Attention Mobile Tinters

Whats up all! My questions are for all you Mobile Tinters out there. For the record i'm no h@ck. I'm a former Mobile Detailer and Car Stereo/Tint Shop owner and installer with a few years under my belt. I would like to get back in the business and want to go MOBILE. What I want to know is if any of you guys have any advice on Set-ups, tools, and equipment amongst other items that you guys find useful while mobile tinting, ie: whats your typical set-up, whats your favorite way to carry your tools, do you bring glass for trimming, etc. Any advice you can give me? I own a cargo van from my old mobile detailing business but am thinking of trading it in for a truck coz its too big.

Thanks for your help!

First time post, long time reader

Gregg,

Welcome to the board

I am doing some mobile tinting. There are different versions of what some will call mobile on here.
I dont do stuff in peoples driveway or out in the open. I have corners set up in dealership body shops or make ready areas.
I carry all the same tools I use in a shop, including my tanks. I just pull the film out of the boxes.
I have a roll around, fold up stand that goes with me every where I go also, and yes it does have glass on it.

As far as driveway tinters or parking lot tinters, in other post Ive read its going to be basically the same tools but the use the windows of the car for there "glass" to trim and pull liners.

Good luck in your adventures.

Welcome to the forum Gregg

When I used to do mobile ..I had everything down to 2 Rubbermaid containers that stacked onto each other containing everything I needed..just add film and a pane of glass ..here's a link from an old "Tip of the Week" I did a while back on how to bring a pane of glass with you without worrying about the size ..hope this helps


http://www.tintdude.com/totw46.html

I just down sized out of a cargo van to a nissan frontier I put a hard cover on it and use the same tools, I did down size my generator from a 5000 watt to a 2000 watt honda.
no glass board just use the car or truck I only tint in carports covered parking spaces or garages no open work for me.
instead of the 25 boxes of film I used to carry I'm down to about 14/15.

see if I can find this

Thanks for all the useful information gentlemen!

have at it...........................

14+ Rolls

Gees i carry 5max..

Gotta keep the van light, so i can do more jobs and get away from the

dude your really diggin

How do you guys advertise mobile window tinting. Where do you write in the ad that a garage must be present during the time if serves.

im guessing that they tell/ask the customer when they call and get quote or set up an appointment.

whats up i carry about 14 rolls of film i like the new open tool bag/box from husky (home depot) i prevents stuff from getting moldy because its open with pouches i also like the craftsman roll box it plastic and its great if you like to sit while doing your sides and great to stand on while doing tint visor strips also it a big storage box for extension cords small steamers extra tools and so on i also use a 2x2 tool bag for my shampoo storage tint of sprayway steelwool micro fiber towels it works well for me good luck dude ......here's one to think about milk crate with coragated plastic dividers plain and simple


whats up i carry about 14 rolls of film i like the new open tool bag/box from husky (home depot) i prevents stuff from getting moldy because its open with pouches i also like the craftsman roll box it plastic and its great if you like to sit while doing your sides and great to stand on while doing tint visor strips also it a big storage box for extension cords small steamers extra tools and so on i also use a 2x2 tool bag for my shampoo storage tint of sprayway steelwool micro fiber towels it works well for me good luck dude ......here's one to think about milk crate with coragated plastic dividers plain and simple

when I was mobile I had a coleman 1850 generator,A plexi peal board,I kept a 5 gallon plastic tank of water,and had a load of tupperware containers,also used a pickup with fibergass bed cover

Thats some realy good geuss work tintgod..I hope you dont speak to the customer..

Im sure that its all in simplicity ,less is more..The objective is to get the phone ringing..Thats our life line..No matter what proffession.Youve been in buss before so you can slip the questions in.(enviorments and such)Their are alot of good points and recomendations(by most) made on the board..Btw welcome..

Do any of you mobile tinters do outdoor tinting.

You mean just out in the open..???Right?
well yea..But rarely..Gotta drum that buck.I always provide the cutsy with the pro and cons..(dust etc)I do have a contractor that tints everything..He cares nothing..I give a break on the price..

what up willie take a pic of that mobile peel board and give us a post on it dude i would like to see it as a matter of fact totw material mobile peel board folding style

this is probably a little late but what the heck
i do mobile all day long but u have to have a garage or coverage to do n if its windy it has to be
a garage but i peel on backglass of car works great or some tinters peel in there hand ithink tintman 237 is good at this
mobile isnt for everyone u have to have an acquired taste but i love when i have multiple cars at the same place makes it easy on me

hey sprinter where do you park your truck at night 14/15 boxes oh my
i only carry about 6 boxes with me

i have been tinting mobile since i have been in bus, i feel i have it down to a science obviously cant do it in extreme weather out doors but san diego stays pretty moderate, most of my work is done in shops and homes so it keeps my santity, i work out of my truck in my avatar works killer cause its great advertisement(i have the tailgate wrapped). would rather have a ferrari payment then a shop payment personally. its definitely not for most though.

