Hot Van Advice...Especially good for Newbe broke dicks...

[Jimbo]

http://vortex.plymouth.edu/uschill.gif



Don't forget to protect the heart of your business...truckmount and tools...from freezing!

The coldest I have seen it this winter here in Reno was twenty below F...and here is my secret to keeping my 'mount from freezing...I keep it where the Camaro was...and it stays at 48 degrees the entire winter:

Hey, my equipment has been out side for the last 26 years before building 'The Garage'...so I have a few suggestions on keeping your equipment toasty...even in the coldest weather. If you are a veteran cleaner in a cold climate area, Please add your well-tested suggestions to this thread...

In bitter cold climates there is an area of the van that is much harder to heat...that is the space that is about 1 foot from the walls, floor, and ceiling...it is the 'cold death zone' for any tool that has water in it...Don't let your tools reside their when you are heating the van...if you cannot figure out a way to keep them out of that area...then remove them to a heated area...

HEATING THE VAN ... there are a lot of heaters for sale that do not cut it for heating the van. You need something that Both heats the air And Circulates it...no wimpy heaters allowed...here is my favorite...a blue blower with the heater accesory...the thing makes 300 cfm of very warm air...and really moves it around...perfect for when you are trying to keep the ravages of winter away from the heart of your business...

http://www.toolsurge.com/prodlist.asp?strSearch=BB-
You can look at Sears.com and check your local store Today to see if it is available...you can get the blower and the heater for about a hundred bucks.

PLACEMENT OF THE HEATER...Oh just throw it in any place....WRONG!...you need a very specific placement on your heater...you want it initially blowing on the truckmount itself! I think it is best to take a couple of moving blankets and drape them over the tm...paying extra attention to covering the face of the tm...which usually is facing a van door that has a window in it...so it could be one of the colder areas...also the face or instrument panel of the tm usually has the most fragile pieces on it when exposed to freezing condions...think plastic Dwyer meters...and small brass fittings...usually not very sturdy when they are frozen.

LIFT THE SKIRT UP!...Ok..so we have the entire tm draped with moving blankets...keeping in mind that the ONE SIDE the heater is going to be blown into needs to be lifted up a bit...maybe 15 inches...to let the heat blow in safely...and also let the heat spill out into the van...AFTER heating the tm.

WAIT A MINUTE...THE BLUE BLOWER WITH HEATER DOES NOT HAVE A THERMOSTAT!...Very observant!...Here is mine...

It should cost about 35 dollars to pick up the parts for this thermostat...it is a Wall thermostat for an electric baseboard heater..http://www.homedepot.com/Building-Mater ... 0053...and a box with a couple of duplex outlets on the back side.

Where Do I put the thermostat? Right on the tm you are working so hard to protect...and it controls the heater that is blowing hot air into the little tent that securely covers your tm.

WAIT A MINUTE, JIMBO...I'M A REGISTERED BROKE DICK...HOW CAN I PROTECT MY VAN?...I'm Really glad you asked my friend...you are the last person on earth who can afford the needed repairs if your van freezes up...so you, my BROKE DICK FRIEND...are the guy that has to work the hardest to protect what you have.

BD ADVICE...you have a different set of rules...Anything that has water in it and is not bolted down in your van needs to come inside where it is warm...What, your spouse does not like it inside? Does she/he like to eat? Keep it inside...it IS your livelihood.

SUCK IT OUT, BABY!...Pressure lines need to be drained of water....put a quick connect on each end of the hose...it's now open on both end...and roll it up...once...twice...three times...now almost all the water is out of it. The rest I want you to vacuum out with your truckmount...you do have the worlds most powerful vacuum...so after rolling the water out of the hose...with the spare quick connects still on it...hook it up to the vac port on your tm and Suck it out, baby...If you decide to leave the pressure lines outside...make sure to leave at least one spare QC on each line...to allow for any leftover water to expand when it freezes.

BD TM ADVICE...What about the mount? I had a van that broke down about 15 years ago...my trusty Prochem 800a was inside...and I expected it to be froze for a day or two...I went to the hardware store...bought a couple of cases of RV antifreeze...poured it in the water box...and ran antifreeze through the machine...heat exchangers...thru 300' of pressure hoses...through the chemical feed system...and thru all the spraying tools...No freeze ups...don't forget to loosen the fitting on the back of your water pressure gauge...it is a dead, end line that has water in it...even if you antifreeze the machine itself...freezing in that line will destroy the gauge.

