Hey guys! New member here with sort of a strange situation.
I am debating between a Pressure-Pro EB5525HGE which comes with a General Pump TSS1021SG (not sure what SG stands for) TSS1021 General Pump. It is rated for 4.5 gpm/3500 psi, but Pressure Pro configured it to supposedly 5.5 gpm at 2500 psi although the pump manual lists 5.6 gpm @ 1700 psi at 1450 rpm. It comes with a K7 unloader (flow actuated).
The other unit I am considering is a Karcher 1.107-512.0 (HD 5.0/30 GeB) which supposedly is rated for 5.0 GPM @ 3000 psi even though it comes with a General Pump ES2013S. GP website says that pump is rated for 5.55 gpm at 3600 psi but I don’t understand if Karcher is listing 5.0 @ 3000 psi for some reason (I emailed their tech support asking if it was 5.0 or 5.55 like GP lists). The Karcher comes with a VRT3 unloader (pressure actuated) rated for 8 gpm @ 4500 psi.
I am leaning towards the Pressure-Pro from pressuretek (online), a local dealer (PressureWorks in Fredericksburg, VA that will match pressuretek pricing if I pick it up, about an hour drive), and the closest local dealer (Capital Pressure Supply in Manassas, VA) offering a similar belted cold-water ~5 gpm cart Karcher 1.107-512.0 (HD 5.0/30 GeB) for ~$2899(? not sure if this is before or after tax). I have been thinking about this pressure washer upgrade for a few years now and originally started off with an electric Kranzle 1122TST (1400 PSI, 2.1 GPM) and moved into gas when someone gave me their old Karcher G2400HH for free.
I want the cart instead of a skid because I plan to move the unit inside or into my shed during the winter, but I expect it to live outside in my driveway with a cover most of the year with a 50 gallon buffer tank. I don’t do this for work, but if I had a 5.5 gpm cart with a 50 gallon buffer tank, maybe I could earn some money on the weekends just pressure washing driveways or siding for people in my neighborhood? At the minimum I’ll be able to surface clean my own decks.
Do you guys think I should lean towards one particular direction (Pressure-Pro or Karcher)? Supposedly, the local dealers will handle warranty on their end if there is a defect and the Karcher has a longer warranty than the one offered by both Honda and GP. Though I think as long as I follow the maintenance schedule, I shouldn’t need much support once I am set up.
Both units come with batteries (all electric start GX390) and fuel tanks, the Karcher comes with a hose and gun and is in-stock compared to the Pressure-Pro (drop shipped from manufacturer, will take 4 weeks after ordering to ship).
I already have everything except the buffer tank that I currently use with my 2.5 gpm (residential) gas Karcher. See video of it leaking at inlet here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z2A74y3YA3qovi9QeoYC9gXKAZJPKvs9/view?usp=drive_link
I wanted a Udor pump because I have read good things about their longevity, but maybe it doesn’t matter if I’m only pressure washing 30 minutes to an hour weekly. I’ve never read good things about Karcher before, but maybe that’s only because I only know their residential side? The karcher dealer said they are more premium than BE or Pressure-Pro, but I don’t really understand what makes it premium given Pressure-Pro includes the fuel tank and battery as well. Maybe it’s because it comes with a gun and hose? I know the Karcher uses foam-filled maintenance free tires, but their tech support makes me question the “premium” nature of the brand.
It probably does NOT make sense at all to step up to the cart VB8035HGEA406 for my purposes, right? I don’t foresee myself fitting this in the back of a SUV (units are a few pounds shy of 200 lbs) and I don’t have a truck with a liftgate or trailer. That probably limits me from taking the pressure washer anywhere else unless I rent a uhaul.
Lastly, do you guys just put low octane gas in your GX390 like 86, or do you go for 93? I don’t want to bother driving an hour to Warrenton and back to get ethanol free fuel and engineered fuel is crazy expensive. Thanks for reading.
