Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Frequently Asked Questions & Useful Resources => Topic started by: TVCS on July 24, 2006, 08:41:14 pm
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Hi everyone. Warm enough for you?
I have been scanning through the forum and doing searches for a while now as I am interested in getting a wfp sysytem . Being a small business with only a small round and a small amount of cash at my disposal I thought that a trolley system would be the way to go. Now.
I was wondering about a few things that I hope someone can help with. I'm sure that this sort of post has been on the forum millions of times before, if so I am sorry.
Could anyone give me a break down of what is needed to get a trolley system up and running and if poss a rough price guide too.
I had a new customer call me last week and when I arrived at his huge old farm house I realized that most of the windows were out of reach for ladders due to the height and the sloping ground around the front of the propertry. When I explained that I could not get to those he was good about it as he said he didn't want a dead window cleaner on his drive anyway. As I left that property I realized that there must have been a good 10 - 15 quids worth of windows that i had to leave.
So here I am asking advice ( again ) from the wise ones in forum land.
One last question.
If you use wfp on a wooden framed window and the paint is flakey, will it result in flakey paint all over the windows?
MAny thanks in advance if anyone can advise me
Ant
TVCS
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Hi Ant,
Regarding the trolley system, personally I don't use one but am sure if you ask on a postings "Best Trolley System To Use" the answers will flood in.
Regarding the flaky paint.
Generally speaking you need to be very careful and certainly rinse thoroughly. The paint does have a tendancy to "ghost" on the glass but will go after time.
Just point it out to your customer first so they don't have any nasty shocks.
Best wishes,
Trev
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thanks for the reply Trev.
Computer has been down for a few weeks so couldn't reply, sorry.
Had an ionics catalogue through the door the other day, good kit in it but very expensive.
I will keep hunting.
Cheers
Ant
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Ant,
You will find after a month from personal experience that the trolley system
does not work with due to the time changing barrels. Hence best option
is a tank in the back of your van if you have one.
Best and cheapest route is DIY , there some good suppliers around at the
moment that offer this service - Gardnerpolesystems.
Do ensure your tank is fitted securely.
Yes you will have ups and downs with WFP but after a while you will learn
how to resolve these.
Doug
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Doug.
Thanks for the tips. I have heard from a few people that trolleys can get annoying what with the barrel changing etc. The reason i was thinking trolley over van was to save running miles of hose from the van to the rear of properties.
I am very green in the world of wfp but I am also very keen to learn.
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Ant,
Had the same worry but when I changed to micro bore hose, easy. Don't be
put off what customers will think as long as you make sure it does not go in
their precious gardens. I avoid this by starting at the back and then carefully
drag the hose to the front.
Another annoying factor with the trolley was steps and gravel driveways,
hard work pulling the trolley. Whereas with a hose pretty easy.
What you need to do is look at your work and visualise what method would
suit your round.
Doug
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Good point doug. I will have to have a re think i think.
Cheers
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I have a trolley system which i also run the tank in the van with.
You will always come across a job where it is easier to use a trolley or even a backpack rather than trying to pull the hose out.
I use all 3 of the above and find i can cover most jobs however awkward they are.
Craig
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Craig.
What system do you use. I mean is your trolley a home made jobbie or a pre made one.?
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I have the Pure Freedom Trolley and think it ideal for what i want.
It's fitted with a 100psi pump and Varistream controller.
You could make one yourself but this does look professional and quite a few of my customers have been quite impressed and surprised how i can deal with most of their cleaning requests.
I only carry 3 water containers for the trolley as like i already said it's connected to the tank in the van most of the time.
It only takes seconds to disconnect it and use it as a trolley system.
Craig
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I have the Pure Freedom Trolley and think it ideal for what i want.
It's fitted with a 100psi pump and Varistream controller.
You could make one yourself but this does look professional and quite a few of my customers have been quite impressed and surprised how i can deal with most of their cleaning requests.
I only carry 3 water containers for the trolley as like i already said it's connected to the tank in the van most of the time.
It only takes seconds to disconnect it and use it as a trolley system.
Craig
Craig,how much has your set up cost?
