Poll: What type of pressure washing rig do you use?

[Paul Kassander]

16' GMC Topkick with a 1500 gallon tank, 2 hot water skid units, and hose reels. I can wash about 80 tractors with that unit. I also have a F550 with 500 gal tank, Hydroblaster hot water skid unit, and a hose reel, it is great for homes and sidewalks. I can pull up, unroll my hose wash and leave most homes take about 1-2 hours tops. Plus I can fill my tanks while I wash for my next job.

[jbruno]

7x12 enclosed wells cargo trailer. If it were 16' It would be even better. I have the upgraded 3/4'' plywood that I marine painted, and nothing penetrates that stuff. I also rhino lined the front (outside) of the trailer because it was taking a beating from all the stone lots I go in.

Inside is a NEW (just got it this year because the last machine broke down) Landa (16hp vanguard) 6gpm at 3500psi thermostated hot water machine. It's great to have the thermostat, but I'm still getting used to the 6gpm out put. I have a 275 gallon water tank, hannay reels, and tons of 'stuff' in the trailer. It not big enough anymore! I also have a 13hp 4gpm cold machine in my pick up that I use on decks when the water supply isn't a concern

I'm looking at a box truck that's 7x14. which I will probably make into my truck washing rig. But in the beginning it will be my 'everything rig' if I buy it. I'm probably going to sell the pick up and trailer to help lower my overhead.

[Big Bill]

I have a 8' x 20' Wells Cargo trailer, loaded w/ 2 x 300 gal tanks, Hannay double stack hose reels w/ 300' x 3/4" feed hose and 300' Goodyear Neptune 2 wire pressure hose. I have an Allison Iron Horse hot water skid @ 6.3 gpm. Also have a Steel Eagle 24", 6 different size wands, 36' Corress Wand, 40" Craftsman Tool Chest full of Tools. Thank goodness that the trailer has 2 x 6,000 # axles. Very rarely do I ever travel w/ both tanks full of water.

[PressurePros]

-Cold water portable 4 gpm in E350 bucket -loaded with wood gear and chems

Landa Hot water skid 5.5 gpm in box truck -loaded with building wash and flatwork gear

[DustinC]

5.5 gpm 3500 pressure-pro hot water skid ,200 gallon float tank,50 gallon roof tank with shurflo.24" ground force.hose reels,ladders etc.all stuffed on 5x10 single axle trailer.that bounces like a basketball when rolling over speed bumps.pulled by 04 f150 with a 4 gpm pressure-pro backup in the bed.

[splashandash]

I have a 24foot open tailer with delco,hotsy,hydroblaster burners custom made skids with honda,kohler,briggs motors all general pumps 275 gal tank adding another one or going to one bigger tank. 30 surface cleaner 28 surface cleaner 18 surface cleaner 600 ft hp hose 200ft low pressure hose 35 gal chem tank shurflo and hose reel for it. looking for space to mount a hose reel for couple hundred foot of fire hose.

[John T.]

Originally Posted by splashandash

I have a 24foot open tailer with delco,hotsy,hydroblaster burners custom made skids with honda,kohler,briggs motors all general pumps 275 gal tank adding another one or going to one bigger tank. 30 surface cleaner 28 surface cleaner 18 surface cleaner 600 ft hp hose 200ft low pressure hose 35 gal chem tank shurflo and hose reel for it. looking for space to mount a hose reel for couple hundred foot of fire hose.

How about a picture of this rig. I'd like to see how fast a 24' trailer can fill up with the equipment you need in this business.

[Tom DeFrancesco]

I have an E350 extended van with a 2800/3gpm & 4000/4gpm cold machines with a 300 gal tank, 3000 watt gen, 16" surface cleaner, 100' hp hose on a rapid reel 50' coiled extra, 15' & 50' of garden hose, 12 gal shop vac, 24' ext wand, ext poles, brushes, buckets, cabinet w/ chems and tools, 2 sets of rain gear. I need the tank for the some of the fleet work which has no water supply. I need to seriously re-configure this truck so I can get a 3500/6gpm skid in there. Trailer I think is just not feasible. Can only fit two cars in my driveway and I am limited to one spot where my truck is. I like using the 3gpm for the fleet washing because I know exactly how many I can do with the amount of water I have. A second truck would be great but not in the cards the cards this year.

