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Roof Cleaning West Chester PA · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America

soft wash skid

Liberty SoftWash · Nov 20, 2012

If you get a box truck we can hook up and you can see it.

jcstomper · Nov 21, 2012

looks like a awesome set up.. but i love my air set up, couldnt think of going to a electric pump....

Guest

I think these skids are for the guys wanting to get into business "right now". and they are probably fine to an extent but.......working out of a pickup bed seems too high to me. I think the ideal height for most of our needed equipment is from the knees to the waist and be reachable without climbing around. Wait till this neat set-up gets even more congested with the addition of all the other tools it takes to do this work properly, buckets, pump sprayers, brushes, extra parts, plastic sheeting or tarps, etc...

As far as dual set-ups go, i think quite a few of here have been using dual set-ups for a long time already, just not all jammed together in the back of a small pickup bed.

I think these truck bed units are "slick", but knowing the realities of this business as a whole they look better than I believe them to be user friendly in the real world.

I think it's a big benefit to assemble your own unit from the get-go,..you get a real feel for what you have and the extra parts you'll need on hand and where to get them. You'll save alot of money and the sense of satisfaction is worth it alone.

Jeff

-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Wednesday 21st of November 2012 06:18:44 AM

Guest

I also think these units will put alot of people in business quickly,...and then they will be for sale after about their first season. These make it seem like a quick and easy business,...which it is,...after you get alot of experience. Witch these units do not come with. And considering us always trying to keep the hit and run guys out,..these don't help that cause much. Can't blame the sellers though.

Jeff

-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Wednesday 21st of November 2012 07:30:35 AM

sweetwaterfish · Guest

It seems like these dual set ups, both pressure washer and soft washing capabilities, are going to be the new thing in the industry. Both Paul Kassander and AC are making such skids right now. Soft washing is great 98% of the time but it's nice to have a pressure washer when you encounter that other 2%. Sounds like you're working on a great set up, would love to see it

Roof Cleaning Katy Texas (281) 392-2304 · Nov 21, 2012

sweetwaterfish wrote:
It seems like these dual set ups, both pressure washer and soft washing capabilities, are going to be the new thing in the industry. Both Paul Kassander and AC are making such skids right now. Soft washing is great 98% of the time but it's nice to have a pressure washer when you encounter that other 2%. Sounds like you're working on a great set up, would love to see it

Dual setups for me are the way to go as 60% of my business is power washing. I use a 8.5 gpm pressure to power wash with and it can apply a house cleaning solution or rinse it off in the blink of an eye.

Roof Cleaning West Chester PA · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America

Roof Cleaning Katy Texas (281) 392-2304 wrote:
sweetwaterfish wrote:
It seems like these dual set ups, both pressure washer and soft washing capabilities, are going to be the new thing in the industry. Both Paul Kassander and AC are making such skids right now. Soft washing is great 98% of the time but it's nice to have a pressure washer when you encounter that other 2%. Sounds like you're working on a great set up, would love to see it
Dual setups for me are the way to go as 60% of my business is power washing. I use a 8.5 gpm pressure to power wash with and it can apply a house cleaning solution or rinse it off in the blink of an eye.

I'm in your boat Marcus, except it's about 50/50. I have my hot water unit mounted to my trailer, my concern about putting a soft wash skid onto my pickup is that if I need the second pressure washer I'd have to have the space to transport it (there's no room on my trailer). I think taking the wheels/handle off my portable cold water unit and incorporating it into the soft wash would be the way to go. Of course I can simply just leave room for it but I like the idea of having it mounted.

jcstomper · Nov 21, 2012

Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:
I think these skids are for the guys wanting to get into business "right now". and they are probably fine to an extent but.......working out of a pickup bed seems too high to me. I think the ideal height for most of our needed equipment is from the knees to the waist and be reachable without climbing around. Wait till this neat set-up gets even more congested with the addition of all the other tools it takes to do this work properly, buckets, pump sprayers, brushes, extra parts, plastic sheeting or tarps, etc...

As far as dual set-ups go, i think quite a few of here have been using dual set-ups for a long time already, just not all jammed together in the back of a small pickup bed.

I think these truck bed units are "slick", but knowing the realities of this business as a whole they look better than I believe them to be user friendly in the real world.

I think it's a big benefit to assemble your own unit from the get-go,..you get a real feel for what you have and the extra parts you'll need on hand and where to get them. You'll save alot of money and the sense of satisfaction is worth it alone.

Jeff

-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Wednesday 21st of November 2012 06:18:44 AM

TRUTH to that! I have so much stuff in the box truck there is no way in hell i would be able to condense it down to a pick up.... find a 12 foot box truck, buy a skid mounted cold water unit, and then get a air set up for roof. youll be amazed at how fast the air unit puts material on the roof.

sweetwaterfish · Guest

I'll tell you what I'd love one of these units for...,in the back of MY truck, for running around and doing the inevitable touch ups that pop up every now and again. Seems like theyd be great for that. My biggest problem with a unit with only a mounted PW, is what happens whe you are cleaning a pathway on the rear if the house, 350 feet from where you are parked? My commercial, rig carries that much p.w. Hose, but not my residential rig.

