New Equipment Decision

TexasHunnee

TexasHunnee

New member
I’ve been looking at equipment for a while now I’ve had many in depth conversations & received a few quotes from those I leaning towards. I’d appreciate any input good bad or indifferent. This is a pretty expensive investment so ears are open lol…. Starting out I’m looking to be as versatile as possible until I find my niche’ what I’m leaning towards & will be marketing hard is municipalities, flat work, buildings garage’s, ect….I’ll probably have to mix residential in just to keep a steady flow of work in to keep the rig making money. I’ll eventually have a separate system and truck for residential softwashing, window washing, drive’s ect. Ok, so that being said I’m really leaning towards the Hot and Mighty Company I like that most of their stuff is stainless steel & like the way they build out custom to what you want. I was quoted Recovery & Discharge unit but believe being in Houston I should go with a full Reclaim system~ Thoughts on this? Also open or closed trailer? I know getting into garages open trailer would probably be better but with the thieves’ in my town I was leaning towards Closed (good for advertising as well) For those who have a closed in trailer units are there ways of getting around this ? I can list the equipment I’m looking at minus the price if that would help. Thanks ahead of time for your input.
 
I would seriously call Russ or Paul, too many local vendors along with the Hot and Mighty are charging way, way too much for the same equipment.

You can spend all you want but if you don't check Russ and Paul and then you find out how much you over-spent you will regret it like so many have done in the past, currently and will do just because they did not make some calls and spend a little time on the phone. Some of your time can easily save you Thousands of dollars, it is up to you.

I have seen so many new contractors way over-spend getting started, blowing their budget out the window and having to buy inferior equipment at the northern tool store and then regret those purchases because they had no money left and then were just so depressed. Some made it work, a lot ended up getting out of the business and selling their equipment at a huge loss. Most of the time rigs go for about 1/2 the price of new, even used a little bit.

Have you checked Ebay, Craigslist and the newspapers, there are some great deals out there a lot of the time.

I hate to see someone over-spend buying from others out there.

Before you spend a dime, you should really go out with a few crews for a few hours each and see if there are some services that you don't like, don't want to do, really like, etc.... so that you can buy a rig that will do those services and not spend too much for something that you don't need or equipment for services you will not do because you end up not liking that service.

I did the same thing when I started my own business after working for others for a lot of years, I thought I would do a little bit of everything but eventually focused on a lot less services, got rid of equipment that was hardly ever or never used and realized how much money I wasted in doing this.

Good luck.
 
Christopher said:
I would seriously call Russ or Paul, too many local vendors along with the Hot and Mighty are charging way, way too much for the same equipment.

You can spend all you want but if you don't check Russ and Paul and then you find out how much you over-spent you will regret it like so many have done in the past, currently and will do just because they did not make some calls and spend a little time on the phone. Some of your time can easily save you Thousands of dollars, it is up to you.

I have seen so many new contractors way over-spend getting started, blowing their budget out the window and having to buy inferior equipment at the northern tool store and then regret those purchases because they had no money left and then were just so depressed. Some made it work, a lot ended up getting out of the business and selling their equipment at a huge loss. Most of the time rigs go for about 1/2 the price of new, even used a little bit.

Have you checked Ebay, Craigslist and the newspapers, there are some great deals out there a lot of the time.

I hate to see someone over-spend buying from others out there.

Before you spend a dime, you should really go out with a few crews for a few hours each and see if there are some services that you don't like, don't want to do, really like, etc.... so that you can buy a rig that will do those services and not spend too much for something that you don't need or equipment for services you will not do because you end up not liking that service.

I did the same thing when I started my own business after working for others for a lot of years, I thought I would do a little bit of everything but eventually focused on a lot less services, got rid of equipment that was hardly ever or never used and realized how much money I wasted in doing this.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

^^^^^^^^^!!!!!

Best advice you'll ever get. My advice, please take it.

Chris, yet another Green Dot coming your way.
 
Seen it time and time again......Spending too much money to get started only to get behind the eight ball quickly......My idea is start small and buy as you need it......Buy smart and build your business before you get stuck with too much equipment not making any money.....a lot of competition in the Houston area Be Smart !
 
Gene has a trailer for sale which I wouldn't mind having myself. He is a stand up guy, has been on these boards for many years and wouldn't sell you anything he wouldn't continue using himself.
 
Christopher said:
I would seriously call Russ or Paul, too many local vendors along with the Hot and Mighty are charging way, way too much for the same equipment.

You can spend all you want but if you don't check Russ and Paul and then you find out how much you over-spent you will regret it like so many have done in the past, currently and will do just because they did not make some calls and spend a little time on the phone. Some of your time can easily save you Thousands of dollars, it is up to you.

