Mobile Detail Skid

advs1 said:
dont get stuck on buying a "honda" brand motor. its like everything else in engine world. keep it maintained and it will last.



i would worry more about the pump as justin stated. make sure you run a bypass if you plan on leaving it running more than 3-5 mins with out actuating the trigger. the longer the water sitting the hotter it gets. with bypass it opens at certain temp to allow water to circulate back to tank and cool the pump. i have seen some set ups built right on the cheap last years, i have also seen some people pay $8000 for a bad set up and 3 months later the pump head is shot. around here average repairs start at $200 for pump, plus the time you are down
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Wow. I guess i'm a honda fanatic and being in Hawaii it's harder to get certain things if you know what i mean. From the search i did yesterday it seems that more then 1 place stocks the Honda GX160 motors though yes they are costly they are very well known.



I'm still really considering that Rigid setup with the subaru motor and cat pump at home depot. It just keeps calling me you know what i mean? It's already assembled, rigid is a well known and respected brand and subaru is well known and respected as well as cat. The only thing that keeps me away from it is the fact that it is 3,000 psi. From what cat told me though all their pumps are adjustable from 100psi-3000 psi (in this case being that 3000psi is what the pump is rated at)



as far as the bypass how do you even hook something like that up? I think my craftsman pressure washer is like that. After a little while of sitting a valve opens and shoots water out the bottom of the pump.



Justin Murphy said:
I'm actually looking at building my own pressure washer with this engine from Harbor Freight.....

6.5 HP Horizontal Shaft Overhead Valve Gas Engine



and adding my own pump with a higher gallons per minute for home washing.......with a bypass.



I've heard so many good things about these engines when used as replacements. One local repair shop owner has ran one for 3 years in lawn mowing business.



Focus on the pump and maintain the engine. You simply can't beat a Cat pump. I've had mine for 4 years and have only replaced the unloader which was 75.00.
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You're really looking into that home pressure washing aren't you justin? I remember at one time i wanted to do that but just wasn't sure how to bid the job since i am a auto detailer not to mention trying to find out what products to use.



That motor from harbor freight is a big boy with a small price. Thing looks good man! Thing about cat is i like the fact that they are well known pumps and people know how to work on them not to mention the fact that they can be rebuilt and what not where as most other pumps can't.
 
as far as the bypass how do you even hook something like that up? I think my craftsman pressure washer is like that. After a little while of sitting a valve opens and shoots water out the bottom of the pump.
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That is a thermal relief valve for emergencies.....not be use all the time. They usually leak after they open once to save your pump.



The bypass we are talking about runs fresh, cold water from the tank through the pump when you are not spraying to keep it from overheating.



Read all of this.......

http://envirospec.com/techlib/



Best thing I've seen in a while.
 
You're really looking into that home pressure washing aren't you justin? I remember at one time i wanted to do that but just wasn't sure how to bid the job since i am a auto detailer not to mention trying to find out what products to use.
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It's actually less complicated than full detailing. You only have to mix 2 chemicals (chlorine and a soap wash) into five gallons of water. You then spray the chemical on the surface via the pressure washer, let sit, change to a rinse tip and remove dirt. That's all you do.
 
most higher end pumps can be rebuilt, even cheap ones can be rebuilt. its just a matter of economics. is it cheaper to replace or rebuild??



the unloader is what is used to adjust the pressure and connects to the pump and acts as the method to connect hose. the bypass will vary from pump to pump. once you decide on the pump ask if they have a bypass kits for it. the dist or seller should know if not contact the manf. they are usually low priced, $75-$150 but its well worth it.



i'm looking at making a skid i can mount on my trailer hitch that only holds the p/w and reel. the tank will be in the suburban along with other supplies.
 
advs1 said:
i'm looking at making a skid i can mount on my trailer hitch that only holds the p/w and reel. the tank will be in the suburban along with other supplies.
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Justin Murphy said:
You have welding skill........heck the even make these.....

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Valley Industries Hitch-Mounted Folding Cargo Carrier | Receiver Hitch Cargo Carriers | Northern Tool + Equipment
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yeah i have looked into those. the nice ones are pricey and i can weld. 2 1/2" square tubing i can get wholesale and everything else i have including quick disconnects. besides i want mine custom made, heck some one might ask me to build them one. thats extra money, i have already built several low pressure "eco friendly" skids. one went into a scion xb. fit with all seats up and still carried 4 adults.
 
advs1 said:
yeah i have looked into those. the nice ones are pricey and i can weld. 2 1/2" square tubing i can get wholesale and everything else i have including quick disconnects. besides i want mine custom made, heck some one might ask me to build them one. thats extra money, i have already built several low pressure "eco friendly" skids. one went into a scion xb. fit with all seats up and still carried 4 adults.
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You better have pics!!!
 
