[Purity]

Just wondering what is more popular. In the States truckmount is the choice, and customers expect such. Portables are only used on some residential and for multiple story buildings.

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Kevin,

Welcome to the Forum.

This is probably the biggest debate going on.

Many have gone to Truckmounts , others like myself have seriously considered it but are worried by access problems.

In the South of England in particular we have a high population density and quite often it's not possible to get within 25 yards of the property.

We also have bigger portables being pushed like the Eclipse and a modified Recoil3.

Cheers,

Doug

[Patti]

Hi Kevin,

After 18 years of using portables we have just got a truckmount.  It is alot easier to use.  Only problem we found was that when it was on a hill (and we live in Wales!!) it cut out.  We have since been told the van must always be facing upwards, something to do with the petrol tank (hey, I'm a girl what do I know) Anyway, we can't take it everywhere so we do still use both, but it's amazing how inventive you can be in order to reach a carpet!

[Purity]

Most services in the US have both, there is alot of advertising stating how much better the truckmount is. Consumers around here think bigger is better. And most serious carpet cleaners are pressured into a serious buy.. when portables in many cases perform then same task.

[Len Gribble]

Kevin

Also welcome.

The vast majority of cc in the UK use portables, possibly the most popular is Prochem range of porties they have the biggest network of dealers; I only know two TM’er that have backup/use porties, not sure if they would own up to it!

Like too comment on logistics which Doug mentioned no matter what system one uses parking can be a problem here be in a town or country lane.

Patti

Like the inventive bit!

Len

[Elite (Ben)]

For me its got to be a portable, where i live in worthing around 60% of the population live in flats, most of them more than 3 storey.  I would like a truck mount but would end up using the porty on most jobs anyway.

ben

[John Kelly]

Back on the tools for a period and having just started to use a truckmount, can't believe how much easier it is. Estate agent rings up, any chance of doing some carpets today, in the past if we were busy would have said no, now no problem, providing theres access. Drive down, inspect, roll out hoses switch on, clean and away. Still carry a porti but absolutely hate it when I have to use it.

[Patti]

To John

I know what you mean.  Our Extracta portable does a fabulous job but I hate the fuss of getting it out and setting it up (and of course I'm the one that has to carry the buckets of water and waste, while husband does the clever bit)  The truck mount has practically rendered me redundant!! Which is why I have time to write this.

To Len

If you had seen me clambering over the roof of a hotel last week because I was determined the hose would reach a bedroom you would have seen me at my most inventive!!

[Steve Weatherley]

John

Don't forget to let me know when you are doing the Prowler demo in the South.

Steve

[John Kelly]

Steve
Working on it, soon will let you know.

[Len Gribble]

Patti

Welcome to the real world, not like last night commercial customer thought I could also clean his window with the tm, it appears he has seen it advertised some where!  >:(Missed opportunity

Len

[ianharper]

Hi

As professionals we lokk at features when buying a machine, but the problem is that customers will look at benifits to them. what will the machine give them. you can sell both to the customer at the end of the day for me its what I am happy working with.

One other thing that you should think about is the cost as most TM's will require you to lease this will add to you overheads. Plus in the end you will end up paying much more for a TM on lease because of the interest. Most portables prices are within most start ups budgets to buy outright.

I look at value when buying something, is it going to give me the performance (or near) that somthing much more expensive at a reasonable (not cheap) price?

Then you have to look at after sales service, if the machine goes down can you get it up and running quick? A portable is much easier to fix and parts cane be sent by overnight. Its the same with TMs only you must have a greater understanding about the workings.

All machines will have people that love them at the end of the day its what money you have, the amount of work, in the case of a lease, and your personal choice.

When looking at machines look at the features and value then ask yourself what benifts my customers more. Remember you are business to make money not support others.

Good luck

Ian harper

[Len Gribble]

Ian

You have a point more to go wrong with a TM.  Mine will be lying idle week after next, all porty work nights must get it checked out not used for a few months.

How’s are the hard floors going? Don’t forget I have a vast array of floor cleaning equipment you only need to ask.

Len

[Karl Wildey]

I use both, prefer the TM, much easier.
The porty are cheaper, but over time the TM is the winner. You are always replacing vacs and pumps on portys, this is rare on a TM, so in the long run, the TM wins.

[ianharper]

Hi Len

Hard floor wand is great.

Just waiting for solution to sort out the spinner tool, they say that they can increase the pump power from my 500psi to 1,000 psi with the adding a pump to the spinner. The problem they are having is the eclipse pump our could not keep up with the flow rate in testing so they are waiting for pumps with lower flow rates.

If they can fix this we will be able to do tiled floors in gyms etc. One big advantage with my machine is that  is is posable to just hook up to the water and with the pump out and auto feed work away. this had big advantages when doing hotels, or rest homes etc. by keeping the cost down and increaseing the sq ft per hr.

I know one of the fast track guys is doing loads of comerical work like this and they are turning big numbers ££££

BTW i was called in the other day to clean some carpets in a school and when talking to the caretaker was told that the carpet cleaner that had the contract worth over £18k a year would not guarantee to remove all gum from the carpets so the school dumped him. how they think that its not posable to get the servive they want. We hope to do some demos for them with some luck who knows?

Just our of interest how many TMs do big comerical work like schools offices etc? Given this type of work the best set up would be a TM and portable.

Respect

Ian Harper