Built in a Garage, Proven on the Job: Jerry McMillen's Sirocco Vacs and BullDogPro Washers
If you've been on this board for any length of time, you know Jerry McMillen. A lot of you know him as "Sirocco Jerry." He's had his own equipment forum here for years, and he's answered more pump, unloader, and vacuum questions than I can count.
Jerry started his company, Cleaning System Specialists, Inc., in his garage back in 1986. Today it's PressureWasher.net, out of El Cajon, California. They build two lines I want to talk about: Sirocco Performance Vacuums and BullDogPro pressure washers.
Here's why I trust Jerry. He's a troubleshooter first. His whole thing is "we know where the bugs live." He builds equipment to be serviceable, reliable, and cheap to run over the long haul, not just cheap to buy. And he's spent years teaching wash-water control at industry events and helping cities and contractors with Best Management Practices. When the guy building your equipment also understands the water rules, that's worth something.
Sirocco Performance Vacuums: reclaim that actually keeps up
Sirocco PEV2/30 portable electric vacuum system | Sirocco SGV-series stationary vacuum
If you do commercial work, sooner or later somebody's going to ask what happens to your wash water. Fleet washing, parking lots, garages, restaurant pads. You need to capture it. That's where the Sirocco vacs come in.
Jerry's take on picking one is simple: the jobsite tells you what it needs. Here's how the lineup breaks down, straight from his product pages:
PEV series (portable electric, cart frame)
Jerry says the PEV2 can run his 21" Vacuuming Surface Cleaner at 150 feet against a 6 GPM pressure washer. That's a lot of vac for 120 volts.
SGV series (gas engine, stationary)
When you need serious lift and long hose runs, you step up to the SGVs. These run Sutorbilt positive-displacement blowers with electric-start engines:
Jerry says these "suck very hard and can collapse a 55 gallon drum." So he puts them on heavy-duty D.O.T.-approved 30 gallon waste drums that are sandblasted and powder-coated. You also get camlock connections, an auto pump-out, vibration isolators, and a hard-surface squeegee wand.
What I like most: the built-in filtration is designed to keep floating oils and greasy debris from getting pumped out. Jerry's pages note that in most areas the water can then go to landscaping or the sanitary sewer, as long as you also watch dissolved pollutants and pH. Always check your local rules. But that's the kind of thinking you want from a reclaim supplier.
BullDogPro pressure washers: built to be worked on
BullDogPro SCG8-4000K | BullDogPro SCG6.5-4000v
Jerry's motto for the BullDogPro line is "reliability, abuseability, serviceability, and the rapid elimination of downtime." That's a contractor's priority list right there.
Here's what stands out:
A few models worth a look:
They've got hot water units, electric models, and diesel heaters too. And if you want a full trailer or truck-bed system, Jerry builds custom. He calls his shop "the Hot Rod Shop for this industry," and he means it.
Bottom line
Jerry builds equipment the way he'd want to fix it: simple, serviceable, and made to last. If you're getting into commercial work and need to control your wash water, put a Sirocco vac on your short list. If you want a belt-drive rig built for the long haul, give the BullDogPro line a look.
My advice: call Jerry and tell him about your typical job. He'll talk you through what you actually need. No wasted money.
Where to find them
Check their site for current pricing and lead times.
Got questions about reclaim or picking a rig? Post 'em right here on the board, or text me at (480) 522-5227.
Ron Musgraves
Pressure Washing Institute (PressureWashingInstitute.org) / RonMusgraves.com
If you've been on this board for any length of time, you know Jerry McMillen. A lot of you know him as "Sirocco Jerry." He's had his own equipment forum here for years, and he's answered more pump, unloader, and vacuum questions than I can count.
Jerry started his company, Cleaning System Specialists, Inc., in his garage back in 1986. Today it's PressureWasher.net, out of El Cajon, California. They build two lines I want to talk about: Sirocco Performance Vacuums and BullDogPro pressure washers.
Here's why I trust Jerry. He's a troubleshooter first. His whole thing is "we know where the bugs live." He builds equipment to be serviceable, reliable, and cheap to run over the long haul, not just cheap to buy. And he's spent years teaching wash-water control at industry events and helping cities and contractors with Best Management Practices. When the guy building your equipment also understands the water rules, that's worth something.
Sirocco Performance Vacuums: reclaim that actually keeps up
Sirocco PEV2/30 portable electric vacuum system | Sirocco SGV-series stationary vacuum
If you do commercial work, sooner or later somebody's going to ask what happens to your wash water. Fleet washing, parking lots, garages, restaurant pads. You need to capture it. That's where the Sirocco vacs come in.
Jerry's take on picking one is simple: the jobsite tells you what it needs. Here's how the lineup breaks down, straight from his product pages:
PEV series (portable electric, cart frame)
- PEV1/15: One 13.5 amp, 120 volt 3-stage motor. 145" water lift at 100 CFM. 15 gallon waste tank. Needs about 2,500 watts continuous.
