[Michael O Grady]

I am thinking of buying a Truck Mount.  I would like to know what is the cost to run the Truck Mount. What size van is needed as I will also  be carrying a portable machine ,a couple of air movers , a buffing machine , a wet dry vac , a vacuum.
I would also like to know which is the best mid range machine out there. Thanking ye in advance.,

[Paul Moss]

Get Billy blower size one.

[maxcampbell]

Definitely get a 3.5T van, you'll probably still end up overweight. I've got a 4m wheelbase ( extra long), and use all the space. My son has a med. wb and likes getting into smaller spaces, but we don't carry portys ( well we did for the first6 months or so). I'd always get a merc or VW, personally. Son's is a yucky Citroen.

Costs? Typically £25 / day on LPG, and a service costing £100-£150 every 100 hours, which is about 6 to 8 weeks. Lower chem costs than porty.

The only TM's I've got experience of are liquid cooled blue lines, but I'd go for the biggest engine I could get. They're no more to run, quieter, and will twin tool when you want it.

[Billy Russell]

You should speak to the guys at GP cleaners in Gloucester, they refurb and sell 2nd hand tms, they'll give you some great advice as well, 01452 731630 ask to speak with Ian

[gwrightson]

As big as a van as you can manage , never ever enough room, i still am amazed how some guys manage with the smaller type vans!!! either they are very well organised ,or they just carry the bare esentials  for the day .

Tm, cost me around £10 red diesel approx working all day , not running all day    and that is for both the tm and the burner, which will give your far better instant heat than MOST  t/m,s

Geoff

[richie]

Definitely get a 3.5T van, you'll probably still end up overweight. I've got a 4m wheelbase ( extra long), and use all the space. My son has a med. wb and likes getting into smaller spaces, but we don't carry portys ( well we did for the first6 months or so). I'd always get a merc or VW, personally. Son's is a yucky Citroen.

Costs? Typically £25 / day on LPG, and a service costing £100-£150 every 100 hours, which is about 6 to 8 weeks. Lower chem costs than porty.

The only TM's I've got experience of are liquid cooled blue lines, but I'd go for the biggest engine I could get. They're no more to run, quieter, and will twin tool when you want it.

Max, £110 -£150 every 100 hours.....I suggest you look at who supplies your filters and oils.  What exactly are you doing service wise to be paying that much?

[Len Gribble]

Richie

Think that also includes labour and vat nice if you can get it 

[Max Campbell]

Max, £110 -£150 every 100 hours.....I suggest you look at who supplies your filters and oils.  What exactly are you doing service wise to be paying that much?

That's typical bills after Alltec have done whatever's needed - including new minor bits - last time needed new diaphragm on chemical pump, for example.

[Len Gribble]

One of the major problem with DIY is having the right tools to do the jobs example wife’s 307 rear brakes extra £20quid for the tooling normally would use a G clamp (C clamp Americana) some people are capable some are not

Max

Re diaphragm on chemical pump have you noticed a difference?

[Max Campbell]

Definite difference - I was having to vac the return pipe to prime it, and the feed was juddery. For me it's the diagnosis of these minor problems almost as much as the know-how to do the work. Chris at Alltec is a fine diagnostician! He's got things running with phone advice a good few times - last one was immediate diagnosis of low engine coolant level from the pattern of intermediate cutting out (yes I know I should check engine coolant level) - the gas was freezing, cutting out, then thawing and running for a while - he put me right first time!

[michael fitzgerald]

Max
How are you running your machine for £25.00 a day ?
I have a blue wave with gas conversion and it is costing me £40 for an eight hour day.
Have you found some super cheap gas that I don't know about

[Max Campbell]

It's always used about 5.5 to 6 l per machine hour. A machine hour equates to about 1.25 to 1.5 real hours. Ave gas price 75p/l. £25 = roughly 8 real hrs. 90% of the time I'm running at "upholstery" revs.