You can reuse the antifreeze if you save it in some 5 gallon buckets when you get the next job...In the past I have used conventional car antifreeze in the tm...but it seems like it is hard to rinse out...that is why I would suggest the RV antifreeze.

If you are trying to protect your tm without heating the van...all I can say is good luck...It is a risky business...I think it might be better to take all the tools in...find a couple of old blanket/comforters/quilts to drape over the tm...and just run your heater in that space...you save a lot by not heating the entire van...yet protect the vital heart of your business.

Here is one other thing you need for monitoring your now toasty van:http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2117830

I'm sure I will hear from a couple of distributors that thrive on frozen vans for winter repair work...maybe carpet cleaners who don't hang out here will continue to support them!

Cheers!- Jim

 

[dgardner]

Jim,

Your heater looks almost identical to one I bought at Harbor Freight, except for the color:

You buy the fan and heater part separately - the HF part #'s are 93231 and 93272. The current price is about $70 together.

Also, I like your T'stat - looks like it will get the job done. What do you think about this one (I haven't tried it - live in Phoenix):

http://www.smarthome.com/7143/Thermo-Cube/p.aspx

It goes on at 35F and off at 45F. Placed in the coldest area of the van? It's cheap, and rated for 15 amps (1800W).

 

[BLewis]

Ok now 5:14 pm started the thaw process at 1:30. AFter following the post I engaged equip again at around 4:45 pm using first the 50 foot of hose w/o a QD that had been taking a warm bath. Pump engaged as before and I immediately had pressure and water!! YESSSSS!!!!
Went on to try to 2 live reels both were funtioning properly. Shut her back down and let the tornado heat her back up to 100 degrees and took her out and will monitor until job tonight.

Thanks to all for your helpful hints. I obviously have to get better heaters that draw less amps but still put out sufficient heat. I have the top of box insulated with 2 layers of 1/2 inch foam think I will get some sheets for the sides and front to get more insulation and will never let my truck set again for 3 days without heating it up.

 

[Jimbo]

Looks like 11 degrees tonight at your place, Billy...http://www.wunderground.com/US/KY/Winchester.html...

You gotta protect your stuff...when I had a Vortex, I would tarp over the fresh tank...and drape it over the blower/cat pump unit...creating a little 'tunnel of heat' to blow the heater in.

Don't forget that the V has a hole in the floor...the belts run through it...it needs closed up with rags to keep the heat in. I have a more permanent solution for that if anyone wants to hear it.

 

[joeynbgky]

i would let you use my garage at my office but its a few hours from you!

 

[Jimmy L]

.

 

[steampro]

Don't forget that the V has a hole in the floor...the belts run through it...it needs closed up with rags to keep the heat in. I have a more permanent solution for that if anyone wants to hear it.

Id like to hear it.

 

[-JB-]

Id like to hear it.

Says the man who lives in the Ozarks!

 

[Jimbo]

Ryan...here is what I would do to close the GAPING HOLE in the floor on your Vortex....


I'd buy One of these brushes:

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1 ... ogId=10053

I would carefully cut it two...so I have two 12" by 3" pieces of brush...

Then lay it on the floor by the belts...running perpendicular to the grooves in the sheave wheel...take a good pair of scissors and trim out the brushes to fit close to the belts...but not touching them...I'd keep them about 1/4" away from the belts.

Then take some Tek screws of the proper length and fasten them to the floor...the brushes should be touching each other on their tips under the centerline of the sheave wheel...but mainly covering the GAPING HOLE in the floor...Save your heat.

 

[dealtimeman]

that is a good idea jim!

 

[Jimbo]

Thank you very much, Michael...and a very happy and prosperous New Year to you!

 

[rwcarpet]

It's zero outside and my van sits in a unheated garage.
I have one of those radioshack thermometers with the sending unit right under my pump.

I have one ceramic heater in the back blowing towards the front.

It reads 42 degrees on the recieving unit as I read it from my couch.

Man, I did that the first year of business. I worried all night that the heat would shut off.

