[andy east sussex]

could i ask a question about truckmount what kind of size van is needed to install it all and if you was to buy a 2nd tm what kinda price range should someone be looking at to get a half decent one as i see alot of prochem blazers for sale does that mean they not so good or something as they sell for low prices compared to new systems

[wynne jones]

The only reason not to get a blazer is you want to do really long runs or dual wand or do big boats. It will slide in a transit size van. They are entry level so there are bound to be more around. The other thing is they are simple and don't need specialist maintenance.

[Simon Gerrard]

Andy,
Blazers and other entry level tm's tend to people's first TM and sell them when they move up to bigger machines, that's why there are a few on the market.
 A medium size van will do for the smaller machines.

Simon

[Craigp]

Its more about how good you are at selling, I met a guy at fasttrack who was doing serious money with a porty.

If you can sell you can do way more than a guy with a TM who cannot sell.

[Peter Sweeney]

Why invest such a heavy amount for a small branch of the cleaning tree. The majority of commercial company’s don’t even draw Carpet Cleaning into the budget.
If it does crop up the General Cleaners get the work and are paid out of the petty cash account. Carpet cleaning accounts for around 3% of a Contract cleaners turnover.

The budget is normally split as follows.

Cleaning. - Regular site visits only.
Ground Care. As above.
Windows. As above.
Access control and Gate - Annual
Alarm and Fire - Annual
Gas/Electrical - Annual
Insurance.

1 rule in business - NEVER SPECIALISE - GENERALISE.

er Blacky, I and a few others can argue against that because I don't just do carpet cleaning anymore I do lots of large scale, heavy duty turnaround cleaning but guess what element is most the most profitable (by quite a margin) and if you can  get the work it's still the easiest money you'll get out of the cleaning industry. tbh mate, I know the margins you guys work at and many would say "what, all that poop for that much money, no thanks" so maybe we ain't so thick at all. Get a truckmount if you can.

Simon, if you still have that in 2 months time, I'll have it off you, Pete

[wynne jones]

Its more about how good you are at selling, I met a guy at fasttrack who was doing serious money with a porty.

If you can sell you can do way more than a guy with a TM who cannot sell.

That's true Craig. It will sit on you're drive and rust. Marketing still has to be good. A TM just gives you way more leverage unless you want a helper.

[Carpet Dawg]

Wynne

Vac motors are rated at 500 hours. Around a year depending on usage. I usually change all vac motors once a year. They cost £140. The new 6.6 ones cost £200 after VAT and postage. Pumphead is £40 if you replace the seals and pistons. Motor that drives the pumphead I have no idea, never replaced one in the three and half years I had the Pro but I think its around £200 - £250.

For large commercial you can use encap, bonnets etc with a cimex, rotery etc Probably quicker and cheaper than HWE << I dont really go after that kinda work as its boring for me and anti social hours.

[Carpet Dawg]

Its more about how good you are at selling, I met a guy at fasttrack who was doing serious money with a porty.

If you can sell you can do way more than a guy with a TM who cannot sell.

Halioua.

oh and being organised and knowing what the f*** your doing too.

[Andrew Briscoe]

Why invest such a heavy amount for a small branch of the cleaning tree. The majority of commercial company’s don’t even draw Carpet Cleaning into the budget.
If it does crop up the General Cleaners get the work and are paid out of the petty cash account. Carpet cleaning accounts for around 3% of a Contract cleaners turnover.

The budget is normally split as follows.

Cleaning. - Regular site visits only.
Ground Care. As above.
Windows. As above.
Access control and Gate - Annual
Alarm and Fire - Annual
Gas/Electrical - Annual
Insurance.

1 rule in business - NEVER SPECIALISE - GENERALISE.

er Blacky, I and a few others can argue against that because I don't just do carpet cleaning anymore I do lots of large scale, heavy duty turnaround cleaning but guess what element is most the most profitable (by quite a margin) and if you can  get the work it's still the easiest money you'll get out of the cleaning industry. tbh mate, I know the margins you guys work at and many would say "what, all that poop for that much money, no thanks" so maybe we ain't so thick at all. Get a truckmount if you can.

