[brianbarber]

Hi guys,
will be getting a new van,which will carry my ninja,plus hose bags, vacuum, blower,chems etc.
After speaking to joe via the forum he explained I could get a prowler in a connect LWB.
So, if I went with the prowler, am I right in thinking I need a water tank if the premises has no outside tap?, and if I bought a truckount machine, would I have to get a medium van, like scudo? Or larger?

Many thanks guys (and joe)

Mr B

[Ian Rochester]

We run ours out of a Fiat Ducato, which is the size of a Ford Transit, Steve Gunn runs his out of a VW Transporter SWB.

[Paul Heath]

I don't know what the prowler comes with, but if it's only the machine you will need a fresh water tank and a waste tank. This will put you very close if not over the max weight limit. If you are going for all that equipment i would be looking at a Transit/Traffic size van

[cleaningmaster]

Mr B
You dont need a waste tank with a Prowler

Regards

Daryl

[Joe H]

Brian
If you no access to mains supply, yes you will need a water supply with you ie from a tank.
How big - thats up to you and the jobs you do.
You may get away with 200 litre and fill up after job (depends on size of job obviously)
The 13hp Prowler will fit in a Transit connect but you wont have too much room left especially if you have a water tank, wand, hoses, vac, brushes, fluids etc.
and Daryl is correct, you dont need a waste tank with the Prowler,

[Tony Gill Carpet Smart]

Always Always better to have a van with a bigger payload you will be surprised how things add up the day you have to put your portie in the van with your prowler or tm to get to a real arkward job is the day you will just be over weight and thats the day VOSA will be pulling vans in   WATER IS VERY HEAVY STUFF 1kg per litre

Cheers Tony

[richie]

What you need to do is......get the weights of everything that would go in the van.  This would include the machine, hoses, wand, hand tools, air movers, portable, fresh water tank (full & empty), chemicals....EVERYTHING.  You would also need to get the weight of a full tank of diesel and yourself.  Once you have all the weights add 50 kilos to be on the safe side.  Hydramaster UK will make you a fresh water tank to whatever size & shape you want.  This could be ideal for you.  To gain abit of room you could have a tank that will cover the van floor space but would only need to be a few inches high.  To save on weight simply hang the hoses to the side of the van with bungee straps, only carry chemicals that you would need (instead of carrying a full 5 litre container of chemical empty 2 or 3 litres into another container & keep in your garage or shed).  I know that some people go on about not been able to get water at every site.  The other week we had water access problem but managed to get a tap even tho it was about 100 metres away.  So always carry 2 or 3 really long hose pipes on jobs that have awkward water access.

Richie.

[Ken Wainwright]

Mr B

From memory, the Transit Connect LWB is almost the same loadspace footprint as the standard Scudo/Dispatch/Expert.

As Richie says, watch the weights. The general concensus seems to be that you would be wise to aim for about 1.2 tonnes capacity.

I've been researching vans recently and found that the entry level Transit, VW, Vito, iLoad along with most others weigh in with less than one tonne. The Scudo and other versions are available with a suitable weight capacity. The best footprint, weight capacity and value I've seen so far is the Ducato/Boxer/Relay at almost 1.2 tonnes.

I've seen a Transit Connect with a Hydramaster 318 and they had to remove the passenger seat. I've seen Dave Ingram's brilliantly laid out older type Scudo with a Woodbridge TM and it was superb. Also seen the new Phoenix in a Scudo and it has a smaller footprint than my Scorpion porty with auxilliary tanks.

I think that the Prowler has the potential to make a superb T/M in a medium sized van, but I've only seen them in larger vans. It has a small footprint and most medium vans should be able to accomodate an on-board water tank. If you're man enough, you could also wheel the Prowler closeer to the door if parking access is restricted.


On the weight front, even if your chosen van has sufficient capacity, you'll need to look at weight distribution over each axle. I had a Phoenix in the back of my Dispatch just behind the bulkhead and even without water the distribution looked too much biased towards the front axle.

