If you had to choose a system who would you go for...

« **on:** November 27, 2013, 07:44:35 am »

Currently and for the last two years I have been DIY, recently due to a mate wanting to buy a hot system I've done the rounds, ionic, concept 2o and Grippa. He went with Concept and on Monday we collected his van, absolutel cracking looking system and Carl & Julie were a great team and left my mate full of confidence that he had chosen the right one. I know I'll get shot down in flames but it really does look so much better to have a tidy system vs DIY, yes no one looks in your van but i imagine its a great feel good factor to go to work with one. If you had to go for it who would you choose bearing in mind after sales service, parts and labour, build etc etc...

« **Reply #1 on:** November 27, 2013, 08:01:12 am »

How much did the concept system cost?

« **Reply #2 on:** November 27, 2013, 08:03:56 am »

The systems look great but essentially its wydale tanks and a gas boiler.

« **Reply #3 on:** November 27, 2013, 08:55:13 am »

My system is very much DIY, built in under 2 hours and it shows however I can still make £££ a day ... if it breaks down I can fix it as I built it however on my next van I will do it properly and take my time as it is nicer to work from something that looks good.

Having seen a few DIY systems on here over the last few years some of us have built real nice set ups DIY but to answer your post I would go for a pure freedom 650 hot system with diesel boiler with a seperate tank for red diesel to keep costs down and if I can afford I wont bother DIY on next van and if really flush a GAPS twin 4040 static system with 5 IBC's ( to sell pure from)

« **Reply #4 on:** November 27, 2013, 09:03:59 am »

Pure 2o - Ionics cheaper brand. Would not want a Whydale tank system such as Pure Freedom and think the PF 650l upright tank is unsafe as it is top heavy.

Grippa tank looks good but personally would prefer a more cube sized tank.

« **Reply #5 on:** November 27, 2013, 09:32:03 am »

out of all the big names I would go for a pure 02 system by ionics, the wydale tanks are rubbish that purefreedom and others use,

however doing diy doesnt mean you wont have a good system,

« **Reply #6 on:** November 27, 2013, 09:32:22 am »

Quote from: Pure H20 Services on November 27, 2013, 08:03:56 am

The systems look great but essentially its wydale tanks and a gas boiler.

They don't use wydale tanks

« **Reply #7 on:** November 27, 2013, 09:33:32 am »

Quote from: richard on November 27, 2013, 09:32:22 am

Quote from: Pure H20 Services on November 27, 2013, 08:03:56 am
The systems look great but essentially its wydale tanks and a gas boiler.

They don't use wydale tanks

oh yes they do lol

« **Reply #8 on:** November 27, 2013, 10:54:42 am »

They are not off the shelf wydale tanks but they are basically the same.

Splitting the tank is a clever idea.

I would prefer 4 x 250L wydale tanks over a 1000l wydale tank

« **Reply #9 on:** November 27, 2013, 11:04:35 am »

diy systems dont have to look bad,

heres mine, doesnt look as good as the suppliers ones but its now where near as expensive either & it does the same job.

twin 250 ltr tanks to

« **Reply #10 on:** November 27, 2013, 12:48:58 pm »

I'd rather have a couple of nice holidays & pay off the third world debt than have my pump sat behind a pretty cover

If I could talk someone into paying that much for a system
I too would make them feel all warm and cosy about their purchase

« **Reply #11 on:** November 27, 2013, 02:09:27 pm »

Quote

Pure 2o - Ionics cheaper brand. Would not want a Whydale tank system such as Pure Freedom and think the PF 650l upright tank is unsafe as it is top heavy.

Grippa tank looks good but personally would prefer a more cube sized tank.

My thoughts exactly.

Pure2o for me, good systems, reasonably priced, well built.

« **Reply #12 on:** November 27, 2013, 05:01:02 pm »

Quote from: Scrimble on November 27, 2013, 09:33:32 am

Quote from: richard on November 27, 2013, 09:32:22 am
Quote from: Pure H20 Services on November 27, 2013, 08:03:56 am
The systems look great but essentially its wydale tanks and a gas boiler.

