Man, what an absolute piece of junk. Drivers look at that thing like the first time I stretched it out to its maximum capacity and the thing unspooled the footwork. and I'm just trying to do some light duty survey work here and my tools are failing me because I ended up with a chico I can't find my good one I think they're it's at home but um I figured this would work for for shock usage and it has failed me. I Don't like jungle goodbye opening Z Hood Yeah, hey, you guys want to hear something cool? I've got a kind of a major announcement going on here.
It's not super Mage Actually yeah it is. It's it's a major announcement. So uh, you see I've got all the space here. Uh, what? 2 300 square feet or so not counting the office.
Um, it's working really well for me. Uh, just being me and one person. Um, that being said, I'm capable of operating not with just two lifts. You know we've got a project lift and then we've got a daily in and out lift.
I'm capable of operating with like three or four lifts because I've got a couple projects out there. There's that red S10 that needs some stuff I've got an engine that's going to go in that Miata There's a few things going on. That being said, I could use more lift space and I was thinking about putting a really big one here and then just driving through it to get into the shop, but that's going to be a super nasty traffic jam. I was uh, also thinking of putting one right here in this area, but it's not exactly wide enough and we'll have cars right against the wall right here, so that's that's probably not the best the best place to do that either.
So I started thinking about this little flat area over here. Now this isn't my space, but I I did consider the possibility of putting in a lift right here and then I've got you know it'll be outdoors, but it's still another lift. and again I can do uh do some Project work but then I Got to uh, got to thinking about this section over here. Now you'll see that's a concrete wall.
Then we've got another concrete wall right here. We've got Windows those used to be exterior windows. Those are classic. Oh, that was a heck of a zoom.
Those are a classic old school Florida single pane crank. Windows There's like a flap here and like another flap here. when you open them, they just kind of hinge outward. Two of those and there Once upon a time was a door right around here somewhere and I realized that because I was on the other side of this and you can see where there was the door.
Additionally, there is some roofing material up there which is trust or like wooden wooden trusses I forget what they're called, but there's roofing material up there now. That tells me that this concrete building was here first. and then once upon a time someone came through and installed this big giant, like 40 by 80 or 120 foot long uh, metal building over top of it. But they kept that concrete building.
Now this area right here. It used to be just storage in there. it's not my space yet. it used to be storage. Uh, the announcement and the Improvement is going to be, um, a big finger to all of those who said I'll be out of business in a month because it's been two months and I'm about to lease that space over there all the way to that pillar which is going to be that wall way back Yonder See that right there. I'm gonna lease that space. We're gonna roll a dumpster out front here pretty soon and I'm gonna get a uh, a front loader like a skid steer and we're going to come through and knock down this wall. Okay, that wall is going away.
That's going to be phase one. Phase two is we're going to call the door people and they're gonna come out and set up another roll-up door right here similar to this one. and then I'm gonna knock down that wall. and then we're going to redo the metal stuff over here.
So uh, effectively, I'm going to be doubling my square footage of workspace and potentially adding, uh, the capability of a like a third lift out here. I'm not certain if I want to do like one lift in there that's just kind of caddy cornered similar to that one and we'll have the one door just to make the uh, the entrance I may do that and then stick another lift outside or I may if there's the space, put two more lifts in there next to each other and then one more door right here. I Have not determined that yet because that's going to be phase two or three or four of this project. but uh, like I said, that's pretty much going to be mine over there and we're knocking this wall down.
So at the very least, I've got a lot of expansion space to move into. and uh, so that's uh, that's a message for all the naysayers, and and more importantly, it's a message for all the non-snaysayers who, uh, who support the the project that's going on here. So to everybody who's involved or interested or even disinterested, we're moving forward. We're expanding, the company is going to grow I'm going to force that to happen.
Um, basically all you do is every penny that you make you roll it right back into your operation and you do that for five ten years and then maybe I can retire. So that's the plan we're adding on. We're expanding, we're building more stuff I'm reinvesting into the company and uh, and investing into you guys because the more stuff that I can work out here, the more stuff that uh I can produce to entertain you and educate And that's that's what this is all about. We're all sharing ideas and experiences and uh, and we're going through this together.