I have seen so many new contractors way over-spend getting started, blowing their budget out the window and having to buy inferior equipment at the northern tool store and then regret those purchases because they had no money left and then were just so depressed. Some made it work, a lot ended up getting out of the business and selling their equipment at a huge loss. Most of the time rigs go for about 1/2 the price of new, even used a little bit.

Have you checked Ebay, Craigslist and the newspapers, there are some great deals out there a lot of the time.

I hate to see someone over-spend buying from others out there.

Before you spend a dime, you should really go out with a few crews for a few hours each and see if there are some services that you don't like, don't want to do, really like, etc.... so that you can buy a rig that will do those services and not spend too much for something that you don't need or equipment for services you will not do because you end up not liking that service.

I did the same thing when I started my own business after working for others for a lot of years, I thought I would do a little bit of everything but eventually focused on a lot less services, got rid of equipment that was hardly ever or never used and realized how much money I wasted in doing this.

Good luck.
Click to expand...
Chris,
I appreciate your advice. I'm not sure who Russ or Paul is but would be glad to speak with them. Yes, I've checked equipment on ebay, craigslist ect. I agree I don't want to purchase equipment I may not need. I already have opportunities to do work in Houston so I've found I have to be compliant with having a reclaim system...that alone seems to drive the price up. I do plan on getting some hands on experience going to check out Doug's class as well as some other's and IF your Offering I don't mind coming to Corpus for a day or two and let you teach me what you know !!! I'll gladly do that. It is difficult starting out not knowing what you do or do not need. This is not a side business for me it's how I will support myself and family so I take what I'm doing very serious.
 
Lightning Gene said:
Seen it time and time again......Spending too much money to get started only to get behind the eight ball quickly......My idea is start small and buy as you need it......Buy smart and build your business before you get stuck with too much equipment not making any money.....a lot of competition in the Houston area Be Smart !
Click to expand...

Thanks Gene ~ Send me what you have for sale !
 
TexasHunnee said:
I’ve been looking at equipment for a while now I’ve had many in depth conversations & received a few quotes from those I leaning towards. I’d appreciate any input good bad or indifferent. This is a pretty expensive investment so ears are open lol…. Starting out I’m looking to be as versatile as possible until I find my niche’ what I’m leaning towards & will be marketing hard is municipalities, flat work, buildings garage’s, ect….I’ll probably have to mix residential in just to keep a steady flow of work in to keep the rig making money. I’ll eventually have a separate system and truck for residential softwashing, window washing, drive’s ect. Ok, so that being said I’m really leaning towards the Hot and Mighty Company I like that most of their stuff is stainless steel & like the way they build out custom to what you want. I was quoted Recovery & Discharge unit but believe being in Houston I should go with a full Reclaim system~ Thoughts on this? Also open or closed trailer? I know getting into garages open trailer would probably be better but with the thieves’ in my town I was leaning towards Closed (good for advertising as well) For those who have a closed in trailer units are there ways of getting around this ? I can list the equipment I’m looking at minus the price if that would help. Thanks ahead of time for your input.
Click to expand...

Definitely take the advice here regarding Paul & Russ

Take your time and shop around

Compare apples to apples

The company you mentioned i wont comment on. wink
 
Really have not tried to sell it lately......going in the shop Tuesday for yearly fluid changes and check up......Built it for big job and now just an extra unit when needed.....10 gpm on new 14ft trailer tandem if interested.....530 gallon tank with new stacked hose reels...Let me know.
TexasHunnee said:
Thanks Gene ~ Send me what you have for sale !
Click to expand...
 
TexasHunnee said:
Chris,
I already have opportunities to do work in Houston so I've found I have to be compliant with having a reclaim system...that alone seems to drive the price up.
Click to expand...

Owning/Having a reclaim system does not make you compliant. Don't let anyone mislead you into thinking that.

These are two I mentioned to you to call.
Paul Kassander 855.351.09274 (ask for Bill or Andy)
Russ Johnson 888.243.6506
 
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Something else to think about is don't listen to vendors that are not posting on PWI as there are a lot of corrupt, unscrupulous and lying vendors out there that will sell you a lot of non-needed equipment that will actually not work for most of your jobs.

There are many ways of doing the job and stay compliant and not need to spend a fortune.

Unfortunately a corrupt vendor from here in Texas north of Houston was selling Houston on all kinds of nonsense and messed up everything there and it was getting straightened out with the help of Ron Musgraves and Doug R but last I heard the corrupt vendor was at it again trying to put more contractors out of work if they don't buy over-priced reclaim equipment.

It is a hard situation to be in as you need to know what kind of work you will be doing and where at so you will know what kind of recovery equipment you will need, if any but you need to be working so you know what kind of equipment you will need if any for recovery if needed at all, hope this makes sense.

Again, before spending a dime on anything, make calls to some of the great contractors and vendors and let them know exactly what and where you will be working, you will save hundreds if not thousands from the vendors posting here on PWI like Paul or Russ instead of buying locally over-priced equipment.

Good luck.
 
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