[scotclean]

Hi Can anyone suggest what they think is the best machine a scorpian,CFR ECO 500 or Airflex Turbo or any other macine with a similar spec. Heard the CFR ECO has problems with leakage. A lot of my work is domestic, but I want to take on more commercial business and therefore need a more heavy duty machine.

[daysdeepclean]

I'm very pleased with my Alltec Advance Triple Vac 600psi machine

[from edge2edge]

As i am with my power flite perfect heat(3 years and still looking great and doing the business).It is just down to personal choice in the end as i am sure no one has used all the top machines for ages to give a truly unbiased opinion.Regards Alan(swindon)

[Joe H]

3 replies, 3 different machine owners.
Mines a Scorpion and whilst they dont win the beauty stakes they sure do a good job.
and by the way - they dont have a heater as standard fit into the machine.
You can use a in-line heater, which IMO is much better as too much heat in the water tank can affect the efficiency of the pump, and also gives versatility to get the heat where its needed most - at the wand.
In practice this means if you have say 100ft of hose being used you can plug in the inline heater in the last 25' so the heat generated is only a short run to the wand (less temperature loss).

3 vacs and a pump is as much as two 13amp lugs can take.
I understand the Alltec has a intank heater but this cuts out as soon as the pump and vacs are running. Just cant have it allways, as much as we would like.
Lifes a compromise.

[daysdeepclean]

The rocker switch on the Alltec does only allow either the 3rd motor or the 3 kw heater as Joe roightly states!

The way around this is that I have the machine filled up with the heater on full in the first instance. Then I pre vac, pre spray, aggitate and quaff my brew, the water's at max temp and I'm ready for the rinse/extract with the machine!

I'm not sure of the implications of running 3 motors, a pump and an inline heater though.... You'd probably need to plug it in upstairs..... (Bungalow's might be a problem!!!)

I have to say though that when using the Alltec TV, steam is present at the wand and I run 50 ft of hose on the majority of the jobs I do.... But I couldn't tell you how good any other machine is because I've not used them....

[Joe H]

Colin
Only in the last 48 have I done a job where I needed 3 sockets.
A old cottage which I was sure going to be a problem electrically.
I used 2 sockets on 1 double and another socket on a double across the room - no problem.

The only time I have had problems is in a new extension. Kept tripping. Lady says its always doing that. So I put 2 cables in the old part of the house and no problem.

[clinton]

I run my alletc from the van now and i use 2 extension cables so put one plug in each and so far its been ok for me

Am thinking of an inline heater for jobs that will need heat :

[Mike Osbourne]

Or you could get a truckmount.

[daysdeepclean]

In that case Joe, I may be tempted to ask for an inline heater for Christmas.... Bet I end up with Homer Bloody Simpson socks again though !

[Simon Gerrard]

I've just stopped off at Dave Ingrams on my way to Southampton. And apart from catching up on things I had a look at the Phoenix Truck Mount. At £8,500 + vat you can get yourself a real professional and surprisingly powerful  set up that will pound for pound earn you far more money than any portable machine on the market.
I don't want to ignite yet another TM versus portable debate, but all too often people when the subject comes up see it as a bragging rights issue, mines bigger than yours. The actual point is a business one. The business model for operating a portable does not stack up as well as the business model for a TM because of all the advantages a Truck Mount has over portable in terms of efficiency, speed, quality and durability. You often hear people say, 'I'd love a TM but I can't afford one.' and have owning a TM as some distant aspiration, instead of a must have item to drive your business forward right now.

I started my business with a portable, but never actually made any money until I invested in my first TM for £7,500 + vat, that was twenty odd years ago. Now, an entry level TM is only £8,500 and will do £60 / £70k and more per year from just one machine.
It's got to be worth a serious thought, surely.
Simon

[Shaun_Ashmore]

With 2 vans and 2 bane's I did £135k now I do it with 1 x HM boxxer 427, the exact same clean but in half the time.