So before I sign out I'd like to thank all of you guys for all the support that you've given myself. uh, the channel, my family, you name it. I Really appreciate everybody who's involved themselves in any capacity I appreciate the uh, the donations to the shop with all the cans of Brake Clean you guys? Yeah, I get about two cans a week or two cases a week. Um I I appreciate that the most because that that's a way to give back to everybody now. I'm not saying everyone go out and buy Brake Clean now I'm good I'm good I have plenty of it. Don't don't send me 500 cans of Brake clean? uh then I'll have to spray more of it. but uh, my point being is as I'm I'd like to just show some gratitude to all of you and uh and I just want to let you know that I'm right there with you and I appreciate you being here with me as we go down this uh, this journey together. So uh, that being said as always like thank you for watching this video, hope you enjoyed this video.
Let me know your thoughts on this uh in the comment section down below and I really mean it this time. I Really want to get some feedback for for what's going on, uh from everybody. So if if you've got an opinion, please share it with us. I Don't always respond but I do read them.
Uh, same thing with the emails. um I'm about a month behind on reading them I Don't always respond but I do read you guys emails I Really appreciate all these communications and uh, and I want you guys to keep going because uh, your your push is helping me fuel My Fire So again, thank you guys for everything that you do for us. And most importantly, don't forget to have yourselves a great day! See you guys later real quick! I'm uh, refilling the primary tank in the truck right here. We just started it inside at idle and check that out.
36 37 load at idle and that's just the alternator draw being caused by the motor on this fuel pump right here. We'll check it when, uh, when the pump shuts off? There it is okay. What was that number? 37 percent? Let's go see what it is now. Oh by the way, thanks again to A Rod! Powerstroke Tech Talk for flying all the way down from Uh Michigan to put a locking uh fuel tank cap on my auxiliary tank.
Thanks again! Aaron Dang. look at that 23 22 percent. That's a huge load from the alternator just from that itty bitty electric fuel pump. Actually, that's kind of a big fuel pump, but that's a lot of a lot of engine load just to run one component.
I Found that interesting. Hope you guys did too as I Learn new features of this little device right here. I'll uh I'll continue to update and we'll see you. We'll see how this plays out.
but I'm really enjoying this thing right here. We're gonna take the kids for a ride. You want water? Yeah. Track Ten, Not a chance.
Like watch. Watch how this exponential curve goes. Watch this process we're gonna I'm just gonna turn this all the way up all the way up. You like that exponential throttle gain? Okay, let's let's go back to normal.
Now that's how we break things.
Holly smokes congratulations…… 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
sorry I missed this vid. but I did see the demolition of the wall .
it is always a great thing to expand due to business need.
loved that spread sheet for the books, that was so interesting
looking at how different things effect the bottom line of a business.
I know that there are tons of hidden costs, with that program
it will be so much easier to track things. do you use the hour
estimate book? I always wondered how accurate they really are.
great job! keep safe, stay healthy and much luck.
I've been away for a while and catching up. Congratulations on your expansion, Great news and well done.
You know you got that HF tape measure for free with coupon & purchase of another item…… I've got about seven of them, LOL!
People want a hard working honest mechanic that isn't going to rip them off and that is you Ray. Probably why your so busy and expanding.
Some people said "You'll be out of business in a month"
Yeah riiight! You're busier than ever.
Sure feels good (even for me as a regular sub) proving the naysayers wrong.
Ray did you tighten the bearing caps on that Jeep rear end .
Just do it 😂
I've been with you since long before you left the dealership Ray (@1800 subs I think) and I'll stay as long as you keep it up. You, AvE, Hand Tool Rescue, and a few others back then inspired me to get off my butt and get my own little shop up and running. I hope all the sucess you care to handle finds you Ray; you well deserve it!
Your a great mechanic & good luck on your expansion on your business as a new viewer your doing Awesome Job 👍😎
I find myself smiling everytime I see the intro. Love it!
