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Washing in a winter wonderland
- Thread starter Dan S
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ShellBean_1
New Member
Sorry i got a little wild on the subject.You are right about this time of year,my wife tells me it always makes me grumpy. There is one thing i need to clear up, my name is Jason my wife (shelly) signed me up for this page because she was tired of hearing me complain about my pump. At any rate glad you can get the work done. Nothing worse than setting @ home watching the snow fly.
I always find something to do . Like hang in the garage with the tunes rock'in and the wood burner smoking!
Im always busy ......... Sometimes I get too many projects started and then when the spring hits I have several projects not done.. ...... then I play heck trying to get it all done . Boy Im heck for that . I think I can count on one hand how many projects I started and finished without starting another one.But It all gets done >>> sorta~~
Right now Im lining up some indoor work .. Drywall !!
I have a livingroom to do and Now another bath-room ....
Then when it snows Im out plowing then removing.
If ya' cant wash .errrr dont wanna then ya' need to find something else to bring in the $$$$$$$$$$$
Im always busy ......... Sometimes I get too many projects started and then when the spring hits I have several projects not done.. ...... then I play heck trying to get it all done . Boy Im heck for that . I think I can count on one hand how many projects I started and finished without starting another one.But It all gets done >>> sorta~~
Right now Im lining up some indoor work .. Drywall !!
I have a livingroom to do and Now another bath-room ....
Then when it snows Im out plowing then removing.
If ya' cant wash .errrr dont wanna then ya' need to find something else to bring in the $$$$$$$$$$$
Thats the only way to do it Tony .....BUT when you have fleet contracts If you dont do it they can find somebody else to do it.
Besides It's great washing in the winter makes your blood thick!
The best way to go thru WINTER is on a beach somewhere ..sitting on a lounge chair watching the G's walk by!!
Besides It's great washing in the winter makes your blood thick!
The best way to go thru WINTER is on a beach somewhere ..sitting on a lounge chair watching the G's walk by!!
Aplus
New Member
Yeah Dan, I know what you mean about the fleets. I've been having on-again off-again talks with a service company regarding washing their vans. There are three sites, each with 60-80 white vans.
I'd like the steady work, washing them every weekend, but it would put a crimp on being able to get away, that's for sure.
Right now the drivers are taking the vans on their own to a car wash every week, and the regional service manager is thinking that too much time is being wasted. He's tossing around the idea of having me come onsite and wash them all every weekend. He's talked about $4 per truck, but I'm not sure if that could be profitable enough for me. We'll see.
I'd like the steady work, washing them every weekend, but it would put a crimp on being able to get away, that's for sure.
Right now the drivers are taking the vans on their own to a car wash every week, and the regional service manager is thinking that too much time is being wasted. He's tossing around the idea of having me come onsite and wash them all every weekend. He's talked about $4 per truck, but I'm not sure if that could be profitable enough for me. We'll see.
D
Dan S -2
Guest
If you could get a couple more bucks per truck then it would be a good thing to consider.
One thing about doing ALL of them every week Tony is they will be very easy to clean .. You should not have any problem washing 80 of them in no time with just downstream .....or what ever method you like. It is a pain sometimes to have so many trks. to maintain but it is very steady work . and alot of times you get some kick-backs . like maybe the fuel-Islands, buildings, concrete sealing, and not to mention work off of the drivers.
So even if it is 4 per then, still that may not be a bad gig to have.
Tell 'em you will keep 'em clean for 6 to 10 ... Just a thought!!
Just think they are paying their drivers an hourly rate plus the cost of the wash at a guess of 20.00- 25.00 per unit . so at 10.00 they are saving alot of money!!... A great selling point!!
Once you get the account Tony Hire somebody that you trust with your life and pay them a percentage .... just another thought!!
One thing about doing ALL of them every week Tony is they will be very easy to clean .. You should not have any problem washing 80 of them in no time with just downstream .....or what ever method you like. It is a pain sometimes to have so many trks. to maintain but it is very steady work . and alot of times you get some kick-backs . like maybe the fuel-Islands, buildings, concrete sealing, and not to mention work off of the drivers.
