[cleewindows]

which would be best for window cleaning and a tank in?
Any idea of payload for a 99 combo and a 01 astravan?
Cheers

[Spruce]

Go for the Boxer/Ducato/Relay IMO.

Higher running costs yes, but plenty of room to expand. If the amount you have to spend is what another post says, then careful of the Boxer, as the 250 model only has an 800kg payload, which is no good for a reasonable size WFP tank.
Someone else also recommended a transit, so again be careful of payloads. The older 80 or newer T260 are also 800kg payloads and too small for a bigger tank.

Sorry guys, but in my experience a 300/350litre tank is too small for a summer's day's work. Cameron has a 500litre tank in his van and can empty his tank in a day. We have brushes with 2mm jets and don't have a high flow rate.

I can't remember the payloads of the Combo, but there are 2 models with different payloads. One of the local window cleaners had 1 a few years ago and he was on the limit with a 400litre tank and equipment.
The older Astra I think was 450kg payload and the later 1 was either 500 or 550kgs. Sorry, but I have no specs info available on older vans any longer.
I expect that a few on here will be able to advise more accurately.
Cheers
Spruce

[cleewindows]

cheers buddy.
i dont want to spend too much on a van,i bought a 05 combo crew van as i was only gonna clean driveways but now im gonna do window cleaning too,so im going to get a cheaper van and a decent car and sell the combo crew van.
 im only looking at doing a 15 mile radius so not bothered about having a new van.
 But i need to get a decent car as we do lots of travelling etc.
 probably get a new shape mini!

[sean.w.c.s]

hi mate get some work first. Because cleethorpes and grimsby is crawling with window cleaner.It will be harder than you think. I was from grimsby and moved away was trying to move back but i struggled to pick up work. the only way a got sum work was buying it-tbh it was complete c***.

Please dont get big ideas from this forum that you can earn loads of money-in our area its not like that. i dont mean to be a killjoy but i've been window cleaning for over 13 yrs and the only way i can make a living is by having my work 30 miles away.

I saw all the big signwritten vans round grimsby thinking they were earning a forune-and theyre not. dont be fooled-they are losing so much work recently-not by undercutters but because we r in a poor area and times are hard. all the commercial wc are going back to domestic work.

Im not trying to put you off its just I know at least 10 peple who have set up in the last few months in either Clee/Grimsby and thats the ones i know-they are all struggling to get any work-scratting over the same rubbish. Please dont start off big-keep your costs low and get the work first-dont get rid of your job until you know the work is there.

[cleewindows]

no im not gonna pack my job in untill i can get enough work to earn a few quid more a month than what im on now,but im gonna start leafleting in the new year for the window cleaning and driveways and see how it goes.
 

[sean.w.c.s]

the average wc in grimsby is happy to earn £80 day and it takes him all day to earn that-£120 with someone helping him. minus all the idiots who dont pay you on time. it might be harder then you think-i dont know about driveways etcbut window cleaning in this area is knackered. im not saying that to put you off-its just every man and his dog is window cleaning round here now-everyone is leafletting. door knocking and cleaning it cheap. its never been a good priced area for window cleaning-since the recession its rubbish-everyone is doing it cheap.  not just in town but all the villages as well. If a customer in grimsby hasnt got  a wc by now theres a reason-bad payer, awkward cutomer or they just want a few cleans-not a regular wc etc. 

i know i sound negative, but from reading your previous posts your a fmaily man and i dont want to see you get sucked into thinking you will earn a fortune-in other parts of the country YES. But in grimsby, at the end of a road to nowhere, full of clsed down food factories, its just about survival. test the water next year, but dont pin all your hopes on it and go spending out bewfore you get anywork.

[cleewindows]

to be fair m8 ive lived in clee for 3 and half months no leaflets and only seen 2 window cleaners,and i wouldnt say most of cleethorpes and humberston is a poor place,same with tetney,waltham and the other areas that way.
 Maybe its hard in grimsby but im not planning togo near grimsby im staying cleethorpes onwards.
 Im going to give it a go,im hardworking and know most of the guest house owners and a lot of shop owners so im going ti give it a good go.

