What pressure washer?

[Triple Shine]

Hey all.

Starting up a mobile buisness come spring. Ill be using a 75 gal water tank in my pickup truck. Ive been researching what washer to buy that will draw my standing water in the tank and allow me to wash vehicles without frying the pump.

Someone recommended a Cat or General pump as opposed to cheaper models. However, I just read a manual online for a 2700 psi Cat pump from Northern Tools and it said NOT to use a standing water source....

My plan was to buy a Honda GX gas engine and bolt up a direct drive pump to it. Just confused now what to buy / use for a pump. My tank will be mounted at the same level as my pump - on the bed of the truck - so I dont see it providing much flow pressure on its own.

Whats everyone else using....help?

Thx
Jon

 

[GoldBl4d3]

Hey all.

Starting up a mobile buisness come spring. Ill be using a 75 gal water tank in my pickup truck. Ive been researching what washer to buy that will draw my standing water in the tank and allow me to wash vehicles without frying the pump.

Someone recommended a Cat or General pump as opposed to cheaper models. However, I just read a manual online for a 2700 psi Cat pump from Northern Tools and it said NOT to use a standing water source....

My plan was to buy a Honda GX gas engine and bolt up a direct drive pump to it. Just confused now what to buy / use for a pump. My tank will be mounted at the same level as my pump - on the bed of the truck - so I dont see it providing much flow pressure on its own.

Whats everyone else using....help?

Thx
Jon

In all honesty. Buying a gas pressure washer is a waist. You have high maintenance. Hi gas prices. 2700psi is 100 more psi than u need.

Get a greenworks 1700psi electric pressure washer. Thing is tough as nails and I love it. Its not cheap like the karcher brand crap.

 

[Vegas Transplant]

In all honesty. Buying a gas pressure washer is a waist. You have high maintenance. Hi gas prices. 2700psi is 100 more psi than u need.

Get a greenworks 1700psi electric pressure washer. Thing is tough as nails and I love it. Its not cheap like the karcher brand crap.

For real?
So what do you use when electricity is an issue? Townhomes, condos, business parks, fundraisers, fleetlots, shopping centers, etc. and the list goes on.

 

[GoldBl4d3]

For real?
So what do you use when electricity is an issue? Townhomes, condos, business parks, fundraisers, fleetlots, shopping centers, etc. and the list goes on.

Small portable generator. Honda has a lot of great ones. They use very little gas. As a gas pressure washer will go thro a tank in 20 minutes. Plus you have the constant starting and stopping it to detail and wash.

Plus, if your going to be starting a detail business, you need electricity for your polisher, lights etc.

So buy a portable generator( small, quiet one) and problem solved.

 

[Triple Shine]

Thx for the replies.

Thing is for me...I need something that'll draw water from the tank. If I bought an electric I'd need to also buy a 12v on demand pump and figure out how to wire it in etc...

If I go gas, I can always expand my services to cleaning other things too if its slow.

Lots of gas out there but what ones will draw from a standing tank? Most say not to that I've seen so far......

 

[Vegas Transplant]

Small portable generator. Honda has a lot of great ones. They use very little gas. As a gas pressure washer will go thro a tank in 20 minutes. Plus you have the constant starting and stopping it to detail and wash.

Plus, if your going to be starting a detail business, you need electricity for your polisher, lights etc.

So buy a portable generator( small, quiet one) and problem solved.

But now you're running two machines. To each their own and yours is good advice.

^^^

In You have high maintenance.

I'll be looking into the smaller generator next year if I'm still detailing for dollars, but this is my rarely used go to.

 

[g26er]

I'd like to know as well what PWs can draw from a tank (electric or gas). I'm about to get an Everflo on demand pump, but would prefer if I didn't have to.

I was going to go with a custom PW setup and mount it to a skid, that is:
Predator 7HP engine $99 from Harbor Freight and extremely reliable from past experience with the Harbor Freight 3400/4000 generator that uses the same engine.
Comet AX series 2.5GPM 2700PSI pump for $149.

BUT I'd need a pressurized source.

 

[Triple Shine]

See thats my dilemma.

I could buy any old washer out there as long as I bought an in line on demand pump with enough pressure to supply it. Im using a 3500W genny too like most others. Issue is...the in line pump is extra hassle, and cant just be plugged into the genny. Most 12v transformers that I would plug into the genny to run the pump are only 7-8 amps and less.

They arent designed for such a large draw, the pump I looked at drew 9 amps...cant seem to find a bigger transformer that would run it.

Just looking to keep it simple by buying a PW thatll draw water from the tank.

 

[g26er]

See thats my dilemma.

I could buy any old washer out there as long as I bought an in line on demand pump with enough pressure to supply it. Im using a 3500W genny too like most others. Issue is...the in line pump is extra hassle, and cant just be plugged into the genny. Most 12v transformers that I would plug into the genny to run the pump are only 7-8 amps and less.

They arent designed for such a large draw, the pump I looked at drew 9 amps...cant seem to find a bigger transformer that would run it.

Just looking to keep it simple by buying a PW thatll draw water from the tank.

FWIW: Here is a 3.3GPM on demand pump that is 115v AC. That way there is no need in figuring out a 12v supply with enough amperage: SHURflo Industrial Pump — 198 GPH, 115 Volt, 1/2in., Model# 2088-594-154 | Utility Pumps| Northern Tool + Equipment

Hope the link is okay since it's not a competitor

But, it's still just another piece in the mix I'd rather not have and I know you're thinking the same thing.

