Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: AuRavelling79 on July 31, 2023, 10:01:29 pm
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Well it's been an interesting week. I have been using 4 barrels and a backpack on a folding sack truck out of my wife's Suzuki SX4 while Dan the Man and I have been gathering the bits for my van repair.
I do about £140/£150 in 4/5 hours and use 120 litres. More time is spent wiping frames and sills by hand.
It's more tiring than 6/7 hours wfp from van. And about half as financially viable.
But it works. If I was retired, keeping my hand in, it is doable although I would prefer a small van with say a 350 tank at 4 hours max a day.
One job worked quite well. It's a four storey Victorian house in Clifton with parking difficulties. Using a small car I was able to pull up opposite, take out the backpack and one barrel, put them on the wide wall at the front and get to work.
It took an hour whereas from the van it would have been similar (had I been able to park within 70 metres of the front gate.)
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Sounds grim. I would have took the week off 100%.
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Sounds grim. I would have took the week off 100%.
Well I like to keep my customers up to date. And I'd rather have £700 than nothing.
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I'd rather have my health and sanity than 700 notes
Darran
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I'd rather have my health and sanity than 700 notes
Darran
I have all three.
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I’d rather hire a van.
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That sounds like nightmare.
Well done and fair play to you for doing that for a week. Be careful of the old back too. Quite easy to pull something with moving the backpack and barrels around.
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I’d rather hire a van.
Or insist that the insurance company continues to provide one until the issue is completely resolved.
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Fair play. £30 an hour is £30 an hour more than many people can be bovvered doing themselves these days.
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I’d rather hire a van.
Or insist that the insurance company continues to provide one until the issue is completely resolved.
It is completely resolved.
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It’s good to suffer a little to allow you to appreciate how easy thing’s normally are.
£30 an hour is great money. Twice what a junior Dr earns.
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I’d rather hire a van.
Or insist that the insurance company continues to provide one until the issue is completely resolved.
It is completely resolved.
If you say so.
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I’d rather hire a van.
Or insist that the insurance company continues to provide one until the issue is completely resolved.
It is completely resolved.
If you say so.
You seem to be making a comment based on the fact that you don't know the facts of my claim.
Why would you do that?
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You seem to be making a comment based on the fact that you don't know the facts of my claim.
Why would you do that?
So what were you hoping for with your OP if not comments and opinions?
Everyone to tell you how inspiring you are?
The fact you’ve apparently limited the facts you’ve shared whilst posting all about your situation on a public forum is more on you rather than the comments you receive.
As it goes though, I’d probably do something similar to what you've done; especially if I was looking to fix up an insurance write off.
As has been said, something is better than nothing.
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You seem to be making a comment based on the fact that you don't know the facts of my claim.
Why would you do that?
I'm just giving my opinion based on the information provided.
I've had numerous insurance claims over the years. Where we were not at fault my insurance company has ensured that there we've not been put out and had to resort to barrels, backpacks and cars, culminating in a 50% drop in financial viability. For me "completely resolved" would mean that I am back to 100% financial viability.
My advice to others on the forum would be to ensure this doesn't happen to you. Insurance isn't cheap and you should get what you pay for. Indeed the last claim I made the insurance company wanted the hire vehicle returned before we had the replacement sourced. I refused.
If there is other pertinent information that you've chosen not to share then fair enough, I can only form an opinion on the information provided though.
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Just a thought …..you are insured on the wife’s car for business use aren’t you?
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Just a thought …..you are insured on the wife’s car for business use aren’t you?
good point
Darran
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also....
you were happy with 700 motes and no spend
or
hire a van 150 quid and earn 1250 for the week - and in more comfort
Darran
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You seem to be making a comment based on the fact that you don't know the facts of my claim.
Why would you do that?
I'm just giving my opinion based on the information provided.