So even if it is 4 per then, still that may not be a bad gig to have.
Tell 'em you will keep 'em clean for 6 to 10 ... Just a thought!!
Just think they are paying their drivers an hourly rate plus the cost of the wash at a guess of 20.00- 25.00 per unit . so at 10.00 they are saving alot of money!!... A great selling point!!
Once you get the account Tony Hire somebody that you trust with your life and pay them a percentage .... just another thought!!
Aplus
New Member
Dan,
The vans are already in good shape, clean-wise. They are run thru an automatic carwash once a week. The vans don't really see dirt roads or such, and are mostly just light road grime etc.
The service manager I've been chatting with is a bowling buddy. I've known him several years, I don't think he'd bs me on purpose, and he said he really wants me to have the work. He says that they now pay $4 for the carwash, plus about 15 minutes of the drivers time, which is about $5. So your looking at $9 per truck per week. Best estimate is three locations within a 25 mile radius, and a total of 220-240 vans.
In order for me to take on this many vehicles, I will need another hot water rig. One is not enough. In order to cover my butt, I want a contract in writing for a specified period of time, to make sure that I can pay for the equipment outlay.
The thing is, I'm not a truck washer, and I don't really want to go that direction. But economics must rule. I just need winter work to keep bucks rolling in, and to give my guys winter work. Otherwise, I lose my full time help every year, and have to look for new guys every spring.
If I have two hot water rigs available, how many guys and hours might it take to wash 80 vans? I don't want to two-step, I'd prefer a good soap with a little brushy brush when needed.
The vans are already in good shape, clean-wise. They are run thru an automatic carwash once a week. The vans don't really see dirt roads or such, and are mostly just light road grime etc.
The service manager I've been chatting with is a bowling buddy. I've known him several years, I don't think he'd bs me on purpose, and he said he really wants me to have the work. He says that they now pay $4 for the carwash, plus about 15 minutes of the drivers time, which is about $5. So your looking at $9 per truck per week. Best estimate is three locations within a 25 mile radius, and a total of 220-240 vans.
In order for me to take on this many vehicles, I will need another hot water rig. One is not enough. In order to cover my butt, I want a contract in writing for a specified period of time, to make sure that I can pay for the equipment outlay.
The thing is, I'm not a truck washer, and I don't really want to go that direction. But economics must rule. I just need winter work to keep bucks rolling in, and to give my guys winter work. Otherwise, I lose my full time help every year, and have to look for new guys every spring.
If I have two hot water rigs available, how many guys and hours might it take to wash 80 vans? I don't want to two-step, I'd prefer a good soap with a little brushy brush when needed.
Tony , thats alot of Vans . But it can easily be done . I wouldnt 2 step either. I would just downstream . These Vans all outside?
Winter time is the easiest to wash . all you have is road film and maybe a little grease from their PM. The summer time you got BUGS and bird doo doo.
Tony I have known you for quite sometime..... feel free to e-mail me and I will give you 9 years of experience.
How big are these Vans? are they UPS size? or just your typical Van. 80 vans aint nothing but a 'thang my friend ...... dont be overwelmed by the numbers .. And before I would buy any machine I would try it for a week and see just how easy/hard it is.
Winter time is the easiest to wash . all you have is road film and maybe a little grease from their PM. The summer time you got BUGS and bird doo doo.
Tony I have known you for quite sometime..... feel free to e-mail me and I will give you 9 years of experience.
How big are these Vans? are they UPS size? or just your typical Van. 80 vans aint nothing but a 'thang my friend ...... dont be overwelmed by the numbers .. And before I would buy any machine I would try it for a week and see just how easy/hard it is.
Aplus
New Member
Dan,
I can't find your email addy now.....
Mine is apluspowerwashing@comcast.net
Gwas,
I'll keep your offer in mind should I decide not to pickup this account.
I can't find your email addy now.....
