Did you test out your AT or V before you bought it?

[Kevin B]

I really have this desire for more power. I know its crazy, and its really what is going to drive me to get a greenhorn wand, 2.5" hose, and all the vac trick out goodies. But, I know it won't stop there.

For you guys that bought your first V or AT, did you try it out and were hooked? or did you just decide you wanted it for USP? Or, did you just need the biggest machine in town? I pay close to 800 a month for my truck and machine, and I know I could get an AT or V for this price per month. I may be adding a new truck next year and I really would worry more about winter time storage than anything since I don't have a shop door tall enough to fit it into.

I am seriously considering getting a V or an AT...or a HUGE slide in. But, then I am already out of room with just the Maxx 470.

 

[steve frasier]

I tried them and looked at them at Connections for the last 3 years

I check out everyone I see local and was looking at Randy Hyde's the other day

Have talked to many owners

I put down my deposit on one today :shock:

The biggest reason I bought it was because I was out of room in my van and an extended van wouldn't have given me the room I wanted. So by the time I priced a new set up a Vortex/AT is a little more a month and a couple of years more payments

but I also consider that the V/AT holds it's value a little better then the typical van and slide in does so you should be able to make some up in the end also

If you can do it, walk away from the big slide in

 

[Mikey P]

Teets talked me into mine.


I'll never forgive him.

 

[Jim Martin]

I tested the hell out of mine...........

I found it in Minnesota........I flew up there and cleaned with Jon Erickson
for the day and then flew back to Tucson that night..........

I drove the truck and set up and ran the machine .kicked the tires ...
went home and thought about it and 3 weeks later I flew back and drove it home.......

I bought mine used and I am still way further ahead then if I had bought it new ....

I have put about $5000 into my truck but that is because of the changes I wanted to make excluding the water tank which I knew about when I bought it

It has been one of the smartest move I have done with my company.......

If you are going to make that type of investment new or used .....kick the tires a few times

 

[Ron Lippold]

No test drive here. I walked up to the edge of the cliff and stepped off onto a cloud, best move I have ever maid. I would do it again in a heart beat.

 

[steve g]

I see you are in idaho, why don't you give aerotech a call and we will try one out on one of my jobs, I don't live that far from aerotech, thats a whole hell of a lot better than trying one on some scrap piece of carpet at some show.

 

[adamh]

If you want to go to Boise I can set you up with a new Vortex we are delivering next week. Or you can run in my old one.


928-606-7996

 

[steve g]

AT is a better machine that uses a much simpler non oil HX, I also hear reports its produces more heat

 

[Kevin B]

Just some FYI, I am 4+ hours from seattle and like 8 to Boise. Steve G, you close to SLC?

 

[captaincarpet]

Steve G :

You forgot to add that it is less expensive and has many more available options too!

 

[Jim Martin]

I like the A/t because of the round fresh tank and some options..........
I am so glad I changed mine to a round tank.......

as far as hotter.............probably.........but why......they both already have to much heat that we don't use anyway........your just burning your tools and equipment..........vaporising chemicals if you are not dragging in another low temp line.........I am not crazy about the huge HX of water under the vacuum hose reel waiting to get pounded buy a hose that the cuff let loose on .......it does happen.......... and I know no reports have been made on this as of yet and it is still new but I would worry about the HX freezing.......oil don't freeze....and it holds its temps longer....

They both have a great plus and minus..........

 

[captaincarpet]

I'm not too worried about a plastic vac hose and cuff hitting a stainless steel HX as the HX has an insulating cover and stainless end shrouds to protect it from the hose cuff.
You are right about oil not freezing and holding its temp longer ( but you forgot to mention the system taking longer to heat up).
The oil may not freeze but the water in the truck will so you still have to keep your machine from freezing...so no big difference there either. With or without the HX you shouldn't let your truck freeze.

I agree with you entirely that the round tank is better and the extra options are nice.

As far as heat... we all have our own opinion as to how much is necessary, when we run dual wands I like to maintain 260+ ATM
I know the machine can do more, but I am happy there and find it to clean exceptionally well.

 

[Mikey P]

Why is round better?


The Blueline made square tanks from what I've heard had not had a single failure and hold more water AND have more storage on top..

I also believe that the new BL HX system heats up way faster the the AT built V ones ever did. We might be talking a few minutes difference between the two latest systems.

 

[Jim Martin]

I have had a few cuffs come loose and they slam hard.........not to mention the limp dick easy to manage plastic hose becomes hard as a rock and don't like to play nice in the winter.....

I have not really looked at the HX did they to protect it

and you are correct about the freezing.........but I would think the small water lines would be more of a worry then a tank.........

remember I live in the desert and I don't run across problems like the guys up north so I am shooting from the hip and just asking............

I did not mention the warm up time because I cant honestly say that it really takes but a few minutes to get to temp so it is really not a issue as far as I am concerned...I have heard a few mention this before but I am already at 160 when I get to my first job so to raise it up another (approx) 100 degrees is nothing.........

