Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Lee GLS on June 07, 2011, 06:58:30 pm
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my old man is struggling doing window cleaning from a ladder, hes 66, and its wearing him out, he only does 5 houses a day a couple of days a week, its just to give him some extra money now he retired.
I have suggested getting a trolley and going wfp, but is quite anti-wfp, worried about loosing customers ect.
So i was thinking he should get a trolley, but the trouble is, he has got a mondeo hatchback (the ultimate tradders waggon ;D), but he will have to lump it in and out of the car at each house and it will have to lay down in the back.
So then i thought he could get a small tank (is 175 the smallest?) and running a van mount from the back, just lift a reel out and work like that, wot ya fink?
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why doesnt he wfp tops and trad bottoms?
that way he can make sure he keeps the customers happy and keep himself happy.
then he would only need about 100L per day at most
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yeah, that is what i suggested to him, i think he is coming around to it,
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its prob the cheapest way and best way with a car to use that method.
even carrying a backpack mate - prob do two houses just tops on one fill, maybe even 3 or 4 on smaller places
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just found a 125L tank, that should do him, i dont know if they have tie down points in the boots of mk3 mondeos do they, would it need strapping down ???
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one of my lads mainly does carpet cleaning, so that vans full of that kit but i get him on a few houses closest to the carpet job.
he gets around 10 houses wfp tops only done with 50L and trad bottoms, using a esr16 backpack from john hewitt - £130 inc del n vat - really good carry handle on it and takes up no spac at all!
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http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DRAPER-34677-EXPERT-98L-12V-ATV-SPOT-BROADCAST-SPRAYER-/380330689203?pt=UK_BOI_FarmingEquipment_RL&hash=item588d79c2b3 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DRAPER-34677-EXPERT-98L-12V-ATV-SPOT-BROADCAST-SPRAYER-/380330689203?pt=UK_BOI_FarmingEquipment_RL&hash=item588d79c2b3)
(http://images.esellerpro.com/41/I/256/68/34677_SS98L-ebay.jpg)
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i dont think a 125 will fit in a mondeo, i have a 125 and it wont fit in mine,
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Just put a backpack on one of them small two wheeled trolleys that old women take shopping. Take the tartan bag off first !!!
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Why dont you take over his round and let him come with you when he wants and then give him ago with your wfp... ;D ;D ;D
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back pak and this trolly work well when I started it folds down and into most car or back seat.
http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q=sack+trolley&hl=en&rlz=1G1SMSN_ENUK429&prmd=ivns&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1366&bih=643&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=4673175064259045694&sa=X&ei=05XuTbT4DIWFhQeWgbW-CQ&ved=0CHIQ8wIwBg
RelX Trolley Telescopic Heavy-Duty Wheeled Sack Truck Ref 484588
Overview - Compare prices - Details
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"O" a Harris pole with a super lite brush all for about 200 quid.
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Why not do a couple of hours per week with him, and you can do the upstairs ?
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LEE I cant remember where at the minute but i have definately seen 50 and 75 litre tanks for sale somewhere same style as usual white with 8" black screw lid.
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Just put a backpack on one of them small two wheeled trolleys that old women take shopping. Take the tartan bag off first !!!
How do you know she`s Scottish?
And a Mondeo isn`t a really small car ???.
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http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/50-litre-plastic-water-tank-window-cleaning-valeting-/160399239383?pt=UK_HomeGarden_CLV_Cleaning_CA&hash=item25588a28d7
this tank is small enough and should do all tops of 5 houses
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http://www.wydaleproducts.co.uk/products/cat/3/wydaletanks/
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http://www.wydaleproducts.co.uk/products/cat/3/wydaletanks/
there you go they have 50,70,75 and 80 litre tanks in flat and upright
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those small tanks looks good. I will put that to him and also a small back pack might be a good idea too, might be able to carry it by hand around the house.
Working with him isnt an option, he wont want to loose the money, and i dont live near enough to him to help out or lend him the van.
85L tank in the back of the mondy
Then maybe a pack to carry around the house
Whats the quickest way to fill up a back pack from a tank in the boot?
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for tanks try gardiners, wintecs, any wfp supplier
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A 12v bilge pump will fill a back pack in seconds.
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ive got a brand new 75 ltr tank that i use in the back of a corsa , local work just nip home and re-fill , distance work i take mi van .
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i have a skoda fabia, i can put trolley in back and 4 barrels in boot and 2 in back seat, and i trade bottoms its a pain lifting purefreedom trolley in and out ive marked all paintwork on back door of car,but its only a work car,works well for me.
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cant imagine a tank in a car!is it legal?anyone got any pics of their tanks in various different cars?i bet it makes you look even more of a cowboy than the rusty old mondeo/astra estate trad windys!! ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Having worked out of cars with wfp and now having regular part time workers on board and having resurrected my backpack/sacktruck combo:-
The above posts of 125L tank/backpack on a shopping trolley and tradding bottoms are the way to go for a 66 year old adding to his pension.
Can your Dad put one back seat down? If so put a 125L tank longways in the back. Make sure it has a good pump on it to fill the backpack. Put the empty backpack on a collapsing sacktruck next to it. (got mine a fortnight ago from Cost co for £15) with a bungee. Maybe carry a part filled 25L drum as well.
How to work:-
Open hatch, put empty (no more than 5 litres in the bottom) backpack and trolley on floor. Fill to brim (16-18 litres) from 125L tank or from drum. Roll it to the property. Use it for tops. On a standard council semi you should get 15/16 upper windows from a backpack on repeat cleans so say two plus houses.
When low - either use the 25L drum and take 10-12 litres of water to top it back up or wheel it back to the car for a top up.
Tips:
Locked back gates. Have 12 metres of pole hose on a drum or wrapped around the sack truck arms so that you can leave the back pack by the gate.
Think about ditching the 125L tank/pump and having six/eight 25L drums filled to 15/16L so they aren't too heavy. Put the front passenger seat right back and put two in the front footwell, six in the boot and the backpack on a board on the front passenger seat.
Have a spare charged battery (maplins) and always charge it the night before working.
Your Dad:
If he is doing 5 a day then this will work for him and it will be easier on his body if he resists the temptation to overfill the barrels and try to lift them, he will hate it to start with; he'll ache because he is using different muscles; ask him to take it steady and persist.
Go with him if he'll let you and you have time.
In his situation he must trad bottoms - it's an easy no-brainer!
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cant imagine a tank in a car!is it legal?anyone got any pics of their tanks in various different cars?i bet it makes you look even more of a cowboy than the rusty old mondeo/astra estate trad windys!! ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Really helpful Dazmond. >:(
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This is how Jouk fills his backpack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT1V5pYJam8
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Great instructions gold. I gave offered to do the first cleans with him from my van so that should make it alot easier for him on subsequent cleans. Hopefuly he will go for the idea, it's not nice seeing your dad absolutely knackered from needing to carry on working for a few more years.
I think one of those 80l tanks might even be enough and fit straight in the boot with no need for folding seats, all his work is near his house so he can come home to fill up if need be.
Thanks all your advice chaps.
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why dont u merge ur business with him and work from a two man van, and knock like hell
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I already work with my brother.