New Truckmount Decision Input Wanted

[Sonrise1]

I'm considering adding a new truckmount/truck unit to my business and am down to three units: Butler, Hydramaster xDrive, and Aerotech. I've had a Sapphire Scientific 454 SS and have a TCS Chief II. My TCS has been much better than the Sapphire, but I'm looking more at direct drive, and these three stand out to me. Any thoughts?

 

[Lee Stockwell]

Kind of like Goldilocks and the 3 bears:

X drive is very new and unproven at this point.

Aerotech is top notch but overkill for 95% of us.

Butler is just right.

 

[Mikey P]

Tell us more about your business.


It would be easier to recommend a wife ....

 

[hogjowl]

Butler is probably a great choice, but I’m happy with my two Cleancos from TCS. TCS can Service them.

 

[Sonrise1]

Thanks for the laugh Mike! I needed a good laugh.

We do more commercial work than residential, only one machine with a crew of two. Floor and fiber care isn't our only work, we also do window cleaning and power washing/soft washing. We are at the high end of the pricing spectrum (.41/ft2 on residential, cost based spreadsheet on commercial) We use a 14" titanium wand on residential and a 13" zipper on commercial. I use the whole cleaning pie. We have 300ppm tds, don't have a softener in the truck, so we run around 200 degrees on nylon and 170 degrees on poly. We prespray, scrub with crb.

My machine is starting to get some age on it and we went down 4 days getting the van worked on recently, now 3-4 days with the machine down. We lose a chunk of money being down that long, and I have no backup machine. I don't want to spend $25-$35K on a used machine I dont't know for backup. I'd rather run my current machine I know as a backup and add a new machine as primary.

We are in the eastern end of the midwest, so we do get cold. I could go on a lot more but...

 

[hogjowl]

Oh, I see now that you’re In Ohio
Go with Butler

 

[Cleanworks]

High vac, high heat butler. Can run in the winter with the doors closed. Cleanco will do the same thing.

 

[SamIam]

Butler is probably a great choice, but I’m happy with my two Cleancos from TCS. TCS can Service them.

And you saved 10K for retirement

 

[bob vawter]

Jus lik new Steam Genie is the best one on planet earth....

 

[ruff]

A Butler, unless, like Ron Beatty, you can truly utilize a dual wand capability. In that case the Aero.

 

[bob vawter]

High vac, high heat butler. Can run in the winter with the doors closed. Cleanco will do the same thing.

Horsepucky......inside wit the doors closed....you'll die!

 

[Cleanworks]

Horsepucky......inside wit the doors closed....you'll die!

The doors on the van, not where you're cleaning.

 

[Cleanworks]

Most pto units, you can install port holes or fittings allowing you to pass the hoses through, allowing you to close and lock your doors. Under no circumstances will you operate any vehicle in a closed environment.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

A few will die this winter.

 

[ruff]

Most pto units, you can install port holes or fittings allowing you to pass the hoses through, allowing you to close and lock your doors.

Any PTO unit that you can't do it?
All my CDS's, Pro-1200 and Butler had it.

 

[Hma1972]

Cleanco's are good units. They perform well and you can dual wand. Hose reel in horrible location on top of fresh water tank.
I've had white magics and cleanco's and it is still white magic all day long.

Thinking of looking at the pro 1200 myself.

Can't go wrong with Butler either.

 

[FB7777]

Obviously I’d go with the Butler....


And if you do, get the electric reel , MAX heat and MAX blower

Winter storage is the other consideration , but you’ve been at this for awhile so you know what you can store

 

[Cleanworks]

Any PTO unit that you can't do it?
All my CDS's, Pro-1200 and Butler had it.

Just the old style that used propane heaters. All of the heat exchange units should be good to go. Just naming the best in my opinion. Hydramasters are pretty good as well. Have never used a pro-1200.

 

[Bob Pruitt]

I have the high heat Saigerized Butler. Saigerized means it's loaded and in the extended van. Very reliable.
I just change the blower and cat pump oil again and that took about 20 minutes from start to finish. Most of the machine...nearly all of it is easy to work on...quick connects or basic tools should you need to make a repair. 10 year warranty...just do the maintenance. Simple and tested design.
Heat and pressure is totally adjustable. Doesn't waste water to control temperature. I live in Florida so have the Butler insulation package. Would be important in cold country as well.
With the doors locked and running there is little to no heat build up in the van.
The doors locked while you are working is nice and more secure when working nights etc.
Happy with mine...can you tell?

 

[ruff]

I second Bob.
Mine is just Max Heat, larger blower, extended van, Butler Mid-mount, 100 gallon fresh water, regular size recovery tank.

Non Saigerized.

Mark's specific set up, though it works great for him, does not for me.
We all make adjustments to suit our preferences.

 

[Mikey P]

I second Bob.
Mine is just Max Heat, larger blower, extended van, Butler Mid-mount, 100 gallon fresh water, regular size recovery tank.

Non Saigerized.

Mark's specific set up, though it works great for him, does not for me.
We all make adjustments to suit our preferences.

What he got that you don't?

2.5 hook ups?


Mark's is a monster

 

[ruff]

I don't have:

• Live reel.
• 2.5 hook up, and the way Mark runs it with the Y.
• 210 recovery tank.
• Filter box at the back side.
• Butler shelves.

I can't concentrate if all my space is filled up. I need some open space or I get all disoriented.

 

[Mikey P]

so no 2.5?

How do you filter the waste?

 

[ruff]

I have a butler filter box (attention Butler, please make smaller filter Box like SS!!) mounted by the sliding door.

Are you coming to the planting of the 'mountain misery' bush in your honor?

 

[hogjowl]

I don’t think Butler listens to anybody other than Saiger
And that’s only because they have no choice

 

[ruff]

They don't. Had they done so, they would have owned the market.

 

[Mikey P]

I have a butler filter box (attention Butler, please make smaller filter Box like SS!!) mounted by the sliding door.

Are you coming to the planting of the 'mountain misery' bush in your honor?

Can I ride my ATV over?

 

[ruff]

Can you levitate?

 

[DAT]

@Bob Pruitt
Lease or buy?

 

[BIG WOOD]

I don't have:

• Live reel.
• 2.5 hook up, and the way Mark runs it with the Y.
• 210 recovery tank.
• Filter box at the back side.
• Butler shelves.

I can't concentrate if all my space is filled up. I need some open space or I get all disoriented.

Why would anyone want to waste space in those vans with a 210 recovery tank when a 100gallon tank is all you need?