Van Wrap? Magnets? Decals? Anyone?

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djcrazychris

djcrazychris

DJ Extraordinaire
Jun 12, 2018
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So i bought 4 large vehicle magnets for my new Ford Transit Connect. Low and behold the main door panels are aluminum...lol...just my luck... the magnets work amazingly on the back window area (no window there) and on the hood.... i read on some site about using double sided tape or trim tape to adhere the magnet to the aluminum...but that sorta defeats the purpose of using a removable magnet...

So i began contemplating getting some decals or possibly a van wrap....though i know thats quite expensive.... so i was just wondering if any of you have branded your vehicles or trailers?

Any tips?

cc
 
I'm all for removable decals, that way you can advertise when you want to. The second you 'mark' a vehicle, it has a greater potential to become a target. If you will be keeping anything in it, then you need to consider extra security - maybe even a lockable cargo area? A problem is that a thief will not analyze if it has anything in it, they see the ad and automatically think something is in it. Even with a lockable storage area, there's nothing to stop them from stealing it and then breaking into it at their own pace. If someone wants it bad enough, they'll get it. The real question is - how long will it take them.
 
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djtaso said:
IF I were to ever do this, I'd invest in an awesome wrap that actually stands out as opposed to a cheaper looking magnet cling on that's small.
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THIS.

A friend of mine wrapped his Nissan NV200 van awesomely. It's only packed with gear when he has events. On his off days, he drives it to the busiest shopping center in town, parks it near the entrance where it's visible to everyone who drives by, and takes an Uber home. Then he Ubers back at the end of the day and drives the van home. The van gets attention - he's gotten calls while he's driving it, and someone even drove up to us once when we were standing beside it in a parking lot. You can't noticed like that with a magnetic sign.
 
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B-Sharp said:
THIS.

A friend of mine wrapped his Nissan NV200 van awesomely. It's only packed with gear when he has events. On his off days, he drives it to the busiest shopping center in town, parks it near the entrance where it's visible to everyone who drives by, and takes an Uber home. Then he Ubers back at the end of the day and drives the van home. The van gets attention - he's gotten calls while he's driving it, and someone even drove up to us once when we were standing beside it in a parking lot. You can't noticed like that with a magnetic sign.
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lol...i used to do something similar back in the 90s ...had a van with logos and decals all over it... (pre wrap days) ...id take it to the mall and spend the day there... usually get a call or two

cc
 
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DJ Bobcat said:
You could go with a removable rooftop sign like the pizza delivery guys do... Maybe something like this???[emoji1]...

9971f470072514449a69b216085cca7d.jpg

... Only make it look like you, and then you could have sitting on a base that says DJ Crazy Chris with your phone number.
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lol...i can dig it!

cc
 
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For the record...i rarely have my van loaded...always unload it immediately when i get back to homebase... the only scary moments would be leaving it in a hotel parking lot while staying the night after a gig...
 
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djcrazychris said:
For the record...i rarely have my van loaded...always unload it immediately when i get back to homebase... the only scary moments would be leaving it in a hotel parking lot while staying the night after a gig...
Click to expand...

Get a good aftermarket car alarm... one that chirps when someone gets too close. You can always turn it off if the van is empty. That’s what I did. My minivan is loaded most of the time and sits outside in the driveway. I have tinted windows, so it’s hard for anyone to see inside, and everything is in black bags and cases, which also makes it difficult to see what’s inside. There is nothing inside that could be pulled out through a broken window. A thief would have to open a side or rear door to get anything out. The siren would be wailing and by the time they got something out, I would be there with “my little friend”.[emoji1]

In almost five years, the minivan was only broken into once; and when I say broken into, I mean I forgot to lock it and the alarm wasn’t set. It was also one of the few times it was completely empty, so the car burglar got nothin’... rummaged through my glove compartment, but only the owner’s manual and some paper napkins were inside.
 
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OTST, utilizing your sled to market/brand your service has proven to be an effective method for many businesses and your mock up does look professional and attention getting. (I have a few suggestions for modifications/improvements, available on request.)

As for the Rottweiler security system, there are more reasonable, affordable and highly effective security measures you can employ that should provide you with peace of mind, assuming you have one! (Ain't wyzassian stuff way more funner then serious stuff!...Good Luck with your decisions.)
 
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I have the removable magnetic signs. They are used when I’m parking on campus so the police know that it’s a business vehicle and don’t ticket the van. That’s really the only time they are used. To wrap your vehicle or not depends on whether you can get business from it versus the potential theft. I know none of my clients would be the ones hiring me because they saw my name on my vehicle. And if you have back-up equipment there’s always something left in the van.

One other thing that you may not have considered is at least in my area if you have graphics on your vehicle it’s considered commercial. So technically you’re not allowed on the parkways or road which Bar commercial traffic. On Long Island that’s a biggie. So no graphics and passenger plates so I can go on any road. One more item on my block you cannot park your commercial vehicle overnight on the street. One of the guys who works with me has commercial plates and he actually got a ticket parked in front of my house when we came back really late.
 
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If you go the wrap route, check with your insurance to see if it affects coverage. I've heard of at least 1 individual who had to fight a theft claim since he was "advertising contents".
 
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steve149 said:
If you go the wrap route, check with your insurance to see if it affects coverage. I've heard of at least 1 individual who had to fight a theft claim since he was "advertising contents".
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Good call.
I remember when I switched to Geico (for a short while)...
I was using my daily driver to move gear to a gig.
They specifically stated that if my van had equipment in it,
it was considered a commercial vehicle...
and would not be covered if I was in an accident while hauling gear!
 
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