Equipment Setup For a New Contractor

PWINoob

New member
Hey Everyone!

Long time Skulker second time poster! [Just introduced myself on the new member section a few hours ago.]

Some forums frown upon a new member posting a question without putting in some leg work replying to posts but as my username implies I'm kind of a newbie when it comes to this industry. Everyone has to start somewhere and I think this is an excellent place to start.

I have the LLC for my company pending and my permit with the city after I get the paperwork back. I want to do this correctly and not be a company that comes and goes but stays for the long haul, expands, and has knowledge to give back in the future.

My business will primarily focus on docks (I live on a lake), decks, driveways, and the occasional siding job. I picked a smaller machine that I can maneuver down closer to the waters edge which is at times far from the road. From what I read around the forum it seems I may be kicking myself for this later due to the low GPM but I am also running on a small budget to get started. I have worked construction and landscaping for the last few years in this area and have developed a somewhat decent client base.

I would appreciate any feedback you can give me regarding my choices as it is still well within the return period and I would like to get the best head start possible. I purchased most of these things a few days ago a few have arrived already. Some of the things on this list I will be purchasing on monday.


Equipment List:

4000 PSI 4.0 GPM Honda GX390 13 HP Belt Drive w/ CAT triplex plunger pump with electric start Made by Pressure Pro
#EB4040HCE (PWP=PressureWasherPro.com)

Attached SS Handle with 150' Hose Reel
#HRK150 (PWP)

(2) 50' Hoses

Stainless Duel Lance Wand w/ Soap Nozzle & QC Con.
cat#4502 (Sunbrite)

Downstream Chem Injector
#ACI005 (PWD=PressureWashersDirect.com)

4.0 Turbo Nozzle (PWD)

MTM Hydro Steel Ball Valve (PWD)
BE 24" Whirl-A-Way Surface Cleaner
#BE-2400WAWS (PWMALL.com)

M-5 X-JET System with Pail System
cat#91408 (Sunbrite)
Chemicals:

Syntec Pro Deck Brightener (40lb)
(PWD)

Rip It! Extreme Deck Stain Stripper/Remover
cat#94030 (Sunbrite)

"Concrete Cleaner"
#8101 (Pressurewashoutlet.com)

"Clean"
#8032 (Pressurewashoutlet.com)

I know this an equipment section but i wanted to include everything that I am purchasing so you can get the full scope of my understanding and product choices. If you have any recommendations please let me know.

I also am looking into getting a small trailer (5x8) to haul everything around.. I found one on CL for $375.00 in decent shape.

I am looking forward to getting to know you all and contributing when I can (Which I hope will be soon!)

Thank you for your time and consideration.

-Greg
 
Reduce the size of the surface cleaner to 18" and add at least 100 more feet of hose. Hose is easier to pull than a machine. Personally I would rather everything stay on the trailer and just pull hose. When you've been working all day the last thing you want to do is drag all of that back to the trailer. It's easier to walk back to the trailer with the end of the hose and then reel it back up vs dragging all of it back, sometimes uphill.

You can get a 4gpm belt drive unit at a better price than that. I'd personally go with a general pump due to price of replacement parts.

Also do some research on chemicals and docks over the water. You don't want to get stung on that.
 
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Hey thanks everyone for the quick responses!

Matty P: Do you say this because my PW wont be able to be very effective with this size of surface cleaner? The driveways here are very long and sometimes steep so I wanted to get a larger one to cut down on the time it will take me.

CL Scott: Thanks for the Vid. Like your set-up and commercial!

Matt: My reasoning was not only because I have a smaller budget but also because I will have to bring the PW off the trailer and down towards the lake. The larger GPM ones from the research I've done are usually larger and will be even more of a hassle. Especially if I am mostly working on wood and not doing commercial jobs like service stations. I picked that trailer mostly because I can afford it and because I don't have equipment like a Buffer Tank right now. I was planning on hooking into the homeowners water supply. I do plan to go bigger when I upgrade.
 
Start small... you can always upgrade....... pressure pro makes great units..... You may be able to pick up a used 4gpm unit on craigslist...... I started with a brand new 4 gpm belt drive unit.and a BE 20" SC... no hose reels 150 feet of hose and yellow chlorine jugs.... I unloaded mowing equipment and unloaded PW equipment for roll to a PW job.... I bought a second 4gpm belt unit on CL 30 days later with a 18 hammerhead SC..... ( i found a hell of a deal from a guy needing money ).....I built a 6x10 tandem trailer.... wished I had gone bigger........ Sold the used 4 GPM unit and replaced it with 8GPM....... The 8 is a friggin monster on concrete and houses.....It literally goes twice as fast as the 4 GPM.... You will return your investment twice as fast... U just got to do what best for you and your budget....
 
Hey thanks everyone for the quick responses!