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For my WFP gear - Trolley, 2 x Backpacks, 3 x Poles ( a 4 / 18 / 30 foot), RO System, Di Bottle, IBC Tank, 2501litre tank, Hose & Connectors, Water Containers
Total Price came to just under £2000
Craig
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For my WFP gear - Trolley, 2 x Backpacks, 3 x Poles ( a 4 / 18 / 30 foot), RO System, Di Bottle, IBC Tank, 2501litre tank, Hose & Connectors, Water Containers
Total Price came to just under £2000
Craig
Craig,what van have you got?
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Renault Kangoo.
The Van needs a bit of clearing out in the picture plus only carry 3 water containers now.
Picture was taken a while ago
Craig
[attachment deleted by admin]
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The only thing that you need out of your van is that horrid scarf in the front window !! ;D
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For my WFP gear - Trolley, 2 x Backpacks, 3 x Poles ( a 4 / 18 / 30 foot), RO System, Di Bottle, IBC Tank, 2501litre tank, Hose & Connectors, Water Containers
Total Price came to just under £2000
Craig
Craig,what van have you got?
Fast One,
In general, the people who like the Freedom are the people who mainly use it as a van-mounted system.
So if you work from a car and still wish to carry ladders, you may find problems with the Freedom; since you can't get the 32 kilos of it out of the boot without taking your ladders out first; then it's ruddy heavy to pull about.
But if you've got a van; a van-mounted system supplemented with a backpack could be a more cost-effective and more-effective system to use.
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I used for over a year and still use now and then a omnitrolley.
Great piece of kit and no barrels to change but you still need to fill it up.
Easy to get up and down steps and take almost anywhere because of the large wheels.
Use a van mount now but the trolley still gets used for places to far from the van for a hose to reach.
I don't think i could manage with just a van system but other may depending on what your work is like.
Paul
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You will have to excuse the typing as I'm shaking a bit.
I have just this minute ordered my spanking new van system. ;D ;D ( The system is new the not the van)
Been looking at the gardiner web site and have now taken the plunge. The whole system with 2 poles and all the gubbins came to about £1000, that is with the option of running two poles from the one tank just in case.
Many thanks to everyone who has taken the time to offer advice and I will keep you posted with how I get on. Really excited now and cant wait to get it.
Well I'd better stop typing and go out and clean some glass. Between now and when my new toy arrives I will hand out to all my customers an info / fact sheet about WFP so they have got time to get any questions answered before it arrives.
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Good on you Ant, will be hard at first but in the long run you will not regret it.
However I would strongly recomend that you learn the ropes with some one
who operates wfp in your area or attend the BWCA course.
Doug
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Doug,
We will be attending a BWCA course. The way I see it is I've spent all my hard earned cash so I might aswell learn how to get the best results and get my moneys worth.
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Ant,
where in Worcester are you? You are more than welcome to have a day out with me to learn the ropes on wfp. I'm in Hereford. Save your money ;D
Kind regards Jon
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Jon,
Thanks, what a star you are. I'm in Tenbury Wells, about 20 mins from Hereford.
It will be a great help if you could show me how to do it. Been looking at the BWCA courses but it is a long way to travel at the mo.
My phone number is 01584810594, or mobile 07976592368.
Look forward to hearing from you.
MAny thanks
Ant
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Well its been a long wait but..........
the water tank for my van has arrived.
All I need now is the rest of the tack and I'll be on here asking how to put it all together.
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Friday morning, my mobile rings.
Tears well in my eyes when I hear the words I've been waitng to hear for the last 2 weeks. "The WFP stuff is here". :) :) :) ;D
Anyway I got home friday at about 5 ish and unpacked my lovely new poles and almost wet myself when I felt the weight of them. The 12 ft pole is lovely but the 24ft is much heavier than I had imagined. I'm not a small bloke so I think I will manage but hats off to you guys out there. When I ordered them I read how heavy they were but failed to appreciate what they would be like when extended. :-[
Did a few windows this morning, in the drizzle but by lunch time all I wanted to do was fit the tank in my van.
Its taken me a little while and I still have the pump to put in and to wire up but its getting there.
The instructions are pretty easy to follow but there is a lack of diagrams so if anyone on here wouldn't mind sending me a piccy of there van set up I can see if I have got my head round it properly or not. I have had a quick look in the search section of this forum but have not really found what I was looking for.
I will take some photos tomorrow and post them on here and you can all have a laugh at what I have managed to create.
Cheers
Ant
TVCS