Simon, if you still have that in 2 months time, I'll have it off you, Pete

Have to aggree with you Pete, doing contract work myself, I have about 5.5hrs during middle of day to clean carpets, it make more profit than 14 staff working part time.

With a porty you also have to run the vacs for 10 mins with waste tank lid off    I run tm on tickover while i reel hoses in for 1 minute

[wynne jones]

That's fine, I bonnet lots of commercial as I am brain dead. The TM IS required for some commercial jobs and is lucrative. My main point is a TM second hand is way better than a porty and hardly any more expensive to buy. In recent times fuel has gone up and I don't like the fact it costs me a fiver an hour to run, but again it's productivity. I can do a days work by two and get on with all the other stuff I do, fresh and fit.

[james roffey]

I remember Ian Harper saying on a website something like, the truckmount and all that power is really a myth, the portable machine can get nearer your door so the power difference is negated with shorter hose runs, not saying i agree with that but he used it for marketing when he went from a Prowler back to porty

[Glynn]

Obviously he never used a proper Truckmount then.

[Luc]

The difference that having a Tm for me is the ability to get thru jobs a lot quicker while still maintaining a high quality clean. Using a portie makes new no difference to the quality of my cleaning, i just do it a lot slower and find it a lot more tedious.  My customers always comment on how big and professional the machine looks,  but tbh none of them probably  care if i were to use the portie or a Tm.  All they want is a clean carpet once im finished.
I personally think that using a tm is MORE expensive, my fuel costs are 30quid a day,  plus oil changes and filters and in the last year i have had to replace pumps,  gaskets,  parts on the engine and temperature sensors on my tm.  I probably spent about 1500quid on parts. BUT having the TM has enabled me to earn regularly close to 500quid a day which helps pay off the cost of fuel and having a tm. If someone is only earning enough to literally run a portie and cover business costs then a tm is a bad idea. If times get tough for me and i cant afford the Tm or fuel prices i would happily go back to a portie or the woodbridge mytee etm. At the moemnt im earning well enough to justify using the tm
Luc

[james roffey]

Good post Luc,

£30 a day that's a hell of a lot blimey

[wynne jones]

I remember Ian Harper saying on a website something like, the truckmount and all that power is really a myth, the portable machine can get nearer your door so the power difference is negated with shorter hose runs, not saying i agree with that but he used it for marketing when he went from a Prowler back to porty

If you cant make much money a TM wont save you. Then when you get rid of it the TM gets the blame, not the bizzare marketing ideas some people have.

[mark_roberts]

If I was spending £30 a day on TM fuel then Id be turning over £500-£600 a day which can be done easily with a TM and the right jobs.

It would take me 1.5-2 days with a scorpion portable and the same jobs.

The cleanness of the carpet would be the same. The drying would be quicker with the TM and my back wouldnt be as sore.

When Im quiet my mind wonders and considers the options of going back to a portable. 

When Im busy my mind wonders and considers a bigger TM.

But do I desire two TMs.  NO. because I dont have the drive and desire for that type of business.

Mark

[Richard Basey-Fisher]

Couldnt afford a  new bucket so bought a tm and been living happily ever after since

[David Ware]

The advantages of a TM have been explained enough for the normal business person to realise its in the business interest to be more productive to stay ahead of the competition. Alot of people are not business minded enough and are just carpet cleaners, its a shame as the benefits are there to make more money.
A good reason to by this TM if you are successful at the moment is not to pay so much in tax and right off some of your profit this year. Make the commitment and you will push yourself forward.
David

[wynne jones]

Don't know if it was a bag of nails but one went on ebay with tanks for £1500 today! 

[Peter Sweeney]

Don't know if it was a bag of nails but one went on ebay with tanks for £1500 today! 

gutted