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

[5 Star Johnny]

We have two enclosed trailer rigs (1 - 16'; 1 - 10'), both equipped with 3,800 psi, 5.5 GPM hot water skids. Each rig also has a 3,500 psi, 4.0 GPM cold water cart. The cold water carts are used the majority of the time for deck or siding work. Hot water skids for flatwork. If it's a large siding job & we go with 2 guys, we'll use each unit in the trailer for time efficiency. The one major benefit we see is that if something goes wrong with one of the rigs, there's a backup in the trailer. A pain if you have to switch over to the mounted skid in front of the house if doing the deck in back, but better than pulling off the job & having to go back.

We started out with a hot water skid mounted in an E250, and a cold water cart packed in the van, but this didn't seem the best solution. If the van or the PW unit broke down, both were useless. And even if you pack a van carefully, there's still not enough room to avoid damage to equipment by stuff falling over and getting stepped on. We chose enclosed rigs partly because of our climate, but mostly to keep things covered & tidy. Also, having the ability to unhook the trailer if you have to run somewhere is a huge time saver.

I will agree that trailers present a challenge getting into some areas, but you have to train properly for this. The longer the trailer, the easier to back up. We have a 10' trailer that we select for really tight, short clearance areas. As far as someone taking out intercoms in a drive thru (earlier post), that's just plain stupid!

We will stick with enclosed trailer rigs. I'm actually watching out for a 20' trailer with a rear drop down door. More room to move around and pack a water tank if needed. Besides, the big trailers afford a nice rolling billboard.

[RMedbery]

2000 psi 1.5 gpm electric in a 27mpg Ranger.

[Greg R]

I'm thinking about Ford Escape Hybrids from here on out The fuel costs are just getting out of hand!

[jakobe]

hydro tec 8gpm 4000 psi maybe its a 6 gallon ....not sure
skid mount on trailer
1 hose reel
275 galllon tank
diesel/kero heater
generator
floodlights
small junky pressure washer for chemical application
tandem axle trailer with brakes
truck box on tongue of trailer
chemical tank racks
custom bent exhaust

working on buying another machine but this one truck mounted

in business for 4 years
in North Georgia

EVEN during the drought

[John Paul]

I plan on switching to a flatbed setup for my next rig. Really want to go the Isuzu NPR route.

[krisztian1981]

I have a trailer mounted rig
6'x12' 225gallon water tank a 55gallon and a 165 gallon chemical tank. 300feet of high pressure hose, 75 feet of water hose, 300 feet of low pressure hose,

The motor is a 20HP honda, with a 8gallon per minute general pump. I also have a flowjet motor for low pressure chemical spray. I had a hot water heater, but i took it off, because i never use it.

[ShineBrite LLC]

I bought mine from Amazing Machinery. 21hp vanguard with comet pump. 6gpm, 4000psi. on a 10ft trailer with a horizontal burner and 225 gal tank. I bought the startup package you can see on the web site. It has about 500 hrs on it now, mainly deck work and flat work. I like the dual lance wand for wood work. I have added to it and have 450ft of pressure hose, 250ft of craftsman rubber garden hose and a 24" surface cleaner along with the 20" whisper wash. And a little more plumbing. I use a home made chemical applicator made from a big wheeled handtruck, 15gal drum, marine battery and 5gpm delevan pump and 60ft of hose. Use an X-jet a lot, too. I run an f250 regular cab with ladder rack and a lot of junk in the bed. I carry ladders from 6ft to 40ft and do everything from gutter and window cleaning to decks and docks and commercial flat work. Wood is my specialty and favorite work.

[cleanhoods]

My first rig is mounted inside a 6x10.It is a portable but is mounted.The unit is 5 foot long pumps 1250psi at 3.5 gpm has an AR pump 2 hp Baldor motor all belt driven with a 2 gallon float tank.This rig cleans from cold to hot to pure steam.I use it for exhaust hood cleaning.Now my other rig is a 3000psi at 6gpm portable.This rig has an 794cc Briggs a boat fuel tank and is belt driven.This rig is about 25years old and still runs like a top good brick/surface machine.I use a 4x8 trailer with a 275 gallon tank for this rig.All pulled by a Chevy with a 496 big block 2500hd crew cab short bed 45 gallon fuel tank Allison transmission.Need this truck since i live in the mtns.Can pull where i want to go.