Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: thomsi600 on March 04, 2007, 11:17:35 am
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hi guys
are these water fed trailer systems any good what are they like to tow?
and do they work aswell as the van based system.
thanks in advance
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Towing is the easy bit it's the parking and manouvering I couldn't put up with. With a van I can back it onto many peoples drives no problem.
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They work just as well - and are great if you can only afford/have room for one vehicle (for family purposes).
Ideally a van is probably better for ease of parking. Once you're used to trailer reversing it's not a problem.
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The lenght of the A frame from tow bar to axle determines how difficult reversing is. The shorter it is, the more difficult.Often in cul de sacs and drives I have to unhitch my trailer.I drive a ducato and can't even see my trailer.(I don't have the one shown.)
My 400litre tank is heavy. When full almost impossible to lift off the bar, and hard to push up the slightest incline.Down a hill you might not be able to hold it, so give some thought to how and when you unhitch.
I have 100M minibore metal reel and if I can't park near enough often need it. The one in the pic looks like garden hose.
I fill up in my garage and needed a booster pump.(£200)
But I don't have to tax or insure it, and the bit's would always transfer into a vehicle at a later date.
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Hi
I have that very same trailer and tow it with a Suzuki 1.3 Carry van.
It works fine for me as all my business is local - within 8 miles of home.
If you go that route you need to consider a split relay charger to keep your battery near enough charged - I put the trickle charger on every few days to top it up.
It must weigh about 550kgs when fully loaded so remember that it is an unbraked trailer and as such by law cannot weigh more that 50% of the tow vehicle.
With my Suzuki I am on the legal towing weight boarder so carry extra water containers in the van as 'ballast'.
My own personal feeling is that I wouldn't quote for work further away as I think the wheels are too small for any long distance work. I certainly wouldn't tow it down the motorway.
It is a great starter system but as I 'flood' the windows with rinse water (still can't wash and rinse a window with a cup of water) the 375l capacity of the 3 tanks is a little small for me.
Reversing is a pain - sometimes I am brillant; usually I make a total pigs ear of it. I certainly would never consider unhitching it for manovering purposes as the trailer would be too heavy to control.
I have taken the RO off the trailer and situated it at the back door of home connected to the outside tap and process water overnight directly into the trailer tanks - I don't have an IBC storage tank.
My son has invested in an 800kg Peugeot Partner HDI van which we will kit out shortly. We will put a 500l tank in the back of that one which will give a little extra capacity.
Knowing what I know now I think I would rather go the van mounted route, but will stay with this for the meantime.
Hope this helps.
Spruce
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Hi
I have that very same trailer and tow it with a Suzuki 1.3 Carry van.
It works fine for me as all my business is local - within 8 miles of home.
If you go that route you need to consider a split relay charger to keep your battery near enough charged - I put the trickle charger on every few days to top it up.
It must weigh about 550kgs when fully loaded so remember that it is an unbraked trailer and as such by law cannot weigh more that 50% of the tow vehicle.
With my Suzuki I am on the legal towing weight boarder so carry extra water containers in the van as 'ballast'.
My own personal feeling is that I wouldn't quote for work further away as I think the wheels are too small for any long distance work. I certainly wouldn't tow it down the motorway.
It is a great starter system but as I 'flood' the windows with rinse water (still can't wash and rinse a window with a cup of water) the 375l capacity of the 3 tanks is a little small for me.
Reversing is a pain - sometimes I am brillant; usually I make a total pigs ear of it. I certainly would never consider unhitching it for manovering purposes as the trailer would be too heavy to control.
I have taken the RO off the trailer and situated it at the back door of home connected to the outside tap and process water overnight directly into the trailer tanks - I don't have an IBC storage tank.
My son has invested in an 800kg Peugeot Partner HDI van which we will kit out shortly. We will put a 500l tank in the back of that one which will give a little extra capacity.
Knowing what I know now I think I would rather go the van mounted route, but will stay with this for the meantime.
Hope this helps.
Spruce
Hi
Forgot to mention that the supplied hose carrier is rubbish and would replace it virtually immediately with a heavy duty hose reel and 100m of minbore hose.
I also have removed the by-pass valve in the pump box and fitted a varisteam controller and pump inlet filter.
Spruce
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I`m in the middle of building a Trailer system,i already have a 175L in my Berlingo it is the car not the van it`s got rear seats and windows,i did`nt want the expense of another vehicle so a trailer was the best option for me to take more water when needed,i had the trailer built for me by a local manufacturer.
here`s a couple of pics so far,
Gaz
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and another
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Heres mine
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Four things I would recommend for a trailer.
1. Insulate your tank.
2. Have brakes fitted complete with hand brake.
3. Have a Jockey wheel on it.
3. have rear stable legs fitted.
Here is some pictures of mine when I was fitting and insulating the tank.
http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=30010.20#msg234295
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Thanks for all the info guys youv been great. :)
given me lots to think about
have any of you built one of these wfp systems from scratch or would it be better buying from a supplier
if there is any diy users out there can you please tell how you went about building it and the best products to use thanks
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Thanks for all the info guys youv been great. :)
given me lots to think about
have any of you built one of these wfp systems from scratch or would it be better buying from a supplier
if there is any diy users out there can you please tell how you went about building it and the best products to use thanks
Go to Matts DIY forum full of good info for building your own from scratch.
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hi jeff
thanks for the advice have yu got a web address for his diy forum?
thanks
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Here you go!
http://d.co.uk/phpbb/index.php
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thanks jeff :)