There's something nice about being able to wheel the pW close to the problem.

Roof Cleaning Katy Texas (281) 392-2304 · Nov 21, 2012

I should rephrase that. Dual setups are the way to go but not out of the bed of a pick up. That is too small of an area. I am in the process of building my 4th dual purpose trailer which is 14' long. Here is is waiting to have bed liner material sprayed on the top, bottom, and all over.

Roof Cleaning West Chester PA · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America

all good points, especially about having the option to keep the portable pressure washer, well ... portable

for me personally it makes sense to have at least my soft wash setup in the pickup ... 1) I have a 12v system, not air so space isn't a huge issue, 2) I live in a condo and don't have a shop, I store my trailer in a storage facility so getting a larger trailer then can house both my pressure washer & soft wash setup isn't an option, and 3) I already have a trailer with my hot water skid, water tank, reels, etc ... this would be in addition to

i think the best of both world would be to keep the pressure washer portable, and mount my soft wash setup which is simply the bandit and a water tank, and leave room for the pw

thanks for the input guys, always good to get a different perspective!!

Apex Roof Cleaning · Guest

Here is what I have learned, I never know the future. I can set a vision but that vision is 50% accurate. When I started my vision was roofs, now its anything that can be cleaned. I started with a 5.5 ft bed. Now I have an 8ft (crew cab). I am going in the direction of trailer or box truck. My goal is to stay in a truck, because I'm terrible at backing up trailers. I also want my crew to be able to just get in and drive, and not hit something. I have trouble getting my ground guy to water the plants, how am I going to expect them to not hit something with a trailer. When I got into this business, I was also told, simple is better. Adding a trailer is more money, more insurance, more upkeep.

I am an excellent packer, so if their is a way, to fit all of the stuff in the back of an 8ft bed I will find it. I currently have 100g Roof mix tank 50g house-wash tank, 55g drum water tank. Fatboy, portable pressure washer, ground guys hose reel, broom, tarps, and gutter cane. My miscellaneous stuff is in the cab. I would like to swap out my portable pressure washer for a badass pressure washer and then mount a side hose reel.

I most likely won't be able to fit a surface cleaner, but I rarely do flat work.

On the dual soft/power systems. I have seen one come into my area and they are already out of business. I think I am going to try and take their clients or buy their pressure washer cheap.

Dan

jcstomper · Nov 21, 2012

personally i think having a portable power washer and toting it around the house makes our business look cheap.... home owners can get the impression that you went to home depot to buy your washer, and that doesnt seem like anything special to me..

having everything mounted in your truck, and being able to roll up, crank a key, and start washing with in 2 minutes at a property makes a business look very very professional in my opinion....

left is roof wash... right is softwash/pressure wash (2)150 gallon tanks... one for roof, the othe for water... box trucks just make everything more simple.

-- Edited by jcstomper on Wednesday 21st of November 2012 06:53:46 PM

-- Edited by jcstomper on Wednesday 21st of November 2012 06:54:37 PM

waxman18324 · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute Of America

Dan,

If and when you get a surface cleaner I'll show you how to mount it on the ladder rack you have now.

Hank

Roof Cleaning Katy Texas (281) 392-2304 · Nov 22, 2012

I agree Joe that your equipment should be mounted in your truck or trailer because dragging it around rutting the customers property is very unprofessional. Nice setup on the box truck but in Texas it would be way too hot in the Summer.

Roof Cleaning West Chester PA · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America

good looking setup Joe ... i love the idea of the box truck, the marketing exposure would pay for itself $$$

i agree with the portable washer looking unprofessional IF it was the only thing you rolled out of your truck. with a trailer set up, and using that on a commercial job it comes in handy to have a second washer. 90% of my commercial jobs the property manager doesn't even see us or care about our equipment, they just want to cross 'pressure washing' off the list

Happy Thanksgiving guys, i can't tell you how grateful i am for this site and all you guys sharing your expertise!!

jcstomper · Nov 22, 2012

Roof Cleaning Katy Texas (281) 392-2304 wrote:
I agree Joe that your equipment should be mounted in your truck or trailer because dragging it around rutting the customers property is very unprofessional. Nice setup on the box truck but in Texas it would be way too hot in the Summer.

thanks.. and yep i could imagine the heat down there.. but we get some hot days up here also.. usually july has a few weeks of over 95 degrees constant... We just change the oils more often..

i also remounded the air compressor to where the exhaust if aiming towards the rear of the truck.. it also made it more roomier lol.

Apex Roof Cleaning · Guest

Great looking setup Joe, it looks excellent. I agree with looking professional and pulling a pressure washer around the house does look a little craigslist for my liking. Right now thats what I got, and it works, but by the end of the spring next year I will be using a truck mounted pressure washer and side mounted reel.

Hank when I get one I will let you know.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Dan

waxman18324 · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute Of America

Dan,

Let's get a design on paper now. Neither one of us is doing that much this winter.

Hank

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