GrumpyGel

GrumpyGel

Well-Known Member
Started a new job yesterday. I'm doing pre delivery checks on campervan rentals. Never done anything like this before, been working with computers for 40 years! They wanted a reliable practical handi-man type person, so my "10 years keeping my Land Rover on the road" helped greatly :D

Have to check all the mechanicals... engine fluids, signs of leaks, shocks, brakes, tyres etc... the electrical systems... 3 batteries, charging, 240v, solar, radio, TV, fridge, driving lights, inside lights etc... gas systems... check LPG bottles, cooker, heater, water heating... bodywork/trim... check/lubricate hinges & runners & locks, windows, toilet/shower, aerials... etc.

If there are problems with the mechanicals, they get handed over to the mechanic. Also have to check if a service is needed and hand the vehicle over to the mechanic. Take it for COF (commercial MOT) if needed. Not sure tey who does the tyres, there's all the kit to fit and balance tyres, but not sure if I'm going to learn how to use it or pass over to mechanic. Anything other problems, basically I have to try and fix it.

When I rocked up yesterday I was handed a piece of smoked perspex and my first task was to fashion a window out of it! It was for a huge 6 berth Iveco based jobbie and 1 of the windows in the over cab double berth had gone "awol" on the last rental. Parts have to be shipped from Europe, so I had use the window on the other side as a template to cut out the perspex and secure it with tape into the opening. Then had to do pre delivery checks on it and found it had the same GT Radial MaxMilers as my Freelander - pumped to 75psi though not 40. Also had to fix a cupboard and seat belt before it went out with the people picking up today.

Interesting job. The pressure is on because the vans are coming in 1 day (often quite late) and going out the next (often quite early).
 
Sounds fun. It's good to have a change, and I'm sure you can use the tyre change equipment for your Freelander. It's easy to use, as it's designed for tyre monkeys to operate. ;)

I did a similar thing a couple of years ago, I now look after the maintenance and compliance of our local primary school.
It was a big shift from what I had been doing.
Every day is different and I'm my own boss. It is tiring even though I only work 37 hour week on flexy time, but I love it.
 
Nodge68 said:
Sounds fun. It's good to have a change, and I'm sure you can use the tyre change equipment for your Freelander. It's easy to use, as it's designed for tyre monkeys to operate. ;)

I did a similar thing a couple of years ago, I now look after the maintenance and compliance of our local primary school.
It was a big shift from what I had been doing.
Every day is different and I'm my own boss. It is tiring even though I only work 37 hour week on flexy time, but I love it.
Click to expand...
Those types of jobs are very sought after, you did well to get it.

I'm not exactly sure what my hours will turn out to be, not even sure the company does. I signed up to start at 11:30am and finish "once finished" for a 40 hour week, Tuesday-Saturday. I've been starting at 8:30 this week as its training, but get the feeling it may be quite variable. Which I don't mind.
 
GrumpyGel said:
I'm not exactly sure what my hours will turn out to be, not even sure the company does. I signed up to start at 11:30am and finish "once finished" for a 40 hour week, Tuesday-Saturday. I've been starting at 8:30 this week as its training, but get the feeling it may be quite variable. Which I don't mind.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a good job to have.
Hopefully you'll enjoy it as much as I enjoy mine.
My last 11 years until retirement aren't going to be boring, I might not even retire at that point.
 
sounds like my ideal job, like you am in IT and looking for a way out when i've had enough. also a motorhome owner so know the pain you are going through with maintenance etc.

One thing that may help, if you don't do it already, is to get a set of scales for the workshop, far easier to weigh the gas bottles to check how full of empty they might be than to rely on gauges or those crappy magnetic indicators that go on the side.

One other thing that i've seen from my mate who always hires a motorhome to come on holiday with us is that they never check the gas burner flames , he picked up a van that looked pristine but the gas wouldn't light, i took the burners apart and found the wells full of broken glass which disrupted the flow of gas. it appears a previous hirer had dropped the lid down on a lit burner, it must have shattered and then they replaced the glass lid but never checked the burners were working correctly, easy fix on my part but frustrating all the same.

good luck with the new venture anyway.
 
GrumpyGel said:
Started a new job yesterday. I'm doing pre delivery checks on campervan rentals. Never done anything like this before, been working with computers for 40 years! They wanted a reliable practical handi-man type person, so my "10 years keeping my Land Rover on the road" helped greatly :D

Have to check all the mechanicals... engine fluids, signs of leaks, shocks, brakes, tyres etc... the electrical systems... 3 batteries, charging, 240v, solar, radio, TV, fridge, driving lights, inside lights etc... gas systems... check LPG bottles, cooker, heater, water heating... bodywork/trim... check/lubricate hinges & runners & locks, windows, toilet/shower, aerials... etc.

