Washing Semi's in the Winter

Greg Rentschler

Greg Rentschler

New member
Hey fellas,

Wood is our niche market but obviousely with winter set in we're not doing much. I have been asked however to put in a bid on 40 trucks to wash on a monthly basis starting the first week of January. We're going $35 a truck and going to 2 step the trucks using a HF brightener and Zep Truck Wash. We've done this type of work in the past but never during the winter.

What are you fleet guys (up north anyway) doing to deal with the cold temps. I would expect the average to be 30 degrees while we're washing but I have a concern of 1) ice build up around our wash area creating a potential hazard, (salt it down?) and 2) ice forming on the trucks badly. We also don't want to freeze all of the door locks :)

Any help or advice is appreciated.

Happy Holidays,

Greg Rentschler
TimberSeal Exterior.. . Truck Wash???
 
This is our first winter washing, but we've had some cold weather already when we were washing. The ice on the ground you can salt to your hearts content, but after a certaing temp the salt will no longer work. I'm looking into boots that have some sort of spike on the bottoms. It gets to the point were you wish you had brought your ice skates. The people we wash for must not care about the locks freezing up because they never mention it. I've only seen a very thin layer of ice on the trucks when we're done and I have no idea how to stop that. I'm not much help, but I thought I'd respond anyway.

Good luck out there.

Jennie
 
Hi Jennie,

Thanks for your input :)

My major concern is we will be washing them in the lot and I don't want to create a liability for the ice that is forming layer upon layer. If nothing else we can squirt the locks with a quick shot of de-icer.

I suppose we'll be limited in our ability to keep the ice down.

Happy Holidays,

Greg Rentschler
 
Hi Greg

first off ZEP just cost's way too much.
Second is hot water will freeze faster then cool water. So if you have an adj thermostat use it.
Three sand/salt is better and cheaper then just salt. Gives traction.
J&J go to your local fishing store and get some jetty spikes for your shoes. They are like studded snow tires for your feet. While you are there ask about some neoprene ice fishing gloves.[sports aurthority].
Greg-get yourself a custom langth dual lance or the 72 inc one. It keeps you further back from the acid and the water.
The biggest prob. are breaks. You can freeze them up. It can cause a dangerous situation.
You can buy the same chem that is in windshield washer fluid and put it in your supply tank.
Window washer people use it all the time.
For once a month wash jobs you should use a good wax in your rinse water so they clean-up faster the next time.
Be carefull with that acid.
Work-n-gear has insulated rain gear.
Dont forget plenty of hot liquids to drink.
My grandpop had a WOODY,that would be right up your alley.
 
Hi Ron,

Thanks for the tips :)

I believe the additive your speaking of is methanol. We used to buy it in 55 gallon drums. However my only concern there is it's flammable :confused: and I don't know that I would want to run it through a burner unit.

We planned on using hot water to help keep us warm :) It's like working in a steam room when you get 200 degree water clouding around ya. Well maybe not that warm......

What are you using for wax Ron? I already have 55 gallons of the powdered Zep truck wash and HF based Brightener from past projects. In a twin chem environment we get awesome results with these.

Happy Holidays,

Greg Rentschler
 
Greg

i have not used zep's powder so maybe it's better then i think.
I use Steve rowletts wax but am going to try alkotas wax/as per bigboy. He say's it also has cleaners in it. Good for chrome.
With HF i guess any soap that can cut the oil's and road film's are good. HF wont do crap to oil.
I myself would'nt worry about the flam. thing. Too deluted and encased in sced. 80 pipe.
Then agin i wouldnt use it unless the soap was freezing on the truck before i could rinse it.
 
Hello Greg,

Even if it is in the upper 20's but the Sun is shinning you may not freeze on the sunnyside of the equipment.

Determining if you can clean vehicle fleets in the winter really depends on the customer. Their equipment, yard conditions, etc. Sometimes we work shorter days (temp gets above 32) only a few hours. Working with a 5-man crew we can still do many units in a short time. Put salt down after we are done if it makes sense.

If I have any doubts, we stay at home. No need anyone getting hurt just to have clean cars/trucks!

Dave Olson
 
ron p

I wanted to say thank you for the suggestion about the ice fishing spikes. They worked great!

Jennie
 
Thanks from my end as well Ron & Dave. Sounds like we have the contract so this will be interesting.

This biggest hassle is winterizing/dewinterizing the equipment day in day out. We run off a 225 gallon water tank so were using a trough heater for the tank and blowing the machines out with air.

Happy Holidays,

Greg
 
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