[Rat-race]

Guys need opinion

I have been looking at ebay deals, and I have  seen this one, what is your opinion? I wonder how much it will go for

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Prochem-Truckmount-Carpet-Cleaning-machine-/160846948244?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item257339a794

Please advice if you can.

kind regards

[Carpet2Clean]

Hi Rat-race

How did the training go at Ashbys? Also the one on Ebay looks ok.Going the truckmount route now instead of a porty.


Richard & Tara

[peter maybury]

Buying a used machine like this is as much of a gamble as buying a used vehicle and it is quite easy to buy yourself a lot of problems. It all depends on how the machine has been looked after. Unfortunatly a lot of carpet cleaners are not very practically or mechanically minded and a lot of equipment gets used and abused. I have in the past bought second hand machines and bought a lot of expensive problems with it, so be carefull. The seller does however have a lot of good feed back that is a positive thing and I do buy a lot off ebay myself and do take notice of the feedback. Not knowing the age or the hours on the machine it is difficult to put a price on it but if you look at the cost of the van and allow at least 2500 on top for the machine it would be a good buy as long as hours and age are not too high. If you are going to go truckmounted join the truckmount forum as you will get a lot better advice on that forum. If you do not know a lot about the machine and what to look for and do not know somebody who does that can look at the machine for you, you might find it a safer option to buy a 2nd hand machine with a warantee off hydramaster doing this will also give you the back up and advice that these guys can give you if you do have any problems.
These machines are expensive to repair so it is important to get a reliable machine.

Peter

[Rat-race]

Richard and Tara
Hope you are both well!
Thank you for asking, the training went well but I still feel that I am a virgin in this field and therefore I will definite need more training, possibly working with somebody for a while to have hands on experience.
Regarding buying a TM or porty, am currently just looking and considering different options, while hanging on my fulltime job, where redundancy seem inevitable and therefore hoping to get a package. However, where possible I will get a kind of cleaning machine to start on part time to lay the foundation.
Please accept my apology, I promised to call back but I never did. May I still keep that offer as I will definite need your support when I decide to dive in the game?
Very kind regards
Rat race

[Rat-race]

Hi Peter Maybury
Thanks Peter for the detailed opinion, I am not an engine expert but I can probably do most of the electrical and mechanical maintenance, as you said it’s difficult to know exactly what you are getting especially from ebay and people you don’t know and the risk of investing huge money to buy problems.
I once bought a car which cost me more than a new car, I now you have made me think again.
Thanks though for your advice and opinion. 
Kind regards
Rat Race

[Phil @ Extreme Clean]

Hi Rat-Race just my opinion but if i were just starting up i would go the porty route not TM. I think you should start with a simple machine to gain your experience then build yourself up to TM if that's what you so wish although you might just decide to stick with the porty also TM is much more expensive and a lot more things can go wrong and also do you want to go TM without even having your own customer base and not knowing how busy you may or may not be.
Best Regards
Phil @ Extreme Clean.

[Simon Gerrard]

Hi Rat-Race just my opinion but if i were just starting up i would go the porty route not TM. I think you should start with a simple machine to gain your experience then build yourself up to TM if that's what you so wish although you might just decide to stick with the porty also TM is much more expensive and a lot more things can go wrong and also do you want to go TM without even having your own customer base and not knowing how busy you may or may not be.
Best Regards
Phil @ Extreme Clean.

On the contrary. If you can get that setup for a reasonable price you should grab it with both hands. A TM like that will have you stand out from the crowd and give you the ability to clean any carpet, large, or small. The Blazer is a very basic machine with little that can go wrong with it and is an excellent starter package. You wil also be able to earn a lot more money much more quickly and because of the additional quality a TM produces it will help glue your customers to you as a stand out carpet cleaner and you cannot put a price on that.
The mistake newbies make is in investing as little as possible in order to 'give it a go,' but it is false economy. Ask Derek West of his experience.

Simon

[Phil @ Extreme Clean]

you heard it from someone with the knowledge and experience take the advice and good luck.

