Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Ralphie on July 15, 2020, 09:12:47 pm
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So I’m on another windies patch doing a different job for someone and walk passed their open van and you just have to look as he is busy with his slx22, hose across the main road with an old but tidy van, sign written, logo t shirt and just a tank (maybe 300litre so not huge for a transit van) but absolutely nothing else in the back of the van.
Tank was delivery only and I know where he lives whilst not knowing him so is either buying in pure or just using tap as he has no purification system.
He has been doing the job at least three years as I have been in this area for three years and so was just wondering:
How naked are some of the windies vans out their?
My missus is constantly moaning at me for all of the parcels I get delivered because I seem to need everything. A total overkill from having delivery system, trolley and backpack - two of which I never use (guess which ones🤔). I have every brush that you more seasoned chaps mention as I feel have I can’t help myself buying, if it’s new I get it and never seem to use it so will one day will sell. If van got robbed I would be bolloxed because the 35 poles never leave the van except the one I use😂.
The point I’m trying to get at is are their windows out their with a more basic van as this fellas and it works, I’m sure their is loads of us with tons of kit we probably don’t use but just got to have.
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My filtering system is in my shed then i transfer water to van ,if i need other items for jobs i put it in van but having stuff clogging up my van does my head in no need for loads of brushes and other gear you dont need
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So I’m on another windies patch doing a different job for someone and walk passed their open van and you just have to look as he is busy with his slx22, hose across the main road with an old but tidy van, sign written, logo t shirt and just a tank (maybe 300litre so not huge for a transit van) but absolutely nothing else in the back of the van.
Tank was delivery only and I know where he lives whilst not knowing him so is either buying in pure or just using tap as he has no purification system.
He has been doing the job at least three years as I have been in this area for three years and so was just wondering:
How naked are some of the windies vans out their?
My missus is constantly moaning at me for all of the parcels I get delivered because I seem to need everything. A total overkill from having delivery system, trolley and backpack - two of which I never use (guess which ones🤔). I have every brush that you more seasoned chaps mention as I feel have I can’t help myself buying, if it’s new I get it and never seem to use it so will one day will sell. If van got robbed I would be bolloxed because the 35 poles never leave the van except the one I use😂.
The point I’m trying to get at is are their windows out their with a more basic van as this fellas and it works, I’m sure their is loads of us with tons of kit we probably don’t use but just got to have.
I have never had a sign written van even when I was still building my round. I have never bothered with a sign written uniform and I don't have a website.
Maybe it took me a little longer to build my round, I don't know. But one thing is for sure; there are people I have never met who know who I am in the areas we work.
The only thing visible on my van is ladders on the roof and a hose port next to my towbar with two outlets. When I'm out cleaning my hose reel is a give away to what I do, but the rear van doors are closed. The front cabin area is always locked. I did cause confusion among my customers when I arrived in a white van. They had got used to the blue one I ran for 10 years until it failed MOT on under body rust.
I do have an assortment of brushes but have resolved to use them before trying new ones on offer. My SLX22 is just on 9 years old even although its my everyday pole. My SLX40 is 11 years old, but that gets used around half a dozen times a month.
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So I’m on another windies patch doing a different job for someone and walk passed their open van and you just have to look as he is busy with his slx22, hose across the main road with an old but tidy van, sign written, logo t shirt and just a tank (maybe 300litre so not huge for a transit van) but absolutely nothing else in the back of the van.
Tank was delivery only and I know where he lives whilst not knowing him so is either buying in pure or just using tap as he has no purification system.
He has been doing the job at least three years as I have been in this area for three years and so was just wondering:
How naked are some of the windies vans out their?
My missus is constantly moaning at me for all of the parcels I get delivered because I seem to need everything. A total overkill from having delivery system, trolley and backpack - two of which I never use (guess which ones🤔). I have every brush that you more seasoned chaps mention as I feel have I can’t help myself buying, if it’s new I get it and never seem to use it so will one day will sell. If van got robbed I would be bolloxed because the 35 poles never leave the van except the one I use😂.
