@router commission based pay isn’t legal in California. Have to pay minimum wage and overtime. It’s super cool. Luckily this is more of an experiment for me right now. No employees other than maybe a helper. I’ll be doing the washing myself so I can learn. I want to learn it myself and then teach people to take over for me. Eventually. I’m sure it will take me 2 ish years before I hire employees and that’s fine. I take my time learning new things.
Spend 9k-12.5k and get a hot machine with the spec’s you need. Keep it covered and clean and take special care of it with routine services. Sell it for 6.5k-10k once when you decide it’s too much work for the money that’s in it. If you’re dumb like I was and decide to stay in the field well bam you have the equipment you need and you’re ahead of the game lol
After you sell off the equipment you will be in it for the exact same cost you budgeted. When you start training for a marathon you go out and buy the best running shoes. DO NOT attempt to try it wearing Crocs!
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@Hotshot did a ton of research pricing out various hot machines for fleet before he ended up with his diesel machine so maybe he’ll chime in and let you know who currently has the most decent machine at the best price. You could get away with something around the 6k dollar mark for a year and half before you start having issues with it. I built all my units I ran so I’m no help there.
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Right on, I hope he chimes in. I’ll take all the knowledge I can get!
You can always just go out and wash with what you have now, I started with a 4 gpm machine, was it quick? No, was it cheaper ? Yes. Did it get the job done until I could upgrade? Absolutely.
Our minimum gpm machines now are 5.5 gpm machines. Thats our sweet spot.
I also still have my old 4gpm machine with a gx390 and took off the 4gpm pump and installed a 5.5 gpm pump. Works great at 5.5 gpm at 2900 psi.
It can get stupid crazy on machine prices here, I just bought a all SS Landa all Diesel marine grade unit.Did i pay that ?hell no. I try to buy slightly used with a 100 hrs or a lil more.
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I’d also seriously look into polishing if you have a shop, we polish rigs here in Arkansassy for $600 to $1200 frequently. And you being a numbers guy it really only takes under a thousand to get started.
Just food for thought, Nevertheless good luck to ya.
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@Hotshot Thanks for the insight! I’m about half way through the giant fleet washing thread you, @GeorgeNicholson, and @dperez have going. That’s a lot of info to dig through, but man is it worth it. I think I’m going to take yalls advice and just stick with this setup until it goes out, and then use a 5.5 GPM pump on this unit and see how it does for me.
I was pricing new machines and they are really spendy. I searched locally (within 100 miles) on most classified sites and couldn’t find many used ones that weren’t either beat to heck or the same price as a new one. where have you had luck finding used equipment? online auctions?
I would love to get into polishing as well, what products do you like? Renegade seems to be popular with the local chrome shops, but I’m not sure if that is for their quality, or profit margin re selling them to consumers?
There is a facebook page for pressure washing equipment sales. You can check that out as well to see if there are any deals around you.
Once my pump goes out on my Landa I plan on putting a 5.5gpm pump on it. I don’t need 3500psi (nor will you when you get into fleets). I currently soap at around 1700psi and rinse at 2000psi. Only thing that sucks is dragging that damn 2 step hose around.
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Not at all, where can I read more about it?
Its a @Schertz box kinda thing, but its all high pressure, so no more 2 step gun. Hit the remote for chems and no more lines and heavy gun to tote around
I don’t like the idea of running soaps thru 100’ of line before switching. I’m loving the 2step gun, just hate the extra weight
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Im gonna give her a shot.
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@Hotshot are you referring to the new box coming out from Miguel? I was just talking to him about a 2 step gun and he showed me his new design that will allow high pressure soaping with just the pw hose. It’s a slick setup.
@GeorgeNicholson I just ran across a Landa 4.7/3500 machine. A PGDC5 with a vanguard motor on it for $3500. Has about 440 hours on it. Seems to run decently. Seem like a decent price for a used one?
I got a PGHW, 4.8gpm/3500psi and it’s sitting around 1300 hours. Love it. I’d like more gpm’s but the 4.8 works well especially at sights with limited water access
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I’m gonna have to do some research here
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Yes sir thats the one. Its basically like we used to DS , Wait 7 seconds for #1 then same for #2 soap but your no longer lugging a heavy gun around and 3 hose’s and its all high pressure ran off a remote, cons are that you don’t have instant #1 or #2 at the gun which is nice, I agree with @GeorgeNicholson on that. But that gun will make an old man outta you in a full day of washin. I’ll just use a poly sprayer of #1 and #2 by my side for touch up work.
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@SurfaceTherapy on here has a real nice new Miguel 2 step gun for sale with brand new hoses from Miguel hes selling, 100% ready and plug n play. never been used. @AxisMobileRepair. Miguel is still beta testing his pressure remote box so it will be a while till its up for sale, His 2 step gun is pretty impressive.
