[davep]

My prowler is looking at retiring so I'm looking for another machine.

As I haven't used more than 100 ft on a domestic and I only ever LM commercial - what is the benefit to me of a tm vs one of the new 6.6 porties?

[Mike Halliday]

No heat.

2 power cords into the house.

Are you going to use the portable as a power unit plumbed into a T/M waste tank & freshwater tank?

[stuart_clark]

Ive been in the carpet cleaning business 23 years make good money and I wouldnt consider using a truck mount

[Simon Gerrard]

Dave,
Productivity, productivity and productivity.
We use portable on certain jobs where we can't use a TM, and while they do a good job they are so much slower which reduces your earning capacity.

Simon

[davep]

I would have it on the van with a 400 litre tank with auto fill and auto dump. Heat is the problem.

[Mike Halliday]

You can build a better option than buying a high powered portable. If you just need a power unit

Russ used a small hot pressure washer and you can buy 2 of the new vac motors and mount then into a toolbox. This is a simplistic explanation but you get the idea

Use this with your T/M freshwater & waste tank

[*Hector*]

for my tuppence worth...

If you are going to use a porty as a van/truck mount... Then for a few dollars more maybe you should get the proper thing.... That way you will have the heat, and no power leads to the custards house...

[rich123]

Guess it depends on your market, but I agree with Stu.
Doesn't really matter.
I use 2 portables for my work.
So it's not as powerful as a tm, and the drying times are a tad longer.
They do the job well enough though.
Most importantly...the customer doesn't care what you use.
So long as you do the job well, and offer a good service, that's
ALL that matters.

[john martin]

 Why do people think heat is an issue  ...
 
 This Airflex clearly has heat from cold  .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgvS0xSeufQ

Even though hes using a technique to maintain it ( slow upstroke)  , that isnt necessary if the water is preheated by either using an onboard immersion or feeding your tank or autofill from a warm source .
I've used an immersion coupled with an external steammate and turned the temp down a lot of the time .

The 6.6 machines are performing well no doubt , but its worth noting that two members here (Russ Chadd and Glynn ) have used a 6.6 machine and have stated that the Enforcer with its series electro motors is performing as well or better than the 6.6 machines .
The advantage with Enforcer setup is one cord for the vacs/ pump ...  leaving the second cord free for an immersion or an inbuilt 3kw steammate or both on a two way switch .

I dont believe a two vac machine 6.6 or otherwise is powerfull enough to run through a large van tank ... iv tried it with a triple vac and it sucks the life out of the little vacuum you've got  ... it might work well with a series /parallel quad vac  .
the mytee Escape s the only proper ETM available and woodbridge seem to pricing it way too high now unless they have have come up with a sophisticated heating system thrown in .

I think a portable is best used as a portable ( unless u can pull up really close the room your cleaning for occasional van mount )   otherwise bring it to the door or window and use it from there .  Even better if u have a smaller machine too (eg alltec express   ) for occasional stair lifting .

[David Ware]

Depends what you think is right, some people with portables have said they use 2litres of water for cleaning a full size room. A Tm user could use 40 litres for the same size job. Theres the question.
David

[wynne jones]

The only answer is a more powerful TM than your old Prowler. Of those who went back, which I can count on one hand I can think of two that were Prowler owners.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

It's the speed of the clean that tms win on I was using my porty to clean some carpets in a flat and the cleaning speed is half.

Shaun

[Richard Cole]

I have only ever used a portable, my current is the Storm which is a fantastic bit of kit. I've toyed with getting a truck mount but for me the advantages of having a portable is that it is easier to clean flats, difficult to access properties where a large van needed for truck mount would be difficult to park. I've been cleaning now for three years and only ever used hot water out of the tap although i have just brought a magma heater (second hand) for the occasional really dirty carpet.  Whilst a truck mount is certainly quicker on the job i should imagine there is a certain amount of preparation at the start of the day and end in filling and emptying water / waste tanks etc which in my case would not be possible as i would not be able to get a truck mount around the rear of my house to do in any case.

[wynne jones]

There's only one disadvantage, all the rest are excuses. 

[md_cleaning]

There's no job you can't do with a porty unlike a tm so even if you want to pay for a tm you will always need a porty as back up, but that said tm is much more powerfull  so saves time but I earn good money and have lots of happy clients using a portable.

[Mike Halliday]

There's no job you can't do with a porty

Errr... Empty house with no electric, or a rented property where there is no credit on the lecky meter.

Or one of them really awkward customers who wants their carpet made really clean not just 'a bit cleaner'

[md_cleaning]

I knew you'd reply Mike or is it Truck Mount Man,  my porty leaves carpets nearly dry , about an hour so in my ten years portys have  improved a lot I realise they're not as powerfull as a tm but are far more versatile, I've never had a house with no electric but have had card run out so you have a point, but how many jobs can you not do and need your porty that you need to spend more time getting carpets really clean and not just a bit cleaner, you just need to put some effort in

[Carpet Dawg]

There's no job you can't do with a porty

Errr... Empty house with no electric, or a rented property where there is no credit on the lecky meter.

Or one of them really awkward customers who wants their carpet made really clean not just 'a bit cleaner'

In 13 years in this business I have never been to a property without electricity or a top-up meter. And I do allot of EOT.

[Mike Halliday]

MD... To be honest you do make a valid  point, I pass on about 6-8 jobs a year due to not being able to reach with the T/M.  

Dawg your right this is not a common  occurance, but I do Remember jobs with my portable that constantly tripped the fuse box ( especially new houses)

[Carpet Dawg]

I've got to say that i've never left a job saying "I wished I had something more powerful to rinse the carpets with"  

Not in recent years with higher powered portys that I use. And that's cleaning up to 75feet.