The point I’m trying to get at is are their windows out their with a more basic van as this fellas and it works, I’m sure their is loads of us with tons of kit we probably don’t use but just got to have.
did you enjoy being nosey ? ;D
ask yourself this - you have spent 100's on equipment, you have loads of brushes you never use, a van full of clutter!
sounds like he has got his working life down to fine art - basic kit that works and he can repair easily - not everyone wants a bright new shining van that cost 10k + or payments every month - his priority could be keeping his cash for the family
our vans look pretty basic - tank, reels, pumps ladder - everything else is kept at the unit unless required on the day - gutter vac - special equipment - longer poles
sometimes we all get wrapped up with getting more a more equipment and then looking down on others with a sense of smugness
hopefully your not one of these types
Darran
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I love trying new stuff if it’s good it gives me enthusiasm.
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Smudge you’re getting me all wrong, this guy does not have a filtration system in his shed, so therefore must be buying.
I’m not trying to be smug because I am lucky enough to be able to get the gadgets, I was just wondering how far windies can actually get on the basics?
We have had the bloke with the bucket and a chammy, the cheap pole the expensive pole I was offering an opportunity for conversation on the success or other of having the basics and how far you can take it or the lucky ones like myself who has all the gear but a small round.
The totally newbies (I have promoted myself to newbie) may get a little lift knowing that you can run a good round with the basics and it’s more about the quality of your work (which my little round gets) as opposed to the guys with all the gear that still gives great service but has lots of unused gear (me again😤😂).
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Over the years I've purified water and begged and bought it from friends. I've had big and small tanks and vans. Tinkered with DIY gadgets and carried several poles at a time, ladders and all sorts of gizmos, some great and others a complete waste of money.
I now have a small van and 350 tank, one pole (25) + extensions ( to make 45) on a tubeless set up with univalve and 2 brushes, one soft flocked with fans and the other mono with jets. Backpack and trad gear + a spray bottle and no nonsense degreaser. Chuck a combi ladder in only when needed. Filter water at home. Cold system and a home made pump and battery box with spring controller. And well, that's about it 😁
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First thing to consider is how hard is the water in your area - if it's soft then a di vessel is all that's needed - lucky so'n'so's - this could be left at home
If you have the skills then you can easily clean windows to the very best standard wether your one man outfit or have staff with the most basic items - in fact I would always suggest people start this way as you learn what the problems are and then address them by getting not only better equipment but the right equipment for you
My philosophy has always been only buy what you NEED not what you would LIKE to have
There are some that need big fancy vans and equipment to feel justified /superior - mentioning it at every opportunity like a badge of honor ;D
It's great to buy stuff even better if you then do an in depth honest review for others and if if makes life easier so much the better - but if your cr@p at cleaning windows then no amount of gizmo's will alter that
I made my comments based on things like "old van" and "no kit" personally, if I had had time to look in the back I would have made the effort to say hi, and chat, find out why he works the way he does - you will learn one of 2 things - a different of working or the guy is an ar$€ 0le and you stay well clear ;D
Darran
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You may find that his business is far more profitable than Yours because he keeps costs low.
It may of only cost him 50p to clean that house, whereas all your gadgets and gear mean your making far less profit.
It’s not all about having the latest gadgets, it’s a bout being good at your job.
I’ve spent thousands on my set up, but I don’t know if I’m any more profitable than a small business with a basic set up.
I do enjoy my work more though I think, and it makes my working day easier.
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Yes I could get by with a cheap,secondhand van,backpack/trolley,barrels,cold water,etc...been there done that but I wouldnt want to go back to that now.......
I think most of us have been guilty of buying too much gear in the past but you find your sweet spot after a few years and stop buying as many brushes,etc!👍😁
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Yes I could get by with a cheap,secondhand van,backpack/trolley,barrels,cold water,etc...been there done that but I wouldnt want to go back to that now.......