I just ran across your channel. The first two years building customer base is a scary time when you open your own shop. I like your expansion plans. The best investment for my shop was a 14k four post alignment drive on rack with 7k rolling bridge jacks. With that lift it is quick to get a vehicle on and tires off to preform many tasks versus having to set up arms on a two post lift. I am not sure where you are located, but here in eastern Wyoming I get a large amount of Ford F350 and Dodge 3500 which can be a pain to set up on a two post lift. Don't get me wrong I still use both of my two post lifts for general service and cab offs. I purchased that rack as a rack alignment machine combo. You may be thinking to yourself that is a lot of money, will I see a return out of that? The answer is YES. So many big box service location are just doing oil changes and not checking out the vehicles. Brakes and front ends are not being inspected by the big box service locations. I get a lot of customers that come in and say "Can you check why my tires are wearing? I just got tires and alignment at big box location 3 months ago but my tires are wearing." Most of the big box service stores are just doing a toe and go alignment. Camber and caster was not even touched. Another thing that helped my shop greatly was Having a service advisor at the office. As a tech you can lose so much time answering phones, setting up appointments, finding parts, invoicing customers out, building workorders. If you are not turning wrenches you are not making money. If you have the right workorder platform someone with no automotive experience can adapt quickly to the system, that makes it easier for the service advisor. I would advise not to cheap out on your workorder platform. The cheaper workorder platforms are hard to use and the linking to the parts stores to check inventory in most cases is incorrect. The system I use is linked directly to the parts stores and does not have a third party in the middle. Once the customer approves workorder just click a button on computer and parts store sends their driver and no wasted time on phone calling the parts store. What I have stated worked for me here in eastern Wyoming but your vehicle platform may different where you are located. Use your best judgement. PS Whatever lift you buy DO NOT use the lift bolts provided. Purchase the longest threaded rods for your concrete depth and concrete epoxy them in. Have a good day and keep looking up.
Hey, Rainman are planning to purchase the building 👷♀️good for you.
Hope you had a great Christmas and New Year with your family Ray. The extending the work shop sounds like a sensible way forward. I remember you saying that you don't have a tracking / wheel alignment lift. Maybe this is the time to add one.
Kind regards,
Carlo (Scotland) UK
Fully behind you Ray. You have an amazing talent with honesty which is a rarity these days. Expand and conquer!!
Fantastic news! This is really great to hear.
Best wishes to you and yours for 2023. Happy New Year with love & peace from the U.K.
I know this is about a week late, but could you install a wider rollup door where the current one is to make getting at that corner lift easier?
Lot of $$$ on a building you don’t own
I am excited for you…. that is awesome news. I was thinking you need a lot more work space
You can send me a case of break cleaner Ray
That's awesome
Hey Rey, I do really Enjoyed watching you show, weather I learn something or not I still watch. Keep on going, you are the Man. P S, you also have a back for story telling. Can't wait for the expansion to take place.
Dang! That announcement. Can't wait to watch you expand dude.
Good on ya Ray! You've had vision and faith in yourself and the support of your wife. Wish you the best.
Go for it mate!
Congratulations bro I wish you the best, And I pray God will bless you your family and your business. I have really enjoyed watching you work
Ray, Godspeed! You are Awesome!. I will be bringing my 05 Excursion 6.0 to have you check it out. Jackson TN
Also have a great and happy new year. ✨
Nice! 👍 Go for Ray you will survive
Awesome Man!!! Keep on trucking…. be careful not to over extend. But if you got the backlog of work…. take care of those Customers!!!!
Love the vids. Found you a year ago, looking for answers to my own shade tree mechanic problems.
When you open a subsidiary location in Kansas I'll bring you more work…. LOL!!!!
Congrats Ray thats awesome news!!!
Did you take over the paint shop next door also?
Edit……ahhhhhh
Can you get a phone that rings like were you used to work i loved it when rang and your response this is not a joke i like that im 69 and been mechanic inclined 50yrs
I've never wanted to see someone succeed more than I want to see you succeed at this, Ray. Your talent is incredible in so many areas and I can't wait to see where you are in 5 years. You'll be running your own little 'Oops, Gravity Garage' empire.
