gen 2 dual pump 5400 series ??

flanbo

flanbo

New member
Any opinions on the Generation 2 dual pump 5400 series system. Is it worth $1200 as a 1st soft wash system
 
flanbo said:
Any opinions on the Generation 2 dual pump 5400 series system. Is it worth $1200 as a 1st soft wash system
Click to expand...

I wouldn't suggest you spend that kind of money on a starter system unless you know you're going to need it. I'll bet I'm not the only guy running a simple one pump set up. If you've got money to spend, then I would say that it is worth the money. However, if you are on a budget I would say it's a step above what you NEED and not to go through with it. You can always add to what you've got.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I went my whole first year in business with a delavan 5850. It would be a good idea to put an accumulator on there. Compare $250 plumbed and ready to go at your doorstep vs. $1200 + shipping. Put that extra $1,000 into marketing.
 
Is the 5850 give you good distance and coverage? How much does hose size affect operations?
So many dang choices drives me nuts. My brain is flashing model numbers st me like a strobe light.
" I GOT pumps In My Head". Rickey Bobby takeoff

I scored my 1st 2 stimates today at the barber shop i don't even have anything built yet. Before moving from nj to Fl my barber was a great marketing asset. Tip yours real good in return when his client talks about a party, BBQ or dirty house he got you to refer. That good tip is the reminder thou..
Thanks guys I really appreciate the help. Knowledge is like gold and sometimes hard to give away. Joe
 
I would have to disagree with the above suggestions. If your going to wash roofs and you plan on doing them 5 to 6 days a week then I would definetly spend the 1200 on the Gen 2 set up. Part of the business is looking professional and that is what is going to separate you from the next guy. Plus this system has 2 pumps on it and if one dies ( which they will die) you can always switch to the other pump. I had one 5850 last a whole year and I also went thru 4 of them in one year.
 
jreese92 said:
I went my whole first year in business with a delavan 5850. It would be a good idea to put an accumulator on there. Compare $250 plumbed and ready to go at your doorstep vs. $1200 + shipping. Put that extra $1,000 into marketing.
Click to expand...

This is exactly right. $1000 in marketing will get you WAY more business than having a pretty roof cleaning rig.
I have mine mounted on the back of a toolbox between a tank. Customers ask all the time "where is that noise coming from". So having the flashy pump (in my opinion) should not be what you base this decision on. Most if them won't even know what it is with it staring them in the face.
And most guys just starting out aren't cleaning roofs 5-6 days a week anyway.
Save the money, just buy what you NEED, and add on later when you need more fire power.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
flanbo said:
Is the 5850 give you good distance and coverage? How much does hose size affect operations?
So many dang choices drives me nuts. My brain is flashing model numbers st me like a strobe light.
" I GOT pumps In My Head". Rickey Bobby takeoff

I scored my 1st 2 stimates today at the barber shop i don't even have anything built yet. Before moving from nj to Fl my barber was a great marketing asset. Tip yours real good in return when his client talks about a party, BBQ or dirty house he got you to refer. That good tip is the reminder thou..
Thanks guys I really appreciate the help. Knowledge is like gold and sometimes hard to give away. Joe
Click to expand...

5850 gives good distance and coverage, I have yet to complain. Hose size will effect things.... What I did and would suggest to others is buy the bigger hose. The reason why is that hose will out last the pump. So, when your pump goes out you can upgrade to more GPM without worrying about hose restriction.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
A simpler system for a first rig is an air system. I know many guys use the 12V and that's fine. But just starting out I think an air system is the better trouble free option,..especially if he's not adverse to spending $1200.00 on a roof rig. Space could be an issue though.

*Have never used 12V,..so maybe I'm wrong about them not being as trouble free as an air system for a beginner. I am only going with what I've read about burned out switches and variable life expectancy of 12V.

Jeff
 
bighals said:
This is exactly right. $1000 in marketing will get you WAY more business than having a pretty roof cleaning rig.
I have mine mounted on the back of a toolbox between a tank. Customers ask all the time "where is that noise coming from". So having the flashy pump (in my opinion) should not be what you base this decision on. Most if them won't even know what it is with it staring them in the face.
And most guys just starting out aren't cleaning roofs 5-6 days a week anyway.
Save the money, just buy what you NEED, and add on later when you need more fire power.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Why not spend the money on the right equipment up front instead of having to buy more items down the road. When you go to work you want to be prepared to do the job right and do it efficiently.
Spend the money on equipment now and make sure you spend money on the advertising as well.
Everyone will have a different opinion and each one will be right in there own sense. Do what's best for you.
 