All the time, lick em peel em and stick em

welcome to the board dude

What do you mean by all the time. Or whats your secrete to avoid contamination.

yeah, but i bet my shop rent is less than your fuel bill. advertising on the truck is the only way to go.

honestly, and my tip to the poster: if you're just starting out, do dealership work. its how i got started. be there same day same time every week and they'll start giving you cars. walk the lot with a clip board and write down stock #'s of the cars YOU WANT TO DO . Take it to the manager and hit em with your pitch. they think its convenient and activity breeds activity for them. get an EZ Up tent and put it right up in the lot. get balloons from them to hang on your tent. you being there may draw attention in and get them (and you) a customer because people driving by will wonder what's going on. if you can't afford that to start, they'll give you a wash bay or something to work in. dealership work is great for mobile tinting until your name gets out to the public IMO. even then, dealership work is regular and again, you can pick the car most of the time. like i said, make yourself show up on their lot same day, same time every week. if they don't give you work right away, they'll start after they see you a few times and know you're legit. also, a sales manager isn't spending his money, he's spending the dealership's money. so, he won't care to throw some work at you usually. stick to big, established, new car dealerships. stop and give a card to the small guys but don't expect anything. oh, and letter your truck/van with vinyl and signage. very important step. worked for me so well i opened my shop right in the middle of the local dealerships and do pickup / delivery for them. i love dealer work and put my sights on it every chance i get. i keep the cars overnight most of the time so i'm never rushed or worried about getting it done in time. be strict about your billing no matter what they want to do. set up an account for at minimum monthly if not bi-monthly and collect on that date on the spot. make it a day you're there if you can and pick your check up so they're not mailing it out. take your invoices directly to the person who cuts the check if you can. sales mgr's tend to forget. hang loose with these guys and be friendly. it will make you money. and the salespeople will send you custy's they sell cars to. they'll tell custy's your there every tuesday at 9am and you'll have work waiting. give it a shot and see what you think. the quickest way to get things going in my opinion.
all you need is 10 dealerships 1 a day for 2 weeks. or if you can get a car a week from each 5 will do it. make a route to a different car lot each day. keeps you from showing up to tint in a garage full of junk at a Dr*g dealers house that you needed 4 wheel drive to get to IMO.

as far as tools or equipment. you can take with you about anything tinting requires. i knew of a guy doing it out of a 4 door sedan. cut it on the car.

happy tinting.

How would you convince them that you are a good tinter and not a risk to damaging their new cars?

easy..do a car for a heavy discount as the first one.

That sounds like a great idea. what size ez-up do you recomend? is their enough room to fit a car in a ez-up? When pitching to a salesmanager, what kinda things do you say? how much should you charge? Im looking to start up so im deeply interested.

Just go in and offer them tint.... tell them you need their detail bay to do the work..... forget the ez-up-pain-in -the-arse

I learned to tint from a mobile tinter. I think your biggest challenge if you tint outside is learning how to get the film from the glass to the inside without creasing your film. The elements come into play more than people realize when tinting outside. other than that your tools and approach are pretty much the same way. Speed is also a factor considering you are in the hot sun during the spring and summer, your solution will dry on you very quickly, so you have to apply and squeege fairly quick. good luck!!

No, I would be concerned about a clean install. I never worry about creasing the film...it never happens if you are installing correctly.

I took 1 1/4 inch pvc and built a 10x10x8 frame that anchors into the ground then had 6 mill vinyl cut that can be to each side and a peice on top. I can easily make it 10x20x8 if need be by adding a few peices. This all fits neatly on top of my truck when needed.

I went to a plastic sign making store and got a 3 by 7 foot peice of plexi cut that can be hung from one of the top rails and have a tool box for tools.

I can set up anywhere in like 15 mins if need be.

I also have deals with two area garages I can tint in at a small commission for them.

Oh and I have a convertor in my truck for power for heatguns, lights etc.

I have a seperate cell phone for business related calls so I dont answer all pissy thinking I know the person calling me.

I go to the bars all around get people drunk then talk them into a appointment!!

Good times, good times

Hah says YOU! That depends on what kind of drugs he is dealing!!! Ever tint a window on drugs??? I mean I just pull some tint out and throw it at the car and it cuts and sticks its self.....amazing i am telling ya


(kidding, kidding)

it seems so complicated to have to take all that ish with you and set it up and take it down all the time etc etc. Its easier to just pick up a few good garages/dealers that you can use if need be. 80% of my people have a garage or access to one of their friends and then the rest either come to my house or I go to one of the shops I work with. Between all of them I have one pretty much every 20 mins all around the city so noon ever has to drive too far.

reply to post#33 I like that avatar thing you have but when I try to read your post it is rather distracting as I can see it with my peripheral vision with all that spinning around lightning flashing business. Maybe just pick something a little less distracting like maybe a total- eclipse that would not be distracting. I will try to put a post a note over it while I read your posts. That will help, I am just kidding around with you as we have already had words on here, just forgot to welcome you sounds like you are ready to tint anyware.so

I just did my first moblie tint today i went to a guys garage and it came out pretty good i think i will try it a little more i kinda like it

sometimes its nice to be in a different place every day, but sometimes it sucks when your in a crappy garage

Mobile is great until the winter hits.

Yeah the lighting wasn't the greatest but it had a lot of space to move around it was nice

thats why I have a 50k BTU propane heater. It can heat just about any garage I've worked in to 75-80 degrees in under 10 minutes. Plus propane is relatively cheap, it only takes maybe $2 per car worth, since you don't need to run the heat the whole time. Its worth every penny to be nice and toasty when its 0 degrees outside.

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