Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Peter Fogwill on October 29, 2006, 10:26:35 pm
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I have been working on a new trolley, and was wondering what you guys thought of the concept.
I have posted the same on my site at window-tools and had some good responses, but I am hoping for some more
A trolley that can take 25L to 150L of water when needed for large commercial cleaning to small domestic.
It works as a 2 wheeler sack truck type, a 3 wheeler sack truck type, or a flat truck type. In the sack truck mode it can carry between 1 and 4 water containers, and in the flat truck mode it can take 6 containers.
It has it's own hose reel fitted as standard with 20M of hose, or more with micro-bore. And last but not least it fits on any vehicle with a tow-bar fitted, so no lifting. All you do is walk up to the vehicle push the trolley handles up, slide a bolt over and it is securely locked on the back of your car or van.
Most of the time you pull up outside a job, pull the hose to the window and your ready to go. Or if it is more than 20M away then the trolley comes off the vehicle in less than 10 seconds, and you just take the trolley to the window. If there is a lot of obstructions in the way the trolley can sit in an appropriate place and you pull the hose to the window.
Remember you have a trolley that never needs to be lifted, and can be used with the smallest of cars. No damage to the vehicle with knocks from the trolley, and no leaky hose inside the boot, or back of van.
The pump box, hose reel battery and containers can be taken off the trolley in seconds. And at the end of the day, the trolley and securing framework can be taken off the vehicle in seconds, and stored wherever you like.
I would say it is the best of both worlds. As near a van mount system you can get, with the versatility of a trolley system.
I will do a short unprofessional video early next week and post the link at my window tools site.
But in the meantime all comments positive or negative most welcome.
Peter Fogwill
www.window-tools.com
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Hiya Pete,I would be interested,provided
The weight was right
I could have it Insured
It was easy enough to manouver
Changing from one form to another is quick and easy
Any parts that come off must not be too Bulky(If I have to store lots of gear for it,it defeats the object)
It must look professional....(not look like something that I knocked up)
What size wheels are we talking about?
whats the Length,width&bredth
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Hi Johnboyfree,
I would say it is dead easy to manoeuvre, and also changing from one mode to another is easy. The parts that come off are the usual WFP equipment, pump box, hose reel, battery. You could just leave everything on though and wheel it into a garage or shed though.
It should look professional in a powder coated blue, or red.
I will get back to you on the wheel size, and trolley dimensions.
The insurance bit I don't know for sure but recon it would be classed as part of the vehicle. If you mean for theft the trolley can be locked on the vehicle.
Peter
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I just realised you meant the framework when you mentioned about the parts you need to store.
The framework just slides out when needed, and is relatively small.
Peter
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Thanks Peter,I didnt ask about the weight as I assume it will be light(empty)and 150 ltrs is 75 kilos or there about,plus a little more for the containers......
the removable bits I was refering to would be the wheels....
As they have to be road legal,and you change from trailer type to sack barrow,what happens to the two other wheels(I assume in trailer mode it has 4 wheels)are they removed or is the unit jacked up to act as a normal trolly and wheels left on or put some where else?Sorry if this makes no sense but I know what I mean,I just cant explain it,then when I do see a picture of this unit I bet it looks nothing like I am imagining it look to like
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Some thing tells me this is not a trailer type pull along,I take it it will be a stand alone frame that hooks onto the tow bar and sits upright with no wheels on the road......
Do I get a prize if Im right? ;D
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150 litres is 150kg
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You won't have 150L on when it is attached to the vehicle, you would only use 150L on the flat truck mode. The wheels are good quality although not road wheels. They don't have to be as they are suspended on the back of the vehicle when the trolley is being transported. The trolley is not wheeled around attached to the vehicle.
When it is in flat truck mode it has 3 wheels, and one folds away when it is in sack truck mode. It also leans back on the wheel from sack truck mode as well onto the third wheel, so it can be pushed around without having to balance it.
150L is around 150KGS but the vehicle weight carrying capacity will determine the amount of containers you can take with you.