[sean.w.c.s]

good for you. but you dont no wont yout talking about

[cleewindows]

ok cheers for your advice,don't understand why your very negative!
Thanks anyway happy xmas.

[Spruce]

Hi SeanWCS,

This is good advice for all new starters. You have to crawl before you can walk and run. Look and secure work before you outlay large sums of money on equipment.

I guess the good thing with window cleaning is that you can start on a very low budget; roofrack, ladders, bucket, applicator, squeege and some scrims. Get a good customer base, do a good job, be well presented, extremely polite and mannered, ask every customer you have for referrals and then upgrade to WFP.
If the area has a lot of competition then your only way of making a living is to keep costs down.
WFP is safer than ladders but it's also expensive to buy and maintain. Don't be misguided by video that shows a window cleaner cleaning the front 4 windows and front door of a house in 2 minutes.

Spruce

[Scrimble]

astravan has 600kg payload and the combo vans are 600-800kg depending on which model you get.

i have a 250l system in my astravan i wouldnt want any bigger would be too much for the van to carry, its the 250l DIY system from purefreedom fits in perfectly.

[cleewindows]

nice one allistar cheers,thats what i was thinking of getting a 250l tank and probably have 2 or 3 25 litre drums.
 Im looking at the pure freedom trolley and having a tank in van so i can use it as a trolley or van system too!

[dazmond]

im goin for a connect 800kg version with a 400lt tank and frame in the back DI only as low TDS.if im running low on a long day in summer ill use a custys outside tap.im gonna ADD not replace trad altogether!when funds allow.i really dont want a big transit on the drive!sole traders on domestic 400 lt enough on most days according to a lot of the lads on here!

[cockney rebel]

It will be harder than you think. I was from grimsby and moved away was trying to move back but i struggled to pick up work. the only way a got sum work was buying it-tbh it was complete c***.

Please dont get big ideas from this forum that you can earn loads of money-in our area its not like that. i dont mean to be a killjoy but i've been window cleaning for over 13 yrs and the only way i can make a living is by having my work 30 miles away.

I saw all the big signwritten vans round grimsby thinking they were earning a forune-and theyre not. dont be fooled-they are losing so much work recently-not by undercutters but because we r in a poor area and times are hard. all the commercial wc are going back to domestic work.

Im not trying to put you off

Ignore him.

[cleewindows]

thats what i thought mate!

It will be harder than you think. I was from grimsby and moved away was trying to move back but i struggled to pick up work. the only way a got sum work was buying it-tbh it was complete c***.

Please dont get big ideas from this forum that you can earn loads of money-in our area its not like that. i dont mean to be a killjoy but i've been window cleaning for over 13 yrs and the only way i can make a living is by having my work 30 miles away.

I saw all the big signwritten vans round grimsby thinking they were earning a forune-and theyre not. dont be fooled-they are losing so much work recently-not by undercutters but because we r in a poor area and times are hard. all the commercial wc are going back to domestic work.

Im not trying to put you off

Ignore him.

[Scrimble]

nice one allistar cheers,thats what i was thinking of getting a 250l tank and probably have 2 or 3 25 litre drums.
 Im looking at the pure freedom trolley and having a tank in van so i can use it as a trolley or van system too!

i dont think you will be able to fit a 250l tank and trolley with barrels, you could use a 125l or 175l tank and trolly but i think there is no point, you cant fit an upright tank in an astra there not tall enough

heres some pictures i've just taken, the barrels are 25l so you can see how much room they take up, i dont always carry my trad gear because i only use it on a couple of houses now, and the barrels i dont ever carry.

my setup suits me and works on 100 percent of my round i've not ran out of water yet but have come close, i want to change to a combo van with a 350l upright tank so theres more room in the back as i want to expand and get a pressure washer for cleaning gutters and driveways






3 x 25l barrels


without trad gear

[cleewindows]

yeah looks good mate,i will have to get a upright tank by the looks of it but will be good m8.
Cheers for the pics and advice mate

[Scrimble]

yeah looks good mate,i will have to get a upright tank by the looks of it but will be good m8.
Cheers for the pics and advice mate

upright tank wont fit in a astra