pw setup

[Jon Fife]

hello guys,


well, i guess it is that time of the year when we start planning for next year (for us wood guys). My particular plans involve my equipment set up. I am looking for suggestions, advice and any other pertinent info. I currently work out of an enclosed trailer which i have outgrown. I plan on keeping it, having it set up for sealing/wood finishing only. So my question is how should i set up for cleaning. Many of you use open trailers, would you change that in any way??

my plan is to buy a flatbed truck and set it up with a 400-550 gal tank (depending on what fits) and two 3000@5gpm skids, along w/ hose reels. For me the main savings in this is the cost of a trailer. I could have the same setup with a trailer, but would still have to buy another vehicle to pull it. Another advantage would be the mobility of just driving a truck whenever washing.

a disadvantage would be the fact that if my engine blows, i am in trouble (except for a portable unit). another is that it would be available room than a trailer.


are any of you guys set up like this?? what do you think? any suggestions?? i appreciate the help,

thanks,

Jon Fife

 

[Mike Hughes]

Jon,

I know several people that use flatbeds. I personally would prefer a box truck if I were considering a new rig. Your equipment will remain dry and safe, you can hang things on the walls, and you can turn it into a moving billboard if you so choose.

Overall, I think it would be a much more versatile vehicle.

Good luck!

 

[reedsterstl]

Jon,

I use a flat bed trailer 4x10ft, it doubles as my motorcycle trailer. I have a work box for a Ranger truck mounted on it that is lockable which I put my cleaning small supplies in, handsaw, sander and such. My chemicals are kept in red 5 gal gas cans (stripper/cleaner/brightner). Indusrtrial water hose reel and my 4000psi hose/reel and powerwasher are on the very end of the trailer. PW is winched down over the axel. When I go to a customer, I drop the drop down gate unreel the required hose. When I get home, just back it all up into the garage and unhook.

I like mikes idea of the panel truck. Great advertising, but if you store the pw in it how do you vent the exhaust? I guess you can always vent it somehow.

Happy Holidays

reed

 

[Deck Source]

I have gone from pickup only-to pickup with flatbed-to pickup with enclosed trailer. This system works, but the trailer is full and I find myself throwing things into the back of the pickup which I don't like. When I upgrade, I would choose to keep the enclosed trailer and get a cargo van equipped to pull it. In the enclosed trailer I would keep my washing equipment-washer, chemicals, chemical sprayers, etc.... which is what I do now. I have my washer and hose reels mounted on a portable three wheel platform cart that I can move anywhere. This allows me to go right up to the work site. This is quite handy since some decks are pretty far and unaccessible from a truck or trailer parked on the street. In the cargo van, I would keep my sealing equipment and supplies. Somedays I just seal. On those days all I would need is the van.
With this system, all equipment would be locked up and secured (both from the elements and possible theft). Trying to put everything into one vehicle makes me wonder about accessibility? Also, with a cargo van and an enclosed trailer you have twice the advertising space. What works for one may not work for another, but if I could someday complete this set up, I don't believe I would need to upgrade any further.

 

[Greg Rentschler]

Our current setup is pretty ideal:

1990 Ford E250 Cargo Van - Universal
----Has a portable washer 4 @3000 cold water with reels and hose mounted within. Also has some sealing equipment.

1991 Ford E250 Cargo Van setup for strictly sealing

1999 7x16 enclosed trailer setup strictly for washing - 2 5@3000 Hot water skids, 250 gal tank, 400' supply hose and reel, 550' of washer hose on 2 reels, and 2 portable chem sprayers plus products.

2001 Ram Quad Cab - sales tool and to pull the trailer when needed

Now.... this year one of the guys decided to run the trailer through a McDonalds Drive thru... literally. He wasn't paying attention as to how sharp he was turning the rig and took out the intercom and a pole..... and a axle on the trailer. Next year I will be adding a 14' box van to be used in place of the trailer .

Anyway with this setup I can run 2 crews without having to sacrifice a job for the day. If both crews need to clean or seal we are able.

