Pressure Washers
- Thread starter P51bombay
- Start date
I had a pressure washing business and yes , the hot water version is worth the extra cost , especially on trucks . Where do you plan on using it ? Many communities have strict regulation on pollution caused by washing grease and oil off trucks . Some areas have grease filters in their waste water systems and it's not a problem .
P51bombay
Expert Expediter
Umm..............in the driveway, which is gravel. Although if and when I need one it would be used on new trucks so one would hope not much oil and grease on them but I want to be able to quickly and easily keep them that way. Can you reccomend some basic spec/brands to look for and a rough cost..........I've looked around but mostly not sure of what pressure/GPM rating and how much is too much.
Broompilot
Veteran Expediter
Just a note of advice take it or leave it just my opinion:
For those that know me I AM A CLEAN FREAK, Broompilot was given to me as a nickname for a reason ( I was in charge of all of the cleaning for a very big Nascar Team).
It is cheaper and easier to just get her washed on the way home. Espeicially for removing the Grease. Even though its on your private property, someone could raise some questions to the right Govt. Branch and you would recieve a Visit and that would just be the start of your problems.
Possibily nothing would ever come of it, but boy if it did you are gona wish otherwise. The aggrivation of dragging that thing out, hooking it up, starting it up, adding the chemicals, than doing the work to only repeat the process to put it all back plus the investment. The truck wash places ARE DIRTY CHEAP compared to all of that.
I love a clean truck, heck even a clean house, car etc. but somethings are just better off letting someone else do. And for washing under nieth it aint nobody ever gona know but you. Yes a good rinse in the winter is a must, but to clean it just to clean it? Whata nuts, are you reading you know who?
For those that know me I AM A CLEAN FREAK, Broompilot was given to me as a nickname for a reason ( I was in charge of all of the cleaning for a very big Nascar Team).
It is cheaper and easier to just get her washed on the way home. Espeicially for removing the Grease. Even though its on your private property, someone could raise some questions to the right Govt. Branch and you would recieve a Visit and that would just be the start of your problems.
Possibily nothing would ever come of it, but boy if it did you are gona wish otherwise. The aggrivation of dragging that thing out, hooking it up, starting it up, adding the chemicals, than doing the work to only repeat the process to put it all back plus the investment. The truck wash places ARE DIRTY CHEAP compared to all of that.
I love a clean truck, heck even a clean house, car etc. but somethings are just better off letting someone else do. And for washing under nieth it aint nobody ever gona know but you. Yes a good rinse in the winter is a must, but to clean it just to clean it? Whata nuts, are you reading you know who?
I am interested in pressure washers too. Crazynuff, since you had a pressure wash business, you're the one to ask. Any help with brands and spec recommendations would be appreciated.
This would be a one-time purchase. I have not been impressed with the seemingly-cheap pressure washers on sale at the big box stores. I'm looking for something that will provide many years of trouble-free service. What's out there that is good and where do you find it?
This would be a one-time purchase. I have not been impressed with the seemingly-cheap pressure washers on sale at the big box stores. I'm looking for something that will provide many years of trouble-free service. What's out there that is good and where do you find it?
Broompilot
Veteran Expediter
In your part of the Country Phil, you can only use a small portion of the time: And do not leave ANY WATER IN IT AT ALL or its back to the shop for her. Believe it or not we even have that problem down here in the South in Jan, Feb, March. It aint worth it even if fuel is $5.00 a gallon.
Get her washed, and if you pick up any bugs on the way you always have a bucket and brush back at the house to tidy her up once again..
P51bombay
Expert Expediter
Valid points but for me logistics come into play. Nearest truck wash is 40 miles south and costs $60, round trip that's 80 miles and roughly 8 gallons of fuel @ $5.00/gal works out to roughly $40. Now I have a $100 truck wash and that is just for one truck, with another one even washing twice a month means a PW pays for itself rather quickly - even an expensive hot water one. I'm with Phil, a professional model once that works, and works fast is better than Costco stuff that doesn't several times.
Property is semi rural, (ie: not in a city) exactly what kind of stuff are you talking about?
Broompilot
Veteran Expediter
[Why would you not stop on the way home? I would never DH to go get one, but on the way back home, or my last day out. Than if need be just put a brush and bucket on her and do the small spots like the bugs on the bumper and windshield.
I love a clean truck, but if it is really a work truck it is just not gona stay clean for long out there on the road: Example, load from MN to lets say Atlanta , your usually gona cross Rain on the way.