 

[Triple Shine]

Ahhh yes thanks. So that eliminates the power issue.

I guess I'm just wondering what is everyone currently using to make their systems work?
I seen tons of mobile setups on here...just trying to figure out if theyre just hard on their pumps..or what.

Ive passed up a few real good deals on gas pressure washers lately only because I was afraid they wouldnt work with the standing non pressurized water. Im thinking maybe go ahead and buy a deal with a cheap pump then just replace it with a General or Comet when it dies. Its a simple bolt up install anyway....

Just want to do things right the first time not spend a ton of dough when I dont need to. Heck I could even use my Simonize 2000 psi electric I currently have if I bought an electric pump but I dont want to mickey mouse it....

 

[g26er]

It seems to me that a lot of people use a way overly sized tank filled with enough water to create a little more pressure to increase the flow. I'm too scared to try it though. I've also seen some building a 4" or so platforms for the tank to lift it up getting a little bit more help from gravity.

Please post what you end up doing and how it works out for you.

 

[215Detailing]

I'd like to know as well what PWs can draw from a tank (electric or gas). I'm about to get an Everflo on demand pump, but would prefer if I didn't have to.

I was going to go with a custom PW setup and mount it to a skid, that is:
Predator 7HP engine $99 from Harbor Freight and extremely reliable from past experience with the Harbor Freight 3400/4000 generator that uses the same engine.
Comet AX series 2.5GPM 2700PSI pump for $149.

BUT I'd need a pressurized source.

KRANZLE has an electric unit that draws from a static source(Barrel-tank-pool. etc.)
I believe all KARCHER electric modelscan draw from a standing source
and Karcher even has a gas model that you can use so no extra pump neededgo online to big store that sale building (HOME) materials with the Orange logo with the KARCHER you have a purchase another hose

 

[Vegas Transplant]

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/33772-mobile-detailing-water-pump.html

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...etup-pickup-truck-mr-sparkle-wagon-2-0-a.html

 

[g26er]

KRANZLE has an electric unit that draws from a static source(Barrel-tank-pool. etc.)
I believe all KARCHER electric modelscan draw from a standing source
and Karcher even has a gas model that you can use so no extra pump neededgo online to big store that sale building (HOME) materials with the Orange logo with the KARCHER you have a purchase another hose

"The commercial grade brass pump is designed with non-corrosive, tempered steel pistons, and is the only self-priming pump in the industry that can siphon from standing water or a collected water source."

Nice!!! Thanks!

 

[Gurge]

I went electric instead of gas. In my tacoma I carry a 45 gal tank, optima blue top, flojet pump, rapid reel, which feeds a karcher PW

the pump only turns on where the valve is opened at the end (on demand pump). The blue top is for powering the flojet pump only and it is not hard wired to the truck (although wiring to the alt with an isolator switch may be a wiser idea). I just try to hook up the battery charger every now and again to juice it up

 

[Bunky]

The nice thing about the Kranzle is that will last and if you have an issue you can usually repair it. It is not just toss it and find a new one. For detailing, you really do not need super high GPM.

 

[Triple Shine]

Ouch! I checked out the Kranzle....big bucks!

Love the Mr Sparkle truck thanks for all those pics. Great job.

The more I think on it the more I think I might just grab a used decent Honda GX 5-6 hp engine and buy a general pump or something comparable and bolt it up. Buy an on demand water pump to plumb in line before the PW, get a reel and 50' of hose, hook to the tank n go.

I can grab the eng for about 250 then the pump for a few hundred.

I'm mostly curious what is most popular with all of you on here and what works best?

 

[GoldBl4d3]

If your worried about a pump, you have two options. Put the hose at the bottom of the tank and allow the weight of the water to push it. Or maybe hook up an air pressure supply. So that u can purchase and air tank and keep it lightly pressurized. Not really a good solution though.

But have an electric pressure washer with a small portable generator is the most universal setup you can have. Adding a 12v pump is no big deal. Just get a 12v battery or run it from your generator.

 

[ImWatchdog]

I've never used it for washing cars. But I have used a mobile setup to pressure wash other things. I have a home made chemical sprayer setup I pull behind a garden tractor. I use the tank & 12v Shur-Flo on demand pump on it to supply my 3200psi 4gpm pressure washer. The small tractor battery runs the Shur-Flo long enough to empty the 55-gallon tank & still start the tractor afterwards. So I don't think powering a 12v pump from your truck should be an issue. As far as pressure washers go, mine is a 11hp Honda GX with an AR pump. Neither engine nor pump has given a minutes trouble in 12 years. Always changed oil in pump/engine, stored indoors (constant temperature), & used non-ethanol gas.

 

[215Detailing]

I went electric instead of gas. In my tacoma I carry a 45 gal tank, optima blue top, flojet pump, rapid reel, which feeds a karcher PW

the pump only turns on where the valve is opened at the end (on demand pump). The blue top is for powering the flojet pump only and it is not hard wired to the truck (although wiring to the alt with an isolator switch may be a wiser idea). I just try to hook up the battery charger every now and again to juice it up

Now that look like a SWEET SETUP real space saver equipment wise