juniorc82
Supportive Member
based on: performance, price, durability, user friendly , and maintenance?
what is the best all around truckmount?
- Thread starter juniorc82
- Start date
davegillfishing
Supportive Member
Hard to answer. You have price included in your list as quality gos up so does price.
If you are looking for a total package production beast with ease of use and maint free for the most part you can't beat a butler in my opinion
If you are looking for a total package production beast with ease of use and maint free for the most part you can't beat a butler in my opinion
bob vawter
Grassy Knoller
Doug Cox
Supportive Member
IMO, that still drops you in the low 20's ( or above) if you're buying new. Hydramaster CDS would be on the top of my list. Maybe Butler after that. After that you're getting into the slide-ins which will push the price up. That is, if you are trying to fulfill your wish list.
Torrey Express
Member
My snow board still has a Steam Genie sticker on it from my very first TM. Looked exactly like that but beat to crap.
Mikey P
Administrator
Where you been Torrey?
I figured you'd be hanging here with the big boys by now.
I figured you'd be hanging here with the big boys by now.
Torrey Express
Member
I'm everywhere. Anyone who uses a wand is a friend of mine.
I was passing through and saw that beautiful steam genie and was taken over with nostalgic memories of long hot days, smelly waste tanks and a overheating ford van..
I'd love to have that machine brand new again in a fresh Chevy before they quit the express line and start the euro trash designs..
davegillfishing
Supportive Member
Remember. He's talking ease of use and maint.
I got to tell ya my butlers have been pretty simple to work on even with major failure. Blower..
Very little time invested in maint and we actually over maintain them and ease of use.
When we hire a new guy by 2nd job he can set up and fire up the butler solo.
I got to tell ya my butlers have been pretty simple to work on even with major failure. Blower..
Very little time invested in maint and we actually over maintain them and ease of use.
When we hire a new guy by 2nd job he can set up and fire up the butler solo.
Mikey P
Administrator
bob vawter
Grassy Knoller
Torrey....i ran Steam genies wit 205 stats since about 1990...not a problem......glad my Genie caught yor eye!
They really ARE the best! i build them occasionly to disriminating customers that have that eye!
pee ess
they're puting them in chevys now
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Larry Cobb
Member
Jon;
Van PTO's still rely on a limited-power electric clutch for running the entire TM.
It can't reliably power a 4MR blower @ 17" of lift.
At 5 years, the PTO Van is looking ragged or wrecked.
A good slide-in will inexpensively transfer into that new van.
Our favorite 34HP HX TM:
http://www2.cobbcarpet.com/zen/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=1269
Larry
Van PTO's still rely on a limited-power electric clutch for running the entire TM.
It can't reliably power a 4MR blower @ 17" of lift.
At 5 years, the PTO Van is looking ragged or wrecked.
A good slide-in will inexpensively transfer into that new van.
Our favorite 34HP HX TM:
http://www2.cobbcarpet.com/zen/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=1269
Larry
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bob vawter
Grassy Knoller
ya THEN ya got a five year old lawn mower powered TM in a new truck..........that makes sense!
Single wand and brand new would include Accelerated (D. Oaxley), Fox, Judson.....depends on if you want HX or gas fired heater.
Single wand and used could be Prochem 405 and Fox. Both can be easily rebuilt to like new.
I think the PC 650 will be a great used machine as it can be single or dual, good price used, and parts always available. And it can be put into a one ton extended van or box truck. Saphire 870 used would also be a great machine for the same reasons. Buy a good used tm and put it into a newer van and if you take care of both they will last you a long time. Nowadays you don't have to go new/new for 50 to 60K so you can go used/used for around 25 to 30K.
I saw aerotech and it looks really cool. It has lots of room for cimex and other stuff. But brand new price is 90K which is alot unless you always dual wand and do lots of long hose run commercial jobs.
Single wand and used could be Prochem 405 and Fox. Both can be easily rebuilt to like new.
I think the PC 650 will be a great used machine as it can be single or dual, good price used, and parts always available. And it can be put into a one ton extended van or box truck. Saphire 870 used would also be a great machine for the same reasons. Buy a good used tm and put it into a newer van and if you take care of both they will last you a long time. Nowadays you don't have to go new/new for 50 to 60K so you can go used/used for around 25 to 30K.
I saw aerotech and it looks really cool. It has lots of room for cimex and other stuff. But brand new price is 90K which is alot unless you always dual wand and do lots of long hose run commercial jobs.
Buck1955
Member
I've always had direct drives so I'm partial to them, less to maintain. If you find a good deal I'd be happy with Butler, White Magic, Hydramaster or Cleanco. What does your local distributor carry? That could make a difference.
Desk Jockey
Member
If I had the need I'd go Aerotech but I wouldn't just hand those keys to anyone either. 90K or used at 50-60K it would have to be someone that is very responsible.
Butler, Pro 1200, Hydramaster CDS would all be among my second choice. After that a heat exchange, liquid cooled slide in.
The biggest I could afford without over spending on stooopid frills. I'd stay away from secondary heat unless you plan on cleaning a lot of trashed carpet. Secondary fuel only adds to your cost of sale not to mention the time wasted getting the secondary fuel and the maintenance and repair of the heater.