My longest record for a clean truck has been 7 days in the East. Where it still looked like it was just washed. As long as my sides are not black from Brake Dust, and a shine, she is looking good. And yes I will wipe it down out on the road.
I use to spend an entire day washing the truck. I am telling you it gets old, when at home value your time and GET AWAY FROM THE TRUCK. You and your family will appriciate the closest truck wash a hole lot more.
Rare does two weeks ever go by and I do not get it washed. Usually once a week, thus if I do wash it at the House, it is very easy vs not doing it while out on the road. $40.00 well spent if you value your time at all.
And by the way the closest Truck Wash to Charlotte, is Haw River, or Wytheville well over 100 miles from Charlotte.
I love a clean truck, but if it is really a work truck it is just not gona stay clean for long out there on the road: Example, load from MN to lets say Atlanta , your usually gona cross Rain on the way.
My longest record for a clean truck has been 7 days in the East. Where it still looked like it was just washed. As long as my sides are not black from Brake Dust, and a shine, she is looking good. And yes I will wipe it down out on the road.
I use to spend an entire day washing the truck. I am telling you it gets old, when at home value your time and GET AWAY FROM THE TRUCK. You and your family will appriciate the closest truck wash a hole lot more.
Rare does two weeks ever go by and I do not get it washed. Usually once a week, thus if I do wash it at the House, it is very easy vs not doing it while out on the road. $40.00 well spent if you value your time at all.
And by the way the closest Truck Wash to Charlotte, is Haw River, or Wytheville well over 100 miles from Charlotte.
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P51bombay
Expert Expediter
Mainly because my trips always go north and the only truck was is 40 miles south - hence the above math.
i have one i bought at the home depot 3 yrs ago not a hot water one but personally i dont think you need one. i did some research and bought the best one i found. has a funny name i cant remember, will post the name when i get home first of the week or so. anyways , i have used the heck outta this thing for everything. the truck , house, cars, fence, deck, outdoor furn., you name it and have had no problems at all. i never put chemicals in it you can apply them in other ways so as not to contaminate the lines. you have access to hot water for washing and degreaser does'nt really care . it still comes clean. i am a clean freak to and the underside of the hood [motor] is spotless and treated with the same dressing that the show car gets. mine has paid for itself over and over. the only thing, i wish i would have paid the 100.00 more and got the honda engine mine has the briggs i/c 5 horse the honda was a 5 horse to. i think the honda would have been better on fuel takes about a 1/2 to 3/4 a gal to do the truck, the thing cost 279.00 has a 18' hose and a 2 position spray tip. put a quick connect on it and it takes about 10 min to get ready to use . just my experience with this one and i have done quite a bit of detail and cleaning on a professional basis with show cars and such and it is just as good as the stationary one we used. buy the way hot water for rinsing after washing is a no no. water dries to quick and leaves streaks as you go from area to area washing. keep it wet and rinse, rinse, rinse. top to bottom always top to bottom. i will post the brand in a few days. hope this helps. TNT
Thank you, Dynamite 1. I am looking forward to the information.
Broompilot, in your post number 4, you did give us the option of taking or leaving your advice, did you not? Clearly, some of us are leaving it. Why is it so important to you that people don't buy pressure washers?
Broompilot, in your post number 4, you did give us the option of taking or leaving your advice, did you not? Clearly, some of us are leaving it. Why is it so important to you that people don't buy pressure washers?
Depending on how much you want to use it, the inexpensive ones available at a place like Wally World can do a great job. If you're only gonna do your truck, you won't be putting many hours on it and it will last a long time. 1500 psi would be plenty to do a good job. I have a cheap-o 1500 psi unit, Coleman I think, from when my son was involved in amateur motocross and it did a great job of getting gobs of mud off the bike. For more extensive use, such as Dynamite talked about, you may want to look at a more expensive unit.
As far as the truck, I've never used it. I'm with Broom on this one, I just don't want to be bothered with it when I'm home. The Beacon does an excellent job of keeping the engine and under carriage looking like new, and it's hard to fight the sirens song of the big screen, an incredibly comfortable couch and a cold and frosty beverage!
As far as the truck, I've never used it. I'm with Broom on this one, I just don't want to be bothered with it when I'm home. The Beacon does an excellent job of keeping the engine and under carriage looking like new, and it's hard to fight the sirens song of the big screen, an incredibly comfortable couch and a cold and frosty beverage!