 

[steve g]

kevin, i am less than 30 mins from salt lake and that is my main work area, if you are in the area and wanna try out the machine, I am serious we could take it on one of mine. I think the advantage to the round tank is it is also convex at the bottom which makes it so regardless of whatever angle the truck is parked at all the water goes out, I don't know, but I would think this would make having to clean out the tank few and far between. only problem is I think it kinda wastes space inside the truck, from the first day I saw a V or AT, my first thought was why on earth is there not a way to make the machine take up less room, that big ole box is all machine inside with little room for other stuff

 

[Jim Martin]

I can say first hand from having a square one and changing it over to the round...............water control..........I get a lot less sloshing and truck movement with the round tank.I don't feel the water slamming the tank.........I have yet to snap the float.........

I think it is a lot neater look to it then the square one....

the round one took about 4 inches more out of the front of the box and that is unusable wasted space anyway.........but the therm oil hx bolted right back in it's same holes.....there is less storage on the top of the round tank then on the square one .....that is something that is not a concern for me because I don't really use it anyway....I can see it being a problem for some....

 

[Kevin B]

So, let me get this straight. The AT has a water to exhaust exchanger under the van? I beleive oil has a lower specific heat than water, hence cools faster, but I don't know the specifics of the Xentherm. Does the V have an oil to exhaust exchanger under the truck? If so, that maybe the best option up here. I AINT crawling under the truck ever.

How long does it take to heat up your machines? Is it pretty much good to go after job1, or does it require a warmup on each job?

 

[Jim Martin]

the threm HX is beside the fresh tank on the Vortex and the
hx for the A/T that we are talking about is behind the vacuum reel..........
the exhaust exchanger is under the truck on both machines .and you will be doing a lot of going under there because there are grease fittings and such that need attention.......but it is not as bad as it sounds.....

the tanks heat up as you drive and as I stated I am at about 160 (approx)on my first job and it only takes a few moment's to get her to temp.. not enough time to try to compare.....

Therm oil is a high temp oil that holds its temp's very well........

this is more a personal preference for me because I have worked on many close looped systems before and have seen what super heated water can do.........

I am not saying that anyone would have these problems.I think the A/T is a top notch machine

 

[adamh]

That new V will out heat my AT built V by 40+ degrees. I cleaned CCCS carpets the other day and had to run out side and turn the xentherm down because I was at 290! The new ones a different best.


Not one BL tank leaks, and they have more baffles for much less water movement.

 

[Jim Martin]

That new V will out heat my AT built V by 40+ degrees. I cleaned CCCS carpets the other day and had to run out side and turn the xentherm down because I was at 290! The new ones a different best.


Not one BL tank leaks, and they have more baffles for much less water movement.

Adam.does BL have any plans to make a round tank or is that something they cant or won't do..........

 

[Mikey P]

Not so much "can't " but "why"

 

[steve frasier]

Kevin

not sure how far you are from Portland, Oregon but I will have my machine the first week of December and Randy Hyde has one also so I am sure you could look at them if you wanted to

some one has a new AeroTech in Vancouver, Washington, seen it going down the road the other day, but not sure who it is, so you might be able to check out both machines

 

[Mikey P]

I hope all you guys can tune in on Friday Night.

 

[steve frasier]

I don't have a microphone

 

[Mikey P]

$3.99 at any electronics store.

 

[Kevin B]

Kevin

not sure how far you are from Portland, Oregon but I will have my machine the first week of December and Randy Hyde has one also so I am sure you could look at them if you wanted to

some one has a new AeroTech in Vancouver, Washington, seen it going down the road the other day, but not sure who it is, so you might be able to check out both machines

I'm closer to portland than I am Boise.

 

[steve g]

So, let me get this straight. The AT has a water to exhaust exchanger under the van?

man its amazing how this urban myth continues to spread, AT only made a handful of machines with the under box HX, to my knowledge if the owner wanted it changed they did if for free. the AT HX is mounted inside the box in the middle, the exhaust runs up into it then back out the bottom, if you live in a warm climate the outside mounted HX would be awesome, AT and vortexes use a different type of heating system, the v heats oil which inturn heats the water, the AT uses strait exhaust, much like our typical slide in HX units work.

 

[Kevin B]

Sweet. So, no water lines run outside the van? I don't have a problem getting underneath in my shop, but I won't do it at a customers house.

I really like the looks of the pimped out AT from connections.

What type of fuel economy can one expect. MPG, and GPH.

 

[Kevin B]

I'mma have to build a place to park one...my neighbors will FREAK out.

 

[BRUCE LITTLE]

Kevin

Iam in ( Pasco Wa ) come on down sometime & you see how much work a V can get done in one day !!!! I didnt try one before I purchase one , but it was the best thing I ever did . I have had this V for a year & 4 months , It now has more than 1500 hrs on it & never one problem !!! This is truly a duel wand truck . I would never never buy another slide in , what a joke compared to a V !!!! Already thinking of getting another one.