www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I March 2025 13
Business
PIMP YOUR RIDE
By Tanya Olckers
Getting the right branding and customisation for your vehicle is important for your business .
At Custom Mobile Converters in Boksburg , Gauteng , there is a great deal of activity . Customised vans are being prepared to head off to their owners in Mozambique . Three Mercedes Benz vans that are no more than shells , are waiting to be transformed into ambulances that will also be making their way to another African country once they are done .
“ We ’ ve also done HVAC and refrigerated vehicles ,” says Willie Roets , owner of Custom Mobile Converters as he shows off the latest custom build he ’ s done : a mobile office , complete with aircon , fridge , microwave and storage space .
Roets , who originally started out his career as a paramedic , has been working on custom vehicles for the past 20 years . “ Customisation , first and foremost , needs to be done according to the legal specifications ,” he says .
Vossie Barnard of Vestronox is also busy preparing vehicles for customisation . “ Most people do their own customisation ,” he says , “ But , it really is better to get a professional to do the customisation for you .”
Both Roets and Barnard point out the value of having vehicles customised by professionals . For one thing , they know precisely how to design and plan for the right kind of shelving , rigging , tools and additional equipment that will be
CHERIE MOSTERT ’ S TOP THREE TIPS :
1 . Wash your vehicle regularly , with ordinary car shampoo and polishes . Don ’ t let marks lie on the vinyl for a period of time – ensure you wipe these marks off as soon as you see them .
2 . Vinyl takes around seven days to settle . Always take your vehicle back after seven days for a post inspection , where any lifting , bubbling and other issues can be attended to before any damage to the vinyl occurs .
3 . Check your mock-ups and colour samples thoroughly . Check the spelling and the contact details and make sure the colours print to your specifications . needed for the busy contractor . The client gets to have their input on the customisation as well , because ultimately , the equipment , layout and accessibility has to suit the needs of the technician using the vehicle .
Contractors ’ technicians typically drive around with a large amount of equipment and tools . What ’ s more , there are those days when a condenser , insulation rolls , pipes , fans and ducts that need to be accommodated . All of that has to go somewhere , and simply piling everything into the back of a bakkie or panel van in a haphazard way is not going to save the contractor time nor make his or her job any easier if they have to dig around for that one wrench , valve or nozzle .
However , there are a number of contractor vehicles out on the road that resemble a crazed jumble sale . Refrigeration and HVAC maintenance is a mobile business , and time is money . Even just fitting a set of drawers and shelves can go a long way to getting more organised , which will make
No tools being converted to flying projectiles .
Image supplied by Tanya Olckers © RACA Journal
www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I March 2025 13