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YOUR DREAM GARAGE would have...

2 bay garage, 1 lift on one side, 1 walk down pit on the other. A friend has a pit just big enough to walk down under the car for services and what not, so much easier than lifting. Just drive in and walk down, so I want one in my dream garage.

Heat and AC would be nice and all too but I can deal without too, Kerosene heater work well enough in for the "cold" winters we have in Oklahoma lol.
 


Having worked in a full garage and having a lot of stuff in my own house garage, here's what I'd suggest from a been there..seen it..common sense perspective.

Each station:
Lifts and maybe a pit
Rolling carts with the basics: hammer, two of each screwdriver (one med, one small), adjustable wrench, metric.standard wrench set (ratchting if budget allows), deep six point socket sets 10-19mm and standard of same basic sizings. Trans line/fuel line disconnect tool. Trim clip tool, gasket scraper, radiator hose clamp tool. Corded lights (preferably flourescent/led), pliers, cutters, knife
Outlets: 4-8 outlets per station. No one ever needs that many, won't hurt.
Workbench with vise

One or two pc's with printers for FSM stuff. Keep in mind this would be a large annual expense.
Air tools: A lot of people aren't comfortable with them and will only hurt themselves or break something. Air hammer, body tools, impact sockets to go with air guns etc. Blow guns..
Trans jack
Engine hoist
Specialty tools: Things like a cam install tool, trans rebuild basic tools, jaw pullers, HB puller, measuring tools, odd stuff that you commonly won't need.
Press

gotta work.. brb
 


BillBoost37 said:
Having worked in a full garage and having a lot of stuff in my own house garage, here's what I'd suggest from a been there..seen it..common sense perspective.

Each station:
Lifts and maybe a pit
Rolling carts with the basics: hammer, two of each screwdriver (one med, one small), adjustable wrench, metric.standard wrench set (ratchting if budget allows), deep six point socket sets 10-19mm and standard of same basic sizings. Trans line/fuel line disconnect tool. Trim clip tool, gasket scraper, radiator hose clamp tool. Corded lights (preferably flourescent/led), pliers, cutters, knife
Outlets: 4-8 outlets per station. No one ever needs that many, won't hurt.
Workbench with vise

One or two pc's with printers for FSM stuff. Keep in mind this would be a large annual expense.
Air tools: A lot of people aren't comfortable with them and will only hurt themselves or break something. Air hammer, body tools, impact sockets to go with air guns etc. Blow guns..
Trans jack
Engine hoist
Specialty tools: Things like a cam install tool, trans rebuild basic tools, jaw pullers, HB puller, measuring tools, odd stuff that you commonly won't need.
Press

gotta work.. brb
Click to expand...

Great list, thanks Bill!
 
My concept is to open a DIY garage. It will be an eight bay facility with 4 on one side and 4 on the opposite side facing eachother with general walkway in between. One bay will be reserved for auto washing and detailing. One bay for alignment. The other six will be for general use. I am thinking of placing heavy duty lifts in two of the bays for larger vehicles (possibly). Each bay will be equipped identically. Specialty tools will be an additional charge and stored separately. Likewise with special equipment (tire mounting, balancing). Customers can either reserve a bay or walk-in if bay is available. Each customer will sign a waiver for injuries and /or damages and pay a flat hourly rate for bay use. I want to hire people knowledgable about automobile repairs to work the facility. that way, advice is available for those people (like myself) who need it (with the understanding that any advice given is free and shop is not held liable for false information) Hours of operation are not set yet. I am toying with the idea of being an off hour business (noon to midnight). Currently working on a business plan to pitch to a couple of potential investors. ROUGH estimate is $4-4.5m
 
so you want to build a garage so people can rent a bay and work on there cars?? thats actually pretty smart but how many people that can work on a car live close enough to drive or tow their car there? i would probably do two heavy duty lifts because you can still put cars on them. definitely a tire machine/balancer... maybe get a few scan tools
 


I can see walking tools being an issue. I'd maybe supply big stuff like a compressor, floor jack, BFH, oil catches, maybe have a sign-out for specialty tools... but leave it up to folks to bring their own tools. Otherwise, might be stuck doing a full inventory after each customer leaves. Plus, it would really lower the startup costs. Of course, totally up to you as to how fully-stocked you want this place to be.
 
