Portable tool cart for kit or use hood??

[all starr]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if most of you techs actualy place your repair kit on the customers hood on the hood protector, or if anyone uses a mobile rolling tool cart to set up your equiptment on. If so what product are you using? Or are any of you doing anything differnt?

I was thinking of just buying a light weight plastic tool cart to set up my equiptment on, just to have everything i need for each job right in front of me, and to look more professional and not worry about any weird looks from clients when i place my kit on their vehicle.

I have had a hard time finding one that will work for this application, most seem to be heavy metal carts, anyone seen one that may work?

Thanks,
Jared
All Star Windshield Repair

[glassdude]

Just place your tool kit on the ground by the tire on the side of the vehicle your working on. I've never scratched a hood yet using this method.
Really though, I wouldn't want to get in the habit of putting anything on the hood. Even if you have the best hood protector in the world. You don't want to get blamed for a scratch or scuff on the hood even though it wasn't from you. All the customer knows (or I should say thinks) is that it wasn't there before you started working on the windshield.

Just my 2 cents.
-Jeff

[pbaker]

I usually put the hood protector on to protect it from me leaning on the car to reach a repair, and from resin getting on the paint. I leave my kit on the ground just because I feel a whole lot better not having to worry about it falling off the hood.

[dragwurm]

i use a toolbelt that i added some pockets to hold all my tools so my hands are free and all my tools are by my waist try that out :icon_twis

[mrchip]

in over 20yrs of doing repairs i have never had a customer give me any hard time when i put my small toolbox on the hood/ i use a double hood protector and have never had a customer accuse me of scratching hood

[Sneck]

I do find it easier to have my equipment either on the hood in front of me, or on my tool-cart beside me. On occasion when I have my equipment on the ground by the tire - I find that I do a lot of un-necessary bending. I like my tools within arms reach.

The tool cart I have comes in handy for some vehicles that don't have much of a hood or when the hood slopes too much to put my kit on the hood.

My tool-cart had some cheesy old broken casters on it, so I bought some 10-inch pneumatic hand-truck wheels and welded on some axles for for it so that I can easily push it across gravel, grass, mud, snow, dog-poo and anything else you might otherwise step in.

I attached a threaded bolt to the handle, then heated it up with a propane torche and bent it to form a hook to hang my bubble-dome. I'll see if I can post a picture of it tomorrow, as its dark outside now.

[screenman]

On the floor the bending an excersise will do you all a load of good. I am short about 5 foot 7 so a belt is not a good idea for me, as I need to stretch across to reach a lot of jobs. I am also careful of any sharp or metalic objects on my clothes for the same reason. Even a zip on a back pocket can do a lot of damage to a leater seat when you stretch across to fit the mirror.

As for putting you kit on the bonnet, over here your kit is another name for your wedding tackle, or what a guy keeps in his trousers. So you could get arrested for it.

[Sneck]

I am short about 5 foot 7

I am 5 foot 6, so that means I am an inch closer to the ground than you are screenman . On the other hand, my wife is such a good cook it seems to be affecting the girth of my torso, so I am finding it harder to bend over then a few years ago.

Yeah, excersice would do me some good. I better hit the streets and canvas my entire town. That would pay off in TWO ways!

[toab]

I just use a soft blanket on the side of the hood that i am working on to protect from my tools and my "kit" zipper.(screenman) The customers see that i am respecting their property and thats the main thing.

Dragwurm..thanks for the toolbelt tip..I'll look into it for the big trucks.

[rockaway]

i to have not ever had a problem with puting my tool case on the hood i use a big hood protecter fom glass mecanix:eusa_booh :eusa_clap it has a picture of a windshield on it with a lot a differt damege on it its very proffisional.