[cleaningmaster]

Hi all
I am interested in moving up to a truckmount from (as well as)a porty.
Can anyone point me in the right direction on which is the best one to buy?
I have been recommended the blueline cobalt and the boxxer 421 , as the first step up from a porty.
Can anyone who  has experience with the two stated  please give there comments.
 
Many thanks for your help.
DARYL

[Karl Wildey]

The prochem Blazer is also worth considering. I would consider where you live to the nearest supplier, of these 3 TM's.
i run a cobalt and think its the bees knees,
I also still use a porty for some job as you can not always get a TM to all jobs.
What are your worries?
what would you like to know?

[Shaun_Ashmore]

What's your budget?

Could advise better, Hydramaster are usually better value than Alltec.

Shaun

[Fintan_Coll]

Is the Blueline range made by Steamway. I saw on some American  board that Steamway are getting out of the Truckmount business. Could have implications for after sales service.
Hydramaster appear to be a well respected outfit, or the prowler might meet your needs.

[john rees]

blueline is a different manufacturer, alltec stopped doing steamway a good while ago. I think a few other u.s. manufacturers are one the way out too! Not sure if ace have gone too?

               All the best
                                John

[Gerry Styles]

I have had a Boxer 421 since 2006 - well happy with it.

[Barry Livingstone]

Here's a thought just to stir the nest...
1. is a truckmount worth the cash?
right before all you TM guys go off on one, here is the thinking behind the comment........
you buy a TM 10k+...ok what is the lifetime of this machine? how much do you have to make back each week to cover the cost of A. Buying it B. running it. C. is it going to get you extra work ?

Now i no all you TM blokes are going to say yeah damm rite dont look back.......
But in the current maket how many of you are in the house by 12.30 watching the news cos your just no busy?.... we all no this maket is so up and down its unreal....yeah theres guys that are making some real good money but i bet for every 1 with a Tm thats making good money theres 2 that are struggling. its the way of the world.
These forums are a great source of information for new starts, damm i wish it was on the go when i started i would have saved 1000s, but do we tell the truth on them hiding behind false names etc etc etc....
anyways I LOVE CARPET CLEANING..........

it sat morning and ive no idea where all this came from at this time of day ...lol....

[spencer davies]

Was use a Hydramaster and consider it to be the best investment we have made in many years, we obviously use a portable when access is a problem. The truckmount does a better job and attracts a lot of attention, thus generating more work, the investment and running costs are justified.

We are very busy at the moment, without the TM I think coping would be difficult.


Regards



S

[Spot On cleaning]

James

As Simon Gerrard and a few others have said, truck mounts are in themselves, good marketing tools. I have a rental property to do where the carpets are trashed, and i would think that my portable would not be up to the task. The extra heat, pressure and phenominal suction of the truck mount will trounce a portable on this type of work.

Another fact that i can't get my head around is the high prices that some cc,s charge. With a truck mount, i don't feel embarassed with charging a high premium as as you said, i have spent a lot of money on my equipment. I still use my portable when i have to, but it is a hassle.

As far as life expectancy is concerned, if serviced properly, there is no reason that they could not last ten or more years, with the odd outlay here and there to replace any part that goes wrong. In three years, the only thing to have gone wrong on mine is the fuel pump (£60 to sway, a car one) and that is it.

With all the second hand tm,s coming onto the market, they are affordable. I have seen vans on the road fitted with tm,s that are around fifteen years of age and still going strong.

[Barry Livingstone]

James

I have a rental property to do where the carpets are trashed, and i would think that my portable would not be up to the task. The extra heat, pressure and phenominal suction of the truck mount will trounce a portable on this type of work.

Now thats set the cat amonst the the birds eh ........Id never say that cos theres nothing that i havent and cant clean with a porty.........
But i no what your saying its fun days sat or i mean theres no fotty on lol....

[Glynn]

James

Id never say that cos theres nothing that i havent and cant clean with a porty.........


That's EXACTLY what I used to say,till I got a Truckmount that is. Then I realised how wrong I had been for 22 years !.

[Dave_Lee]

The fact is that with even an entry level TM you can do tweice as much in a day as a top range porty. If you are busy and have a constant flow of jobs, then you couldnt do better than get a TM, however you are right its no good if its in the van on the drive at home not earning, except that what was once a full days work, now is only a half days work and plenty of time left to do that marketing that you couldnt do when earning the same money with a porty, because it was taking you all day.
Dave.

[Karl Wildey]

Don't us Tmers get fed up with all the rubbish printed by porty guys.
Answer:- too bloody right.

if you want advice on plumbling ask a plumber, if you want advice on electrics, ask an electrican,
if you want advice on TM's (as did cleaningmaster), ask a TM owner. Does James123 own a Tm
Answer: No

So lets back to the orgianl question asked by cleaningmaster who is looking for advice on TM's not James123, who does not own one, and therefore can not give a professional opinion about the pros and cons of a TM.

Had a TM for 8 years, now on my 2nd TM, why did I not go back to using a porty 100%?
Answer: ask a TMer

[Doug Holloway]

Karl

James's was a reasonable point, this is  a forum after all and topics do go off at various tangents, I thought there were some good answers.

Lets keep it friendly.

Cheers

Doug

[Len Gribble]

Daryl

Sorry cant help but my understand both good machines Karl has a point where you live, so if you live up top north I would look a the prowler

James

Yes worth every penny

Yes there are lean times that where the lm system is handy

Yes they brake down, not that often in may case

There are a few jobs I do where porty is useless or unworkable.

Karl

They can pop all they like

Len

[cleaningmaster]

Karl / shaun
 I was using a TM with the company i worked for , they had one
of the old Alltech ones and it was a real pig....In the first 12 mths it was off the road for 9 mths.
The NCCA recommended the new Blue line, and i have heard off other forums
and this one that the 421 is a good m/c.
Thanks to all for the comments as i have used one ( for 3 yrs) i know that they cant do all jobs, and because of the current climate i know its a risk but im in this for  the long haul and i want to make my business a success.
Thats why im asking for advice its a lot of money, to make a mistake.
James
a porty can do more than a TM, i know that! but after using one you really do need one to expand your business. Thats my opinion any way
Many thanks
Daryl

[Barry Livingstone]

Karl, how do you no what i clean with ?

My point was only that this forum is great and the advise we all give and get is great, my point is there to read......sorry if it wound you up...

[cleaningmaster]

Len/karl
Sorry forgot to add that where i get my chemicals from, they are distributers for Alltech and one of the lads is going on a course(from alltech) as they can service there m/c`s inc Truckmounts.
would have to ask Hydramaster who, if anyone, would look after my m/c,
because thats important.
Regards
Daryl

[Mike Osbourne]

Anyone with a portable kick themselves when someone rings offering big bucks and they want x000 ft cleaned, dry and open for business and you just have to turn it down or pass it on cos you know it's physically impossible to do with a portable in the time frame?

[Gerry Styles]

If you only have a portable why not talk to someone with a TM. Get a price from them then add a bit on top. At least you can get a chance at the job and earn a bit for yoursellf,