Confused... its getting near crunch time...

[Dixiedrifter]

Ok I have been thinking long and hard and the time has come to make the purchase of my first power unit.

I've considered the following:

Lowes has a Troy Built unit, 13HP direct drive 3700 PSI with a 4.0 GPM AR pump for $999.

Northern Tool has a similar unit direct drive with a CAT pump that does 4.0 GPM at 3500 PSI for $999.

Nothern Tool also has a belt drive unit for $1399 which is rated at 4.0 GPM at 3500 PSI with a General pump.

Southwest Fastener/Supply has a Pressure Pro Belt drive unit, 4.0 GPM at 3500 PSI with a General Pump for $1325.

Finally, this place called Amazing Tools has an electric start belt drive unit that pushes 5.0 GPM at 4000 PSI for $2995.

All units are Honda 13 HP GX's with the exception of the AT one which is 18.

Of all the choices out there, which one would you choose if you were starting up and why?

I plan on getting a hot box ASAP, I've seen the "all in ones" but they just won't fit on my visa at the moment.

Also, if anyone knows of a better deal then let me know, I'd like to purchase before the end of the day if possible.

 

[OrangeCrest]

You mean there are pressure washers less than $4,000?

Man!! I should have gone to Lowes and checked before I spent the thousands I spent on mine!!

I feel so stupid for listening to you guys now!!

All that research and all I had to do was go to Lowes, MAN!!

:burn:

 

[squirtgun]

Lol.......

You mean there are pressure washers less than $4,000?

Man!! I should have gone to Lowes and checked before I spent the thousands I spent on mine!!

I feel so stupid for listening to you guys now!!

All that research and all I had to do was go to Lowes, MAN!!

:burn:

LOL...........dude you crack me up.I understand the frustration you feel though.



Dixiedrifter,
We bought our skid(3500psi/5.2gpm) "all in one" for less than 4k delivered.The Lowes machines are at best starters and will not hold up under day to day use,that is why they are sold a DIY stores,they really are consumer grade products.
Belt drive is the way to go,but cold water only will have it's draw backs.
3k for a colds water machine is steep,for less than 1k more you can get a skid.

You need to check with Mark,who is one of the sponsors of this BBS or any of the numerous other companies out there like mobileclean.com or replacementpumps.com .

What part of the country are you in,maybe someone can recommend a local dealer to you.

 

[robertwarren]

do what you gotta do

I have the exact Lowes machine that you are refering to. Just like many of the other guys out there, ($4000) is or was too much money to start out with. I think that a 4 gpm 13 hp honda at 3700 psi is just a little more than your average diy machine, regardless who sells it. I have known of people with cold water direct drive machines that have lasted many years if taken care of right. Bottom line is, if your budget only allows for a $1000 machine don't be discouraged by the guys that have all the fancy expensive equipment, because a lot of those same guys started out the same way you and I have.You can do a search and see just what people did start with. You would be suprised to see that some of them WISH they had a Lowes $1000 machine when they started. Go for it ! Do what you can. There will always be room for growth no matter how well you start out. GOOD LUCK !!!

 

[Mark]

We have several belt driven units for a little more than the Lowes direct drive.

Direct drives for the same or less $$

We also sell Hot Boxes etc.

Give me a call: 800-292-3279

http://store1.yimg.com/I/pressurewasherzone_1805_14942292

 

[Tim Lynch]

I have known of people with cold water direct drive machines that have lasted many years if taken care of right.

You can count me in as someone you know. My Landa DD 4gpm Cold 3000psi Gen Ez3040z 13Gfx Honda, 15 years old! Works every day and starts with one pull. I paid 2600.00 15 years ago they have to be cheaper by now. One major maintance in that time, rebuilt the pump 128 bucks. It looks beat up now but runs like new.

Decks and small Concrete jobs once and a while.... Soon i will get another one for my Son.

I've seen them going for 1300 now but my return hose and recycle hose to the pump are hard to find.

Late

 

[oneness]

You can count me in as someone you know. My Landa DD 4gpm Cold 3000psi Gen Ez3040z 13Gfx Honda, 15 years old! Works every day and starts with one pull. I paid 2600.00 15 years ago they have to be cheaper by now. One major maintance in that time, rebuilt the pump 128 bucks. It looks beat up now but runs like new.

You're not the only one who has seen those machines take a beating and keep on trucking. I don't care if it is a "consumer grade" or whatever, it still puts out Xgpm at Ypsi....Plus, the most expensive part of those machines is the engine...which is the same engine on most "commercial" machines.

I just get sick and tired of certain folks acting like what they have and the way they did it is the ONLY way to go...I don't care if you have a 5.5gpm 3000psi hot machine, I'll bet I can wash a house just as fast with a 3500 psi 4gpm machine....

Not everyone HAS $4k to spend on a machine to start with.

 

[Dixiedrifter]

One other thing about the smaller direct drive units, specifically the one at lowes, is you can buy the unit and a whole nother spare pump off the net for the price of a belt drive machine.

And later when you get some cash flow going, you can always upgrade to a skid and use the direct drive unit as a spare in case something dies on the skid.

The only problem I have to deal with is the fact that I'm going to do concrete work and I really need hot water.

Anyone dealt with these folks... seems like they got great deals on their skids... and shipping is only $49...

 

[oneness]

Never heard of them, but I do know the Vanguard is a good motor...No problems with mine at all. The pump is probably a TS2021, which is a good model too.

Not a bad price. Talk to Mark and see what he has to offer.

 

[squirtgun]

Our skid came from Largo(mobile clean)with delivery it was still cheaper that the Hurst machine.The Hurst machine is nice and I looked at it before buying from Largo.

Mike is right the Vanguard engine is a workhorse.

Good Luck in your choice.

 

[Aplus]

The attached picture shows my first two machines, purchased in 1996. They have thousands of hours use. The red one is still in my trailer now, it's been a workhorse, the original direct drive Cat pump lasted 7 years. It now has an AR pump I ordered from Mark. It came from Home Depot in 1996 for $999.

The belt drive also runs perfectly, but is currently not in daily use, mainly because it is too heavy. It came from Sherwin Williams in 1996, for $1600.

We do all our residential work with portable machines, and I have to say the direct drives are at least 20-25 pounds lighter, which makes a difference when you have to move the machines around thru the day.

The belt driven washer is mounted on a much more robust frame then the direct drives, and the pump is also physically a little larger. The belt drive feels a little smoother operating. Probably because the belts absorb some of the engine vibration from the pump, especially the initial bang when the trigger is first pulled.

My preference is direct drive, but I do realize the belt drives last longer. Six of one, half dozen of the other.

 

[Clean County]

I would say that a Hot water Belt driven Powerwasher is a must if you have alot of commercial flat work accounts. Also Hot water is a must for hood cleaning from what I read since I don't do hoods.

That aside Direct drive Powerwashers are a good start for the new guy and even some of the old timers. As for myself I have 2 hot water belt driven rigs, 2 cold water Belt driven Powerwashers and one gear driven PW. The ones I used most are the 2 Cold water 3000psi @3.5 gallons a minute for the residential work that I and my worker do.

I have a Building that I'm cleaning next month which will require hot water and this is where my 2 hot water rigs will come in handy.

As for Lowe's selling Powerwashers I see no problem there either. Heck I bought a Simpson belt driven Powerwasher at Home Depot a few years ago and its still going strong with well over a 1000 hours on it.