Mine is apluspowerwashing@comcast.net
Gwas,
I'll keep your offer in mind should I decide not to pickup this account.
I might have a line on that here as well for a delivery company, are just regular car wash chems the way to go on these things or is there something better?
I used to do fleets way back and we more or less used dishsoap, rinse-aid and brushed them, but that was a long time ago and things have got to be better now.
I used to do fleets way back and we more or less used dishsoap, rinse-aid and brushed them, but that was a long time ago and things have got to be better now.
O
OrangeCrest
Guest
How do you guys do it!! I have a hard time getting myself out in high 50s to low 60s to wash, and you guys are out in single degits?
You guys definately earn your money in my book!!
You guys definately earn your money in my book!!
Dan S ,
I couldn't begin to know how cold it is for you guys over there but I'm basking in a sauna over here, I've had to resort to wearing those poofy long lycra bike pants, free snaking with half a bottle of talcum powder for good measure thrown in under my Tyvek barrier mans' under my PVC chemical suit just to stop the chaffing "OOOOOUH!" The temps over here at the moment is between 88 -108 degrees F. I don't know whether to suck on Pina Coladas, go fishing or get red raw and walk around bowlegged with a tub of vaseline on....... Fishing sounds good to me!
BRRRRRRRRR............
Jason
I couldn't begin to know how cold it is for you guys over there but I'm basking in a sauna over here, I've had to resort to wearing those poofy long lycra bike pants, free snaking with half a bottle of talcum powder for good measure thrown in under my Tyvek barrier mans' under my PVC chemical suit just to stop the chaffing "OOOOOUH!" The temps over here at the moment is between 88 -108 degrees F. I don't know whether to suck on Pina Coladas, go fishing or get red raw and walk around bowlegged with a tub of vaseline on....... Fishing sounds good to me!
BRRRRRRRRR............
Jason
Scott Stone
New Member
Tony,
You can do it with one rig. It is only 240 van's. Here is the way that we do it, and with van's we can easily do 30- an hour, especially if they are in a long line.
We have three people. One on a brush, one on a gun, and one with a California Water Blade.
The guy with the brush uses a bucket, and scrubs them all down, by hand, with no need to presoak them, unless they are caked in mud or something. The wand guy comes by and rinses them. It is best to be set up for downstream for this, in case the brush guy missed something. Then the squeegee guy comes by and hits the windows. He also checks to make sure that the car is actually clean. I use DI water so that I get a spot free rinse. I have to because hte water here is exceptionally hard. You might be able to get away with a water softening unit.
If you do not want to work for say 12 hours straight, you might be able to split the locations up, say one on Friday Night, and two on Saturday. Or you can figure out a similar schedule that would work for you.
Just my thoughts.
Scott Stone
You can do it with one rig. It is only 240 van's. Here is the way that we do it, and with van's we can easily do 30- an hour, especially if they are in a long line.
We have three people. One on a brush, one on a gun, and one with a California Water Blade.
The guy with the brush uses a bucket, and scrubs them all down, by hand, with no need to presoak them, unless they are caked in mud or something. The wand guy comes by and rinses them. It is best to be set up for downstream for this, in case the brush guy missed something. Then the squeegee guy comes by and hits the windows. He also checks to make sure that the car is actually clean. I use DI water so that I get a spot free rinse. I have to because hte water here is exceptionally hard. You might be able to get away with a water softening unit.
If you do not want to work for say 12 hours straight, you might be able to split the locations up, say one on Friday Night, and two on Saturday. Or you can figure out a similar schedule that would work for you.
Just my thoughts.
Scott Stone
ShellBean_1
New Member
Pick me up Dan i'll ride along. 88-108 WOW. I would just love to see 38 !! I guess you just get used to it. I come home strip everything off run to the shower(usually a hot one) then head for the recliner w/ a blanket.It didn't use to bother me as bad as it does now,6-8 hours in 20 something with wet clothes & the windchill below that...etc. Anyway i could put up with the temps in the 80 really easy.