need advise on choosing a washer - Power Wash Network "The Power Wash Contractors Forum"

tri5ron · #1 (**permalink**) 12-05-04

I have recently purchased a concrete business and am interested in getting a pressure washer to clean my 2 trucks. how much pressure should I need to clean hydraulic fluid / grease off of the trucks? I would like to purchase a good quality unit, that will last many years. I usually feel that if you buy a unit that is more powerful, and then run it at less than optimum capacity, it will last longer. is this also true with pressure washers?

I want to get a unit that will quickly do the job, but I dont want to blow the paint off either. do I need to buy a hot water type? and what about models that use degreaser solvents, etc.?

I have looked on ebay, and in the Northern NH cataloge. I have also looked at Hotsy, and Amazing Machines. I think that I want to buy a gas engine type with a diesle heater. any advise would be appreciated.

Thanks and have a great day,
Ron

Mark · #2 (**permalink**) 12-05-04

Ron,

3 or 4 GPM at 2000 to 3000 PSI would work for you.

The Electro-Magic machine below would do the trick,it is rated 2.9 GPM @ 2300 PSI, or you could go for a larger unit like a 4 or 5 GPM check out our
online store or give me a call.

onecallpowerw · #3 (**permalink**) 12-05-04

Let me make this statement.......How would you feel....If I went to a concrete business site and asked......Hey, where can I cut you out of the picture so that I can save a buck.......Would you give me the answer ? I doubt it.

Please, ask your fellow concrete business owners....I am sure they do the same.

Mark, I am amazed that you would rather make a buck than support the people on this board. Maybe I just see it differently. I do not want to hurt anyones feelings and I mean nothing personal about this, it just struck me as odd. Again, maybe I am seeing this whole thing in a different light.

Aplus · #4 (**permalink**) 12-05-04

Onecall....I think you're off base here. All the guy wants to do is wash his own trucks, what's wrong with that? He asked a question, and Mark answered it. What do you expect Mark to say, hire a local pressure washer to clean your trucks for you?

I don't think so.

onecallpowerw · #5 (**permalink**) 12-06-04

You may be right and I was the first to say that I may be looking at this thing differently. But on the other hand.....I know you have orangecrest, Jon and quite a few others from California that frequent this board that I am sure would not mind the extra account. Sure it is 2 trucks but it is also a community of (POWER WASH NETWORK) Pressure washers that rely on this for thier living. Sorry, this is the way I see it. I think it is a little more than just a guy that wants to wash his own trucks.

Hell, what is gonna stop the Property Management company from realizing they have the extra staff and why not save a bundle by doing it themselves. Then they come here...ask a few questions and BAM....The following month I am less 1 account that makes me $10,000 per year. You see my point now ?

I am not meaning to harp on just Mark.....But I am seeing this even with the newbies that are popping up all over the place. We are just helping them and dont really even know where they are from.

Sorry, but I work too damn hard for my monies...........

Lets just add.....why dont we change the name from POWER WASH NETWORK to POWER WASH INFORMATION PAGE.....(PWIP) just a little humor.

MR ALAN · #6 (**permalink**) 12-06-04

Quote:

Originally Posted by onecallpowerw

I know you have orangecrest, Jon and quite a few others from California that frequent this board that I am sure would not mind the extra account. Sure it is 2 trucks but it is also a community of (POWER WASH NETWORK) Pressure washers that rely on this for thier living. Sorry, this is the way I see it. I think it is a little more than just a guy that wants to wash his own trucks.

Jon is retired, Robert from Orangecrest does not wash trucks, I wash concrete, but not on trucks. I have yet to see a fleetwasher from this area on the bbs.

Larry L. · #7 (**permalink**) 12-06-04

'I want to get a unit that will quickly do the job'

The more gpm a unit has the faster it will go....
Ron you or one of your employees will be useing the unit,right,you will have to use some type degreaser and acid on the trucks.I few people get hurt each year useing chemicals,keep safety in mind when useing powerwashing chemicals.Also you may have to collect the run off (wash water) in your area meaning more eqt. needed other then a powerwasher,Check the EPA rules in your area before you decide.

tri5ron · #8 (**permalink**) 12-06-04

Mark, Tony, Alan, Larry,
Thanks for the info, contacts, and concern for my saftey as well as the EPA concerns. I will take all of this into consideration when purchasing a unit to clean my trucks. I feel that when the trucks are clean, it shows a little more pride in the company, and customers as well as potential customers are better impressed, thus resulting in greater revenue.
I also belive that various companies can work together to provide customers with premium service, more satisfied customers, and again more revenue. Therefore I would be more than happy to carry some business cards of a local professional Pressure Washer in hopes of them getting some business, as well as keeping clean the driveways, and patio's that I've poured.

Onecall, you really have taken this far out of context. I in no way, ever intended to threaten the stability, security, or longevity of your chosen profession, or for that matter the pressure washing community.
I promise to not tip off the property management community to the huge savings they could reap by sending one of the secretaries or mail room boys out to clean their driveways,
and I also promise to not leave southern Ca with my new pressure washer to head to Maryland with the intentions of stealing any of your accounts.

I simply want to keep my trucks clean. that's just the way I see it.

but in thinking about this,...I may need to reconsider mowing my own front lawn. I mean with all the crazy, disgruntled, deranged, out of work, Gardeners out there,... I could be setting my self up for a full scale ambush from the all powerful, LLMWC, (Landscape and Lawn Maintaince Workers Community).
Does anyone want to buy a nice used mower?
just a little humor...

thanks again to all the others who responded, have a great day

onecallpowerw · #9 (**permalink**) 12-07-04

Bravo....Bravo....Bravo.....

Tri5ron,

Welcome to the PWN........"The

Network.