[Timmy Boy]

Good evening all
I have about reached the end of the line with my current van (a Fiat Ducato) which is an 06 plate. I bought the van new and bought a Prochem ApexD to fit into it. Now, 6 years on the van looks a bit shabby and so does the TM. When the Apex was serviced recently I was warned that the blower sounds dodgy  I now need to make a decision, do I bite the bullet, pay the 3k for a new blower, refurb the TM and put in a new van or thinking outside the box (or van!) refurb the TM and put it in a trailer, thinking that I would then be able to put it in the warm in the winter (I keep on having to replace the copper Heat exchanger). We do builders cleans as well as carpet cleaning so thinking about the times when we are tugging the TM around and its not going to be used. if I did the trailer thing has anyone on here done this before and did it work for the better?

Your help is appreciated

Tim

[Shaun_Ashmore]

One thing that may hinder you is that it could be a hassle parking or faffing when going out to do a single carpet on street side, I'm sure there was a guy from Kent area called Derek who had a TM in a trailer Pete Sweeney knows him, what vehicle would you pull the trailer with? not forgetting that your TM is a heavy one.

Shaun

[Aquakleen Restoration Services]

Ive got the same idea for all my pressure washing gear. Sick of having to take all my carpet gear out to put my pressure washing gear in. Finding the right trailer is a little tricky however!

[Jim_77]

You KEEP having to change your h/x because of frost damage  How many times are u gonna let it happen before you learn?!!!

Have you ever worked with a trailer before?  I have and it's a proper pain in the backside, I'd forget it.

Why is an '06 van in such bad nick  Sounds like you either work your equipment 24/7 or don't look after it properly!!

[Simon Gerrard]

It would be a complete nightmare, IMO. Think of all the places you have to park your van to get into position outside of jobs and then think of trying to park a vehicle and trailer - nightmare. Plus, it will get nicked for sure.

Simon

[Steve Rothwell]

Plus, it will get nicked for sure.

surely not Simon...   

  everyone in the UK is honest 

[Mike Halliday]

I have  used a bowser washer through the summer and found it no trouble at all, I have even unhooked it and left my helper on a job while I went and did quotes

I,m thinking of swoping over to A trailer next august when my van is paid off, I fancy a new land rover which will be great for work, but will also be good for personal use

[Timmy Boy]

Hi Jim
The van is in bad nick because it has done 135,000miles and it is used when our smaller van is somewhere else for build cleans and also it is a Fiat (no dis-respect to fiats but you do get what you pay for! - thin panels and not the best engineering). Bear in mind that we complete shop fit cleans throughout the country. In regard to the heat exchanger going, the first time was when we had that mega cold snap 3 years ago when everyone got caught out and the second time, I had put 3 heaters in the van but it still managed to get me. In regard to the theft thing, I was thinking along the lines of a good wheel clam and hitchlock. The other advantage would be that I could drop the truckmount with my car and leave one guy using it while someone else is on the van.  I was looking at a twin axle trailer which should cope with the weight but the towing is the one concern.

[Jim_77]

Tim, that sure is a lot of mileage then, got your money's worth out of the van no doubt!

Amazing you lost a h/x with all that heating in the van, maybe better insulation in the next installation might help out

[John Kelly]

Mike, divin't buy a Landrover. Nice to look at, nice to drive but build quality is abysmal.

[Jamie Pearson]

http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=135827.0

This thread from the general board may be of interest if you haven't already see it.