Broompilot
Veteran Expediter
Thank you Greg, since I never agree with Phil anyway even on Principal. Lets see someone who stays out for five weeks at a time maybee longer and is gona come home and use a Pressure Washer for maybee what 5 6 times a year.
Shows someone has more money than Brains, and is just looking for ways to spend it ON HIS TRUCK. I like my Truck but LOVE it. Learned long time ago, Plastic and Steel do not love you in return but according to Phil and all his Information one could look up on his truck sure looks like a ROMANCE of Plastic and Steel to me.
So thanks Phil TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT. who cares what you think anywayl
Shows someone has more money than Brains, and is just looking for ways to spend it ON HIS TRUCK. I like my Truck but LOVE it. Learned long time ago, Plastic and Steel do not love you in return but according to Phil and all his Information one could look up on his truck sure looks like a ROMANCE of Plastic and Steel to me.
So thanks Phil TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT. who cares what you think anywayl
arkjarhead
Veteran Expediter
Phil are you going to keep the pressure washer on the truck? I mean have said it yourself you only go home a couple of times a year. How long would it take you to get your money's worth out of a pressure washer? I mean it's your money do with it as you wish, but if I stayed out as much as you and your wife do I wouldn't be making that type of investment in something I hardly ever use. There is nothing wrong with how you work, just don't see where having equipment that is barely used makes sense.
I will say one thing though I like the hot water option. Both place I worked that had pressure washer had them with hot water. Seems the hot water gets the oil and grease of better. Trust me if you are running a Detroit it will get oily sooner or later.
I will say one thing though I like the hot water option. Both place I worked that had pressure washer had them with hot water. Seems the hot water gets the oil and grease of better. Trust me if you are running a Detroit it will get oily sooner or later.
Dispatched
Not a Member
BROOM -
In all seriousness, I've always held a great deal of respect towards you & your post often contain meaningful information. You're obviously a seasoned driver who actually knows the ropes and it shows. Please don't divert your positive input by joining the ranks of the "Mega-Poster / Stalker". You have way to much respect around here to lower yourself to G's level.
It seems Broompilot's rant has readers believing something incorrect. Nowhere in my post did I say I planned to use a pressure washer on my truck, or any truck for that matter. People have lots of reasons for buyng pressure washers.
There is a noteworthy differnce in behavior demonstrated here. I express an interest in buying a pressure washer and Broompilot makes faulty assumptions and rushes into a more-money-than-brains rant about it. In contrast, arkjarhead politely and respectfully requests additional information. Arkjarhead's approach serves forum members better.
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greg334
Veteran Expediter
Well Phil, you are right you didn't say a word about the truck and my post was not even remotely directed at you.
I have a cheap $150 that has served me well for 10 years, use it to clean my driveway and sometimes when my trucks (Dodge trucks) would get full of mud, I would wash them down. I also have to do the yearly clean out the ditch so water would flow thing with the power washer, it cuts the mud rather well. I wash my truck at a truck wash or if I am around one of them do it yourself RV washes, I run it in there.
My point about show cars, I mean the ones with the $8000 paint jobs not the hacked together rat rod thing, you don't use an abrasive on the paint and pressurized water is an abrasive that that pressure. Hand wash the car on a cloudy day with good soap and water.
I have a cheap $150 that has served me well for 10 years, use it to clean my driveway and sometimes when my trucks (Dodge trucks) would get full of mud, I would wash them down. I also have to do the yearly clean out the ditch so water would flow thing with the power washer, it cuts the mud rather well. I wash my truck at a truck wash or if I am around one of them do it yourself RV washes, I run it in there.
My point about show cars, I mean the ones with the $8000 paint jobs not the hacked together rat rod thing, you don't use an abrasive on the paint and pressurized water is an abrasive that that pressure. Hand wash the car on a cloudy day with good soap and water.
We've got a DeWalt 3800 with the Honda GX engine and Cat pump. It's gnarly. Cleans the aluminum siding on the house and outbuldings in a flash, the wood patio deck, not to mention the vehicles and the horse stalls. Comes with 5 heavy duty quick-change nozzles, and I got the heavy duty rotating nozzle to go along with them (pretty much replaces the 5 nozzles with one nozzle). It gets a surprising amount of use between me and my brother and stepdad, in-laws, friends, neighbors. It's bullet proof. It's more of a higher end Prosumer model, with commercial grade pump and engine, nozzles and steel-braided hose. I think it was about $1000 at Home Depot.