[bspeed54]

Hello you pro's ,
I have been reading what you guys have been talking about and I'm impressed with the knowledge that out there . Iam in the old dominion and reall just getting started in the industry . Iam learning and watching and the ear is to the ground so keep giving it up and maybe one day I will be able to put together more knowledge and advice , but for now I'am in the shadows.

[bspeed54]

Iam the owner of Family Power Washing (the little guy ) posted up in Fredericksburg ,Virginia . Iam loaded with a E-350 15' box trcuk (2004) w/ a Landa 5-3000 hot , wet steam ,.sweet operation for two man operation . It's a great peice of equipment ,with fire hydrant ready filler .cool design that we came up with .

[vlad]

4gpm 3500psi cold belt drive ,300' hp hose with 50gal float tank.100'garden
hose.30gal chem tank for downstreaming.100gal chem tank with duoble shurflo (60psi 1.8gpm) 200' 3/8" hose.
I do only residential washing and window cleaning ,this setup is good for that.Still have room for biger pressure washer ,hope will be able buy before
winter season.
Vlad.

[DustinC]

How's that dual shurflo working out for you?I'm waiting for some Y's to come in the mail.could you post a close up of yours? Thanks

[vlad]

I have big gpm increse, with 200' 3/8" hose 4' pvc wand and size 15 nozle with one shurflo i had around 1 1/4 gpm , with 2 pumps i have around 2gpm
To increse gpm i also have 150" 5/8' garden hose (home depot) i get almost
2 1/2gal whit that, its just more heavy and dificult to drag around.Its good
to have diferent gpm's for diferent roofs.
Its looks like i can shoot chems fahrder to( whit 0 degree nozzle).I only did
two roofs whit this setup ,and i liked.Had to charge battery after each use.
Where you geting "y" i need that to,i am using 1/2" gray pvc "T" that prabobly will kill pumps sooner and some gpm lose. I dont have closer pics,
I used 1/2' hose from tank to pump, 1/2' hose from pump to "T" , 1/2' from "T" to QC and 200" 3/8' hose on reel.
Thanks to "Apple roof cleaning" for realy good advice.
Vlad.

[DustinC]

I havent gotten them yet but I ordered 3/8 barbed Y fittings from www.systemacc.com. you have to call them to place an order, they were dirt cheap.They also carry other fittings to convert from 3/8 to 5/8 hose,so I loaded up.right now I run my 1.8 60 psi off of my 500 ccamp pressure washer battery.I've ran close to 80 gallons through it without killing the battery.think I'll need a bigger battery for the dual setup?

[taselton2]

Originally Posted by Ron Musgraves

In Arizona most units are on open trailers, we have no need to protect anything form the climate except the sun.

My fantasy machine would be mounted on a 18 foot flatbed diesel. I have three diesels but none flatbeds. My ford 400’s cant seem to get by a gas station.

I had a couple Chevy’s over the years and never really like them.
I pick up a couple a few years back at and auction. They have been less maintenance and less fuel to operate. Being a ford guy this is very tough to admit. Keep in mind I’m talking Chevy one tons Not half ton pick ups. Ford is much tougher than Chevy’s half tons.

I have still about 11 trailer units that I’m slowly getting rid of. I rent pw also so I will always keep a couple trailer units. When the trucks break down you can always tow a trailer.

If I lived back in the cold country I would want all aluminum trailers. No wood and certainly not steel. Of course all enclosed stuff to keep equipment protected.

RON, I AM PUTTING TOGETHER AN ISUZU NPR WITH A ALUMINUM FLATBED. I HAVE BEEN POSTING PICTURES AS I GO ON ANOTHER SITE. I HAVE A PRETTY GOOD WAY TO GO STILL, BUT SHE'S COMMING ALONG. IT IS A 2001 4CYL TURBO WITH 24K ON IT. WHEN FINISHED IT WILL CARRY 2 WASHERS (8.5 @ 3600 & 4.8 @ 3000), 3 TANKS (2-200'S AND A 150), 2 SOFTWASH PUMPS, GENERATOR, LADDERS, 2 SURFACE CLEANERS (36" & 20"), 4-6 HOSE REELS, ETC........ WE CURRENTLY RUN A RANGER ALUMINUM FLATBED, BUT WE HAVE OUTGROWN IT.