Choosing a Pressure Washing Vehicle
The decision of what type of pressure washing vehicle to use is going to be based on your individual needs and the market sector that you service. Ultimately, the equipment you use is the building block of your company which means choosing the wrong vehicle and equipment could cost your business thousands of dollars in lost jobs and inefficient productivity.
This article will help clarify the pro’s and con’s of:
Pressure washing trailers (enclosed and open)
Skid mounts
Flatbed systems
Vans
Box trucks
Benefits of a Pressure Washing Trailer
Cost: When first starting your pressure washing business, the least expensive setup to start taking on pressure washing jobs is a trailer. You can use any vehicle with towing capability to tow the trailer.
Ease of Setup: Getting the proper equipment installed is much easier for a trailer setup than a flatbed or box truck. Installing a woodboard floor on your trailer allows you to easily mount equipment, rather than having to weld equipment with a skid mount or mounting everything through metal with a flatbed or box truck setup.
Ability to Unhitch the Trailer: If you are starting your pressure washing business, you likely don’t have a dedicated sales vehicle to drive out and give estimates. This means you will be giving estimates with your work vehicle. When I first started out with a trailer, I would often leave my crew and trailer at a job site and would give estimates in the truck which allows work to continue and also reduces unnecessary miles for the trailer and work equipment. Trailers also provide flexibility in allowing you to use your truck for personal use without having to carry all of your pressure washing equipment everywhere.
Enclosed Trailer and Security: A closed trailer allows you to park your trailer and lock up your equipment.
No CDL Required: If the Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is 26,001 pounds or more (meaning the weight of your truck and trailer), and the vehicle being towed has a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or more then you will need a Class A driver's license. If the trailer's GVWR is 10,000 pounds or less the vehicle can be operated with a Class B driver's license. Since most pressure washing trailers are under 10,000 pounds you will likely not need a CDL.
Open Trailers Allow for Air Ventilation: Even if you have a professionally installed SH tank with airtight plumbing to prevent bleach from leaking, you will still inevitably have SH fumes which will over time rust out enclosed areas.
Cons of Pressure Washing Trailer
Parking and Maneuverability: This will depend on where you work and the type of work that you do. If you are frequently working in a city with limited parking then you might find it time-consuming to find a parking spot near the work site that can accommodate a truck and 12ft + trailer. Any situation that requires maneuverability is difficult when towing a trailer.
Wear and Tear: Most trailers are equipped with the bare minimum for a suspension system — usually, the extent of the suspension is a leaf spring. You can always install your own air compression suspension and mount your pressure washing equipment on top of a foam or rubber mat to increase shock absorption and mitigate damage from vibrations. However, most stock trailer suspension systems leave a lot to be desired which will lead to your equipment wearing out quicker.
Benefits of a Box Truck
More Room to Mount Equipment: The inside of a box truck allows you to install shelving on the interior walls and mount ladders and surface cleaners to the ceiling. You also have more real estate to carry larger tanks and multiple pressure washers. This is vital for taking on bigger commercial pressure washing jobs.
A Mobile Billboard: A fully wrapped truck is essentially a billboard on wheels. In the world of advertising, the saying is always buy the biggest sign or billboard that you can afford. If you are operating out of a box truck then you need to take full advantage of this increased advertising space in any way that you can.
Easy-to-Secure Equipment: Having the ability to lock all your equipment gives you peace of mind that a surface cleaner or extension ladder won’t suddenly disappear.
Commercial Work: Great for tackling large commercial jobs.
Cons of a Box Truck
Venting Fumes Is a Priority: Even if you have all of your equipment plumbed up airtight, you will still have SH fumes escape. If you don’t have an exhaust fan or multiple one-way air vents then your equipment will rust out. Any chemicals spill onto the floor then they can potentially rust out / deteriorate the actual truck parts. You can say goodbye to any resale value if you don’t invest in a flooring sealant or rubber truck bed.
Expensive: Trucks are expensive to buy and unfortunately can be expensive to operate. A 26ft box truck averages 8-10 mpg of diesel. The best box truck to buy is a truck that still has support. For box trucks you need to do A LOT of research about not only the truck and engine but also the manufacturer.
Common mechanical issues include:
Brake problems
Engine issues
Worn-out steering columns
Leaking transmission
You Will Probably Need a CDL: Any truck with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 26,001 lb will require a CDL.
If the Truck Needs Repairs: You are out of commission for that truck.
Only Suited for Commercial Work: Of course you can use a box truck for residential jobs but it is generally way overkill and a waste of productive resources that should be spent on bigger jobs.
Benefits of a Flatbed
Ease of Access: much like a pressure washing trailer, a flatbed allows people to easily access equipment which translates to more productivity.
Maneuverability: Flatbeds are easy to get around, are lighter and smaller than box trucks, and have better suspension than most box trucks.
Commercial Work: Flatbeds are my favorite type of vehicle for commercial work. They can fit all the equipment needed, offer the benefits listed above, and crews tend to prefer working on them over box trucks.
Cons of a Flatbed
If the Truck Needs Repairs: You are out of commission for that truck
Security: Can’t lock up equipment
Benefits of a Van
Mobile billboard: Similar to a box truck, a fully wrapped van is a moving advertisement
Security: Can lock up the equipment
Inexpensive: Compared to a box truck or flatbed, vans are fairly inexpensive
Cons of a Van
Maintenance: Repairs will typically cost more for vans
Venting fumes: As with enclosed trailers and box trucks, you will need a dedicated exhaust system to vent the fumes.
If the Truck Needs Repairs: You are out of commission for that truck.
Commercial Work: It is almost impossible to fit the equipment needed to take on medium-large commercial jobs.
Benefits of a Skid Mount
Costs: Skids can be very cheap. A fully equipped skid will average around $9-12k
Ability to Remove the Skid: If you have a forklift, you can remove the skid from your truck to use the vehicle for other purposes, or to work on the skid.
Size: Skids are very compact which makes them perfect for almost all pickup trucks beds
Maneuverability: Nothing beats the maneuverability of a skid that sits in the bed of a pickup truck
Cons of a Skid Mount
Need a forklift to move it
Residential: Skids are only suitable for residential work as most skids use 4-5.5 GPM units
Can’t Customize the Layout: With an aluminum skid base, all the equipment has to be arranged perfectly in order to fit. this means you will have a lot of issues trying to add new equipment or change the layout of the skid.
