Ideas for softwash/pressure washing truck skid - Let's get some valuable input

Josh Brown

New member
I'm looking for a truck skid

What's the perfect set up for a truck skid? Would you go with a pressure washer, then a 12v set up, booster pump set up or air compressor set up. What size pressure washer would you go with?

What I mean is, do you have the perfect residential/lite commercial set up that you use and duplicate each time you need a new rig? What's that perfect truck mount skid for you? May help me in having mine build.

Here's my thoughts and you can let me know yours

For pressure cleaning concrete and brick
- 5.5gpm, 3500psi washer
- 100g buffer

For soft washing
- 12v pump
- 100g chem tank plumbed to 12v system and proportioner
- booster pump for rinsing

- tool box
- ladder rack
- hose reels: 18" for water supply, 12" for chem 12" for pressure hose

My concerns with this rig (let me know if they are legitimate
The only concern is with the 12v system being able to reach to the peaks of 2-3 story houses, so a ladder would be needed. That is why I like downstreaming so much. You are applying chemical and rising with the same hose, plus it can reach high places, no ladders.

However I do want to do the soft washing and to have a separate hose for rinsing because it keeps two guys busy doing something: one applying chem and one rinsing.

The other option would be:

- 5.5gpm, 3500psi washer set up with down streaming
- 100g buffer
- 50g down stream tank

For soft washing
- 12v pump
- 50g chem tank plumbed to 12v system and proportioner
- booster pump for rinsing

- tool box
- ladder rack
- hose reels: 18" for water supply, 12" for chem 12" for pressure hose

If I go this direction I end up saying screw soft washing the houses and just down stream everything.

My desire is to use a soft wash system that reaches high, plus a rinse system that rinses high, this way I don't need ladders. And to have a pressure washer ready for brick and concrete work.

What's your thoughts. Share your favorite set up and some photos. Help me out. It'll help with the direction I take with my business.
 
Here is my new truck skid I just designed and had built. 5gpm. @3000 psi. 50 gallon buffer. 12 gallon Chem tank. Electric Hannay reels. 24 inch lil big guy surface cleaner with lock mount bracket.

759c865d430c77cc8647530ef62ac879.jpeg


074a89b681ae5f5a777af66727cbff9d.jpeg


837ad30d2dc35f6a157ac3d237e937bd.jpeg


d0734a97850a1319c87cc2ee2ebcd8e0.jpeg





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I used to have a truck rig with the pressure washer and the 12v set up on it. We just often found that we rarely used the 12V system unless we were doing a roof. Plus I did not like all that weigh on the truck and it was always a pain filling the bleach tanks, transferring, etc. We actually eventually went to an air system and put that on the trailer w a proportioner and now only haul the dedicated pump (air) system or as some call it the "soft wash" system when needed. 80% of what we clean is down streaming. We've found that we like this type system much better.
 
Just my opinion, option two would be a little bit more practical. Even so, a 50 gallon downstream tank is a little over kill. Weight may become a big issue.

Have you thought about having 2 pressure washers? With the correct nozzles and high draw injector, you can soft wash with a pressure washer and be able to downstream the taller areas with the same machine.

If you get into roof cleaning and find you can't draw a strong enough mix with a high draw injector, you can always "force feed" the injector.

Mike
 
Doug, I like that new skid. Do you pick up the surface cleaner out of the brackets to get it out? How does it lock the surface cleaner for theft? Thanks.
 
Doug, what brand is that ladder rack? I cannot read the name. Are those straps to secure the ladders? If so, that looks like a great idea.
 
Doug, I like that new skid. Do you pick up the surface cleaner out of the brackets to get it out? How does it lock the surface cleaner for theft? Thanks.

Yes we lift it out of the bracket. Very easy. Here is a pick from my trailer unit with same locking mechanism.
179ca80aa940d2905c869da228fd32bb.jpeg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Thanks Doug.
 
Very nice truck setup Doug

Josh,I have been going back and forth for a while now about the same thing.Im building a truck setup with a 8gpm machine 65 gallon buffer tank 35 gallon downstream tank 2 stacked titan hose reels 11 gallon gas tank.Im going to build a roof setup on a small trailer and just pull it as needed.

I am starting on the truck setup tomorrow I will post pictures.

Doug I may use some of your ideas if you dont mind.I really like your setup
 
I used to have a truck rig with the pressure washer and the 12v set up on it. We just often found that we rarely used the 12V system unless we were doing a roof. Plus I did not like all that weigh on the truck and it was always a pain filling the bleach tanks, transferring, etc. We actually eventually went to an air system and put that on the trailer w a proportioner and now only haul the dedicated pump (air) system or as some call it the "soft wash" system when needed. 80% of what we clean is down streaming. We've found that we like this type system much better.
Down Streaming has been the best set up for me as well. It's all about finding out the direction I want to go. With down streaming you really only need one guy on the job. There is a need for another guy to help take things off porches and put them back, help you drag hoses, help with ladders etc. But with a soft wash set up, one guy is applying chem, the other is rinsing. So the soft wash method utilizes that helper well. With down streaming you could have two guys using their own separate hoses but that means you'd need to pressure washers which takes up space, and since we do roof cleaning, we wouldn't have room for our soft wash set up if we did it that way. I definitely want to have a truck skid, I'm just trying to find out the best way we should go.
So how did you build that skid doug? I need one but not looking to pay a million dollars everytime i want another one.
 
So how did you build that skid doug? I need one but not looking to pay a million dollars everytime i want another one.

I had it built by a local company. I sat down with them a few times lining out how I wanted everything, I wanted to be able to reach everything without having to reaching the truck or get a step ladder out. Gas tank on same side truck gas...etc etc..and I wanted electric reels and I wanted them to be Hannay, I wanted the skid to be light weight, so it's all aluminum, etc etc. I wanted to be able to also sell these through my school so I wanted to be easy to fork lift in and out for shipping, lots of things went into it. I also went with the direct drive versus belt drive for space sakes.

I also added the Down Stream Remote Control from Russ Johnson. It really is a one man operation unit for residential and commercial buildings. WE LOVE IT.
 
I like that design Doug, very well thought out and compact. Hannay reels are very good and high quality, I think they are the best reels out there.

That is a good idea with the pressure washer fuel tank on the same side as the truck fuel tank.

I am guessing when doing houses you use the chemical tank for the bleach and soap?

What is the knob with the hoses for on top of the chemical tank?

I like how you think about this, how soon will you have a price set for this rig for your students?

Thanks.
 
Yes the Chem tank is for house wash mix. I also have a spot under the reel for 2 five gallon tanks.

The knob allows us to switch from the mix to water to rinse the house and or injector without having to move the tube

cdb5c0b22c3bd6f95c1151a5cfa05098.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Awesome set-up Doug... Very well planned out. I love efficient yet simple. As for your remote chemical injector control, Is it using a solenoid shut-off in the injector line?

Mike
 
Back
Top