Slide in hard earned advise.

[ruff]

In a week or two I am getting my new slide in.
Most likely a Diesel Apex to go with my diesel Dodge Sprinter.

Any good advise from your hard earned experience, regarding the machine, the set up and installation will be truly appreciated.

Things I should ask for regarding installation, can one get a stainless tank with a ProChem is it important? what to get etc.

Things we normally forget and wish we had thought about before.

Thank you for the input.
Ofer

 

[Johnny]

Congrats on the new machine.

Have you looked at the PowerClean Genesis diesel? PowerCleans have stainless tanks.

 

[John Olson]

Make sure to get the exhaust kit to run the exhaust under the van.

There is no need for the extra weight of a Stainless tank. Ask around how many people actually have had to replace their waste tank that TAKE CARE OF IT. I have only seen 2 prochem tanks that needed to be replaced and they both where OLD and both owned by people whose Van looked as bad as the inside of their tanks. I bet they never flushed them in the 10 years they owned the machines.

Get a water softner. PERIOD.

Get the new APO. Easier to install it now then later.

Order the TI wand with the machine. It is a $700 Upgrade from the 4 jet wand when ordered with the machine. Some suppliers will even throw it in if asked and they have the right Prochem Rep

The behind the seat water tank is a nice addition and works well in a sprinter. If you are thinking about adding water do it first otherwise your pulling everyting to put it in.

Make sure whoever is installing it lays it out BEFORE drilling a single hole. Make sure it is what you want but also what the mechanic NEEDS to be able to work on the machine. I have seen installations that make me want to put a boot in someones (_*_) trust the guy that is going to work on it but it must also be functional for you.

If I can think of anything else I'll post it later.

 

[MerCrewser]

Be sure they install a sill under the machine to collect oil and water leaks.

 

[Jay D]

ELECTRIC VACUUM HOSE REEL. :mrgreen: I don't have one just always wanted one. :roll:

 

[ACE]

No one makes a direct drive for the sprinter?

 

[Able 1]

John Olson" data-source="" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">

The behind the seat water tank is a nice addition and works well in a sprinter. If you are thinking about adding water do it first otherwise your pulling everyting to put it in.

You like the behind the seat water tank? Can you get the HX out with it installed? I really didn't think they made them anymore cause of the PITA factor.

 

[ruff]

Thanks everybody for the reply.

Johnny, I did see the PowerClean, seems like a good machine. However, no close by supplier and someone to service it. The Apex seem like a good machine, ProChem has been around for a long time and seems like they will stay in business for a while. They have also simplified their designs. So I don't think I can go wrong with their machine. Most people that have them seem to like them.

In addition I am not a heat or a big blower freak. I think that for a single operator like me it will be plenty, yet give me some extra options.

James,
What kind of seal and how do you do it?
Is it more like a metal pan sitting on the floor?

 

[ruff]

John,
Thanks for all the excellent advise. I will definitely apply it.

Excuse the ignorance, what's an APO?

I am not decided about the fresh water tank yet. Though I do have plenty of room in the Sprinter it does not seem worth the sacrifice of the space, lugging all that extra weight around and I do not feel that the little time saving justifies it. I have been cleaning carpets for over twenty years and manged just fine without it. Also with the high flow cleaning it will empty fairly quickly and than I will need to connect on location anyhow.

Please let me know if you have more ideas.

 

[Able 1]

Only thing bad I heard about a diesel Apex is one guy kept having problems with the radiator cracking... It wouldn't sway me from buying one though... It was only one guy in one thread a ways back. Diesels run forever.....

 

[ruff]

Jay,
The lazy part in me wants the electric reel. The practical side says: "one more thing that can go wrong, one more little motor to worry about. So, on a good, non arthritic day I am against it.

Also, the same about pump outs. Joe Aplebe told me that pump outs are the accessory in his vans that has the most problems bar none. I assume it is not just because his technicians are being lazy, as Joe trains his people well. So, using the same logic, I am struggling if I should have that as well.

Mike,
I don't know if there is a direct drive for the Sprinter.

My other two vans where Fords with a CDS.
The CDS is a great machine that hardly ever has any problems. I wish I could say the same about the Fords. That is why I am switching to a slide in, I am tired of the vans engine being damaged by being in idle for a prolonged period of time. My vans were very well maintained, yet the engines had a lot of problems. My trusted mechanic says that van engines are designed to run on the freeway, and that working for hours in idle damages them.

 

[adamh]

Blueline looked into a direct drive for the Sprinter. The manufacture would not allow it. So don't expect one anytime soon.

Adam

 

[GeneMiller]

Mercedes voids the warranty even if you tap into the fuel line.
probably won't see a direct drive unless that changes.

gene

 

[ACE]

I have heard of Ford denying warranty claims because of direct drive installs.

 

[ruff]

Ford in the middle 90's stopped approving PTO's in their vans (including for ambulances) but they re-approved in later models.

I am not sure if it was due to changes in actual design or market loss.
With some corporations I'd suspect its the second.

Any more good ideas about the slide in though?

 

[ruff]

John,
I figured out the APO (Automatic pump out) only took me a few hours.
Dah!

Does the Apex come plumbed 2" or 21/2"?

Can you get a larger than the 100 Gal recovery tank or do they come calculated for optimal performance with that size?

Thanks

 

[Walt]

A local cleaner here has one and has had problems with vibration. Even with only 300 hours he has had things break or rattle off. From talking to him and the mechanic it's been a big head ache. I also noticed tons of soot on everything in the van. I think you might be disappointed.

Another consideration about diesel engines - can you find anyone to work on it if you have a problem? They are different enough from gas engines to confuse many mechanics. Thats not a problem here but might be in your neck of the woods.

Maybe this guy has a lemon. But I've heard similar problems with the blueline diesel. I would definitely try to find someone who had a high hour diesel Apex to talk to.

 

[MerCrewser]

My experience with freshwater tanks is they are a waste of space. You will end up running out of water and having to hook up anyway.

The sill goes under the machine so any fluid leaks go out the side door.

I'd by something used first to keep initial investment down and get some experience with what I like. It seems after being on these boards for awhile that a cheap 10 year old machine has the same issues as a 30k brand new unit from a dealer.

 

[Carpet Cleaning Fool]

Things that make life more civilized like

Electric hose reel
Fresh water tank
APO
Thermal Divider
Rhino Liner
Tinted Glass
GPS
Killer A/C

That would be good!

 

[ruff]

Walt,
Good advise.
Was his machine plumbed out and under the van?

Actually in my neck of the wood there are a lot of Kubota tractors so working on it should not be a problem. Also the dealer is about 21/2 hours drive away.

I'll definitely ask about the vibrations.

If I remember correctly you have the DXT, Isn't that a Diesel or do you have a gas one?

I'd be a little concerned about buying a Power Clean, they do not have as many distributors, and I have heard a few complaints about them on this board as well.

In my experience ProChem backs up their product and have a reputation to maintain, so I assume their machines are well made and dependable. I may be wrong.

However, I'd love like to hear from Apex owners on this board, how happy or unhappy they are with their machine. That will be very helpful.

 

[XTREME1]

I own the gas APEX. Awesome

 

[ruff]

Greg,
Thanks. Good to know.
Do you know of anybody that has the Diesel engine?

Any 'Dieselers' out there with an Apex?

Don't be shy please