Upgrading Equipment

[BriteSide]

Hey guys, just wanted some input on possibly upgrading my equipment. here's what i'm running now

i have (2) 13hp 4gpm 3500psi machines, 1 direct drive (backup machine) and one belt drive. I am happy w/ my current setup and i'm making good $$$ per hour but i was considering going up to a 3500psi 5.5gpm machine. The only thing that's stopping me is the fact that i pull water from the jobs i do. I dont have a tank that i take w/ me simply because it's 2 much headache for the return in my area. Back to the fact that i pull water, the thing is water pressure in newer homes and bigger buildings are perfectly fine to push my 4gpm machines, but out in the back country where i get some of my jobs the water pressure is not the best. I use 75' 3/4" hose which is as least restictive as i can go without parking my unit directly beside a water supply. What i'm running now is properly water fed at 95% of all my job locations. My concern is if i bump up to a 5.5 machine, that my 95% of needed water pressure will dip down into the 70% range which i can not live w/.. it's nothing worse to show up to a job an hour away and not have pressure needed to feed your pump.

does anyone have any input on the difference a 5.5gpm vs 4.0 machine makes on washing. i mean if the return is worth the 2k for a machine and the possible headache to not be able to run the machine at a chunk of your job loacations w/out a tank to feed it....

thanks
-Jonathan
Brite-Side Powerwashing

 

[Mark]

We have set up numerous machines with
float tanks ranging from 15 to 35# gallons
this serves as a buffer on locations with
low water pressure. [hello]

 

[PressurePros]

I have a 50 gallon reserve on my 5.5 gpm machine. Same situation as you, hauling water is not on my favorite things to do list. Most municipal water around here is 5-8 gpm so the reserve is plenty.

If you are making money I would stick to what you have. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If it meant the difference between squeezing in another job every day, that would be different. But upgrading for the sake of upgrading without a good ROI (return of investment) is not always a wise thing.

 

[jandjsales]

i wouldn't get most of the jobs i get if i didn't haul water to the job, and alot of them will ask if i bring my own water, i tell them yes, but i may need to get some from them if i run low, they are ok with that. my personal opinion is if you have a tank it just looks more professional, you don't even have to have it filled with water.

jeff

 

[DrWhipIt]

When I have a job where there's a well (i.e. low press/gpm) I use a 55 gal drum that I plumbed with a float valve as a tank. Works fine as long as I let go of the trigger every once in a while!

 

[PressurePros]

i wouldn't get most of the jobs i get if i didn't haul water to the job, and alot of them will ask if i bring my own water, i tell them yes, but i may need to get some from them if i run low, they are ok with that. my personal opinion is if you have a tank it just looks more professional, you don't even have to have it filled with water.

jeff

Jeff, I have never, not once, had a customer ask me if I haul around a water supply. If one ever did I would tell them I am able to offer a better price to them than jandjsales because hauling a water tank is additional overhead in terms of fuel and wear and tear on my vehicle. I would also tell them the average cost of the water usage is around $3 per job. Are you in an area that has mostly well water? Then I would understand people asking that question.

 

[DAFF]

Cheep Fix

Why not swap out the 4gpm pump & replace with a 5.5gpm using your belt drive unit. When you have issues with flow (country water flow) use a smaller tip in your wand. The smaller tip will slow the rate of flow down, and you will still have the flow when you can use it.

Keep the 4gpm pump on the shelf, you never know when you may need it.

When rinsing debris or soap you will notice the difference. Actually your water usage (in total gal.) will be much the same, just the time at the job will decrease.

To haul or not to haul?
In our area there are plenty of filling stations, more less coin operated fire hydrants. Fill time is usually 20min. for 1800gal.
For me a full size water truck looks more appealing to the customer, expecially when you are talking with large corp's. For pricing, you can charge allot more than a smaller rig. If the client wants a cheap job, get ready to work for free in time. Its better to do 2 high quality jobs rather than 8 lower quality for the same kind of coin.
If you have a system that work stay with it untill you outgrow it. Always keep 5% back for upgrades to your equipment/trucks.
It's all about baby steps, grow to fast and get ready for some headaches.

 

[north coast]

I think it is also a time saver to have your own water with you. No need to always unroll and roll up the fill hose. Our trucks have up to 1500 gallons of water and 400' of water hose and that is my least favorite chore after washing is rolling up all that hose. So if I can wash with out having to hook up to water that’s a time saver and time is money.

 

[BriteSide]

Hey, thanks for all your input.

I do agree, using a 5.5machine is a step up from the 4.0gpm machines i'm running now, but the bottom line is. for the return and demand in this area at the current time it doesnt make sense to put a couple k into a 5.5 machine and go thru the headache to get it just to speed up the jobs by 20-30%..

This is my 2nd year of business. I worked for a contractor for 6 years prior. and I have to say business comes in big spirts for me.. i mean i'll be booked up every day for a few weeks and then all of a sudden it'll die for about 2 weeks when there's like 2-3 jobs a week, when i get big contracts i have a friend help me on the side but otherwise it's just me. my point is right now what i'm doing is fine, untill i start gett'n my butt kicked on a regular basis i'm going to stick w/ what i have. and when that does start to happen in the future (hopefully) i'll just get a 24 hp 8gpm setup w/ a feed tank and all, i mean if you're going to get somthing, might as well get somthing that you're not going to have to upgrade every 2 years.

About the issue of hauling your own water. Out of every job that i've done in the past 2 years, there's only been 1 scenerio when i was asked if i had my own water, because the closest water supply was 1/2 mile away. I have to say i'm not loosing numorous jobs simply because i dont have a tank.

thanks again,
Jonathan

www.britesidepowerwashing.com

 

[Mark]

An 8 GPM rig with water tank would be a Great upgrade,
you will be impressed.

We have sold many 8 and 9 GPM Hot Water Skids & trailer
rigs, these customers have been very happy with the increased
performance.