Hi my question is how do you make a profit when using hydro chemical chemicals which cost around $410 for the two step 55 gallons and only charge $35 a truck. I feel like no money is being made when your expenses are high. Please let me know.
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Its around $120 /$130 for a 55 gallon drum mix from Hydrochem not $410 and a drum mix will wash you round 70 + trucks. most guys are washing full rigs in 10 minutes and can wash 6 in an hr so thats $210 an hr and there’s usually 100 trucks waiting to get washed on one parking lot so no rolling up hoses to move to another location losing money and time, most guys also run 2 hot machines
at the same time so now thats 12 trucks an hr at $420 an hr . Now thats for fleet washing.
We don’t fleet wash we detail wash and stay around $200 an hr per machine.
Does that answer your question and help a little ?
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Yes it does. I totally understand I just think I was over using the chemicals and wouldn’t getting that many trucks out of it.
And also because I just ordered the two step gun just now. Before I was downstreaming the hydro chem chemicals. With the two step gun, do you think it will make a difference now applying the hydro chem chemicals at high pressure ?
absolutely! Much faster and less chemical. We run 2 guns. Wait till you get tired of that then switch to a remote system. But both systems are highly efficient. And you do have a metering system correct ?
you should throw your #1 down quick then concentrate more on Appling your #2. Like your washing it then a quick rinse. Once you get the hang of it you’ll be happy. Its usually 20:1 for #1 soap and 25:1 for #2 soap. So a metering system is key to save chemicals and profits.
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Yes I do have a metering system.
Awesome! Your ready now !
I appreciate that very much. Have you tried ordering chems from Miguel Soza? I found out he sells two steps soaps as well.
I have not. His cost per wash is higher and the #2soaps are powder. @GeorgeNicholson has and said there alright but will say the same as I did. Remember with Hydrochem the Shipping is steep but you can get up to 32 buckets on 1 order. I buy it buy the pallet so Shipping is free. You can’t do better than Hydrochem on cost and effectiveness imo. Miguel uses and sells NW chemicals. Hydrochem makes there own chemicals in their lab in Michigan and the customer support is top notch. Hydrochem has a fb page as well but you have to be a customer to get in. Good intel on there as well, look at what hcs400 did on a building we washed, I highly recommend getting some.
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Yeah just asking because I did use Hyrdo Chem before but I downstreamed it. Now with the 2 step gun on the way I feel like I can emphasize the wash even better but I think I’ll buy more chemical to reduce shipping cost.
What chems are you using ?
You are on the right track with Hydro-Chem soaps. I’ve used a bunch of soaps and my boy @Hotshot yelled at me to stop chasing soaps. That was the best advice I have ever received if you want an honest answer.
I’ve used Miguel’s soaps (NW Chemical). Their acid was halfway decent, did a little too much whitening for my liking and didn’t get me the satin finish I like to see. Their #2 soap worked, but it’s a powdered based soap and I ABSOLUTELY HATE!!! powdered soaps. You can never get them fully diluted and mixed and you’ll have powder in your soaps.
As far as pricing goes, you won’t buy another acid/soap combo that has a better price per wash than you can get with Hydro-Chem without brushing. I am averaging 1/2-3/4 gallon of acid and 3/4-1 gallon of soap on a straight truck. When I was worried about the pennies when it came to washing I was able to acid 110 straight trucks and soap 80-90 straight trucks. Now I just apply and move on and not worry too much about how much I am using…but trust me, I am using a hell of a lot less than @Hotshot. But we both wash two different types of fleets. I was quite a few LTL fleets and propane fleets, whereas he is washing $200k rigs. My fleets need to look good at 60MPH and that’s what they are paying for.
As far as the 2 step gun and remote. I love my remote! It’s nicer when dealing with larger fleets as the fatigue doesn’t set in as fast as hauling that 2 step gun and hose assembly. I wash a day cab in 8-10 minutes a piece. If it’s by itself away from everything and I can walk around it unimpeded then I can wash it in 6 minutes with the remote. But we all know that they are never that far apart.
If you are able to keep your gun perpendicular to the wash surface you’ll move faster. Keep your gun hand further away from the washing surface, if that makes sense.
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@Hotshot i think i understand and basically your saying to give the gun as straight as possible for the best wash. Now what does this remote do if you dont mind me asking.
Well a 2 step gun requires 3 lines, your wash hose and 2 ,1/4" poly soap lines and usually wrapped in a sleeve to keep it all together and your 2 step gun with all the apparatus weighs about 5 pounds or more on the end of you gun, so its friggin heavy after a while, A remote system gets rid of all the 1/4 soap lines and the 2 step apparatus gets mounted on your trailer and you get a remote to control your soaps. So its basically Downstreaming the same way you always have but with pressure like the 2 step gun. There are pro’s and cons of both. 2 step gun is instant soap without waiting for it but heavy. A remote is alot lighter and easier to maneuver but you have to wait on soap, like 7 seconds per 100ft. Just personal preference, I suggest using the 2 step gun first just like your doing.the 2 step gun is the kiss factor for employees, keep it simple stupid. Where the remote requires a little more finesse of where and when to end your soaps. @GeorgeNicholson has both and loves the remote better because he’s old and beat up like me.
Again, what soaps are you using?
Yes i am using hydro chem chemicals but i downstream them
Ohh ok make senses i appreciate the explanation… im going to try to gun first and see how it works. Im
At like 20-25 mins a truck by downstreaming hydrochem right now.
Yeah I get the brand. But what kind. We usually use quick silver and dyna clean. New fellas usually run super sonic and grizzly. Then there’s polish safe soaps like counterpunch and panda that we use alot.
Yeah so Gabe from hydro chem gave me supersonic and grizzley. Should i switch it up?
