What Equipment upgrade do I need ???

ben h

New Member
Hello, my first post here,

I have been washing truck fleets for a couple of years now, started part time for a little extra cash on the weekends now its taken over and become a full time occupation.
I have been offered an opportunity to bite off a bigger chunk than I have before........[wsmile]

Now I use a 15LPM (3.3gpm) 4000psi machine largely used as a wetting and rinsing machine only and clean using brooms brushes and elbow grease, this set up uses a 2 to 4 man team and works very efficiently. 3 ppl can turn over 4-5 large rigid trucks per hour (40foot x 14 foot flat sided pans)

I have been offered a job cleaning refrigerated trailers 15 metres long by 4.3 metres high
externally and internal sanitation.
The client has 140 trailers and 55 prime movers......
The equipment is all new and well maintained they are serious about their image so I have to maintain my usual high standard
The catch is I have a 12 hour block once per week(overnight) to wash half the fleet
70 trailers and 27 prime movers
So I have 10 usable working hours (not including setup strip down or staff rest breaks)
That gives me 6 minutes maximum per trailer or prime mover....
So i figure on using 7-8 staff
So for the trailers
1 forklift operator ( I have a forklift mounted brush to scrub trailer sides)
2 guys to scrub wheels and detail clean of lower sides toolboxes and mudflaps
2 guys to hook un hook park and drive trailers onto wash recovery mat
1 guy to go inside rinse and sanitise trailer
1 guy to scrub rear door(dirtiest part) and the refrigeration unit at top front of pan
1 myself as spare for any problems, extra driving and ensuring smooth running, quality control keeping track of units etc
We are in an area with severe water restrictions(most of australia is at the moment)
So we must keep that in mind during operation
I must recover/recycle all water used on site

So this is achievable with the staffing I have mentioned
I plan on the side detailers/wheel scrubbers foaming soap onto trailers as they are driving onto the mat using two guns one for each side.
as the brush begins on one side the back would be manually scrubbed and rinsed, allowing the internal guy to do his thing, he could probably do okay with the 15lpm(3.3gpm) machine, for his use only
the brush works its way around the trailer with the side detailers doing their thing.In conjunction with the front/rear scrubber.
The side detailers then rinse off trailer while the internal guy is applying a sanitation foam

The prime movers should be easy with 5 people scrubbing and rinsing

The question is what sort flow rate and pressure would i need to make the rinsing feasible in the time frame.
15 lpm(3.3gpm) at 4000psi would be too low

What is the minimal flow rate that could achieve this ?? [help]
Could I manage this with 25lpm(5.5gpm)or would I need a lot more for quick rinsing?

Do any of you work this way with this sort of vehicle volume?

Oh before you mention it, I can't use any of the two stepping spray on spray off methods on this site.

Is it possible to use one large machine with two guns ?????

I would prefer to go for a key start quiet running water cooled diesel machine with a big fuel tank and bypass system, built to last the distance

Thanks in advance for all your help
 

Mark

Moderator / Sponsor
Volume is king!

The more GPM the faster you can clean.

I would suggest an 8 to 10 gpm machine,
belt driven preferrably. I can have that
built for you in the USA, if you want to
arrange for shipping to Australia.
 

James S

New Member
I do a lot of truck fleets and a good bit of oilfield work as well and have been running four machines. Three of them are gas powered and one is diesel. We changed the unloader to a large volume unloader and split the discharge hose into two where we can run two guns on each machine. To do this, if you have a 5 gpm machine which requires a 5.0 tip, you have to put a 2.5 tip in each gun to get the pressure back right. Doing this cuts your gpm in half on each gun, but works fairly decent with two stepping if you know what you're doing. Now, if all you're doing is rinsing, I don't know why this wouldn't work great for you. The gas ones don't hold pressure as good but you can barely feel the second gun kick in on the diesel machine. The diesel is an aaladin powered by an 18hp liquid cooled kubota with a 6 gpm pump. We needed another machine for oilfield work, and about a month ago I purchased a monster 10 gpm 3000 psi unit from aaladin. The model number is 46-1030D. It has a 33hp IZUZU liquid cooled diesel, two clutch-driven pumps, two burner systems, and is completely enclosed in a powdercoated cabinet. First one I've bought with clutch-driven pumps and I know now I will never buy another pw without clutch driven pumps. You can change guns without turning the machine off by just hitting a switch because the pumps are electronically controlled. Not only that, we have 60 hours on it and have not replaced the first o-ring and we have quick connects on the burners, the downstreamers, the guns, and on the tips and haven't had the first one leak. Now if you just need a pressure washer to rinse and apply soap, I would just change the unloader and add a second gun. You don't want to invest a lot of money into something you haven't got your first check from yet. They might get pissed about the smallest thing after the first wash and not let you come back. Changing the unloader and adding another hose, hose reel, and gun shouldn't be more than $500, $200-250 if you don't buy the reel.
 

ben h

New Member
Thanks James for the detailed information, I have learnt alot. Now to do some more research on the top end machines..................And consider your short term solution now I know how to use two guns.

Again thanks I appreciate the effort put into your reply
 

KleanImage

New Member
hey ben, where abouts in Aus are you bro?

I started out the same as you, small and on the weekends, spun out...

i like your dream of the water cooled diesel running the big pump with multiple guns... i have that dream too.

If you find what you want in Aus let me know i will buy one too, might even get a discount if we buy two??

matt.
 

Our Sponsors

Top