[Sarah Sarill]

Serious question guys.......

As you are aware I w/c with hubby on his commercial properties only and do downstairs traditionally as we dont have a second mobile unit.

I am in the process of a rather vigorous marketing campaign to increase our commercial ratios and, if all goes well will have to increase the amount of work I do with him - Huff 

I want to use wfp and just wanted to know if you think an enclosed backpack on a modified sack trolley would work for me in terms of weight etc.  How long would it last before refilling is needed. ?

My darling Brother-in-law will modify it so its looks ok for commercial customers and incorporate  a holder for my small, downstairs pole.

Would it be practical for commercial and for me to pull.  ?

I cannot pull a full 50ltr  Omnitrolley sodont suggest buying one of them or anything similar - just too much for me. 

Thanks in anticipation of your replies,

Sarah

[windows_chepstow]

I work with a back pack, with Wor Lass working traditional.

On the rare occassion where I get her working with the back pack and pole she does find it hard going; unless it's with the short 4 foot pole and I set everything up for her.

She struggles filling the back pack with a 25 litre barrel and can't clean any awkward windows with an 18" pole.

Wor Lass only weighs around 8 Stone (we don't have bathroom-scales in our house) and is 5' 1" tall!

If you're a bigger and stonger woman; this may not pose a problem.

But Wor Lass is a 'tough old bird'!

[Sarah Sarill]

Tosh,

If it was mounted on a sack trolley, modified to her height, would she be Ok pulling that ?

How long does the water last for downstairs wfp only.

Thanks,

Sarah

[windows_chepstow]

  How long would it last before refilling is needed. ?

I know I'm comparing this with residential work, but it should give you a good idea of what you can do.  

You should be able to clean the tops of three good sized semi-detached houses with one-fill of the back pack.  Maybe Four if you're carefull.

...and incorporate  a holder for my small, downstairs pole.

You should have no problems with a short pole.

Would it be practical for commercial and for me to pull.  ?

Yes; no problems, though steps or gravel may slow you down.  But it only weighs around 30 kg full (unlike some other systems which weigh twice as much with the same amount of water).

[Sarah Sarill]

Thanks Tosh.

Thats helped. 

Sarah

[Morph]

Sarah

I have an 18litre backpack on a very light trolley.  My good lady comes with me on some big jobs.  She follows along doing the ground floor with the backpack.  If I fill it to the brim it takes about 20 litres.  When she comes with me, I fill extra 25 litre containers, and distribute them at convenient points for her.  I try to place the containers on a bench or something about 2-3 ft off the ground.  25 litres is heavy for her to lift and refill, but she can tip it up ok if raised up.  If that doesn't work, I just nip to where she is every 20 mins approx, and refill the backpack for her, then she only has to lift half a container, if you see what I mean.
We make a good team....Cos I'm a nice guy, really..and she's a nice gal.
Oh, I just carry on doing the tops, and I still keep ahead of her
Any questions?

[Sarah Sarill]

Any questions?

Silly question to ask me Pj 

What length and make pole does she use.  Also  what brush head ?

Sarah

[windows_chepstow]

Tosh,

If it was mounted on a sack trolley, modified to her height, would she be Ok pulling that ?

How long does the water last for downstairs wfp only.

Thanks,

Sarah

Sarah,

Wor Lass can pull the 'back pack' on a trolley, no problems.  She's got rugby-players legs from all that running she does.

Re-filling it is a problem for her though.

As PJ says, there's ways around this though.  Half filled water barrels?  Maybe a transfer pump from your vehicle to your trolley?

But after using a WFP for around six months now, I sort of like doing the ground floor traditionally.

You're guaranteed a good job.

[Morph]

2ft extends to 4ft glassfibre.  Sometimes ionics brush, but she prefers the vikan brush, it works fine.

[AuRavelling79]

Look at the trolley on Peter Fogwill's site www.window-tools.com

It's the one I use and You can put in one or two 25L barrels and if saving weight is necessary you could just fill each to -say- 15 litres giving 30 in all.

Downstairs I just use the top end of an unger pole (like Ian Giles's) cut to about 600mmm long. though it could easily be a metre or so for shorties.

So I unclip the brush (auto of course - and hose up outside of pole) from my "upstairs" pole clip on the 600mm length and do the downstairs.

[Derek_Walker]

Hi Sarah,

 Like Malc I use the aqua-tec trolley but had to make a few modifications to make it easier to use. It did not like rough terrain plus I put a leisure battery on it as the small batteries did not last a day. You may find the Freedom trolley an easier one to use, it takes up to 25l containers but looks very easy to pull around. You can also add another 25l if need be with an extra attachment.

Derek

[pur]

Sarah Your pic : Yn ben uchel i bôb Cymraes.                     

Cymru  = Wales
Cymro  = Welshman
Cymraes = Welshwoman
Cymraeg = Welsh the language.

pur

[chris@c.m.s]

couldnt some of you that have your ladys with you use smaller containers? When I got my 25ltr containers from the car wash I also got about 6 10ltr ones I've even considered useing them myself because i'm in a maisonette.

[williamx]

Sarah

Have you thought about using a vechicle mounted system, if you already have a wfp system its is quite easy and cheap to run it from a van or trailer.

[Alex Gardiner]

Hi Sarah,

I would never suggest that anyone straps a 20kg weight to their back and then try to work. The follow on back related problems are not worth thinking about.

 My Missus does do commercial work with me and she simply reels out another reel of lightweight microbore hose and plugs in a compact 3x5ft pole. She can comfortably work for hours like this.

You will always be faster with a reel compared with a trolley/backpack.

Alex

[Sarah Sarill]

Sarah Your pic : Yn ben uchel i bôb Cymraes.                     

Cymru  = Wales
Cymro  = Welshman
Cymraes = Welshwoman
Cymraeg = Welsh the language.

pur

Thanks Pur,

My original was a translation from  a web site so thanks,

This one correct ?  - where are you based ?

Sarah

[steve massey]

If you are going for more commercial work won't it be better getting a van mounted systerm, just pull hoses out and clean. We use a van mount from Ionics for our commercial customers but clean our dommestic the trad way.

[windows_chepstow]

Hi Sarah,

I would never suggest that anyone straps a 20kg weight to their back and then try to work.

Alex

No Alex,

With a back pack, you don't carry it on your back (unless you want to).

You put a handle on it and either carry it like a bag or you mount it on a trolley.

[Spoonbill1970]

Hi Derek,

I put a leisure battery on it as the small batteries did not last a day

Would you mind telling me where do you attach it - I have the same problem.

Thanks in advance

Jonathan

(Sorry to go off topic)

[Jeff Brimble]

Hi Sarah, I would seriously look at something that you may have pushed before and thats a pushchair with a b/pack. A stripped down maclaren folding pushchair is what my wife uses £5 from the dump. 10l containers are a must for refilling I wouldnt expect you to struggle with 20l. Idealy you should have 3/4 wheels, Two wheels have their problems. Heres a 2 wheel one thats raised off the ground a bit to save you bending, light and folds http://www.dealclick.co.uk/product/21522/Pro-Action-Fishing-Trolley.phpds flat, look at
If hes feelin huh-  affluent, have a look at the wheels on this  http://www.fraser-products.co.uk/fishingtrolley.html.
ps shortly I think I will be able to come up with some reccomendations on the feather light pole I have been messing about with and feel it will give you ladies equality even to giving squeeeks a run for his money.