If there are problems with the mechanicals, they get handed over to the mechanic. Also have to check if a service is needed and hand the vehicle over to the mechanic. Take it for COF (commercial MOT) if needed. Not sure tey who does the tyres, there's all the kit to fit and balance tyres, but not sure if I'm going to learn how to use it or pass over to mechanic. Anything other problems, basically I have to try and fix it.

When I rocked up yesterday I was handed a piece of smoked perspex and my first task was to fashion a window out of it! It was for a huge 6 berth Iveco based jobbie and 1 of the windows in the over cab double berth had gone "awol" on the last rental. Parts have to be shipped from Europe, so I had use the window on the other side as a template to cut out the perspex and secure it with tape into the opening. Then had to do pre delivery checks on it and found it had the same GT Radial MaxMilers as my Freelander - pumped to 75psi though not 40. Also had to fix a cupboard and seat belt before it went out with the people picking up today.

Interesting job. The pressure is on because the vans are coming in 1 day (often quite late) and going out the next (often quite early).
Click to expand...

Sounds like @ good wee job :cool: Ye@rs @go I used to look @fter @ hire fleet of c@rs n v@ns
only thing w@s I w@s the gre@sy monk o_O w@s gre@t for @ couple of ye@rs @s I h@d @
unit with @ll the ge@r, r@mps, tyre m@chine ect ect Then I got @ n@sty burn on my @rm
so w@s off for @ month n he got someone else to do the rep@irs which l@sted 7 months n he
went out of business. Couldnt h@ve h@ppened to @ nicer ch@p :D:D

Good luck buddy I think youll njoy it. :):)
 
AllanWorms said:
Hahaha. That's probably what sealed the deal! :D

Years ago, I managed a family owned rental fleet of about 120 vehicles... Just remember... People are strange: some of the stuff you'll be dealing with will make you wonder how we survive as a species o_O:D
Click to expand...
lol, yeh, and I think they find all sorts in the vans when they're dropped off :eek:

Was in a cab today and a cleaner was doing the passenger side, she opened the cubby box and shouted "yeh money" :D .... Turns out it was all foreign muck :mad:

However, cos most people drop off the vans then catch a plane home, there's some stuff they can't take with them.... so we have a good supply of beer and wine :D
 
drfoster said:
sounds like my ideal job, like you am in IT and looking for a way out when i've had enough. also a motorhome owner so know the pain you are going through with maintenance etc.

One thing that may help, if you don't do it already, is to get a set of scales for the workshop, far easier to weigh the gas bottles to check how full of empty they might be than to rely on gauges or those crappy magnetic indicators that go on the side.

One other thing that i've seen from my mate who always hires a motorhome to come on holiday with us is that they never check the gas burner flames , he picked up a van that looked pristine but the gas wouldn't light, i took the burners apart and found the wells full of broken glass which disrupted the flow of gas. it appears a previous hirer had dropped the lid down on a lit burner, it must have shattered and then they replaced the glass lid but never checked the burners were working correctly, easy fix on my part but frustrating all the same.

good luck with the new venture anyway.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tips.

I weight the bottles with a hand held scale, similar to my fishing scales. Deduct the weight from the empty weight stamped on the bottle to know how much is left.

1 of my tests is to test the gas burners, make sure they give good flames. Those lids do look like a weak point in the vans. The clamps to the hinges are not the best and work loose. They also have a tendency to rattle badly on the road, so as well as the standard pads on the units, we stick some extra foam type pads around the edge that hopefully some will stay there until the end of their hire! Will check around the burners with more care now though ;)
 
kevstar said:
Sounds like @ good wee job :cool: Ye@rs @go I used to look @fter @ hire fleet of c@rs n v@ns
only thing w@s I w@s the gre@sy monk o_O w@s gre@t for @ couple of ye@rs @s I h@d @
unit with @ll the ge@r, r@mps, tyre m@chine ect ect Then I got @ n@sty burn on my @rm
so w@s off for @ month n he got someone else to do the rep@irs which l@sted 7 months n he
went out of business. Couldnt h@ve h@ppened to @ nicer ch@p :D:D

Good luck buddy I think youll njoy it. :):)
Click to expand...
Cheers :D

The mechanic is a Tongan fella, lovely bloke and really knows his stuff - in a very practical kind of way to, but not cut to many corners. He does a really good job.