I think most of us have been guilty of buying too much gear in the past but you find your sweet spot after a few years and stop buying as many brushes,etc!👍😁
My problem as a fairly newbie is that I monitor what people are using advising on and go and buy the bloody thing only for it to sit in the van 'til i get the chance to use it.
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Yes I could get by with a cheap,secondhand van,backpack/trolley,barrels,cold water,etc...been there done that but I wouldnt want to go back to that now.......
I think most of us have been guilty of buying too much gear in the past but you find your sweet spot after a few years and stop buying as many brushes,etc!👍😁
My problem as a fairly newbie is that I monitor what people are using advising on and go and buy the bloody thing only for it to sit in the van 'til i get the chance to use it.
So you buy stuff for the sake of it and the other bloke only buys what he uses...
Who’s the dippy one?
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a couple of experiences i have had 1 was a guy i knew asked if he could look at my set up 20 years ago he couldn't believe everything i had only cost around 5 grand his set up was 25 grand he nearly fainted, secondly i used to have my van sign written a woman asked me for a price when i gave her a price she said i have been wanting a Window cleaner for a long time but didn't want to ask you as i thought you might be to expensive with having the sign written van ,so having all your van sign written up and with all the expensive gear doesn't always mean your gonna get all the customers most always go for the guys that dont look as though they are gonna be expensive, or guys that are well established like me 😇👍
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Having a nice,clean sign written van does pay off in the long run esp if you work in posher areas......without a doubt....
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Saving time should be the influencing factor in any additional purchase beyond the basics you need to to the job. If it's going to save you time over the course of a day that means more earning potential or shorter hours and a better hourly rate.
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Saving time should be the influencing factor in any additional purchase beyond the basics you need to to the job. If it's going to save you time over the course of a day that means more earning potential or shorter hours and a better hourly rate.
+1
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Smudge you’re getting me all wrong, this guy does not have a filtration system in his shed, so therefore must be buying.
I’m not trying to be smug because I am lucky enough to be able to get the gadgets, I was just wondering how far windies can actually get on the basics?
We have had the bloke with the bucket and a chammy, the cheap pole the expensive pole I was offering an opportunity for conversation on the success or other of having the basics and how far you can take it or the lucky ones like myself who has all the gear but a small round.
The totally newbies (I have promoted myself to newbie) may get a little lift knowing that you can run a good round with the basics and it’s more about the quality of your work (which my little round gets) as opposed to the guys with all the gear that still gives great service but has lots of unused gear (me again😤😂).
What does he have in his shed then?
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Smudge you’re getting me all wrong, this guy does not have a filtration system in his shed, so therefore must be buying.
I’m not trying to be smug because I am lucky enough to be able to get the gadgets, I was just wondering how far windies can actually get on the basics?
We have had the bloke with the bucket and a chammy, the cheap pole the expensive pole I was offering an opportunity for conversation on the success or other of having the basics and how far you can take it or the lucky ones like myself who has all the gear but a small round.
The totally newbies (I have promoted myself to newbie) may get a little lift knowing that you can run a good round with the basics and it’s more about the quality of your work (which my little round gets) as opposed to the guys with all the gear that still gives great service but has lots of unused gear (me again😤😂).
What does he have in his shed then?
Me :P :D :'( :'( :'( :'(
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Over the years I've purified water and begged and bought it from friends. I've had big and small tanks and vans. Tinkered with DIY gadgets and carried several poles at a time, ladders and all sorts of gizmos, some great and others a complete waste of money.
I now have a small van and 350 tank, one pole (25) + extensions ( to make 45) on a tubeless set up with univalve and 2 brushes, one soft flocked with fans and the other mono with jets. Backpack and trad gear + a spray bottle and no nonsense degreaser. Chuck a combi ladder in only when needed. Filter water at home. Cold system and a home made pump and battery box with spring controller. And well, that's about it 😁
That really is all you need.