It's been garaged ever since.

 

[Mikey P]

Very nice Jim!


Thanks for taking the time to share such valuable info.








So where did the SO go on vacation?

 

[Guest]

Yes Jim, thank you.

Valuable indeed.

 

[steve g]

you guys are way too complicated, just go pick up a $30 heater from walmart, install a remote temperature gauge that reads out into your house, mine reads out in my bedroom and also sounds an alarm if the temp goes below a certain point, mine is set to 36 degrees, I normally try to shoot for about 45-50 degrees inside the trailer, I feel this gives me some insurance if the power goes out and I am gone for the evening or something, I also use some heat wire that is ziptied to my rubber hoses on the floor that connect the fresh water tank to the demand pump then to the front of the machine, I don't worry about the hoses on the floor freezing unless it gets below 20 degrees, if it does I just plug in the heat wire, this setup is fool proof down to below zero which is as cold as it gets around where I live. no blankets needed or special fan/heater combos.

 

[John Buxton]

Put in 2 heaters on different circuits so if one blows the other will still work.

 

[Al]

Nice Post Jimbo!
Questions come up on this every winter. I have an arrangement with an oil and lube shop to keep my trucks if nessesary but since we started Restoration I have to keep them close by. I cant keep the box truck hot enough with any electric heater I have tried so we use a Big Buddy Propane heater and a Radio Shack wireless thermometor with freeze alarm.
I have to be on my toe's to keep stuff from freezing, I'll wake up in the middle of the night and go out in the cold and check the vans. But I sleep like a baby after I find them all toasty! My garage is over due!

Great Post

 

[rwcarpet]

Jimbo....how did you get your vanity plate on the Camaro? The State of Ohio probably would have denied that plate....the Southern bible thumpers.....

It took us till fall of 09 just to get a casino approved.

 

[Jimbo]

Hey RW...State of Nevada denied me 'RUGFUN' on a cleaning truck...said it was way too suggestive!

Here is the plate on Mary's 70 Cuda:

 

[-JB-]

Family man's hot rod?

 

[The Magician]

Hey Jimbo, nice collection of cars. What is parked behind the Elcamino? What engines do do run in the Mopar, Elcamino, Carmaro?

 

[Jimbo]

Hey Jimmy...ElCamino had a nicely wound up 327/4speed; Camaro had a new Goodwrench 350/Automatic/I think the 70 Challenger was in the back...they all made way for my sweety's 70 Panther Pink Cuda...built 440/Automatic...

This is the current project:

 

[bonesheal]

Put in 2 heaters on different circuits so if one blows the other will still work.

I learned this the hard way this week. Alls well that ends well, though--my pump still works. Now I'm on two circuits every night.

This is the coldest I can remember NC ever being.

 

[Dirtmonger]

Re: Hot Van Advice...Especially good for Newbe broke dicks..

Does anyone have any experience with these catalytic propane heaters. I wouldn't use one in an enclosure I was going to sleep in but these look like they could be configured to keep a van appropriately warm. Flameless and radiant heat.

http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-f ... eaters.htm

 

[Ron Werner]

Re: Hot Van Advice...Especially good for Newbe broke dicks..

Biggest challenge with propane heaters is the moisture.
After a winter you may find some corrosion.

 

[Ron Lippold]

Re: Hot Van Advice...Especially good for Newbe broke dicks..

jim what is that a 68 pontiac fire bird ................

 

[Jimbo]

http://vortex.plymouth.edu/uschill.gif



Just a reminder...western states are Very Cold...

 

[Mikey P]

that would make a cool widget for our side bar. Especially if you could put in your zip code



How about it Tre, er, I mean Fred,... could we have a customized weather widget for those that never leave this Board?

 

[steve_64]

nice rides guys.

my biggest problem is keeping things freezing on the way to the job or on set up. had to put solution lines in bath tubs before to thaw them out lol. seal on the back door was bad letting cold air in the back. started keeping lines and tools behind the seat.

 

[FredC]

that would make a cool widget for our side bar. Especially if you could put in your zip code



How about it Tre, er, I mean Fred,... could we have a customized weather widget for those that never leave this Board?

I can easily add the weather......several different ways...but I won't.......