New van build, slowly coming along

[Damo]

I think a lot of people miss the point on my van build.

it was NEVER about the finished window.

It was about;

Speed of cleaning

Safety of cleaning

Reduced RSI

Security of van.

The above is not present in most setups I see.

EDIT - I have made a new thread about crash tested system as we don't want Greens DIY build turning into a DIY vs PRO

 

[koopmaster]

10 k for a system is madness. Should cost under 1 k if you diy. My kit has been running almost daily for 5 years and originally cost about 500. Add another 500 for the 40 40 system in the van so is woth between 1 k and 2 k.

 

[steve garwood]

I don't agree its madness. If you work hard and can easily afford it, why not.

I'm very proud of my van mount set up. I coughed up hundreds on my reels when I could of made do with cheap ones, but like a lot of the guys on here, I earn good money so buy the best.

To use an analogy, I could get from a to b in a Skoda, but I have a 3 series bmw sport. That's not showing off or wasting money, that's me grafting hard and choosing what I want to have

 

[Damo]

Exactly @steve garwood. Same reason why I bought a new van. I have to drive to work and home again. I work bloody hard and I wanna drive in comfort.

 

[Dave B]

Horses for courses innit

No one is right or wrong on this one

If you are happy with what you spend your own money on then that's all that matters

 

[Damo]

Very true.

It doesn't matter what you drive or what system you have. If you're happy. Then that's all that matters.

 

[steve garwood]

Horses for courses innit
No one is right or wrong on this one

If you are happy with what you spend your own money on then that's all that matters

I'm right /emoticons/wink.png

 

[Dave B]

You can't be right

Never trust a ginger:rofl:

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

The main issue with 99.9% of systems / van builds (and almost always your first van build) is you are getting what the supplier wants to sell you or what others tell you you need and this is in most cases simply due to lack of experience.

I am a bit disapointed that I will not be at the show this weekend after all but as I am off a week on Thursday for the month I need to get all jobs sorted as I would have liked to have had a nose at Damos van.

What most fail to consider is what they need it to do, and 'clean windows' is not the answer.

If I were going to focus on large commercials my van would be set up very different. Mine is set up as a single user designed for no more than 20-25 houses per day, I generally do no more than 18-20 if I can help it.

What you need to figure out is not only what you want your van to do but what you need your van to do.

You can buy a van for £1000 to carry your tools about but I look at it the same as Damo, I live in my van some 8 hours a day 4 to 5 days a week so I want working aircon and heating, I want the luxury of electric windows, decent sat nav etc. I also want it to be clean.

I remember back to working with a £500 dog that was all I could afford, it rattled, it stank, it spent as much time being fixed as it did working.

So to summarize, you work your ass off to better yourself and improve quality of life so when you can afford a nice van and to build a system that works for you then I say do so as it will make your working day so much easier and so much more enjoyable as well.

Think that makes some sense.

 

[Damo]

My van won't be going to the show as its not finished for the show. So instead of half showing it. Decided not to bother /emoticons/smile.png

 

[Bucko Jr]

My van won't be going to the show as its not finished for the show. So instead of half showing it. Decided not to bother /emoticons/smile.png

You putting some pics up when you have finished it damo?

 

[peter rogers]

Good job mine cost more than 10k then.

Aye. But ur is the dogs balls lol

Sent using the Window Cleaning Forums app

 

[peter rogers]

With all the talk of mega rounds an all. Some people shriek at the thought of spending a couple of quid

If I was doing commercials an all. An using a full 100m hose all day every day. I wud justify @Damo van

But one my feels only as about 15m of hose as it does front only

10k is nothin on a van if ur makin 200 plus a day

I seen a window cleaner today and he was shocked I just got a new slx without battin a eye lid [emoji15][emoji23] And he apparently has a 1000 plus houses a month lol

Sent using the Window Cleaning Forums app

 

[Damo]

You putting some pics up when you have finished it damo?

I hadn't planned to but can do. Changing mainly the rear. Should look and work better /emoticons/smile.png

Now let's get back on track with greens thread lol.

 

[Leeds]

You bolting the tank through the chassis @Green Pro Clean Ltd ?

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

I hadn't planned to but can do. Changing mainly the rear. Should look and work better /emoticons/smile.png
Now let's get back on track with greens thread lol.

Don't worry about me @Damo feel free to discus your wagon here, chuck in some pics too, it is just a thread about a van build not my personal domain /emoticons/smile.png)

You bolting the tank through the chassis @Green Pro Clean Ltd ?

Nope, I am leaving drilling holes in my chassis to far more experienced fellows than myself! :rofl::rofl::rofl:

But in all seriousness yes, it has been bolted through the chassis.

 

[Kennygggkent]

I like itTubeless mate I did mine just cut the hose few inch long and a John guest push fit works amazing and costs pennies

Get some round soil pipe for your poles to slide in get them wrapped in green maybe?

Hey Evie, Does a uni-valve work well with the john guest tubeless way of doing things?

 

[Eviestevie]

Yes mate perfect had mine since came out works perfect

 

[Kennygggkent]

10k on a new set up does seem a lot, and I personally wouldn't pay it, but I would like to know roughly how many hours have poured into getting it sorted, because I'd probably write of a week sorting it all out(Getting everything right in the van that is) what with all the time researching how you want it to look, popping in to the various suppliers and ordering lots of different bits and bobs and then fixing it all in place. Where as if you were to go to one of the big company's like ionics or the like it would still take some time but would be more like one stop shopping?

I'm sure that's not a problem because it looks like great fun and a bit of an adventure, and definitely something I'd like to do in the near future.

What do ya think Green.....can I ask, how long did it take roughly from start to finish, inception, planning and Execution?

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

Inception and planning was about 2 years. I say that cause in my old van I treated it as a 'test bench' continually changing everything about, swapping out parts etc to see what worked well for me.

Went through many different bits and pieces and eventually got to the stage where I knew exactly how I wanted it to look and be.

I sourced all parts from just two places and it took a long Sunday to fit it all together (excluding the two days prep for coating the floor)

The benefit of kitting out your own van is that you get exactly what you want for less money than some of these 'shop fitted' set ups that have a load of gizmos you'll never use or not quite how you want it.

For this business unfortunatley knowing how you want it is something that only comes from a lot of experience and practice. I don't think any of us find the 'perfect' setup first time round.