Safe and happy cleaning
The Ken

[richie]

The Fiat Scudo is a excellent van for small truckmounts.  Make sure though that if you by a Scudo you dont go for the 1.9 engine. It is vastly underpowered.  The 2.0 litre engine is much better.  If your going to have a look at the NEW Sudo range then if i were you id choose either the 120 Multijet (120bhp) or the 140Multijet Power (136bhp).  We had a 55 plate 1.9 Scudo. All we carried in it was a portable and or drying equipment. Even when empty we found that you had to give it high revs. This meant increased fuel consumption. A friend had the 2.0 Scudo and had much better fuel consumtion.

Richie.

[andrew christopher]

I have Prowler in new shape Peugot Expert van.

[andrew christopher]

Tank is 500ltr, have air mover,15" rotatry,sebo,150 feet hose that sits on top of tank. Chems behind tank, 3 tubs of 25ltr stock solutions. When using a porti i used a sebo duo, not using it now with the power of the prowler, if its a minger then use rotary. Couple of carpet brushes on board too for more delicate carpets requiring aggitation.

[andrew christopher]

Waste Tank!

The expert is big enough, its the 2ltr hdi version so find powerful enough. When time comes to replace would prob get a larger van just for ease of getting at things but the expert is ok, dont use rotary or air mover on all jobs so tend to sit spotter basket on top and solution hoses.

Andy

[brianbarber]

Hello Christopher,

are you using window cleaning tank for fresh water?
If so is de ionised ok?
The reason I looking at another van is I just had 350 litretank fitted for my window cleaning and would like to keep the two services seperate.
Then I can have the signwriting changed so one van is windows and one for carpets,
didn't want to mix the two.
so guys. Would you put joe bloggs carpet & window cleaning on one van or go for an additional vehicle?

Thanks again, thecomments have been very usefull,

Mr B

[andrew christopher]

Hi,

Van was used for window cleaning, i still use purified water through machine as is better where i live with hard water.

I have a 1000lt tank in garage and fill this van with a submersible pump in few mins

I would definately say you are better to market services separately. If your trained and set up professionly for carpets then push that separately. Customers think window cleaning is an unskilled service. :

Andy

[richie]

Brian, If i were you i would keep them seperate.  This in my opinion would look alot more professional.  You could have sign writing on seperate vans such as.....

Barber Cleaning Services
Professional Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Division.

Barber Cleaning Services
Professional Window Cleaning Division.

Doing it this way would make people realise that you have seperate divisions of your company & that you have dedicated personal to each division.

Richie.

[brianbarber]

Thanks andy

yes window cleaning is percieved as unskilled,
so I think to spend on a new van would be worth it!!
Must get the floor size & max payload of the LWB caddy!!

Mr B  

[brianbarber]

Any thanks Richy,
only thing is I am the staff for both!!
Joking aside it still gives a much better impression!!!

Will get pics as soon as I get the new wheels!!

Mr B

[andrew christopher]

If your the staff for both you will prob knock the windows on the head after a while when you have built up the carpet side! or employ a window cleaner!

Carpet cleaning is more satisfying, better paying and larger ticket price than if your mainly doing domestic window cleaning.

Carpet cleaning is king! once you have a prowler you wont want to pick up a pole!

[Stu.Clem]

Run my prowler from a short wheelbase VW Transporter.

313 Prowler weighs 190kg
400 litre water 400kg (400 def recommended for busy days....)
Equipment 200ft hoses wand / tools  chems vac 13" nilfisk rotary 100kg
Full tank derv 80kg
Me 85kg

As its an ex AA van it has Mad air suspension on the back and is allowed 1200kg load even standard so I am well within legal weight limit even with bits of extra kit when needed.  BUT space is a bit tight when going on a big job fully loaded.
2.5 turbo diesel 5cyl motor is superb - pulls like a train and still get 35 - 38 mpg on a run steady 75 - 85. Brilliant van for the job IMHO.

Next van will be a LWB Transporter to accomodate a vac reel.

Regards

Stu

[Ian Rochester]

Andrew,

Got to say that looks a bit tight in your Expert, not a lot of room for anything else in there.