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Electric reel extreme poles extreme brushes and hot water buy those 3 things and you can save all the rest you’ll waste,3 things essential to the serious operator like me m8 🤣🤣🤣👍
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Electric reel extreme poles extreme brushes and hot water buy those 3 things and you can save all the rest you’ll waste,3 things essential to the serious operator like me m8 🤣🤣🤣👍
😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤠🤩🤩🤩😂😂😂
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👍 if you use cold you’ll be left out in it.
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It depends on how you 'lay your stall out'.
I do wfp. I also offer, fsg cleans, connies in and out, gutter vac, pressure washing, soft washing...set of saucepans and a cuddly toy!
Sometimes I just want a Toyota Hilux pickup, (Japanese import 'intimidator') bespoke 500l tank, my trustee 22 xtreme, 3 brushes and all the extras I can fit into 2 x 22 litre windys buckets, plus lids of course.
One day ;D
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Gotta beeeeeee hot hot 🥵 🥵 will be tomorrow 28 degrees down this way.
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i think i did everything the right way round......i spent many years driving old cars and old vans with limited equipment...you didnt need much back in my trad days....i didnt earn much either! ;D
when i switched to WFP i spent 6 or 7 years experimenting with different set ups,trolleys,backpacks various poles,cheap,gas hot water systems,etc and again driving old vehicles....after a few breakdowns(vehicles not mentally!)i decided to get a brand new van and get it properly sign written,by this time my round had become a lot more profitable over the 6 or 7 years since i switched to wfp so could easily afford the monthly repayments and then got a professionally fitted diesel heater installed a few months later.....
i dont want to be breaking down in my van and constantly fannying around with equipment like i did when i had a gas water heater...i just want to go to work,get it cleaned and come home in the most efficient manner possible with as little downtime as possible......
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Why is it that everyone that buys brand new vehicles think they are never gonna break down ,if a new vehicle breaks down they cost alot more to repair than old vans and warranty s dont always cover the breakdown
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If you buy a new vehicle you haven’t got to pay for it to be repaired though have you for a few years,I agree some vans keep going but with a newer one you get the comforts and if you do a lot of mileage you can’t beat doing it in comfort.
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I have had new vehicles and not everything get s fixed free of charge trust me ,only the first year of a new vehicle s life is fixed for free
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Having an older van will always be more cost effective, depreciation on new or newer vehicles sees to that.
As for reliability, simple diesel engines on older vans are usually more reliable than all the latest electrics in newer vans.
Lets face it we buy new vans because they look nice and because we want them that's all.
My old 51 plate scudo had 300k on the clock, someone bought it off me and drove to Poland in it. The old 1.9d a proper engine.
This truck I bought will throw its timing chain or snap in half in the next 5 next years and when it does break down it will cost me a lot more than my old scudo would have that's for sure.. I only paid £500 for the entire van, that's a set of tyres on this lol but I still wanted it.
Same old story with most things in life, there's having enough then there's having excess and most will try to justify the excess as necessity.
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The biggest problem when buying an older van is getting a good one, most will be x work vans that will have had a hard life and in need of a few quid spent on them, even then there is no guarantee that they will be reliable, I bought my van from new, its now going on 13 has been well looked after looks like new and has around 35k miles on the clock, hopefully it will do me for another 5 years until I retire, at that stage it will have cost me around £800 a year to buy and maintain.
Its the upfront costs that make some think that a new van is a false economy.
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Why is it that everyone that buys brand new vehicles think they are never gonna break down ,if a new vehicle breaks down they cost alot more to repair than old vans and warranty s dont always cover the breakdown
i always had old vans that had been battered by the time i got my hands on them...a new one will last a very long time with limited mileage and regular servicing esp when its just used for work....mines never broke down in 3 and a half years and dont expect it to for many years yet.....