Michael DeRose said:
Why not spend the money on the right equipment up front instead of having to buy more items down the road. When you go to work you want to be prepared to do the job right and do it efficiently.
Spend the money on equipment now and make sure you spend money on the advertising as well.
Everyone will have a different opinion and each one will be right in there own sense. Do what's best for you.
Click to expand...

Did you have money to buy the best equipment AND advertise when you first started doing this? Because I know myself and the average new guy darn sure didn't. Why tell someone to buy a piece of equipment that cost way more than what they NEED to spend when that money could go towards getting more work? I agree that this setup is superior to a single pump, no questions asked. But you don't NEED that setup to make money. It's a marathon, not a sprint. I would love to go buy a 2016 cummins, but I don't NEED it to do what my old dodge does everyday. The money, experience, branding, and promotion of your business generated from more advertising will be more valuable than having the sweetest rig and no work to use it on.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I did have the money allocated to buy a 2500 set up for roof cleaning and 5000 for power washing. I also had 5000 for a marketing budget. I didn't just wake up one day and say hay I'm going to start a business today. I planned it out. Because with out a plan you are most likely going to fail.

And like I said in my last post everyone will have different opinions. I just think mine is right. 1200 is not a large investment. I wouldn't suggest he buy a skid for 8-13 grand but 1200 is not an unreasonable amount to spend on equipment.
 
Seems the fella asked if it was worth it the cost. Buying it as a first system is mostly up to him.

I do agree with both sentiments,..

I like putting my own stuff together,..as many here do as well,..using great quality pieces and parts. We have access to everything the pre-built units come with. More cost effective and also the satisfaction of doing it yourself and knowing how it all works.

I see Mike's point as well, take the rig manufacturing out of the equation and just buy a pre-built,..there's alot to digest in this business, and taking some of it away in the beginning can't hurt none. He will see the parts it takes to make his own rig,... and he will know the next time whether to buy pr-built or factory built. And $1200.00 is a cheap investment,..basically disposable piece of equipment in the roof cleaning business,..paid for in 3-4 jobs most likely.

Jeff
 
Is that setup worth it? Yes because everything you need except the tank and battery is already to work the same day you get it off the truck. The time you spent putting things together you could spend doing sales and promoting your business.
 
As I said from the beginning, it's worth it IF YOU HAVE THE MONEY TO SPEND. Sorry buddy, but not everyone has over 12 grand to start off with. If I had that kind of money to start off with I would have done the exact same thing you did. But I didn't, and a lot of other guys don't either. Looking at it from the point of view of someone fortunate enough to have a large start up fund I completely understand why you feel the way you feel. I just don't think it's good advise to tell someone starting out to go spend a bunch of money on something they don't NEED not knowing how much their budget allows.
Like I said, if you've got the money, it's worth it. But if he's on a tight budget, like a lot of us were, spend wisely and only buy what you NEED to put to work. These pumps will pay for them selves, mine have many times over. It's not a big deal to start small and build up to the big guns. I see your stance on why not buy the best first, but if you don't have the funds, you can't make a dime into a dollar. And these other pumps clean a roof just like the big guys. Honestly, a guy could buy a smaller kit (like I did) with the pump, hose, tips, gun, and all, and then use the money from the 3rd or 4th roof to buy another pump and be in the same boat as had he spent the big money upfront. The difference is the extra money he spent on advertising early on.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
The first roofs I did were with a pump sprayer,...SHEESH,..would these boards have come in handy those first few years I was in business,Ha,Ha,..

DIY or factory made,...either way,..there is LOTS of great information to be had for the reading,..saving the new ALOT of money and trial and error!!

Jeff
 
I see your point. Again it's all a matter of opinion. The main question to ask is why start a business without a plan that involves having start up capital. That's the part I can't wrap my head around. Also even if I wasn't in business spending 1200 on a piece of good equipment would be worth the investment even if you had to front it on a credit card. You can also put your marketing on credit and when you get the work coming in you pay off as much as you can every week.
 
I did put up some reverse advice. Lock in the name of your business, get a website done, get business cards, figure out what type of marketing you want to do. Set goals and budgets for each month. Then when all that's done buy the Gen 2 or a pitb from Bob and do some family and friends houses first then move on the real customers once you know what your doing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top