Shaun

[Buster Ingram]

Lets hope Alistair Darling not reading this Shaun or he'll be wanting you in his new tax bracket!

[AJB]

Eight years ago whilst whilst still subbing, i used to bank 75k a year for the
company i was with, using a 135 Psi Ninja. This was at the lower end of the market.
There is no doubt that a truck mount has the potential to earn you a lot more than
a portable, BUT you have to generate the work necessary to justify the cost.
If my diary was constantly, fully booked, and i was losing jobs, then a truckmount would be the answer. Until that day comes, i'm happy with a portable.
If i owned a truck mount and only used it for 3 to 4 hours a day, i would feel that was a
waste, and not being utilisied to it's potential, then i would be fretting about trying to get
more work.

[Simon Gerrard]

AJB,
If I had a spare Truck Mount and gave it to you to use for a week, I'll bet you wouldn't want to give it back. Truck Mounts justify their own cost because they are a lot more efficient and do the job quicker and better, which leaves you lots more time to do lots more jobs. Why not go for a day out with someone with a TM and see one in action, you'll soon change your tune.

Simon

[Pristine Clean]

Major,

What you say may well be true. We probably would not want to give them back. I  have used a TM and yes they are superb. No doubt there!

But as AJB has said, You have to justify the cost surely. Because purchasing a TM is like me hiring another 20 staff when I cant give them the work. A waste of money until that day comes.

I know most of the TMers are a little bit prejudice and are entitrely for TMs and seem to be against the portable guys.

Not everyone can match that mark up of several £1000's

Dave

[richy27]

buying a tm is just a stage in evolving your company fair enough if you have the money straight out then why not but in most cases this is not possible and is unwise to put yourself under financial pressure when you first start. Because you need a lot more ££ for other things to promote yourself than just buying a machine.

i bet 90% of tm users started with a porty or 2. and yes i am not saying a tm is not worth it cause i can see the benefits but here s the but a shiny tm is only a money making machine when its working and the most important thing when starting is to build up a custy base and get out there and make your self known. A decent porty can do a good job but knowing its limitations is important.

yes you can buy a s h tm for not much more than a top end porty but you tend to buy someones off cuts and can end up costing you in repairs.

Once a custy base is established and you have regular c flow at a consistant level and you out grow your equipment and want to take it to the next level why not go for it.

[daysdeepclean]

Richard... Spot on mate!!!!

[gwrightson]

I started my business with a portable, but never actually made any money until I invested in my first TM for £7,500 + vat, that was twenty odd years ago. Now, an entry level TM is only £8,500 and will do £60 / £70k and more per year from just one machine.
It's got to be worth a serious thought, surely.
Simon

Cant understand why on earth you would want to continue c/c , let alone buy a t/m  if you wer,nt making any money

[Buster Ingram]

Some good posts lads,

But please bear in mind when a lot of us old timers started carpet cleaning it was priced at 50p a sg yd and 3pce suits were £35. And a truck-mount was £7,500 + 15% vat.

So today's prices of £2 to £3 a mtr and suits at £100 to £150 are 5 times more than we earnt so yes £8,500 looks a better investment than we had to struggle to get.

[Simon Gerrard]

Richard,

I think you're spot on there. It is important to build up a customer base and establish your business. It's also true to say that many people go on to build very successful businesses and never invest in a Truck Mount, ever. It is also very true that the vast majority of TM operators started out with portables, me included. When you have a decent volume of business getting yourself a Truck Mount is an almost logical step forward that gives you the ability to do your existing work much quicker which then provides you with more capacity to build up an even bigger customer base and hence make more money per week for the same hours. You also have the extra benefit of being able to do bigger jobs in the commercial sector, which in turn grows your business yet further.
The fact is a TM is a lot more efficient than a portable and can get through an awful lot more work more quickly and that is the business case for investing in a TM, to earn more revenue, more quickly.

Simon