 

[Mike Hughes]

Hey Greg,

Make sure you educate that guy on how tall your new box truck is. Most drive thrus can't fit one, and that guy doesnt sound like the sharpest tool in the shed. You could have a repeat otherwise.

 

[Greg Rentschler]

Mike,

Yea I thought about that already...... after that incident they're not allowed to go through drive thru's anymore . Employee's are more of a headache than they're worth at times!

Greg

 

[Jon Fife]

great advice guys, thanks


i like the idea of the box truck. I used to have one and i think i'll go back to it. Here's a couple more questions for you guys:


when having units in an eclosed trailer or box truck, is it necessary to vent the machines as long as you have the doors open??

do you run a drain for the water tank through the floor??

Greg---is a 250 tank big enough the run two machines off of?? I know you are filling it as you work, but would you rather have a bigger tank??

where do you guys store your equip, products, etc?? I am assuming the towns you guys live in are mostly suberbs of big cities, so are you able to keep your setups at your house or do you rent some type of facility?? I was considering trying to sub-lease from another construction company to park vehicles there and maybe get a chunk of their storage area. Anyone ever tried this??

I really appreciate you guys helping out, i like these rainy days because it gives me a chance to be planning ahead. You guys have a good day

Jon Fife

 

[Greg Rentschler]

Hi Jon,


As far as venting goes we vent our burner exhaust but just let the engine exhaust escape through the doors. I would probably prefer to vent it through the floor but we never had the time to rig up the exhaust system.

On 90% of the jobs we do a 250 gallon tank is more than enough. Throw a float valve on there and forget about it. We used to run a 550 gallon tank but it just took up too much space not to mention the weight when full. With the 250 gallon we can usually run 2 washers at 5 gal per minute all day with a feed to the tank.

 

[Jon Fife]

found me a truck......

89 F350 box van
351ci 135K as a ford man, i realize that it is just starting to get broke in
auto
cold air (if you lived in TN you would realize that is by far the most important thing in a vehicle)
12 or 14' box, not sure which
good tires, truck is in great shape
$2200.00


I think it's a pretty good deal compared to the prices i have been seeing. I'll let you guys know if it works out.

take care,

 

[Greg Rentschler]

That was quick! I'll be waiting a couple months yet.

Im a dodge man but now that I know my Ford vans are pratically new with only 108,000 & 85,000.....


Greg

 

[Clean County]

Jon Fife,

$2200 for a 89 Ford box Van sounds like a good deal. If I buy another vehicle for my business I'll be looking to do like you did, and for that price you can't go wrong. A couple of jobs and the Van paid for itself.

John

 

[Jon Fife]

thanks for the props...

I had a box van 3 years ago, I sold it cause me and some guys got a wild hair and moved out to CO for a year. I bought it for about 3 grand, and the thing i remember about it is that within two weeks, i had gotten enough calls from the truck signage itself to pay for the truck twice . The rolling billboard WILL get you customers. Budget for tires because they go thru front tires really quick.

 

[Mike Hughes]

Jon,

I run two 5.5 GPM machines with a 325 gallon tank. Unless you are doing flatwork where you are washing non-stop, it is enough to keep up with the machines.

In answer to your questions about storage, I rent a large garage on a local farm, about a mile up the road from my house. Best thing I ever did. Keeps my equipment safe and dry. It has a very tall and wide door.......so I could even park a box truck in there if I wanted.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1471628&a=11073115&p=53110525



By the way......my ford just turned 33,333 miles this afternoon. I guess its just a baby.

 

[JR Wood]

I just bought a flatbed from a landscaper friend of mine I was thinking of building a box on the front half and leaving the back open.Does anyone know where to get an enclosed trailer without an axle.It seems this would be ideal.a 6X8 would do just fine the bed is 8X12 and it's a f350 with a super beefed up suspension.I am told it's a five ton.I could mount the trailer in the back and have a foot on each side for extension wands and all that jazz.the back 4 feet can be hose reels and stuff.The only problem with the trailer idea is the doors.I'll have to find a roll up.