New App ‘TrunkenWerken’ Helps Car Enthusiasts With Flaky Friends Find ‘Help’ to Pull a Motor
App gains popularity with thousands willing to work with homies for a case of beer
CORONA—A German company has launched a new app named TrunkenWerken that is connecting car enthusiasts with completely new friends willing to “help” pull a motor, among thousands of other projects, provided they are compensated with a case of beer and zero expectations of a warranty.
Designed for owners whose friends have repeatedly texted “something came up” an hour before you were set to get to work, the app matches users with nearby individuals who list skills such as “holding a flashlight,” “cracking jokes,” and “drinking beer.”
“We saw a gap in the market,” said co-founder Eric Mendez, who launched the app after his first attempt to pull an engine resulted in four empty pizza boxes, 38 beers, and the hood not being opened. “People don’t necessarily need qualified help. Most of the time they don’t even want to pull the motor. They just need bodies. Preferably ones that can handle their beer and chop it up so they can feel like they’re in a Fast & Furious movie, but just the first one.”
Upon signing up, users are prompted to select the type of job they need assistance with, ranging from “quick oil change” to “full engine swap that will absolutely not be finished today.” The app then generates a list of available TrunkenWerkers, each with a star rating and a detailed history of previous beer consumption totals.
One top-rated user, listed only as Luis “Mostly Supervises” Ortega, boasts over 23,467 completed beers with a consistent review average of 4.9 stars.
“Great energy,” one review reads. “Didn’t touch a single tool, but kept morale high and completed two beer runs.”
The growing popularity is attributed to user reports that the experience feels just like working with their existing friends.
“I matched with three guys to help me pull the motor out of my E36,” said local user Darren Gonzales. “One showed up late, one spent the entire time explaining how he would’ve done it differently, and the third left early after asking if we could just ‘button it up and drive it as-is.’ Honestly, exactly how it would have gone if I had friends.”
The app also features a built-in “Beer Logistics” system, allowing hosts to specify quantity, brand preference, and whether the case needs to be finished before the work or the other way around. Premium users can unlock additional features, including “That One Friend Mode,” which simulates someone saying they’re five minutes away for hours.
While critics argue the platform doesn’t improve productivity, early data suggests that users are at least slightly less lonely.
“Completion rates are still at zero,” admitted Mendez. “But we’ve seen a significant increase in hoods being opened and engines being looked at seriously for the first time in months.”
As TrunkenWerken continues to expand, the company is already teasing an automatic beer delivery service that sends a new case as users near the end of their first one.