Peter
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150 litres is 150kg
Its late.......thats my excuse.. 8) ...Iltr is equal to 1kilo
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Some thing tells me this is not a trailer type pull along,I take it it will be a stand alone frame that hooks onto the tow bar and sits upright with no wheels on the road......
Do I get a prize if Im right? ;D
Correct, no prize though. The ball hitch comes off though and a new fitting goes on in it's place with the necessary attachments.
Peter
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In that case I am interested,I know its work in progress but do you have any idea when it would be ready.......new year or before.......(I dont know why I thought it was going to be a trailer type)...and the cost?
and why no prize :'( :'(
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It should be ready in the next 4 weeks, I am still doing tests on it. The cost will still have to be worked out for a stand alone item, with the extras that people want or need. Some people will need more than others, depending on what they already have. The whole system including water treatment and poles, will be the same price I sell my other trolley system for.
Peter
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and why no prize :'( :'(
I told you in my first message.
Peter
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and why no prize :'( :'(
I told you in my first message.
Peter
Well I thought I had, but after reading it again I never really made that clear. I knew what I meant.
Peter
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and why no prize :'( :'(
I told you in my first message.
Peter
Well I thought I had, but after reading it again I never really made that clear. I knew what I meant.
Peter
I know that you knew what you meant ;) keep us posted as I am interested,many thanks
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Peter, do they have pole scabards fitted? Dai
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hi peter, i think its a great idea, would save all the hassle of loading and unloading, every time you arrive at a new job, but am sure i seen that idea on here in the diy trolley section,
that seems to have gone, i am sure it would attract a lot of interest, and potential buyers,
good luck peter
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Peter, do they have pole scabards fitted? Dai
It will have a holder for poles.
Peter
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hi peter, i think its a great idea, would save all the hassle of loading and unloading, every time you arrive at a new job, but am sure i seen that idea on here in the diy trolley section,
that seems to have gone, i am sure it would attract a lot of interest, and potential buyers,
good luck peter
I can't remember anyone doing that Jouk, if they did I would be interested to see how they did it.
BTW there is now a picture on my forum.
Peter
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it was a very nice bit of kit, connected to a bike rack type of thing if my memory serves me correct
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found it peter, this was the trolley, O and dont forget to ad a number plate to it
thewindowcleaner1 who posted it
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Thanks Jouk,
Is windowcleaner1 still here? I wonder how he is getting on with it, and if it is easy to put on and off?
Peter
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peter, i have not seen him for a long time, i know that he has been retired 4 years now
and am sure thats why he came up with the idea, to save him lifting it, even when i saw it last year i comented on it, think its still a brilliant but simple idea peter, the only fault i have on it, is the holes on the roof to hold the hooks, on the bungie hooks,peter you can email him, just check the member list
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peter got a couple of good names for it
piggyback trolley
hitch trolley
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It does seem quite a bit of work to get it on and off. It looks like he would have kept it attached most of the time. Aren't the bungees in the space between the back door and the car itself?
I don't think he could have got the trolley inside that car.
I think with a system like this it really has to be very easily removed to make it worthwhile.
Peter
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yes your right peter, i thought they where drilled holes, i still think its a great idea peter,
especialy if you have made great improvments with it, i dont think you would have any problems selling them, its a brilliant idea, and i would stay on track with it, i personaly would say its a best seller,
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It does seem quite a bit of work to get it on and off. It looks like he would have kept it attached most of the time. Aren't the bungees in the space between the back door and the car itself?
YES, its the same design on most bike racks, they have clip that slide over the tailgate (between the tailgate and the car)
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Just so as people are not confused with the picture at the top of the page and what I have done.
The most important part is how I attach it to the vehicle. If you notice on the particular transit van in the picture you will see that the trolley is right behind the back door. Now apart from what I put in place of the ball, you need some kind of supporting framework, and when you take the trolley away the framework is left behind, and the framework is in the way of opening the door. The way I developed it the whole framework just lifts off after the trolley is taken off.
Peter