Spend the most you can afford, even if air cooled, the larger power plants are going to last longer and cost you less on repairs in the long run.
Don't just listen to the hype, talk to those that own the units. How long has have they been in the field? Are the owners of the units happy with how they have held up so far. A new unit of any brand should be fairly problem free for years, so check with those that have had them a while not just a year or two.
Butler, Pro 1200, Hydramaster CDS would all be among my second choice. After that a heat exchange, liquid cooled slide in.
The biggest I could afford without over spending on stooopid frills. I'd stay away from secondary heat unless you plan on cleaning a lot of trashed carpet. Secondary fuel only adds to your cost of sale not to mention the time wasted getting the secondary fuel and the maintenance and repair of the heater.
Spend the most you can afford, even if air cooled, the larger power plants are going to last longer and cost you less on repairs in the long run.
Don't just listen to the hype, talk to those that own the units. How long has have they been in the field? Are the owners of the units happy with how they have held up so far. A new unit of any brand should be fairly problem free for years, so check with those that have had them a while not just a year or two.
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The Great Oz
Member
Those are the balance of qualities we're looking for in a truckmount and we're pretty happy with the HM CDS. We don't need extreme heat or oversized chrome grills so for our use they're a good fit.
What's best for you might be different, and what's best for you today might also be different in a few years.
PS: You wouldn't get anyone to agree on best car either.
clean image
Member
A unit that can handle 1500 psi minimum for hard surface, 2-3k even better.
Light weight. less weight, more the fuel savings, saftey and wear
small space, more room for other supplys
Light weight. less weight, more the fuel savings, saftey and wear
small space, more room for other supplys
Larry Cobb
Member
Jon;
I think our industry is rapidly shifting away from PTO's . . .
as Ford and GM look for more fuel efficient vans from Europe.
Nissan has a good van, but no PTO's available for it at a reasonable price.
Ford going to full-size Transit . . . nobody has announced a PTO with it.
Only leaves GM, who is looking at more fuel-efficient Euro-vans.
Smaller slide-ins ARE the future.
Larry
I think our industry is rapidly shifting away from PTO's . . .
as Ford and GM look for more fuel efficient vans from Europe.
Nissan has a good van, but no PTO's available for it at a reasonable price.
Ford going to full-size Transit . . . nobody has announced a PTO with it.
Only leaves GM, who is looking at more fuel-efficient Euro-vans.
Smaller slide-ins ARE the future.
Larry
Lee Stockwell
FOJL
You hope....
I haven't seen the rapid "shift", and doubt Butler and others will just fold up on such rumors.
I haven't seen the rapid "shift", and doubt Butler and others will just fold up on such rumors.
The Great Oz
Member
I'd guess that Jon is interested in the best option now. Ten years from now he can ask again.
Desk Jockey
Member
We've been though this before and there will always be a market for PTO's. If the sales are down it would have more to do with the economy and the tightening of money. But for that matter all TM sales are down not just PTO's.
Mikey P
Administrator
is what I think he meant.
Shane Deubell
Supportive Member
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2011
- Messages
- 4,052
This is a whole lot easier if you answer the business questions first then plug in the equipment that fits best.
How many hours per year do you plan on using it, available capital, revenue goals...
See if your goal is to make $50k-$80k a year gross well any TM will do and most portables too but if your goal is to bang out more then $150k per year per unit then only a handful can take that kind of pounding over a 5-7 year period. When shopping its important to ask people how many hours per year, see some guys average 1000 per year and some 200. Everyone has different goals/lifestyle thats why the answers are all over the place.
How many hours per year do you plan on using it, available capital, revenue goals...
See if your goal is to make $50k-$80k a year gross well any TM will do and most portables too but if your goal is to bang out more then $150k per year per unit then only a handful can take that kind of pounding over a 5-7 year period. When shopping its important to ask people how many hours per year, see some guys average 1000 per year and some 200. Everyone has different goals/lifestyle thats why the answers are all over the place.
Desk Jockey
Member
I've know companies that buy the cheapest units they can with the plans on turning them every 3-years, they pay half of what a big unit would cost and keep flipping them. That's not how we do it but if they actually sell them off, it probably doesn't hurt them too bad.
Shane Deubell
Supportive Member
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2011
- Messages
- 4,052
No lie, their is an owner operator around here who flips butlers after the tax benefit expires. Literally puts plastic over tanks,carpet to protect and keeps it super clean with maintenance records. Crazy...
works for him though.
The Great Oz
Member
Larry's probably correct about the future, we're just not there yet.
I've heard about a new vacuum system that will outdo our conventional blowers and can be driven by a small electric motor. Unfortunately it exists only as a proof of concept, so development and testing will take years, then field testing to see if it lasts.
If it works it will be a major gamechanger. If it works.
I've heard about a new vacuum system that will outdo our conventional blowers and can be driven by a small electric motor. Unfortunately it exists only as a proof of concept, so development and testing will take years, then field testing to see if it lasts.
If it works it will be a major gamechanger. If it works.
Dan
Supportive Member
Had no idea this topic was asking for another Cobb sales pitch... Give it a rest Larry.
Lee Stockwell
FOJL
I'm working on a clutch for a Toyota Sienna van...it'll go, but don't tell my wife.
