setting up a trailer

[BakerPwrWash]

Finally, I've been looking online for a site like this one. Anyhow, I am Larry Carden, I have been doing power washing for a few years and finally decided to take the leap and go in business for myself, well myself and a partner. I am setting up a trailer with a Shark 3000psi@ 3.5gpm with an 11hp honda engine and 500 gallon water tank and am having troubles when the water in the tank gets down past the conection on the machine then the machine quits pumping water. Do I need to add a water pump or is there a better way to get around this? Thanks for any suggestions, I'm new at the actual set-up and maintainance.

-Larry Carden
Baker Power Wash
Claremore, OK

 

[Aplus]

Is your machine a belt drive or direct drive?

Belt drive machines will actually pull the water out of the tank, while direct drives typically need at least gravity fed water.

A picture would also help.

 

[OrangeCrest]

I think you answered your own question, but I will take a stab at it...

You didn't mention if it was a direct drive or not, but since you mention that it stops pumping when it gets down to the machine leads me to undersand that you are saying the water level is at the same level as the machine.

A direct drive machine needs the supply tank to be higher than the pump in order to supply it with the water that it needs, unlike a belt driven unit.

What little I know about a direct drive is about this much.

I warned my old employer about this when they were carting around a 55-gal drum of water around... Needless to say, that P/W lasted around a month...

The better way is to get a belt driven unit... Good luck, hope everything works out for you.

 

[BakerPwrWash]

It is a direct drive unfortunately. The machine I have used previously was a belt drive so that clears up my question. Thanks for the input

 

[Henry Bockman]

I would also reccomend getting yourself a larger pump when you can afford it. The more water volume your pushing the faster you will be able to clean. You can work quite a bit faster if your pump put out 5gpm. Even faster with 8gpm and if you wanted to you could run two guns off that also.

 

[B.E YOUNG Sr]

A larger pump would likely require a larger engine unless you set it up [white] [white] at low psi and high gpm.

 

[Daryl O]

Can you really cleaning faster with 5 or more gpm?
So are saying that i could buy a 1000pis hot water unit with 5 or more gpm
and i will be go to go with it ? or do i need to buy 3000psi/w 8gpm
yet me know asap

 

[Mark]

I would suggest at least 5 GPM @ 3000 PSI,
however if you really want to kick *** go for
8 GPM @ 3000 - 3500 PSI.

Give me a call I can offer you suggestions, and
make you a great deal on a quality pressure washer.

[hello]

 

[malsdad]

Cat Pump

Does upgrading to a CAT pump affect whether it is direct drive or belt drive?
In other words, which is it?

 

[Mark]

Cat pumps are available, direct drive, belt drive, and gear drive.

As to if going with a Cat pump is an upgrade? That is debateable.

 

[CaroliProWash]

What type of work are you going to do? An 8 gpm machine may be overkill if you're going to specialize in just housewashes or deck cleaning. Lots of flatwork - go for 8 (be ready to run with your surface cleaner) Also, do the math on an 8gpm machine versus your water tank if you are in a situation where you have to haul your own water. Can you keep up with 8 gpm on a house wash? You'd have to be able to do the whole house in about 40 minutes with a 325 gallon tank (this is without any water contribution from HO).

We have a 3500 psi / 5.6 gpm machine that does everything we could possibly need it for.

Just my .02 worth

 

[Mark]

There can be challenges, in keeping up with water supply
with an 8 GPM unit, for that matter it can be an issue
with a 5 GPM unit sometimes, a water tank that is being
fed while you wash could be the solution.

[hello] 8 GPM really cleans FAST!

 

[malsdad]

Tanks and pumps

I am also under the impression, by reading one post, that a belt drive will suck the water out of a tank and a direct drive will not. Is this true, and what about gear drive?

 

[Mathew Johnson]

Sucking Water

I called Northstar tech support about that exact question as I am setting up a trailer as well, The stated that my direct drive CAT Pumps will suck water. The need to have a one inch feed line, mounted to the trailer floor and be less than five feet from the water tank.

 

[oneness]

Can you really cleaning faster with 5 or more gpm?
So are saying that i could buy a 1000pis hot water unit with 5 or more gpm
and i will be go to go with it ? or do i need to buy 3000psi/w 8gpm
yet me know asap

Depends on what you're cleaning. For housewashing/wood, I rarely need more than 1000 psi. For flatwork, you'll want 3000 psi. Yes, 5gpm makes a difference. If you have a 3.5gpm machine, and upgrade to a 5.5gpm machine, you're getting 57% more water...that equates to a heck of a lot more cleaning ability. For wood, you really don't need the flow as much as you do with housewashing and flatwork.

 

[CaroliProWash]

One other consideration on an 8GPM/3000-3500psi setup - the fatigue rate would be worse than on a 5.6.

I'm not bashing the 8gpm machine but I personally would rather be trying to hang onto 5.6 gallons shooting out all day than 8.

C

 

[Aplus]

A nice compromise would be going about 6.5/min. More volume but maybe not as fatiguing.

 

[Mark]

Malsdad / PWS



Direct drive pumps will suck water, however they do
not have as much suction capability as a belt or gear
driven pump.

The slower the pump RPM the more suction capability
in most cases.

Belt driven pumps will almost always outlast direct driven
pumps.

Hope this helps.

 

[malsdad]

Trailer?

PWS-

What size trailer are you or did you go with? Are you going with an enclosed?
I am hearing that the size of the water tank you will be hauling plays a big part on what size trailer you need, in regards to weight.

 

[oneness]

PWS-

What size trailer are you or did you go with? Are you going with an enclosed?
I am hearing that the size of the water tank you will be hauling plays a big part on what size trailer you need, in regards to weight.

Water weighs roughly 8lbs per gallon, so a 500 gallon tank will weigh roughly 4000lbs...That's a LOT of weight for many trailers. You'll need one rated to handle enough weight for the water, plus all the equipment, chems, etc. You'll also need a trailer with brakes, and a truck big enough to both pull that much weight and, more importantly, to STOP that much weight.