You're doing great and the expansion sounds like a great idea. Honest mechanics are like unicorns. Your commitment to excellence will be your key to success. Happy new year.
if you build it, they will come. And hey, they keep coming. Just keep doing what you do best and don't look back or down, keep your eyes forward and have a very happy new year. i'll be watching
Ray you're the kind of fella that will make it,may I wish you and your family every success for the new year.Happy New Year from the UK.
Congratulations Ray. You rock!
I never had a single doubt about you starting your own business…none whatsoever! I think it's great that the Wife Unit is so involved & I think she has greatly added to your success. But what really amazes me is how busy you already are…I knew you would be after awhile but it seems like you opened for business and things really took off from there which is great! Plus you're already expanding!!! Thanks for bringing all of us along for the ride…I love watching you work as well as seeing your family there too!
Maybe you should specialize also in electric cars because the dreaded 2035 year is coming.
How does that song go……..kumbaya…..
You go guy!
Great news Ray, go for it.
I still think you should plan to own your building and ground. Go lot shopping, check out metal buildings. Invest in your own property
You should be proud of what you are doing a tallanted macanic like you will always have work you will succeed believe me
It is awesome that you are able to expand. I am super glad going independent is going so well. Will you eventually get an alignment rack of your own so you don't have to send those jobs out?
You have the right attitude to make this work. Make a plan.. work the plan.. Wishing you and yours a safe, warm, dry, prosperous and happy 2023 and many years to come…
I admire your courage to step out on your own. Keep it up!
Congrats on the expansion! 🖕 the people that said you wouldn’t last a month. Keep up the good work and uploading vids. I love them!
@Ray been watching you since the dealership the direction you are going is what I hoped you would always do the expansion is a great idea the only problem I have with your channel is I find myself saying wife unit & lummons and more love Ray keep it up
The indoor building is probably there due to planning laws. Please check this first, or it may bite you. I've seen this lots of other places, and they landed up taking down all the new structure when the local department found out.
Ray have you considered making the new lift a combo incorporating a wheel alignment capability?
Eric
I cant wait! Congrats Ray!
SMA on steroids!! Go Ray!
"build your own dreams…or someone else will hire you to build theirs"
You will do fine, Your wife is with you, Good Woman!
I am happy that you are successful in your business. I hope you continue to grow and look forward to even seeing a guy or two working for you.
Awesome! Add a phone so we can hear some doo-da-doo-da-doo's. 🙂
Well congratulations Ray. Keep on trucking. 👍🏼
It's nice to see things are going well with the new shop. Just becareful with the expansion.
👁️♥️👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Why not carry the doors to the roof line. That way no outside lifts.
So good to hear that it’s going great for you.. looking forward to see the process of expansion 😊👍🏻
It has been a blast watching your journey from worker to self boss with wife unit. I personally would go with the second door. Work smarter not harder right?
Go for it Ray we the supports are really like want you are doing
Yahoo! Keep goin!!! Glad things are lookin up for you. If anyone deserves it, it's you. The world needs more mechanics with integrity. Best of luck for 2023.
Good For You Dude!!!. I'm really happy for you.
Free HF tape measure. I have one. Can only be used if it’s the only tape measure being used.
Ray, I wish you all the success you can earn in this. Yeaj, I was worried when I watched you talk about the self employed venture. And then you spent a lot of time workingon your own truck… but looks like things are pickingup. Great!! Just one constructive comment… Take some time each day to clean the shop… You're terrific diagnostic and detailed videos are entertaining and educational. Keep it up.
I work on my own stuff. Now you’ve got me saying gravity. Good luck on your endeavors. Try not to overwork yourself.
Ray maybe have a work weekend with some of the viewer and keep up the good work reminds me of my days as a mechanic in the 70s in the UK.
You will succeed Ray, no worries there. I reeealy enjoy your shows.
Congratulations man, I'm glad this is happening for you.
That's awesome ray! Happy for you. Been watching a long time. There's nothing like working for yourself. It's the best thing in the world. You deserve it. Much respect brother!
Good for you that’s what America 🇺🇸 is all about. I’m from Cape Coral I wish I was closer I’d love to have you preform so preventative maintenance on my 2011 Kia optima.
