Hi Everyone, I have been using a Tundra extended cab with an 8 foot bed for the last couple years and it serves us well. We have it wrapped like most of you out there, and as you know it really sets us apart from the other guys! ( SWS training at work)
However, when we get into larger production for multi family and commercial, there are some times where I just wish we did not have so many pieces of equipment, safety harnesses, tools and various items that quickly become disorganized in the back seat area or in the bed of the truck. Also as the new skids are coming out, we are all seeing the value of saving time by investing in the right tools, like more hose reels for water and solution.
SO, for our second spray truck I went with an F350 Quad cab to keep that 'truck' look, but decided to try a 9 foot flatbed for the equipment. ( 106" x 80" )
I already have lots and lots of ideas planned for how to organize this truck, but I thought it could make for an interesting discussion. The wood flatbed will need to plated over and of course the whole thing will be 'rhinolined" or sprayed with a protective coating.
Give me your ideas or advice! What would you do if you could? Any ideas?
Heres the truck, we just put some diecut logos on it for now, but the wrap will be in the works soon. . .
It's funny you did this, as I have been kicking a flat bed around for 2 years now. I have three pick ups and need to add another truck this year. I have been seriously considering the flatbed. I will give you a call tomorrow to talk.
I have also kicked this idea around. I have thought of mounting diamond plate tool boxes around most of the sides and front, and maybe some under the flatbed, too. The reels then can be mounted anywhere on top of the toolboxes. I would also mount some stuff to the rear window cage, like water-fed and extension pole tubes and spare rolls of garden hose that are not on the reel.
The other idea for really high production would be a custom skid that was longer with 5-7 modules- two blend units, one or two bulk storage modules, one or two bulk rinse modules, and a pure water module. $$$
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Chad A. Eneix, President, Water Dragon Inc. chad@waterdragoncleaning.com
Store as much as possible under bed, especially for the small, loose items like pump sprayer, brushes etc., the items you forget so that you arent constantly climbing onto truck bed. Put batteries under bed.
Hi y'all, thank you very much for all the nice suggestions! John, I was dead set on a box cab-over, but in the end it just seemed like the truck would be more pro and efficient, I know a guy slipped and fell out of his van, cracked 3 ribs..
Plus the SH fumes factor and the "hey what ya got in there.." and so flatbed it was..
Tim, batteries are for sure going under the bed! Gonna wire up 3 six volts and add the stealth charger system. No dead batteries! I think it will be easier to maintain them as well.
Chad , great suggestions, seems like we are all on the same page. i will be adding boxes on top and bottom, then sliding the skid down the middle. WS thinking of stacking 2 eighteen inch electric rewind hose reeels for my water supply and water rinse hoses. also, even though my slogan is 'relax we dont use pressure' this thing will have a 4gpm P/W and hoses on it. Sometimes we need more than a booster pump..
Any ideas where i could get a nice ladder rack setup that extended over the cab? Looking into Highway Industries..
As we progress in the next couple months I will tally up the items and keep everyone posted.
I would definitely go 8gpm on that pressure washer with an extra electric reel for your high pressure hose. You might want to think about hot water for that rig as well.
I would definitely go 8gpm on that pressure washer with an extra electric reel for your high pressure hose. You might want to think about hot water for that rig as well.
I agree with Jacob on the 8gl/min, hot water machine, but just remember you WILL need a couple hundred gallon buffer water tank for that unit, which will take up space.We use 5.5 gl/min units all day for residential work and light commercial and they are fine.
I have 5.5gpm machines, and can do any pressure washing job all day long, even larger commercial, and I almost never want for more volume. In fact, for several applications, I put 4.0 tips on to restrict my volume a little. This just makes the unloader work a little harder, and theoretically wears it out sooner.
I only wish for an 8gpm machine when doing parking garages or huge warehouse floors. If you are looking to do a lot of those, then do go for the 8gpm. However, more volume equals more water supply and runoff issues. If you are only going to have one hot water unit, 5.5 is the sweet spot. We did every Wal*art in the state of Wisconsin x4 per year with 4.0gpm machines, and my guy could do 2, sometimes 3 per night depending on geography.
For the "ideal" commercial truck, I would have a 4.0gpm, 3200-4000 psi, cold water unit on board, along with all my SoftWashing stuff. The reel on the truck would have 300' of hot water high pressure hose. I would then have a 5.5gpm, 3500psi hot water unit custom built on to a receiver hitch platform. Then, the hot water unit can be brought along, without a trailer, when you need it. I would have 4 heavy-duty trailer jacks with caster wheels mounted to each corner of the machine. You can roll it over to the truck, crank it up, plug it in to the truck, then retract the wheels. If needed at the job site, now you can use the wheels to roll it away from the truck and use it anywhere the truck cannot go.
I would rent the 8gpm machine when I felt I really needed it, which for me, so far, has been once ever. Of course, I have two 5.5 gpm machines, which I prefer, because then they can work separately, or together.
Ideally, I also would have all robot employees, and only service customers who agree to five year contracts at $400/hr labor rates.
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Chad A. Eneix, President, Water Dragon Inc. chad@waterdragoncleaning.com