They don't use wydale tanks

oh yes they do lol

they had the tanks designed themselves by an engineer. they are not only split but also shaped differntly to the standard tanks. i do not know who produces them for them though, i do know they are not standard tanks tho

« **Reply #13 on:** November 27, 2013, 05:15:37 pm »

you have too admit the concept one looks good.......even if it is always going back to Cardiff for repairs

« **Reply #14 on:** November 27, 2013, 05:30:39 pm »

At the end of the day all you need to do is get pure water to the end of a brush!

No point paying thousands and thousands in my opinion!

Andy

« **Reply #15 on:** November 27, 2013, 05:45:37 pm »

I have two concept 2o systems, they are cheap on gas and very reliable. Personally i have not the time inclination, or skill to install a safe hot water system. Concept have always been excellent with their advice and help in the last seven years.

« **Reply #16 on:** November 27, 2013, 06:20:40 pm »

Grippa

« **Reply #17 on:** November 27, 2013, 06:44:07 pm »

Quote from: bobplum on November 27, 2013, 05:15:37 pm

you have too admit the concept one looks good.......even if it is always going back to Cardiff for repairs

Doesn't it.

Tbh I don't quite get comments like Andy's no disrespect bud, but it's like saying you only need a ladder and a Squeege to clean a window. Surely the benefits are there to be seen as the picture shows a great bit of kit, everything tucked away and out of view. Everything engineered well. Off topic but I remember coming on here a few years back discussing a client database possibly on a mobile phone, it was laughed out, ffs this is window cleaning they said! Get a red memo book! Now look everyone's on about it. Back to the systems, yes there are some great diy's on here but also a LOT of crap looking ones. You get what you pay for I suppose.

« **Reply #18 on:** November 27, 2013, 06:46:31 pm »

Ps not knocking Grippa on anything else but we went to see a system and we thought we could do a better job ourselves.

« **Reply #19 on:** November 27, 2013, 06:52:04 pm »

Quote

Tbh I don't quite get comments like Andy's no disrespect bud, but it's like saying you only need a ladder and a Squeege to clean a window. Surely the benefits are there to be seen as the picture shows a great bit of kit, everything tucked away and out of view. Everything engineered well. Off topic but I remember coming on here a few years back discussing a client database possibly on a mobile phone, it was laughed out, ffs this is window cleaning they said! Get a red memo book! Now look everyone's on about it. Back to the systems, yes there are some great diy's on here but also a LOT of crap looking ones. You get what you pay for I suppose.

I agree that the professional fitted systems look nice etc etc... But at the end of the day if one person turned up at a house with a good DIY system and another person turned up next door (exactly the same type house) with a pro installed system who would finish quicker? who would have the better results? who would earn more money? Maybe the pro system maybe the DIY system...

My point is you don't earn any more money or do a better job just because you have a pro system... It's just my opinion - I would rather have DIY and save money... I've run a DIY system for years and never had any problems, its easy to upgrade etc etc..

Andy

« **Reply #20 on:** November 27, 2013, 07:11:09 pm »

Quote from: dd on November 27, 2013, 09:03:59 am

the PF 650l upright tank is unsafe as it is top heavy.

Is there more water in the top half of the tank then?

« **Reply #21 on:** November 27, 2013, 07:21:22 pm »

I think what he means Lee is that the centre of gravity is higher , a flat tank has a lower centre of gravity which is better for vehicle handling .

« **Reply #22 on:** November 27, 2013, 09:09:08 pm »

Quote from: robert mitchell on November 27, 2013, 07:21:22 pm

I think what he means Lee is that the centre of gravity is higher , a flat tank has a lower centre of gravity which is better for vehicle handling .

