[East coast window cleaning Services]

Times come to upgrade tank size and van.
Now i dont need a 1000ltrs in the van as never use it that much.

I was thinking about a 600ltr tank which would be more them enough for use to use.

So what vans would you guys recommend to carry that weight.

[tomy jackson]

hiace short wellbace

[alanwilson]

expert/dispatch/scudo

[jaykie]

vivaro, primastar, trafic

[East coast window cleaning Services]

Ewan bit unsure what your saying?? yes i have a 400ltr at the moment but somedays i could do with that extra 100-200ltrs, Safes me going back the next day when on on of me commercial jobs.

Thanks for the replys lads after alot of search =ing and looking a specs payloads etc. ive decided to go with either a Transit Connect T230 tdci ( payload 925) or Vw caddy 1.9tdci. caddy (payload is 820) im more swayed towards the Connect as load area is larger.

[Bobs Window Cleaning]

Hiace swb. one of the most reliable vans about.

[[GQC] Tim]

Why have a bigger tank if you don’t intend to utilise it everyday. Wouldn’t it be more cost effective to only get the set up you need.

I would always leave a bit of room for growth, you can always take on your wife, or spouse and take them a long with you on big jobs. Then the 400l will be very small all of the sudden.

[dmlservices]

Why have a bigger tank if you don’t intend to utilise it everyday. Wouldn’t it be more cost effective to only get the set up you need.

if you have a bigger tank you do not always have to fill right up, but its handy when you need to carry more water.
i started with a 250 ltr, but soon found it not big enough , i intend to get a 500 ltr which will more than cover my needs now, wish i had gone bigger to start with




daz

[dmlservices]

yep i spent 18 mths back pack only , when i went van mount , i thouhgt 250 ltrs would be plenty, did not reckon on getting through more work in the same time, by not having to re fill backpack i found i spent more time cleaning, i now have to get more work as i am now doing in 4 days what used to take 5 

daz

[Nathanael Jones]

Ewan bit unsure what your saying?? yes i have a 400ltr at the moment but somedays i could do with that extra 100-200ltrs, Safes me going back the next day when on on of me commercial jobs.

Thanks for the replys lads after alot of search =ing and looking a specs payloads etc. ive decided to go with either a Transit Connect T230 tdci ( payload 925) or Vw caddy 1.9tdci. caddy (payload is 820) im more swayed towards the Connect as load area is larger.

That’s a good reason to get a larger tank, but not for one or two customers. Would it be more cost effective to drop the customers or re-organise your round. Unless you intend to get more, larger buildings that need that much water? 

My point being only have a set up that you need, until your needs start to change. Not for any other reason. It’s all very well having more than enough water but it’s a bit pointless if you are not utilising it fully every day rather than the occasional day.

Surely investing in a bigger system should also mean you are changing your business in other areas as well.

 

It's just bad business sense to have a setup that won't cope with the busiest day you can imagine. On that busy day, you won't have time to go home and re-fill half way through.

Considering its just a case of a bigger tank, not a bigger system and would cost relatively little,.. I really can't see why you wouldn't think its a good idea?

For those that worry about extra fuel costs etc,.. simply fill the tank only as much as you need each day (Extra float valves can be fitted lower in the tank if required),.. but at least you'll have the capacity when you need it.

[[GQC] Tim]

Don't you see it will cost more in the long run Ewan? If you wanted to get more or bigger work, then you'd have to change your van, and tank. Now how would that be cost effective? It wouldn't.

[Nathanael Jones]

You don’t change to a bigger van & system just because you can afford to.

 

True.

But not many ppl on here are happy with their business as it stands. The vast majority are trying to improve and expand, to earn more profit in less time.

The bigger van will prob only cost a little more, and the safety aspect gained by not pushing the vehicle to its weight limit (or above on busy days!) will be more than worth the small extra investment. Running costs will be nearly identical, but earning potential will vastly improve.

I don't have a massive business,.. I'm working on my own most days, and I prefer it that way. I have a Pug Boxer van and wouldn't recommend anything smaller, unless you clean windows but do none of the extra's like powerwashing etc.

I've a 400 litre tank, and find it too small. My biggest job (also my biggest per hour earner) takes over 800 litres of water,....

I'm planning on adding a 2nd tank,.. but most days I'll only fill 1 tank.

I had a smaller van, and I earned less with it. It did cost the same in fuel/tax/insurance though! Changing to a bigger van cost me a lot,.. new roof rack, towbar, sign writing, protectacote, getting the tank cage fitted etc etc. If I'd gotten the bigger setup initially I would have saved myself over €1000!!!

So the "smallest system you can get away with = more profit" idea just baffles me,.. I honestly can't understand where you are coming from Ewan!
Do you have a setup yourself? Are you a window cleaner?

[tomy jackson]

its all way beter to have to much than not enuf   ??

[mark dew]

I work in the countryside and i wouldn't dream of dropping a customer or 2 cos i had run out of water before i got there. I would have to go back and do them the next day.
Driving and carrying more than i need is a sound investment overall. I save on fuel cos i don't need to go back.
I cannot see any business logic for dropping customers because it wasn't initially as profitable as all my other work. I personally willl try an area for around 6 months in the hope of picking up more, before i will drop as not being worth it.
In a perfect business where i had no room for new work, it would be possible to buy a vehicle with capacity that was perfect for my needs and not a bit more. But cleaning peoples homes aren't like that.
A window cleaning round ebbs and flows all of the time. We are forever taking on new work and losing others.
There are too many variations to take into account that would make a single  formula possible.

[Nathanael Jones]

Wise words Mark

[Nathanael Jones]

Bigger tank (within reason) = More profits  (In my opinion)

The mistake most often made by WFP newbies is getting a system that is too small for them. For every 10 that buy too small you MIGHT get 1 that buys too big.

Maybe my opinion is bizarrely skewed?? Start a poll Ewan and find out!
I'm not trying to be argumentative here, but I do think you're offering advice that suits your round, but that could be quite bad advice for someone in a different position, especially those just starting out.

[alanwilson]

all this talk about extra fuel - if you go for something like a 2litre expert it will have no problems with the extra load and there will be no discernable difference in fuel economy.

Bigger is better.

[[GQC] Tim]

I don't think Ewan is a window cleaner? 

Personally speaking, yes I would still be happy with earning what I can earn with my small van, but there is no room for growth you know? So I'm going to have to sell this van, buy another one, install the system in there.

How is that profitable? It isn't, and you don't spend that much extra on fuel for an extra 100-200kg if you just take your time accelerating.

[pur]

For that occaisional Large job why not tow a tank with your extra water, no need for a larger van, just a thought.

Pur

[[GQC] Tim]

For that occaisional Large job why not tow a tank with your extra water, no need for a larger van, just a thought.

Pur

How is that going to be cheaper? Trailer, tank, pump, reel, everything.

You can make as many comments as you want, but skimping on tank size, is nothing but unprofitable.