic owners that the idea may appeal to.

 

Really appreciate your comments so far, any other experiences welcome.

[purplebargeken]

I knew about the one in Acton. I think it would be a handy idea, however, I am lucky as my mate has a 4 post lift that I can use when needed.

 

I hope it comes to fruition for you.

[steveo3002]

whats the score when you get the gearbox and discover you have the wrongs parts and need a week to order new ones 

[DodgeRover]

The unit I’m looking at has three useable bays so I was thinking at least one four poster, a two poster and a decent van ramp (probably hefty two post). I know that many car owners are useless these days but there are also many classic owners that the idea may appeal to.

 

Really appreciate your comments so far, any other experiences welcome.

What sort of weight van were you thinking? The MOT place has just had a new one installed for changing the extra LWB sprinter/ crafter gearboxes. It was surprisingly well priced.

That said their normal MOT ramp lifts my Lwb transit without going into slow mode. Just watch how much headroom you have above at max lift.

[sierraman]

The arm ones will lift up even really rusty shit in the air, the pads sit on the sills, spreads the load. A ramps not that useful at all apart from swapping exhausts or a clutch on a rwd car.

 

You’ve got to remember it’s not like you’ll be getting people like on here coming to you. It’ll be idiots who think they’ll have a ‘one man’ clutch swap on a Mondeo Mk3 done in 3 hours. 6 hours later, they’ll still be at it. Then you’ll have people coming in to do something like Waxoyl the undersides of a Transit. Once they’ve fucked off you’ll be left to clean up the blobs of underseal they’ll have got everywhere. Half your tools will go missing. The other half will be substituted with some Halfords Phaze ones they’ve swapped.

 

Inevitably the chavs will turn up, revving the cunt off an old Astra whilst the entourage of 12 of them turn up generally getting on everyone’s nerves. Finally you’ll get a DIY welding enthusiast giving everyone in the unit Arc Eye as he welds something that was made by Indesit to the floor, perilously close to the fuel tank.

 

Seriously, these are the sort of loony tunes you’ll have turning up. It’s not like you are inviting another mechanic to rent a ramp. If you can find someone that’ll let you do that in a garage for £15 an hour I’d be surprised.

[tommotech]

whats the score when you get the gearbox and discover you have the wrongs parts and need a week to order new ones

 

It’s probably more about asking the right questions when they turn up with a box full of bits. In terms of gearbox jobs most would swap the whole ‘box these days. Point taken regarding stranded cars on ramps though.

[tommotech]

What sort of weight van were you thinking? The MOT place has just had a new one installed for changing the extra LWB sprinter/ crafter gearboxes. It was surprisingly well priced.

That said their normal MOT ramp lifts my Lwb transit without going into slow mode. Just watch how much headroom you have above at max lift.

I reckon 4 tonne should cover most vans, unladen.

[egg]

How about running it as a 'club' with some sort of initial sign up fee like a gym to ward off some of the dodgier elements...

[busmansholiday]

The arm ones will lift up even really rusty shit in the air, the pads sit on the sills, spreads the load. A ramps not that useful at all apart from swapping exhausts or a clutch on a rwd car.

You’ve got to remember it’s not like you’ll be getting people like on here coming to you. It’ll be idiots who think they’ll have a ‘one man’ clutch swap on a Mondeo Mk3 done in 3 hours. 6 hours later, they’ll still be at it. Then you’ll have people coming in to do something like Waxoyl the undersides of a Transit. Once they’ve fucked off you’ll be left to clean up the blobs of underseal they’ll have got everywhere. Half your tools will go missing. The other half will be substituted with some Halfords Phaze ones they’ve swapped.

Inevitably the chavs will turn up, revving the cunt off an old Astra whilst the entourage of 12 of them turn up generally getting on everyone’s nerves. Finally you’ll get a DIY welding enthusiast giving everyone in the unit Arc Eye as he welds something that was made by Indesit to the floor, perilously close to the fuel tank.

Seriously, these are the sort of loony tunes you’ll have turning up. It’s not like you are inviting another mechanic to rent a ramp. If you can find someone that’ll let you do that in a garage for £15 an hour I’d be surprised.

[busmansholiday]

Technology eh??

 

I was going to say I agree with Sierraman as I've been offered the use of the ramps in my local garage a couple of times and always refused. Basically because I know that when I get whichever vehicle up there I'll find a shit load more wrong than expected and the job will overrun by hours/weeks/years.

 

Good luck anyway, might need you one day...

[cort16]

Maybe you could do what hairdressers do when they rent out a chair in a salon.

Rent out a bay in the garage with access to tools I'm a monthly for mechanics who 're trying to start their own business or fixing cars for sale .

[vaughant]

Know nothing about it, but would imagine you would need insurance, all equipment checks up to date, and to have a responsible person on hand at all times.

Also more than one ramp in case a job over runs/to do your own jobs while you hang around.

Regarding costs, people who want to rent a ramp tend not to have a lot of spare cash.

Possibly more trouble than it's worth IMO.

For someone who knows nothing about it you've pretty much got the nail on the head.

 

I rent a space in a shared unit and we have a ramp and even then it can cause problems.

 

Inevitably folk want it for the weekends so someone will book it for say a Friday night then as stated above get an issue and it's left there for a week, usually ECP sending the wrong parts etc. And, like anything else, once the component is replaced, you notice a load of other bits that need doing too. Usual suspects are replacing a lower arm and the rubber boots get ruined on the track rod ends etc etc.

 

What we tend to do is book it for 3 days at a time or a full weekend, if it gets finished earlier, then we use a group message to let anyone who wants it know it's available. I did a gearbox on my car a couple of weeks back, it went really well but I didn't know until I got right to the end that you have to remove the subframe bolts and move out out of the way but about an inch or two to get the box actually out.

Whilst doing so I hadn't noticed how much of an angle it had leant to and I ended up snapping a tee piece to the coolant system, I'd run a bit short of time and hence it took another day, so easy to overrun.

 

Policing it is hard, we've got fingerprint locks, secondary coded ones, unit is in a really safe place etc.

 

Best bet I would say is to only have one 2 poster in, put it near the entry door so if there's a problem you can push the chod back into the workshop but keep the ramp available. I would then consider renting the other spaces out on a long term basis, include reasonable* ramp use in it,ie, no long term welding projects but engines, gearboxes, general stuff being fine.

 

 

The guy running our unit was trying to push for renting our ramp it at weekends but most of us were dead set against it as we all store tools, cars, parts there etc plus at the end of the day we pay decent amounts of cash for the unit therefore if we're not getting a reduction on rent etc plus the added hassle of it all then nobody was up for it.

 

He seemed to think he'd get £300 a weekend which to me was totally unrealistic, I think £100 a day maximum, even then that would be a push, after all cramming in £200's worth of work on a weekend to save garage fees strikes me as a big job that has a world of hurt written all over it.

[sierraman]

Then wait while they are ringing cars while you are on holiday.