Things you learn when you go mobile

[kats_melody]

Without fail, you will forget to plug in the block heater on the coldest night of the year, making your diesel van nearly impossible to start.

Happiness is having ANOTHER diesel vehicle in the family fleet to jump start the van.

[mylady]

You know more than half the mechanics I've asked have told me you don't need to jump start a diesel with a diesel and the others of course have said you need to. Since AAA has towed my van numerous times I ALWAYS tell them to send a diesel to jump start me and they usually don't. They send a guy in a gas truck with a battery pack, and that never worksss. They need something to hook up BOTH batteriess usually to jump it, but I have jumped it with both diesels as well as gas engines. Since I can't get a straight answer I use whatever I have available, but I ask every mechanic I meet. Really, sounds streange, but I do cuz it's one sof those things they don't agree on! LOL

[kats_melody]

It just makes sense. a vehicle with two batteries needed to start and operate would require another vehicle similarly equipped to jump start it. It would put too much stress on a donor vehicle that only has one battery to jump start a diesel on a regular basis.

Hubby is getting one of those start cart chargers from Advance Auto Parts, guaranteed to start anything short of a 747. It will save wear and tear on his truck, which is HIS baby.

[mylady]

Yeah, LOL I always tell them to bring two battery packs if they don't have a diesel to send. I have used two cars to start my van before. I find it funny that I often have to educate the tow truck people and tell them it has two batteries (they never seem to notice on their own) or that both batteries need to be recharged, or that they have to let their truck run a bit to give it a chance to charge. Some have told me one battery is just for things like the dash lights and radio and the other is to start the engine, but if both aren't charged the van won't start.

[kats_melody]

I find it funny that I often have to educate the tow truck people and tell them it has two batteries (they never seem to notice on their own) or that both batteries need to be recharged, or that they have to let their truck run a bit to give it a chance to charge. Some have told me one battery is just for things like the dash lights and radio and the other is to start the engine, but if both aren't charged the van won't start.

Because the diesel is such a high compression engine, it takes a monster starter to get the engine moving. It takes the power of both batteries to get the starter the amperage it needs to turn the engine and warm up the glow plugs. In our Ford E-350 van conversion, if the batteries are below 12 volts, there is not enough voltage to fire the fuel injectors, and the engine will not start.

[Smart-n-Pretty]

Without fail, you will forget to plug in the block heater on the coldest night of the year, making your diesel van nearly impossible to start.

Happiness is having ANOTHER diesel vehicle in the family fleet to jump start the van.

Uh, YEAH, well uh...[cough]...aHEM...

[mylady]

Because the diesel is such a high compression engine, it takes a monster starter to get the engine moving. It takes the power of both batteries to get the starter the amperage it needs to turn the engine and warm up the glow plugs. In our Ford E-350 van conversion, if the batteries are below 12 volts, there is not enough voltage to fire the fuel injectors, and the engine will not start.

LOL I love how they look at me like I'm some dumb blonde that can't possibly know anything about my vehicle and when they tell me to go ahead and start her up, and I insist charging just the one battery ain't gonna fly, they smirk, waiting to here the roar of the engine and then get bupkis! Some I practically have to beat over the head before they will call for someone with a diesel or at least two batts to come jump start me! Yeah, I'm just a dog groomer so I must know NOTHING about how to start the van that's needed to be jumped about 5 times! LOL

[Smart-n-Pretty]

When buying a used vehicle get your own mechanic to look it over before you sign anything. The seller is trying to get rid of it.

[gottalovegracie]

Always double, double check that you shut and latched the back door! (Esp before getting on the highway doing 65!)

Getting the right "lean"!

Schedule the "big hairies" at the END of the day!

[kats_melody]

Happiness is a refrigerator and a microwave on board. It's great to 'nuke' a cup of tea or warm up some crepes for lunch, and not have to go into a restaurant with dog hair all over.

[Muddpuppy]

My porta potty was definitely the best investment I have made for my trailer. A great time saver! Its wonderful to have when I have one of my kids with me. You know how kids are!

[Tat2DGroomer]

Always remember:

To close the valve on the hose that drains your grey water

To tie your chair to the table or when you slam on brakes it will come to rest practically on top of you

That when you have a high top with an a/c unit on the very top, do not go under low hanging branches or low hanging wires

If you park on an uphill driveway and your grooming chair has wheels, you will go gracefully gliding down your van and thump ungracefully into the back doors

[CurbsideCuties]

Your post made me giggle for sure... My assistant thinks I'm crazy, but I will whip a U turn just about anywhere with my trailer.... Any the bathroom.... That my favorite thing... Although I would really LOVE a fridge and microwave
Oh and if you have your trailer keys seperate from car keys... make sure you BRING those with. It helps if you are planning on actually working...

[thedoc617]

I work at a place that the office does scheduling for us. Always ring the doorbell at every stop, just in case- even if it says "Owner not home, DOG IS IN BACKYARD." (you might get the cops called on you!) It didnt happen to me- but it did to a co-worker!

[BarkNBubbles]

1. you know it is Monday when you get bit, pooped on, thrown up on and your dog decides the front yard koi pond makes a great place to roll after his groom....ALL at the same house!!!
2. You watch as the owner praises your work at the front door and lets the dog out at the back door...2 hours of work...down the drain
3. You have to park waaaaaaaaaaay out in the parking lot at Walmart. Nice and sunny going in...Thunderstorm coming out!!
4.When you ask your partner/husband/boyfriend to do a load of towels for you and the next morning as you are rushing out the door, you find he did house towels not groom towels....grrrrr
5. You spend 20 minutes at a door knocking...decide they are not home and as you drive off your phone rings....they just pulled in the driveway and saw you driving off...
6. The very friendly golden retriever spends the whole time wagging his very bushy tail...even while being bathed and soaped!!
7. You live in Texas...the water in your grooming trailer SHOULD NOT be frozen!!