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The biggest problem when buying an older van is getting a good one, most will be x work vans that will have had a hard life and in need of a few quid spent on them, even then there is no guarantee that they will be reliable, I bought my van from new, its now going on 13 has been well looked after looks like new and has around 35k miles on the clock, hopefully it will do me for another 5 years until I retire, at that stage it will have cost me around £800 a year to buy and maintain.
Its the upfront costs that make some think that a new van is a false economy.
just as a matter of interest has your van ever broke down in the 13 years of having it mate?
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The biggest problem when buying an older van is getting a good one, most will be x work vans that will have had a hard life and in need of a few quid spent on them, even then there is no guarantee that they will be reliable, I bought my van from new, its now going on 13 has been well looked after looks like new and has around 35k miles on the clock, hopefully it will do me for another 5 years until I retire, at that stage it will have cost me around £800 a year to buy and maintain.
Its the upfront costs that make some think that a new van is a false economy.
just as a matter of interest has your van ever broke down in the 13 years of having it mate?
First time this year, died on me on the way home from work and had to be towed to the garage, actually thought that it might have been the turbo as the 1.6 dispatches have an issue with them, luckily it wasn't, but while at the garage I got a full service including a well overdue new timing belt and so on, so all in it cost around £700, other than that its just been a few electrical problems such as the electric windows and central locking which haven't been that costly to get fixed.
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Spend money when YOU HAVE TO, save money WHENEVER YOU CAN.
Do I listen to my own wisdom... Most of the time No 🙄
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The biggest problem when buying an older van is getting a good one, most will be x work vans that will have had a hard life and in need of a few quid spent on them, even then there is no guarantee that they will be reliable, I bought my van from new, its now going on 13 has been well looked after looks like new and has around 35k miles on the clock, hopefully it will do me for another 5 years until I retire, at that stage it will have cost me around £800 a year to buy and maintain.
Its the upfront costs that make some think that a new van is a false economy.
35k in 13 years?
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The biggest problem when buying an older van is getting a good one, most will be x work vans that will have had a hard life and in need of a few quid spent on them, even then there is no guarantee that they will be reliable, I bought my van from new, its now going on 13 has been well looked after looks like new and has around 35k miles on the clock, hopefully it will do me for another 5 years until I retire, at that stage it will have cost me around £800 a year to buy and maintain.
Its the upfront costs that make some think that a new van is a false economy.
35k in 13 years?
I do around 2,500-3,000 miles a year in my van(just used for work)
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My set up is pretty basic: 2 SLX 27's. Only one gets used each day since changing from two men to one. Then an SLX -39, hardly used. Basic hose reels (manual).
Have a gutter vac on board but hardly used.
Trad tools (hardly used) and a ladder.
Never seen the point in having different brushes, the one I use, extreme sill, does everything.
I've thought about an electric reel but I don't find reeling in manually difficult physically.
O yeah - the warning sign - essential bit of kit!!
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My set up is pretty basic: 2 SLX 27's. Only one gets used each day since changing from two men to one. Then an SLX -39, hardly used. Basic hose reels (manual).
Have a gutter vac on board but hardly used.
Trad tools (hardly used) and a ladder.
Never seen the point in having different brushes, the one I use, extreme sill, does everything.
I've thought about an electric reel but I don't find reeling in manually difficult physically.
O yeah - the warning sign - essential bit of kit!!
your working day would be a lot easier with an electric reel,xtreme poles instead of SLXs and hot water and ditch the warning signs but each to their own......
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Ditch the warning signs lol I wouldn’t do that one.
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Ditch the warning signs lol I wouldn’t do that one.
ive not used warning cones for years now mate...i was always leaving them on jobs,driving over them or customers/joe public nearly tripping over them!so got rid...... :)
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I’ve quiet a few I wouldn’t be allowed to clean without em m8.
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ive always had diy van system just changed over to di in van as i do pressure washing now .i used to filter water in to tank , i think use what works for you and your business who cares what jo blogs is doing