- PEV2/30: Two 120 volt 3-stage motors. 145" water lift at 200 CFM. 30 gallon tank with dual inlets, so you can run two tools at once.
- PEV3/30: Three 13.5 amp 3-stage motors, 300 CFM, 30 gallon tank. This one needs a 230 volt connection.
Jerry says the PEV2 can run his 21" Vacuuming Surface Cleaner at 150 feet against a 6 GPM pressure washer. That's a lot of vac for 120 volts.
SGV series (gas engine, stationary)
When you need serious lift and long hose runs, you step up to the SGVs. These run Sutorbilt positive-displacement blowers with electric-start engines:
- SGV3-13HR: 14 HP Vanguard, 3" Sutorbilt blower, rated 300 CFM.
- SGV3-18HR: 18 HP Briggs & Stratton (19 HP Kohler EFI optional), 3" Sutorbilt, rated 350 CFM at 18" of mercury lift, continuous.
- SGV3-23: 23 HP Briggs, 4" Sutorbilt, 450 CFM at 14" Hg.
- SGV4-29 / SGV4-31: 500 CFM at 16" and 14" Hg.
- SGV4-35: 35 HP Briggs, 4" Sutorbilt, 550 CFM at 14" Hg, with two 30 gallon waste tanks.
Jerry says these "suck very hard and can collapse a 55 gallon drum." So he puts them on heavy-duty D.O.T.-approved 30 gallon waste drums that are sandblasted and powder-coated. You also get camlock connections, an auto pump-out, vibration isolators, and a hard-surface squeegee wand.
What I like most: the built-in filtration is designed to keep floating oils and greasy debris from getting pumped out. Jerry's pages note that in most areas the water can then go to landscaping or the sanitary sewer, as long as you also watch dissolved pollutants and pH. Always check your local rules. But that's the kind of thinking you want from a reclaim supplier.
BullDogPro pressure washers: built to be worked on
BullDogPro SCG8-4000K | BullDogPro SCG6.5-4000v
Jerry's motto for the BullDogPro line is "reliability, abuseability, serviceability, and the rapid elimination of downtime." That's a contractor's priority list right there.
Here's what stands out:
- Belt drive. The gas units are belt-driven, so the pump runs slower and lasts longer.
- AR tri-plunger pumps. On the bigger units, they're built to Jerry's spec with a forged brass head, bronze rods, stainless valves, and ceramic pistons.
- Dual-feed plumbing. On the SCG8-4000K, a 1¼" tank supply runs through a Y-filter to ¾" feed lines on both sides of the pump. Jerry says with that plumbing, these pumps can live 20 to 25 years with daily use.
- Heavy frames. The vertical frame is triple-step powder-coated, with an easy belt-tensioning system, belt guard, and vibration isolators.
- Real engines. Briggs & Stratton Vanguard, Kohler, and Honda, depending on the model, with low-oil shutdown and easy-access oil drains.
A few models worth a look:
- SCG8-4000K: 8 GPM at 4,000 PSI. 26.5/29 HP Kohler, belt driven. Pulser valve, dual-wand manifold, and a 36" insulated stainless wand. Big flow for house washing and big pressure for long hose runs. (Needs a remote fuel tank, sold separately.)
- SCG12-4000: The big dog. Dual AR pumps on a 37 HP Vanguard, 12 GPM at 4,000 PSI.
- SCG6.5-4000v: 6.5 GPM at 4,000 PSI on a 23 HP Vanguard.
- PCG4-4000: Portable aluminum cart, 14 HP Briggs, belt drive, 4 GPM AR pump, pull-start or electric-start. Good for a starter or a second machine.
They've got hot water units, electric models, and diesel heaters too. And if you want a full trailer or truck-bed system, Jerry builds custom. He calls his shop "the Hot Rod Shop for this industry," and he means it.
Bottom line
Jerry builds equipment the way he'd want to fix it: simple, serviceable, and made to last. If you're getting into commercial work and need to control your wash water, put a Sirocco vac on your short list. If you want a belt-drive rig built for the long haul, give the BullDogPro line a look.
My advice: call Jerry and tell him about your typical job. He'll talk you through what you actually need. No wasted money.
Where to find them
- PressureWasher.net: pressurewasher.net
- Sirocco Performance Vacuums: pressurewasher.net/collections/sirocco-performance-vacuums
- BullDogPro Pressure Washers: pressurewasher.net/collections/bulldogpro-pressure-washers
- How to choose a vacuum: pressurewasher.net/pages/how-to-choose-a-vacuum
- Call: 1-800-400-CLEAN (2532) or (619) 448-8111
Check their site for current pricing and lead times.
Got questions about reclaim or picking a rig? Post 'em right here on the board, or text me at (480) 522-5227.
Ron Musgraves
Pressure Washing Institute (PressureWashingInstitute.org) / RonMusgraves.com