I've had numerous insurance claims over the years. Where we were not at fault my insurance company has ensured that there we've not been put out and had to resort to barrels, backpacks and cars, culminating in a 50% drop in financial viability. For me "completely resolved" would mean that I am back to 100% financial viability.
My advice to others on the forum would be to ensure this doesn't happen to you. Insurance isn't cheap and you should get what you pay for. Indeed the last claim I made the insurance company wanted the hire vehicle returned before we had the replacement sourced. I refused.
If there is other pertinent information that you've chosen not to share then fair enough, I can only form an opinion on the information provided though.
On the Prang thread I said the claim had been resolved. I also explained that I have been paid out for my van. After being paid out I had a further week's use of the hire van. Nearly three weeks in total.
I could have bought another van. I chose not to. So it's up to me to look after myself from a certain point. The solicitor I spoke to said that five working days (7 actually) from payout on a write off claim was reasonable.
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also....
you were happy with 700 motes and no spend
or
hire a van 150 quid and earn 1250 for the week - and in more comfort
Darran
Or only have £800 worth of work scheduled for the week hire a van for £300, spend a day putting my tank and system in and out and be more out of pocket.
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Just a thought …..you are insured on the wife’s car for business use aren’t you?
good point
Darran
Yes we both are.
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You seem to be making a comment based on the fact that you don't know the facts of my claim.
Why would you do that?
So what were you hoping for with your OP if not comments and opinions?
Everyone to tell you how inspiring you are?
The fact you’ve apparently limited the facts you’ve shared whilst posting all about your situation on a public forum is more on you rather than the co
As it goes though, I’d probably do something similar to what you've done; especially if I was looking to fix up an insurance write off.
As has been said, something is better than nothing.
Comments and opinions are most welcome. Questions too.
Is a comment saying 'if you say so" after the very point has previously been explained helpful to anyone?
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Backpack shouldnt be that much slower than van mount just harder work. Time lost filling it up is time gained not having to pull hose round obstacles and back in.
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Backpack shouldnt be that much slower than van mount just harder work. Time lost filling it up is time gained not having to pull hose round obstacles and back in.
Van mount will always be much quicker in most situations, especially on regular work ware you know exactly ware you are going , I started with a back pack years ago and it’s much harder work and considerably slower lifting it in and out of the van filling it etc reeling in 100 meters of hose takes 45 seconds maximum you can’t fill a back pack and put it into a vehicle that quick and depending the size of the house 23 ltr won’t be enough water so would have to go back to the van to re fill .
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Backpack is slower. And more hard work.
Other than a stop gap between vans I wouldn't entertain the idea.
But. I could see the use of a backpack in the van (always bungeed to a small folding sack truck) and a barrel for an unusual hard to access job.
But I would avoid such jobs normally.
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Backpack shouldnt be that much slower than van mount just harder work. Time lost filling it up is time gained not having to pull hose round obstacles and back in.
Van mount will always be much quicker in most situations, especially on regular work ware you know exactly ware you are going , I started with a back pack years ago and it’s much harder work and considerably slower lifting it in and out of the van filling it etc reeling in 100 meters of hose takes 45 seconds maximum you can’t fill a back pack and put it into a vehicle that quick and depending the size of the house 23 ltr won’t be enough water so would have to go back to the van to re fill .
Yes and no ive worked with backpacks as well. If youve got good parking and a clean pull from the van, i.e you can park with rear doors facing the right way and dont have to pull round cars, bins, plants etc then a van mount is quicker but theres a number of jobs on my round that would be easier and faster with a backpack. Its really not that slow with a fast fill that maybe takes 20 seconds to fill the backpack up.
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back packs are a must have to carry on board. they are an important tool to have for some jobs...... like stoots says tho ..... fast fill from the tank and away to go
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back packs are a must have to carry on board. they are an important tool to have for some jobs...... like stoots says tho ..... fast fill from the tank and away to go
They are definitely not a must have. I’ve managed for 12 years without one and would turn down any job that required one.