He worked for "the big" Kiwi campervan rental company in Auckland for 16 years, then they told him he had to work Sundays. He told them no and shifted down here to work for this outfit. His Mrs and daughter work there to, both bloody good at their jobs. He drives the biggest, meanest, feck off Ranger Raptor I've seen.

PS Sort your d@m keybo@rd out :D
 
GrumpyGel said:
Cheers :D

The mechanic is a Tongan fella, lovely bloke and really knows his stuff - in a very practical kind of way to, but not cut to many corners. He does a really good job.

He worked for "the big" Kiwi campervan rental company in Auckland for 16 years, then they told him he had to work Sundays. He told them no and shifted down here to work for this outfit. His Mrs and daughter work there to, both bloody good at their jobs. He drives the biggest, meanest, feck off Ranger Raptor I've seen.

PS Sort your d@m keybo@rd out :D
Click to expand...

Send pic of the r@ptor ive been looking @t them...@n ive got used to my keybo@rd :p:D
 
kevstar said:
Send pic of the r@ptor ive been looking @t them...@n ive got used to my keybo@rd :p:D
Click to expand...
lol.

He doesn't work weekends, but his daughter works the same Tuesday to Saturday shift I do. She mans the office alone of Saturdays welcoming and greeting the customers, showing then round their vans on pick up, finding out how they got on on drop off - she can't be much more than 20 and breezes through it. When the office is quiet, she picks up a vacuum or brush and cleans or washes the vans... and teaches this old codger how to clean vehicles properly :oops: I was chatting to her today and I said that her old man's ute was an awesome truck. Yeh she says, he picked it and me and my brother bought it for him for fathers day :eek: She drives an old old model Demio.

I'll snap a pic of it. Its a lovely colour, sort of Orange.. like LR 'Burnt Orange' or what ever it is. With a big Tongan coat of arms on the back... don't suppose you'd be having that accessory :D But you could try retelling the above story to your kids if you have any :D
 
drfoster said:
sounds like my ideal job, like you am in IT and looking for a way out when i've had enough. also a motorhome owner so know the pain you are going through with maintenance etc.

One thing that may help, if you don't do it already, is to get a set of scales for the workshop, far easier to weigh the gas bottles to check how full of empty they might be than to rely on gauges or those crappy magnetic indicators that go on the side.

One other thing that i've seen from my mate who always hires a motorhome to come on holiday with us is that they never check the gas burner flames , he picked up a van that looked pristine but the gas wouldn't light, i took the burners apart and found the wells full of broken glass which disrupted the flow of gas. it appears a previous hirer had dropped the lid down on a lit burner, it must have shattered and then they replaced the glass lid but never checked the burners were working correctly, easy fix on my part but frustrating all the same.

good luck with the new venture anyway.
Click to expand...
Think you jinxed me today. Running through the checks on a van and got to the stove, the small burner lit fine, but the big one was reluctant to.

So no faffing around, I took your advice and unscrewed the burner and took it apart. No glass, but as I took it apart a couple of flakes of rust fell out and the underside of the top plate was quite rusty. So took a wire brush to it then cleaned it all up, put it back together again and Bob's you uncle... perfect operating burner :D Cheers :D:cool:

Funnily enough everyone gets asked if they had any problems with the vans and they didn't note anything. They obviously used it cos the cleaners hadn't been through the van it was filthy.
 
GrumpyGel said:
lol.

He doesn't work weekends, but his daughter works the same Tuesday to Saturday shift I do. She mans the office alone of Saturdays welcoming and greeting the customers, showing then round their vans on pick up, finding out how they got on on drop off - she can't be much more than 20 and breezes through it. When the office is quiet, she picks up a vacuum or brush and cleans or washes the vans... and teaches this old codger how to clean vehicles properly :oops: I was chatting to her today and I said that her old man's ute was an awesome truck. Yeh she says, he picked it and me and my brother bought it for him for fathers day :eek: She drives an old old model Demio.

I'll snap a pic of it. Its a lovely colour, sort of Orange.. like LR 'Burnt Orange' or what ever it is. With a big Tongan coat of arms on the back... don't suppose you'd be having that accessory :D But you could try retelling the above story to your kids if you have any :D
Click to expand...

They bought it for F@thers d@y :eek: :cool: must h@ve @ few bob :)
Yer @s if @ny offspring is going to believe th@t lol
 
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