Matty P: Do you say this because my PW wont be able to be very effective with this size of surface cleaner? The driveways here are very long and sometimes steep so I wanted to get a larger one to cut down on the time it will take me.
A 4 gpm machine will work, but you will be walking so slow you will think you are going backwards. You need an 18" or 20 at the most. Size don't matter if your walking 60% slower than you are with 4 or 6 less inches.
 
Start small... you can always upgrade....... pressure pro makes great units..... You may be able to pick up a used 4gpm unit on craigslist...... I started with a brand new 4 gpm belt drive unit.and a BE 20" SC... no hose reels 150 feet of hose and yellow chlorine jugs.... I unloaded mowing equipment and unloaded PW equipment for roll to a PW job.... I bought a second 4gpm belt unit on CL 30 days later with a 18 hammerhead SC..... ( i found a hell of a deal from a guy needing money ).....I built a 6x10 tandem trailer.... wished I had gone bigger........ Sold the used 4 GPM unit and replaced it with 8GPM....... The 8 is a friggin monster on concrete and houses.....It literally goes twice as fast as the 4 GPM.... You will return your investment twice as fast... U just got to do what best for you and your budget....

Well said. +1,000
 
Couldn't I just upgrade my pump in the future and save the SC I have? I looked on CAT pump website and they have pumps that go alot higher.. couldn't I just put that on my machine in the future?
 
I think the real question is what is the maximum pump GPM with a 13 HP Engine?
 
Couldn't I just upgrade my pump in the future and save the SC I have? I looked on CAT pump website and they have pumps that go alot higher.. couldn't I just put that on my machine in the future?

Yes. The most you are going to get out of a 13 hp is 4.5 gpm 3000 psi. You can get a northstar 3000 psi 5 gpm pump like I have, but I don't think it is worth it. You can do whatever you want with your surface cleaner. It's just that a 24 inch SC and 4 gpm aren't the right combo. The rule of thumb is 4 inches per 1 gpm. 18 or 20 is pushing it. 24 is just going to drive you nuts. You can always get another small machine and tie them together at first. That's what I am doing. Also cat pumps are great but they are expensive to maintain. General pumps are contractor friendly, and are available in many configurations.
 
Hey thanks everyone for the quick responses!

Matty P: Do you say this because my PW wont be able to be very effective with this size of surface cleaner? The driveways here are very long and sometimes steep so I wanted to get a larger one to cut down on the time it will take me.

CL Scott: Thanks for the Vid. Like your set-up and commercial!

Matt: My reasoning was not only because I have a smaller budget but also because I will have to bring the PW off the trailer and down towards the lake. The larger GPM ones from the research I've done are usually larger and will be even more of a hassle. Especially if I am mostly working on wood and not doing commercial jobs like service stations. I picked that trailer mostly because I can afford it and because I don't have equipment like a Buffer Tank right now. I was planning on hooking into the homeowners water supply. I do plan to go bigger when I upgrade.

4GPM isn't enough for 24". Like he said, you'll be going way too slow. I run a 20" with my 4gpm, it does okay.

I wouldn't chance running without a buffer tank. I've run into people with city water that couldn't push 4gpm at the spigot. Doing a lot of lakefront means a lot of wellwater, and from my experience they don't always have the output you want. Also running straight off their water without filtering runs the risk of getting junk in your pump. With the buffer tank set up, you have a screen at the float valve and then run another filter right on the supply hose to the pump. I only run a 35 gallon buffer, only on a couple of jobs did I really come close to depleting it, on over half of my jobs that tank was absolutely necessary.

Take the money you'll save from using a 18" SC instead of 24" and get the buffer tank. With the float valve, bulkhead fitting, hose and filter it's about $175. BUT, that takes you back to having everything mounted on the trailer. That will add some expense since you'll have no choice but to run longer hose...but you can't rely on the customer's water to be optimal every time because it won't, especially with well water.

Another option...piece things together to get started. Example...I scored 4gpm pump with a gear drive for under $200. I can put that on a 13hp CHonda and have a machine for under $600.

The starting out budget can be a bitch, I went through it last year. But, with one job you could completely pay for the buffer tank/hose issue. You're going to find that you'll need another $250 worth of incidentals once you get started. J-rods and numerous nozzles, couplings, fittings, spares of everything, extra guns, DS injectors, o-rings etc.

Don't concentrate strictly on docks. You're going to run into people that want the house washed too, there's another $200+ in your pocket for little work. Most of the lakefront houses always have mold and cobwebs all over.

A good day is when you set out to do one job and expect to be home by noon to only get home at dark after doing several jobs. That's what you want. Don't limit yourself. The lakefront crowd is tight, literally since they're stacked on top of each other. One neighbor will the other's place getting cleaned and the next thing you know you have another job.
 
I think the real question is what is the maximum pump GPM with a 13 HP Engine?
Well you can get 10 gpm if you want to run a washer with 800 psi! What gpm a 13 hp will run depends on what you are going to do with it. You said you were going to clean concrete. You will need at least 3000 psi rated pump which is really 2700-2800 psi working pressure.
 
