[Simon Gerrard]

I’ve been astonished that I haven’t sold my refurbished Blazer Plus complete with a van for £3,500, which is peanuts considering its earning power, all of which begs a very popular and well debated question I posed a few years ago - ‘Why Not A Truck Mount?’

I’m not seeking to start an argument, or advertise my machine, but I ‘m intrigued why the vast majority of the carpet cleaning fraternity completely ignore machines that can vastly improve your productivity, allow you to clean practically any carpet, regardless of age, condition or location and with it put your customers in a position where they don’t believe they can get what you do anywhere else, along with the benefits of that in customer retention and referral rates.

There’s no argument that you can do a great job with portable systems, but they are so inefficient and because you did a such a great job with a TM customers attribute (rightly or wrongly) that extra quality of clean to the big machine you used, often recounting last time they had their carpet cleaned with a little thing on wheels and because they believe it is down to the machine, tend to remain very loyal and stay with you because of that belief.

So without the arguments, or people thinking they are being looked down on – Why Not A Truck Mount?


Simon (now residding in a nuclear bunker in an undisclosed location)

[stuart_clark]

Maybe its just because we dont one Simon! Ive been in the carpet cleaning business nearly 23 years and have used truck mounts on occassion , but still prefere to use a high powered portable! No running costs apart from the odd vac motor and solution pump, most of my work is commercial probably 80% and its all low moisture work
Stuart

[Craigp]

Simon, it may be a good buy, but few carpet cleaners are booming right now, a supplier recently told me many have gone bust. I think it's more a reflection of the times.

[*Hector*]

Coz I can't fit it in the back of me hatchback 
 

[davep]

As long as the carpet is clean and dry reasonably fast the customer doesn't care what you use

It's down to the operator if they want to be more productive or not

[james roffey]

Simon

I have every intention of one day moving up to a Truckmount and my long term plan is exactly that, i see it as a logical step, particularly as it will make the job easier  when i get older, as a business decision it would in my opinion not be viable until i am turning down work because i am unable to work quick enough using a portable.

When that day comes then it would be a logical step, mind you i will certainly keep a portable as well. i have no intention or ambition to have anything like the machine that you have or those massive commercial jobs, just something to make my job quicker and easier.


  

[Darren O]

Had my truckmount 8 months now must admit absolutely love it

[Simon Gerrard]

James,
What you're describing is natural progession, where you go from one system to another because the size of your business, or the size of the jobs you do requires it. The Titan 875 came along because we needed to be able to clean very large carpets, very quickly and to a very high specification and quickly, on the latest generation of superliners, some as high as 18 decks, which is a bit of a problem unless you have the gear.

Simon

[Simon Gerrard]

Had my truckmount 8 months now must admit absolutely love it

Darren,
What benefits has it brought you that presumably are outweighed by the cost of running as opposed to a portable?

[james roffey]

James,
What you're describing is natural progession, where you go from one system to another because the size of your business, or the size of the jobs you do requires it. The Titan 875 came along because we needed to be able to clean very large carpets, very quickly and to a very high specification and quickly, on the latest generation of superliners, some as high as 18 decks, which is a bit of a problem unless you have the gear.

Simon

Truth be told Simon, i'm too lazy to do what you do, i admire the likes of yourself and others that have that kind of turnover, but all i wanted was a small profitable business and to take the odd afternoon off. last week i did two jobs admittedly  that's unusual, but it was half term, and i enjoyed the break with my son, the truckmount can wait but i will make that step eventually, my only concern is that i maintain my portable myself which is easy, but a truckmount that's very different.

[Simon Gerrard]

The maintenance thing with a TM is a bit of a myth. The truth is that they cost very little to maintain, espcially when you compare the those costs against a TM's earning power.

Simon

[richie]

James, a lot of portable users worry about the upgrade to a truckmount because they say they maintain the portable themselves but get scared of the thought of maintaining a truckmount.  Once you have been shown how to maintain the machine you will find it is pretty straight forward.  Changing the two biggest parts (engine & vacuum blower) is pretty straight forward on most machines.

2 weeks a go i drove from Birmingham to Brighton to take a look at a truckmount for 2 guys that were told by Prochem it required over £3000 spending on it to get it back in working condition.  Upon inspection  i noted the problems and gave my opinion.  I did some work on the machine there and then and took it it off the van & re-fitted it to a newer van.  After locating a second hand part i will now return to Brighton to fit the part, service both truckmounts and then i will spend time with the guys showing them how to maintain the truckmounts themselves.  Oh and before i forget......as i said Prochem wanted over £3000 to do the work......by the time i have finished it will cost about £2000 less than they thought they would have to pay
Simons truckmount that he is selling should give someone years of trouble free use.  It has been stripped down, reconditioned and is now in great condition.  It will be a great buy for however buys it.

[vince viola]

Simon (now residding in a nuclear bunker in an undisclosed location)

Simon, I'm just organising a drone strike for you.

[Darren O]

The biggest thing ive noticed is the suction ive ditched the 1.5inch whip hose and using 2inch straight to the Prochem Quad Jet Wand i still use my porty now and again but its a pain in the arse trying to find 2 sockets making trips to the kitchen sink and when the porty is on i keep thinking one of the vacs is switched off.

[Blacky]

Why invest such a heavy amount for a small branch of the cleaning tree. The majority of commercial company’s don’t even draw Carpet Cleaning into the budget.
If it does crop up the General Cleaners get the work and are paid out of the petty cash account. Carpet cleaning accounts for around 3% of a Contract cleaners turnover.

The budget is normally split as follows.

Cleaning. - Regular site visits only.
Ground Care. As above.
Windows. As above.
Access control and Gate - Annual
Alarm and Fire - Annual
Gas/Electrical - Annual
Insurance.

1 rule in business - NEVER SPECIALISE - GENERALISE.

[nathanjd]

Regarding original post i would say that with the latest portables having auto fill, auto drain and even remote, why bother getting a truckmount. Those are the two of the things that people switch for. Also i would strongly argue, I mean assert, that at this moment in time, unless you have big commercial contracts cleaning massive areas of carpet, the profit margin with portables is better.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

IMHO I'd say people are put off because its too old it's like buying an old car that you need to get you to work everyday but there's no guarantee its going to start every morning.

Shaun

[Griffus]

Convenience, technical knowledge, running costs, single mindedness, practicality, reason for sale (if so good why selling).

Just a few things that may be in peoples minds.

Me personally it would be the 'do I really need a TM' and the answer is no. The porty serves me well. If however Carpets etc were all that I did then I can see the advantages. The thing is though, if I were serious about a TM, then unless I was very switched on with the tech aspects I'd more likely by newer and from a supplier with tech backup.

Not the easiest thing to sell second hand, but I'm sure there's plenty that it will suit. Silly question but have you tried ebay?

[Great Outdoors]

Usual story, no good having the best TM ever if you haven't got the work load or the budget to drive sales.

 One guy started on my 'doorstep' around Oct last year, TACCA member with a TM, he closed down in Jan !
Out of curiosity what happened to that guy last yr who was looking to start CC, Everyone was pushing him to invest in a TM.....  I think his ID was 'ratrace' apologies in advance if this is incorrect 

[Darren O]

At no point did i think a truckmount would get me more work than a portable it dosent but it saves me about 40% in speed and hastle.