Ramps for rent by the hour

[kenmac]

This will probably only be of interest to owners in Oxfordshire/Bucks/Berkshire.
Today I found out about a place called "This is your Garage" based in Culham Oxfordshire http://thisisyourgarage.com/ they've only been open 2 months
They have a total seven 2 & 4 post lifts & a scissor lift they rent out by the hour.
Now in your rental fee you get at your lift/workstations they supply you with a full wall mounted tool kit, sockets, spanners, screwdrivers etc , you also get a bench with a vice at your workstation, an airline with the use of airtools.
They have a large parts cleaner, sandblast cabinet, 20tonn press, engine hoist & engine stands etc & for August it's £15 per hour including VAT & I'm sure there's a dozen more things I've forgotten to mention.
They dispose of all your waste ie old oil, filters, brake pads etc & any other parts off the car.
They've got a kitted out tea room for when your working on your car.
Then after you've finished on your car you can have a shower in the superb shower room & pop up stairs for a game of pool or a bite to eat in the diner.
This is just a great place to sort your motor & socialise at the same time.
I'm off there tomorrow so I'll get some pictures.

 

[Red C220]

What a good idea.

£15 an hour actually seems relatively inexpensive for the facilities. Is it subject to a minimum 3 or 4 hour charge?

 

[kenmac]

What a good idea.

£15 an hour actually seems relatively inexpensive for the facilities. Is it subject to a minimum 3 or 4 hour charge?

Nope just per hour

 

[bob6600]

There is a place local to me (was used on Fifth Gear) that does the same however most of the stuff you mentioned (tool hire, waste disposal) is extra. Good idea though if you need to change an exhaust etc

Car MOT servicing and repair in Coventry Peugeot servicing in Coventry

EDIT: Seems they no longer hire out the ramps due to insurance and lack of income, maybe they were price too high.

 

[Hawkwind]

Sure as hell beats a gym membership!

 

[John Jones Jr]

For anyone down London way there's Pit Start NW10. I used their rent-a-ramp last year and at a very reasonable £10 p.h.. The place itself was a bit shabby but the staff were helpful.



Edit: Pit Start - Self Service Garage - 020 8827 1919

 

[kenmac]

Here are some pic's

 

[stwat]

Perfect places for car clubs to hold spannering days.

 

[kenmac]

Perfect places for car clubs to hold spannering days.

My thoughts exactly

 

[paul73mt]

any of these in Essex does anybody know as need to change my Thrust bushes and think a ramp would be a better way to go but also need a place which either has a hydraulic press or even better a bush extractor

 

[streethawk]

any of these in Essex does anybody know as need to change my Thrust bushes and think a ramp would be a better way to go but also need a place which either has a hydraulic press or even better a bush extractor

If it's for W211 then change whole arm as I went your route and buggered ball joints on arm ends trying to remove them so now have a spare set of bushes because I brought them before hand.

 

[tec]

Sounds good, but how can they make money at £15/hour?

EDIT: The OP failed to mention the required annual fee of £220 or £600.

 

[John Jones Jr]

Sounds good, but how can they make money at £15/hour?

A good question. Insurance alone must a major expense above the norm never mind the usual running costs.

 

[tec]

Not sure where the OP got £15/hour from as the rates are listed below. (I guess the OP assumes the £600/year annual fee is in place, so that makes it £615 per hour, unless you are going to use it a lot.
Some tools are also hired for extra cost, plus add in your fuel costs to get there.

You need the annual membership of £220 or £600 per year to get a discount off the standard rates shown below.


1 Hour £30.00 /hour
2 – 3 Hours £25.00 /hour
4 – 7 Hours £22.50 /hour
8 – 14 Hours £20.00 /hour

 

[kenmac]

Not sure where the OP got £15/hour from as the rates are listed below. (I guess the OP assumes the £600/year annual fee is in place, so that makes it £615 per hour, unless you are going to use it a lot.
Some tools are also hired for extra cost, plus add in your fuel costs to get there.

You need the annual membership of £220 or £600 per year to get a discount off the standard rates shown below.


1 Hour £30.00 /hour
2 – 3 Hours £25.00 /hour
4 – 7 Hours £22.50 /hour
8 – 14 Hours £20.00 /hour

I'm a member with a RED membership which is FOC as I only use it for jobs that I need a ramp for ie: gearbox oil change, exhaust work, checking underneath for the mot or when I need to work on the car when it's chucking it down etc which is only 5 or 6 hours a year which is worth every you penny when you need it....also if you read the post properly I do state that FOR AUGUST it's 15ph......The only tools that are extra cost are thing's like full diagnostic equipment, everything else 20tonn press, spring compressor, air tools & general tools are in on the hourly rate.

 

[kenmac]

Sounds good, but how can they make money at £15/hour?

EDIT: The OP failed to mention the required annual fee of £220 or £600.

Don't get your obsession with the membership thing as they do offer a FOC membership......If you only need a place like this for awkward jobs like I do....I'd rather pay it than struggling in the dark evenings in the winter when you can't feel your fingertips or it's lashing down.

 

[kenmac]

For anyone down London way there's Pit Start NW10. I used their rent-a-ramp last year and at a very reasonable £10 p.h.. The place itself was a bit shabby but the staff were helpful.



Edit: Pit Start - Self Service Garage - 020 8827 1919

If you check Pit Start's website it's £20ph +VAT = £24ph for a ramp
Rates

Bay with Tools
Term Price
Hourly £10
Daily £50
Weekly £250
Monthly £800
3 Months £1,800
All prices are subject to VAT


Bay with Lift & Tools
Term Total Cost
Hourly £20
Daily £80
Weekly £500
Monthly £1,600
3 Months £3,600
All prices are subject to VAT

 

[John Jones Jr]

If you check Pit Start's website it's £20ph +VAT = £24ph for a ramp
Rates

Bay with Tools
Term Price
Hourly £10
Daily £50
Weekly £250
Monthly £800
3 Months £1,800
All prices are subject to VAT


Bay with Lift & Tools
Term Total Cost
Hourly £20
Daily £80
Weekly £500
Monthly £1,600
3 Months £3,600
All prices are subject to VAT

All I can tell you is I paid £10 p.h. for a bay with a lift (didn't use their tools), now admittedly Vat could have been on top of that. I can't recall exactly as I can reclaim Vat.
Anyway, I'm not scoring the place you are happy to use over Pit Start, I was pointing out a place similar exists within the N.C.R. area.