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Just goes to show the differing needs of us window cleaners
back pack to me is not essential - but I use it to apply chemicals
I did have a mid terrace town house that required a back pack - no other way - but after 2 cleans the agro it caused was enough to bin the job
Darran
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Same here.....got two Gardiners backpacks.....never used either for regular window cleaning.....use one for fsg etc chemicals and the other for cleaning the windows after a fsg clean.
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back packs are a must have to carry on board. they are an important tool to have for some jobs...... like stoots says tho ..... fast fill from the tank and away to go
I agree they have there uses especially for chemical applications, but I don’t understand why ones take on work ware there is access issues and it needs a back pack you are never going to earn decent money with this type of work , far better off getting work slower without theses issues , we don’t use backpack s for any of our work and haven’t done for over 20 years .
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back packs are a must have to carry on board. they are an important tool to have for some jobs...... like stoots says tho ..... fast fill from the tank and away to go
They are definitely not a must have. I’ve managed for 12 years without one and would turn down any job that required one.
I use them to apply chemicals. when my son works with me, he uses a back pack while I use the reel. works faster for us this way
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back packs are a must have to carry on board. they are an important tool to have for some jobs...... like stoots says tho ..... fast fill from the tank and away to go
They are definitely not a must have. I’ve managed for 12 years without one and would turn down any job that required one.
I use them to apply chemicals. when my son works with me, he uses a back pack while I use the reel. works faster for us this way
If he was with you all the time would probably be easier and faster to add another pump, controller and reel I found that much better all round when I had someone with me as I expanded , now all vans have two fixed reels it’s so much more efficient and doesn’t cost that much to fit .
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back packs are a must have to carry on board. they are an important tool to have for some jobs...... like stoots says tho ..... fast fill from the tank and away to go
They are definitely not a must have. I’ve managed for 12 years without one and would turn down any job that required one.
I use them to apply chemicals. when my son works with me, he uses a back pack while I use the reel. works faster for us this way
If he was with you all the time would probably be easier and faster to add another pump, controller and reel I found that much better all round when I had someone with me as I expanded , now all vans have two fixed reels it’s so much more efficient and doesn’t cost that much to fit .
possibly . hes with me 3 days a week , but hes off to uni next month
he has had the option of a reel but the truth is he just finds a back pack easier , I suppose hes got used to it and got it to a fine art.
he works from the side of the van and I work from the back.
he has a good length of pole hose , so he can do a standard small semi without moving the back pack.
mind you , he is only 20..... after work I will fall asleep on the sofa , and he will go for a run . ;D ;D
when I work on my own its from a reel .
I was just trying to explain the value of a back pack .... for what they cost I think they are a great bit of kit.
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Well I'm getting the knack of it now. And so far there is one parking issue job where I shall take it with me (as I have it anyway) even when the van is back on the road.
As for the van, the front end (from an i800 people carrier) is nearly rebuilt and the engine stays cool with the new radiators after half an hour on tickover.
The fans haven't kicked in but the heater works so not sure what that indicates because the temperature gauge doesn't want to go above 85/90 degrees.
My brother tested the front wiring loom and repaired a connector on it and the lights indicators and horns work.
Having a week away in the caravan from tomorrow but hopefully booking for MOT the week after and paint in September.
Also going to renew the floor rubber/tray/paint in the back as the ply is rotten in places.
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There's a few situations on my round I use a backpack.
3 instances on my round where I have 2 houses either side of a main road. It's much quicker to clean 1 house with the hose then whip the back pack out and run across the road to do the other than have to go turn round and park at the other side and get all the gear out again.
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Used my backpack as a replacement for the van for hopefully the last time this afternoon.
I found it quite knackering but I was able to get about £200 a day from it with a refill of four barrels half way through.
Most days this last week I was fiddling about with the van so tended to do about 4 hours and about £140/£160 with the back pack.
There is one job I shall take it for due to possible parking issues.
It's been useful but I really don't recommend it!