Justin Murphy said:
You better have pics!!!
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i have some of the others i've built, not ones of the scion. i really didnt think to take any pics. i know i know.



here is one i made that was basic, but still custom made. i have more but havent loaded them up to PB

erics.jpg




the empty space was to house a honda run quiet gen but the owner cheaped out and bought a regular gen instead. he was on a budget also. it fit under the cover and could easily be removed by one person.



it is meant for low pressure waterless type washes. he used it to do cars in a parking structure with little to no water run off
 
damn im liking the fact that this thread now has some activity guys. Good information here. I still can't find a reel like that for the love of god! The ones that i seem to find have 50" of air compressor line hooked up to it and as we all know i don't need that LoL.



That's all i'm looking for is a nice decent size setup minus the generator as i'm not looking to be doing interior work and stuff like that right now with the skid setup. I'm hoping to just run the skid setup for bulk work if i can market it and get it going.



Justin as for that mixture of chlorine and soap got any articles on that or places to obtain that stuff?



How do you avoid it damaging glass or any special wood trims or anything fancy so to speak?
 
That Ridgid Subaru/CAT is a good unit, especially if you're intimidated by sourcing the separate parts; and even more appealing if you live in HI where/when shipping can get more expensive and want to buy local. I picked one up last year as a replacement when my B&S engine popped and I had an RV job the next day. It flows more than I'd like, but was a great interim solution- using it for only a few days I cannot attest to it's long term reliability. At Home Depot it cost me about $600 + tax at the time.



And while I recommended a Honda GX, I do agree with most concerning the quality of the pump taking more precedence over the engine brand. With regular maintenance you should have no problems in that regard, and with a quality pump it will be cheaper to rebuild in every case but catastrophic failure. If you buy a sh*t pump and it pops, you will have more difficulty weighing repair vs replace and sourcing service- but with a CAT/General the parts and schematics are readily available at multiple distributors.



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I'm having difficulty finding the pics, but when I started I used one of those hitch mounted cargo racks. Was able to fit my 35 gallon tank and the pressure washer on it and keep the weight under the rated tongue capacity on my QX4.
 
vtec92civic said:
damn im liking the fact that this thread now has some activity guys. Good information here. I still can't find a reel like that for the love of god! The ones that i seem to find have 50" of air compressor line hooked up to it and as we all know i don't need that LoL.



That's all i'm looking for is a nice decent size setup minus the generator as i'm not looking to be doing interior work and stuff like that right now with the skid setup. I'm hoping to just run the skid setup for bulk work if i can market it and get it going.



Justin as for that mixture of chlorine and soap got any articles on that or places to obtain that stuff?



How do you avoid it damaging glass or any special wood trims or anything fancy so to speak?
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http://envirospec.com/pdfs/sale.pdf



Then go to page 9.......if you can stop looking at all the cool stuff on the other pages!



They have the best prices....with shipping....and chemicals. Their support is awesome as well.



This is the best forum. Make sure you "search" before asking!

PT State - Index



They also sell some really good stuff.
 
EcoAutoCT said:
I'm having difficulty finding the pics, but when I started I used one of those hitch mounted cargo racks. Was able to fit my 35 gallon tank and the pressure washer on it and keep the weight under the rated tongue capacity on my QX4.
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I remember that! It was sweet and simple.
 
EcoAutoCT said:
That Ridgid Subaru/CAT is a good unit, especially if you're intimidated by sourcing the separate parts; and even more appealing if you live in HI where/when shipping can get more expensive and want to buy local. I picked one up last year as a replacement when my B&S engine popped and I had an RV job the next day. It flows more than I'd like, but was a great interim solution- using it for only a few days I cannot attest to it's long term reliability. At Home Depot it cost me about $600 + tax at the time.



And while I recommended a Honda GX, I do agree with most concerning the quality of the pump taking more precedence over the engine brand. With regular maintenance you should have no problems in that regard, and with a quality pump it will be cheaper to rebuild in every case but catastrophic failure. If you buy a sh*t pump and it pops, you will have more difficulty weighing repair vs replace and sourcing service- but with a CAT/General the parts and schematics are readily available at multiple distributors.



P1010456.gif


P1010458.gif


P1010457.gif




I'm having difficulty finding the pics, but when I started I used one of those hitch mounted cargo racks. Was able to fit my 35 gallon tank and the pressure washer on it and keep the weight under the rated tongue capacity on my QX4.
Click to expand...



sweet photo's man. As for it being a little much in power can't you turn it down? That's what one of the supervisors at cat told me that all their cat pumps are adjustable from 100 psi to what ever the pump is rated at . . . . . so in that case from 100psi-3000psi



So what is the proper maintenance of the pump? Where do you put pump oil into? I know about changing the engine oil and what not but wasn't really aware you had to change pump oil.



I'm going to go down today to home depot and take a closer look at that pressure washer and see what's up. It seems to have some really good reviews.



I need to also figure out how i'm going to kick off this low price work so that i know i'm investing in stuff that will pay itself off and not just shelling out $800 or what ever the number might be and in the end still have little to no business if that makes sense.
 
went back and drooled over the rigid machine over the weekend and just to over look it. The gun is huge! It's like holding a gatling gun from the movie "Predator" with sylvester stallone.



I'll post some camera phone pics of the machine.
 
The price indicated is for the larger Rigid PW which puts out 3300psi. The one i'm looking at was in stock but not on display. Everything is the same accept for the pump i believe.



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