[Rat-race]

Thanks guys
As always you all being create in opinions, I will I think I now have a pack of cards in my hands, I just need to make the right decision on which game to play. you all great and I hope you continue like that.
regards

[Carpet2Clean]

Hi Rat-race

You can still give us a call

The reason we went porty is we do a lot domestic work ie 2up 2down houses and the parking is tight sometimes...We would love to get a truckmount.

All the best.... p.s checkout our website now...About us(gallery)

Richard & Tara

[daniel osmore]

I wouldn't invest in a second-hand tructmount as my start-up machine, especially if your resources are tight; too many potential pitfalls and costs. I would cut my teeth on a more modest and affordable setup, airline pilots generally don't earn their first set of wings in a 747 or A380. Excellent results can be obtained with a good portable machine at a fraction of the cost of a truckmount, they are also relatively easy to maintain and not tied to one vehicle. What would happen if you bought this trukmount and it was out of action for an extended period or if the van broke down or was accident damaged? You need to factor these possibilities into your business plan and make contingencies just in case. Also bear in mind that being a good carpet cleaner and having good kit, will not automatically make your business successful. The most difficult part about running any business is making the phone ring and converting those enquiries into sales, the actual carpet cleaning is the easy bit.

[Simon Gerrard]

I wouldn't invest in a second-hand tructmount as my start-up machine, especially if your resources are tight; too many potential pitfalls and costs. I would cut my teeth on a more modest and affordable setup, airline pilots generally don't earn their first set of wings in a 747 or A380. Excellent results can be obtained with a good portable machine at a fraction of the cost of a truckmount, they are also relatively easy to maintain and not tied to one vehicle. What would happen if you bought this trukmount and it was out of action for an extended period or if the van broke down or was accident damaged? You need to factor these possibilities into your business plan and make contingencies just in case. Also bear in mind that being a good carpet cleaner and having good kit, will not automatically make your business successful. The most difficult part about running any business is making the phone ring and converting those enquiries into sales, the actual carpet cleaning is the easy bit.

Spoken like someone who has never had a TM and knows nothing about them.
 Do agree about getting the phone to ring, very true.
If you can get the phone ringing, a TM will print the money....simples. And the guy that chose the porty will be puffing and panting somewhere in the distance wishing to god he had bought that TM when he had the chance.

Simon

[*Hector*]

Works with a rotary too you know... 

No puffing and panting, and a different angle to keep the prices up a bit too... 

I use the tag line

"We don't pump gallons and gallons of water into your carpets like the big truck mount systems do."

AND the kit is a fraction of the cost of either a porty or a TM .. Simples 

[Simon Gerrard]

Morning Hector

[*Hector*]

Morning Simon 

[steven Banks]

I have the same machine, it's a excellent entry level Tm.
Good suction (sutorbilt 3lp blower) same spec as the blazer GT (newer model), It also gets very hot. Easy to repair although parts are expensive like any Tm.

[Len Gribble]

Appears he has spent over two grand on the machine think the most expensive one off item are engine / blower /heat-exchanger. It dose look very tidy

[Mike Halliday]

just looked at that ebay listing.......

if you are working to a tight budget if you ask him to not include the 2 trigger sprayers he might knock off the 76p

or if you want to be really cheeky tell him to knock off the dustsheet and reduce it by the £3

[Rat-race]

Thanks all, I am still in it, but I was talking to a friend of mine who has a garage for commercial vehicles and he has asked me to keep away from Citron as they are too much trouble, I don't have experience with commercial vehicle (VAN), what are your opinion on that statement?

He recommended transit all the time, I wasn't  fully convinced but your opinion will play a huge role in my decision.

Again I will like to continue thanking you for all your advice, inputs and opinion.

kind regards

[Carpet2Clean]

Hi Rat-race

Your mates right i had a citroen berlingo before i had a lot of trouble with it..Touch wood had the Transit connect for 2 years now trouble free just the service bits.The transit connect is a 07 reg.My friend has a Transit swb he loves it and thats on a 56 reg its just starting to rust on the rear arch at the bottom.


Richard