I already started looking into trading out my 24" for a 20" which will save me some money to use for other things you mentioned. You made some excellent points about not limiting myself. You're right.

However, this lake is surrounded by city. It is in the largest county in GA and a fairly well off community. I don't know of anyone who has used a well here since the lake was created in the early 50's. Everyone has water spigots from the city... the only question is whether they will have the flow capacity that I need. I would love to have the whole thing based on a trailer! I just don't know if even 300' of hoses will reach their docks.. it can be a long way down. Is there a filter I could put on their spigot that then runs to my PW?
 
I started off with a 4gpm portable unit like yourself. I have since upgraded to a 8gpm trailer unit. All of the above advice is spot on, I can vouch from experience.

I have a 20 inch surface cleaner I have ran on 4 gpm as well as 8 gpm. You will feel like a turtle pushing a 24 inch with 4 gpm.

Like the others have said, I would strongly advise going with a trailer mounted setup with a buffer tank. What do you do if you get to a house that wont keep up with your pump? you surely don't want to starve your pump of water. You mention 300 feet of hose may not reach, which I have come into a few times already. But when it comes down to it, it never hurts to have extra hose. Imagine the dock being 400 feet downhill. Would you rather run 400-500 feet of hose? Or run 300 feet of garden hose down to your machine, and then 100 or so feet of pressure hose? Then when your wrap it up you have to drag the unit all the way back up?

As far a gpm output from the homes you wash, I was told to always make sure the house is pushing out 1-2gpm more then your pump needs in case of toilets in the home flushing, washing clothes, etc.

In my opinion not having a buffer tank is limiting yourself.


EDIT: Also, another reason for a buffer tank would being able to direct your bypass line back to the buffer tank. Gives a lot of peace of mind.
 
Also just looked at what you are paying for the 4 gpm unit. I would shop around a little more before I paid that. If you were closer to me I would sell you my 4 gpm unit with less then 10 hours on it.
 
I really appreciate all this advice.. I'm really questioning my whole set-up, which is a good thing just frustrating because of money constraints. I'm a little overwhelmed. Is there a pressure washer you could recommend that is around the price range of the one that I purchased?
 
I know pricing varies from area to areas, but I paid $1450 out the door at a local shop for a 4 gpm 4000 psi belt drive unit.

Russ is a distributor who is a member of these forums. He knows his stuff, and from what I have heard his customer service is top notch. here is a pressure washer listed on his online site that is a decent amount cheaper: http://shop.pressurewasherky.us/Pressure-Pro-4-GPM-3500-PSI-Belt-Drive-PPEB4035.htm I am not sure what freight would cost you but I'm sure you would save some money compared to the one you listed above.

From the looks of it SunBrite is within 30 minutes of you. I have this unit: http://www.sunbritesupplystore.com/product-p/93600.htm . for $1499, and a 30 minute drive you would save $320 dollars over the unit you posted above.

As far as the hose reel you have listed above, I personally don't like reels mounted to portable units but I suppose that may be your best option if you don't go with trailer mounted. If you do decide to go with a trailer mounted setup you have a lot of options as far as reels go. Side by side, stacking etc.

The downstream injector. It is always nice to have extras, but if you are only in the market for one at the time being most washers come with one. Both of the units I have purchased new have come with injectors.

As far as the x-jet pail system, I have been told not to waste my money. From what I have seen people not only get tired of lugging around a 5 gallon bucket, but 5 gallons isn't enough for a lot of jobs. You will notice if you read enough on these forums a lot of guys will rig up a 15 gallon tank strapped to a hand truck and use their x-jet to draw from that.

As far as down streaming goes, I would give Russ Johnson a call at Southside equipment once you have a pressure washer purchased. He will be able to tell you what tips you will need for soaping high/low and rinsing high/low and from what I have seen gets parts shipped out FAST.

Another thing I can think of right off the top of my head that you will need and kick yourself for not having is a 4 way jrod holder. It is a unit that holds 4 different tips, so changing them out is fast and loosing or misplacing them is harder. I learned that the hard way.

A 5x8 trailer will hold your equipment when you are just starting out, but you will be surprised at how fast a trailer like that will be filled.

What type of vehicle are you going to be using to tow? If your answer to that is a pickup then you may want to consider trying to arrange your setup in the pickup bed until you can afford the proper trailer.

There are a TON of options, I know what you mean when you say you feel overwhelmed. I still am.

Any other ideas/questions you have post them up, as you can see you'll get plenty of feedback. The only stupid questions are the ones you don't ask.
 
Is a 275 Gallon tank too large or is that a pretty standard size? I found someone selling them on CL for $35.00 a piece would I be stupid not to get that? I know that I will need alot larger trailer if I get something like that but it seems I have to plan ahead and buy things right the first time instead of loosing time and money buying something that I will have to replace right away when upgrading. any thoughts?
 
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