Chris BadAss said:
My concept is to open a DIY garage. It will be an eight bay facility with 4 on one side and 4 on the opposite side facing eachother with general walkway in between. One bay will be reserved for auto washing and detailing. One bay for alignment. The other six will be for general use. I am thinking of placing heavy duty lifts in two of the bays for larger vehicles (possibly). Each bay will be equipped identically. Specialty tools will be an additional charge and stored separately. Likewise with special equipment (tire mounting, balancing). Customers can either reserve a bay or walk-in if bay is available. Each customer will sign a waiver for injuries and /or damages and pay a flat hourly rate for bay use. I want to hire people knowledgable about automobile repairs to work the facility. that way, advice is available for those people (like myself) who need it (with the understanding that any advice given is free and shop is not held liable for false information) Hours of operation are not set yet. I am toying with the idea of being an off hour business (noon to midnight). Currently working on a business plan to pitch to a couple of potential investors. ROUGH estimate is $4-4.5m
Click to expand...

We have this Setup at nearly every Army base. It is Fvcking Awesome. They charge us $3-$4 per hour for lift bays and less for flat bays. They have welding booths and paint booths also. The one at Fort Hood also does State inspections. As for tools they make us "sign" them out. Here is a link to Sprockets the Fort Hood shop ++ Fort Hood DFMWR ++ Sprocket Auto Crafts
 
I usually take my own tools so I don't have to sign them out, also they make us clean the bays we use before allowed to leave. Having a DIY shop on Post is TITS.
 
I see problems if it will be a DIY garage. Most DIY guys save the work for the weekend and the car may be down for the entire weekend or longer if problems occur. If you allow people to keep their cars there for that long you would run into capacity issues. Also the population and the socioeconomic status of the people in the area would have a big effect on need/want for this as well as profitability of such an establishment. You have to look at this from a business perspective. Have you talked to friends (locals) about the idea, besides gpf. Hypothetically, yes its a good/cool idea to throw around, but will people utilize this to the point where it becomes profitable in the foreseeable future? Think about all of the overhead and startup capital that would come before this place is actually up and running and bringing in business. With that and you saying $4m+ for startup, I say go big or go home, atleast double the spots in the garage and have them being used on a consistent basis.
 
SlowNA06 said:
I can see walking tools being an issue. I'd maybe supply big stuff like a compressor, floor jack, BFH, oil catches, maybe have a sign-out for specialty tools... but leave it up to folks to bring their own tools. Otherwise, might be stuck doing a full inventory after each customer leaves. Plus, it would really lower the startup costs. Of course, totally up to you as to how fully-stocked you want this place to be.
Click to expand...


Tool theft is a big issue we are addressing. Bay inspections is one possibility.
 


On Post at the Auto Shop they charge Daily for storage...just sayin, I think it's like $15 a day for storge, so it motivates you to use the shop for "quick" repairs. Although if you talk to them about big jobs, they work with you on the storage fee. They keep all the tools in a controlled cage til you ask to use them. I can take pictures of the one here at Fort Polk if you need Chris.
 
TexasTanker19kilo20 said:
We have this Setup at nearly every Army base. It is Fvcking Awesome. They charge us $3-$4 per hour for lift bays and less for flat bays. They have welding booths and paint booths also. The one at Fort Hood also does State inspections. As for tools they make us "sign" them out. Here is a link to Sprockets the Fort Hood shop ++ Fort Hood DFMWR ++ Sprocket Auto Crafts
Click to expand...

Funny you should say that, it's where i got the idea. I work on the Navy base nearby and they have an auto-hobby shop!
 
tool theft can be dealt with like this, if someone needs to use the shops tools, you sign out what tools they use, and leave their credit card, inspect before lending them, and when returned. charge as needed for lost or broken tools.

no way would i just have open tool boxes for the masses to have at.


i like this idea of yours. ive never seen a place like that around here. only thing ive heard of even close to this idea is the military base shops.

insurance may be a issue, nothing money cant fix......lol
 
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