I know I just found it funny

« **Reply #23 on:** November 27, 2013, 09:52:28 pm »

Its so easy to go wfp nowdays, Diy can be set up so cheap its nowonder most diy.
400litre tank-£150
Metal Hose reel and hose £100
Harris pole £15
Battery-50
Pump£70

For under £400 your away as simple as that or even cheaper if you by from ebay and will do as good of job as someone who has spent 5k on a shiney new branded system where the same problems will always occur.

« **Reply #24 on:** November 27, 2013, 09:52:53 pm »

Concept or gripper would be my choice.

« **Reply #25 on:** November 27, 2013, 09:55:44 pm »

pure2o or grippa for me .
pure2o good value for money and good customer service.

« **Reply #26 on:** November 27, 2013, 10:01:54 pm »

Quote from: Mick "the Greek" kent on November 27, 2013, 09:52:28 pm

Its so easy to go wfp nowdays, Diy can be set up so cheap its nowonder most diy.
400litre tank-£150
Metal Hose reel and hose £100
Harris pole £15
Battery-50
Pump£70

For under £400 your away as simple as that or even cheaper if you by from ebay and will do as good of job as someone who has spent 5k on a shiney new branded system where the same problems will always occur.

I agree if it comes down to cost DIY is a no brainer even with hot. Also regarding Harris pole vs fully carbon is probably almost the same as saying DIY vs Pro system in regard of cost and quality.

« **Reply #27 on:** November 27, 2013, 10:38:51 pm »

Fin clear view,

I have Brodex machine and flame for hot water, excellent piece of kit in my opinion.

« **Reply #28 on:** November 28, 2013, 05:31:33 am »

Quote from: Fin Clearview on November 27, 2013, 10:01:54 pm

Quote from: Mick "the Greek" kent on November 27, 2013, 09:52:28 pm
Its so easy to go wfp nowdays, Diy can be set up so cheap its nowonder most diy.
400litre tank-£150
Metal Hose reel and hose £100
Harris pole £15
Battery-50
Pump£70

For under £400 your away as simple as that or even cheaper if you by from ebay and will do as good of job as someone who has spent 5k on a shiney new branded system where the same problems will always occur.

I agree if it comes down to cost DIY is a no brainer even with hot. Also regarding Harris pole vs fully carbon is probably almost the same as saying DIY vs Pro system in regard of cost and quality.

I disagree with that, with a proper pole you can work faster than with a home made one, I know because I was DIY for years, a DIY system is no slower or faster than a pro one, and time is money, as long as your diy system is safe and you don't have to fix it every week or something then I will stay DIY and put the money in MY pocket.
A good pole is worth investing in, I

« **Reply #29 on:** November 28, 2013, 06:22:58 am »

You can't really compare Harris v carbon for diy versus pro system.
Its not like they are using far superior pumps.
You can bet its the same Shurflo or Vyair you've got in your diy system.
Like wise for hose reels, controllers etc.
For that reason they are no more reliable than your diy kit you installed one afternoon.
If you like how it looks get someone to make you a nice cover for a fraction of what the pro firms will charge.
Its an absolute no brainer as far as I'm concerned.

« **Reply #30 on:** November 28, 2013, 11:27:01 am »

I'm tempted to get a concept 700ltr hot water set up in my van in the new year, I've always had a PF system and a fog wash but i just think its time to move on and get a system with out leaks and issues that an old diy can bring. I have well and truly earned my money from my current set up but I'm just tempted to tidy things up and get a pro system installed

« **Reply #31 on:** November 28, 2013, 05:16:35 pm »

I've had a Pure Freedom system for 5 years. Would I buy the same again. Yep, in a heartbeat. It's earned me tens of thousands of £ in that time and has been totally reliable. I've replaced things such as resin, reels and hoses, but the system is the same, including the RO membrane.

What have people got against Whydale tanks?

To consider DIY I do think you have to have been in the business a while, so you understand just how everything works and what you need (10" or 20" filters? What size DI vessel, RO). If you know your needs and are handy (which I'm not particularly) it could be done.