Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: TomCrowther on November 17, 2010, 11:58:56 am
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I currently lift the reel out of the van at every job, put a couple of warning signs up, pull out to the furthest point needed, then go back to the van fit the supply hose to the reel, turn on the water, grab the poles, lock the van and then start to clean.
Ideally, I would like to keep the reel mounted in the van and speed up the process further by not making the two walks, when one would do.
My question is, how do you stop the supply hose pinging off the reel when you are unwinding it when the water is on {always comes off despite new hozelock connector and new reel}, and do you have to cut a hole in the side of the van and then fit one of those devices to allow the hose to run freely?
It would be great if I didn't have to mess around with the reel at every job, lifting in and out of the van, and it would speed up every job if I could walk to the furthest point, with hose in one hand and pole in the other.
Any advice greatly appreciated. Cheers.
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p.s. I want to avoid allowing the hose to become a trip hazard to passers by in the process, so can't have the reel hose coming out of the van, 2ft from the ground and decking old ladies left right and centre.
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your process is pretty much what i do and i agree with you entirely re be nice to save time have in van but then dont want a trip hazzard either.
my concern is if the hose comes of the reel when it is in the van would we be any better off time wise. :)
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Hi Mark, yes exactly. So what do the guys who have van mounted reels do to work around the risk of flooding the van and maiming the elderly?
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Firstly, bin the hozelock and get:
http://www.brodexbms.co.uk/index.php/news/constant_hot_water_whenever_you_need_it/
Secondly the elderly have had long enough to work out how not to get tripped up by a hose. ;)
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Pull up to job, open back of van, direct hose reel to direction you want hose to go, connect pole hose to reel. put cone on pavement, pull hose out and start cleaning......20 seconds and youre cleaning.
ps Ive got a tap on my pole
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cheers, but I need to keep the van locked. Don't want to return to the van and find half the stuff has walked.
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Well theres two things that you cud do imo. Firstly drill a hole in your bumper big enough for your hose then drill another through floor of van. Secondly you could fit some van ports to the side of your van. Both ways youd be able to lock your van.
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http://www.purefreedom.co.uk/outside-van-port-panel-p-337.html
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I have the hose reel on top of the flat water tank. Open rear doors and pull the hose out and just walk round the back of the house with it. Go back to to van bring out pole, flick the pump switch on, close van doors on hose and lock doors. Then go round back of house with pole in hand connect hose and start cleaning. Takes about a minute.
ps. I use a flow control valve at the end of the hose.
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As long as you leave enough slack in the hose exiting the rear doors it will lay flat across the pavement so will be safe enough
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GET A DECENT FITTING THAT SPINS WITH THE HOSEREEL THEN...GET HOSE REEL OUT, CONNECT POLE,TURN ON WATER,LOCK VAN, START CLEANING. ::)
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Gardiners hoselock type connectors don't blow off. Leave my hose from tank connected always. I have a brass "swivel" one now. But the old plastic ones didn't. The plastic ones maybe last 9 months but my brass one has been on at least 12 months. I just leave reel in van always. Parking in the right direction for pulling the hose out, is a good idea.
Gardiners connectors are a lot better than their pole clamps.
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GET A DECENT FITTING THAT SPINS WITH THE HOSEREEL THEN...GET HOSE REEL OUT, CONNECT POLE,TURN ON WATER,LOCK VAN, START CLEANING. ::)
Ditto.
Get the third item down if it'll fit your reel: http://www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/acatalog/Standard_Hose_Reels.html
It allows the reel to run out without putting any strain on the short hose from your output to the reel.
Open back, plug everything in, switch on water, close back, walk to house and clean.
Vin
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here are some pics of my set up, the reels are fixed and the hose never comes off the reel. the hose lock connector has never come off either. the hose goes through the side of the van enabling it to be lock when working, and it i have work close together i don disconnect the hose just put the pole on the roof with the hose connected, i only have a few inces of pole hose out the bottom of the pole, then the microbore then goes up the the pole on extension. i also use an aqua dapter. i am in the process of getting a cordless drill and running it of the van battery to wind the hoses up. its a very quick setup and i am on the windows within a few seconds.
i have jeff temprley to thank for this set up, he did a post oh here a few months ago with his set up and he gave me some advice on doing this setup.
(http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w202/sierragls/IMG_0437.jpg)
(http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w202/sierragls/IMG_0438.jpg)
(http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w202/sierragls/IMG_0440.jpg)
(http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w202/sierragls/IMG_0441.jpg)
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lee
how do you cover the holes over when you come to sell the van?
bob
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lee
how do you cover the holes over when you come to sell the van?
bob
Duck tape? ;D
will worry about that when it comes to it, by that time it wont be worth much and whoever buys it wont be worried about it, but i will prob just make a small plate up spray it the same colour of the van and bond it on, if i wasnt planning on keeping the van very long i wouldnt have done it, but as i will be keeping it a few years it was worth it. i paid £2600 for it, is in 3-4 years it will only be worth a few hundred.
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Many thanks guys, appreciate the advice.