You have the best attitude!!
Nice! Let us know if you are hiring.
Love this!!!! Keep it up man!!
Too bad I wasn’t closer,, I would help with plans and coordinated engineering for your building & electrical permits,
Congratulations Ray, happy for you
Congrats on the explansion you do good work so you deserve it so up the na says keep on keeping on Ray you win
Who said you were going to fail?
Dumb remark, my reason for this is look at the price for new cars after covid19
Manfacturing cant make enough new cars for the demands. People are hanging onto older cars longer and getting them repaired instead its cheaper to keep and fix one. New car prices are going skyrocket high. No Ray your in the right business at the right time.
And you've proved your good at what you do. However dont over invest to the point when people start buying new agine you wont have work to do like you do now, give that 3-5 years. It will shift agine.
I see a second and third mechanic comming. As far as the approach pour a floor on all the frt part and a new wall at the roofline and add 4 more bays, at the entrance just put in euro lifts for tire swaps you can drive right over. 4 lifts in the back and 2 inground lifts
3 mechanics 2 total mechanic and one tire guy. To teach.
Harbor freight tools have a lifetime warranty. You put a free tape measure in the trash you could have had replaced free.
Expansion plan is cool. I'd keep lifts indoors, (wouldn't want to leave vehicles outside on lifts and vulnerable). Knew you would be successful…. you already were!
That's awesome.
Consider building a noise proof compressor room. Or put it out back behind the wall.
That alternator draw is interesting. Good to know
Concrete block breaks easy and is recyclable. If that front wall is concrete a beam can be cut in and demoed underneath. Front wall first. Contractors have a bad rep too. Some of us wont take advantage. Any concrete floor can be xrayed to make sure lift posts will remain stable
I'm going to give you the best advice you're never going to listen to. I was a dealer tech for about 16 years and previous to that spent about 8 in a general repair "all makes all models" shop before I went on my own about 6 years ago. The best advice I can give you is 1) pay yourself. You absolutely need to make money otherwise you will come to hate being your own shop. 2) OWN THE BUILDING. If you haven't invested in any retirement you will have a tangible asset you can sell or rent.
Leasing/renting to get going is fine, but look for a place you can 100% call your own. At the end of the day your tools/equipment are worth pennies on the dollar in terms of resale value and you'll be left with nothing. What's going to happen is you'll look back and say "if I only paid for a building rather than rent, I'd be all set"
Own the business. Don't let it own you. I made my jump in my late 30's and time waits for no one. Best decision I made was to own the building. When you get older you'll be happy to rent it out for your paycheck
When you announced that you were going into business for your self you had talked about arrangements to get a spot in what sounded like a freshly constructed space did those plans change or is the business just going so well that you cant afford to wait for the bigger space? Excited to see what comes next for you and wish you luck in the renovation.
More lifts should equal more work, but only if a qualified tech is manning them. How hard will that be? Doing diagnostics correctly seems to be a lost art.
Good for you…….more power too you
I have never doubted your capabilities. Just keep your self honest and humble. Live within your means and keep investing in the company and you can succeed.
Do you plan to add a customer area? I am many hours away so I can't experience it but good luck. Im just here as a moderate diy guy learning stuff. I dont do much car stuff but enjoy watching others do it and keep me informed on car issues.
I was always told whatever you lost makes room for God to give you more. You lost a job but you gain more! Keep it up Ray you’re doing great!
You are doing it the American way!!! Keep it going and I will keep watching.
Well done, Good to see your expanding the business, with that going ahead you may need to put another worker on, all that space and another 2 lifts, keep it up Ray 👍 all the way from Australia
If you cannot afford staff then try this idea you diagnose the problem and the owner using their tools but renting one of your lifts and floor space for then to do the work ? Dunno it might bring more work in just an idea pal, been enjoying the clips for a good while now and would hate to see you fail 👍🏻
Nottingham england 🏴
Exciting to see your excitement to moving forward. Good dedicated mechanics are always busy. Congrats again.
Great news Ray. Keep up the good work man. Greets from Sweden🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