Some questions about RV systems

[Rainnede]

I'm looking at starting up a mobile salon service, converting an RV into a small salon. I've never owned an RV myself before, and I don't know anyone who owns one, either, so here's a few ignorant questions.

Where do you go to empty the wastewater, what does it cost, and how often do you have to do it?

How does the generator work? Is it something that you plug in at night to charge up, or does it run on gas?

I'm going to need lots of hot water to run a salon, so how does the hot water heater work? Does it run off of the generator? If so, and you know you're going to need hot water, how long do you have to run the generator before the water gets hot? How large of a hot water tank would I need? Do you know if it would be possible to replace a heater with one of those on-demand hot water heaters? Would I speak to an RV service department or a regular plumber for something like this?

Who do you think I would go to for plumbing work to install the shampoo sink? An RV service center, or a regular plumber?

Do the appliances run all the time, whether the RV and/or generator is turned on or not? For example, if I leave food in the fridge, does the fridge stay on? Does the RV have batteries for this sort of thing?

Any assistance anyone could give me would be greatly appreciated...

Rainne Knight
East Wenatchee, WA

[Doggy Daddy]

Your not the first to think of Starting a Mobile Hair Salon business.
Many have mobile animal salons that wash and cut dogs and cats.
The vehicle you get need to have lots of ventilation and easy access depending upon your clientele. Easy access can be the ramp of a Class A or C toy hauler or a RV Handicapped Lift applications and lifts for many vehicle types by Coach Lift®coach person lift for those who have difficulty climbing stairs.
You may want to special order an RV that has nothing but walls and a bathroom. Then you can customize the interior with shampoo bowl, chair, dryer, etc.
But I would do more research on the internet googling and also visit some mobile salons to get ideas and information. Why reinvent the wheel - improve on it.
- GOOD LUCK -

[RV Wizard]

Why not rent a unit about the size you think you need, get the instructions from the leasing agent and take it out for the weekend. this will give you the answers you are looking for. The coach has to be level for the refrigerator, if it is not level and running you will damage it.

[RVThere]

Rainne,

How much water is used with each client? The largest RV tank will be about 100 gallons.

Your grey (waste) water will be your limiting factor. Those RV tanks tend to be much smaller than the amount of fresh water you have on board. In addition to shampoo, you will have dye chemicals mixed in so you have to take that into consideration too. Typical RV hot water heaters are 6 to 10 gallons and run on propane or electric (or both at the same time for quicker recharge).

Generator will run on gas and should give you all the power you need to run your AC, lights and blow dryer. Remember if your blow dryer is 2000 watts, you will quickly blow your typical 15 amp circuit in a motor home.

You should go to an RV dealer and look at some of the models on the lot and ask questions.

As an owner of two businesses, most importantly, make sure you have a business plan that is aggressive on the cost side and conservative on the revenue side. Also have enough capital for at least a year set aside. Get the financial plan in order first if you haven't already.

Good luck!

[NeilV]

Rainne,

Go to a few RV lots and look over a few to get a feel for them. As questions get some brochures etc. I don't know if I would tell a salesman just yet what your purpose is.

Check out Winnebago's specialty vehicles web site and see what they are like first.

http://www.winnebagoind.com/products/commercial/

See my comments below in red.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rainnede I'm looking at starting up a mobile salon service, converting an RV into a small salon. I've never owned an RV myself before, and I don't know anyone who owns one, either, so here's a few ignorant questions. Where do you go to empty the wastewater, what does it cost, and how often do you have to do it? An RV dump station at a gas station, campground or installed in the sewer line at your home. Cost can range from free to $20 or no charge with a tank of fuel. How does the generator work? Is it something that you plug in at night to charge up, or does it run on gas? Generators can run on gasoline, propane (too expensive) or diesel. I'm going to need lots of hot water to run a salon, so how does the hot water heater work? Does it run off of the generator? Depending on the model, propane or diesel and some have an auxiliary electric element. If so, and you know you're going to need hot water, how long do you have to run the generator before the water gets hot? As long as the batteries have enough charge the water heater will be able to run on the propane or diesel fuel. You would want one that gets preheated by the engine coolant so the drive over many time would already have the water hot. How large of a hot water tank would I need? The ten gallon model in my rig keeps up with 4 people (wife, 2 adult daughters and me) showering in my rig, Do you know if it would be possible to replace a heater with one of those on-demand hot water heaters? Would I speak to an RV service department or a regular plumber for something like this? The standard generator in an RV would have trouble keeping up with running the air conditioning and a demand water heater capable of providing enough hot water for shampooing. Who do you think I would go to for plumbing work to install the shampoo sink? An RV service center, or a regular plumber? The handyman who does the conversion should be able to do this for you. Just be mindfull that RV waterheaters run hot in order to keep up with demand so and antiscald mixing valve would be required at the shampoo sink. Do the appliances run all the time, whether the RV and/or generator is turned on or not? For example, if I leave food in the fridge, does the fridge stay on? Does the RV have batteries for this sort of thing? Most run on propane with the control system running of the house battery(s) Any assistance anyone could give me would be greatly appreciated... Rainne Knight East Wenatchee, WA