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Second hand or new wfp for a beginner

ECLM
WCF

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IMHO you need to buy the right kit so you can do the job. This needs to take future growth into consideration. It also needs to take other things into consideration as well. For example, you may start wfp because you need to safely clean those top windows from the ground but you will continue trading the downstairs windows.
However, you will quickly find that it is quicker to pole all windows but you haven't got enough water capacity to do this. Now your system isn't an asset to you, its throttling you as your growth is being restricted by your equipment.

We have found that to do a good days work you need to have a 500 liter tank on your van as a single operator. Most days you will use between 350 and 400 liters - great, but you have more if you need it.

An Escort van isn't big enough to carry that so its a waste of time getting one. If you have a 600LX Berlingo/Partner van, then you will find that that is also too small. You need an 800 LX Berlingo/Partner or a LWB Transit Connect T220 or T230. If your Combo van doesn't carry the weight its useless to you no matter how good a condition it is in.

When you start wfp the equipment needed and its application seems so complicated. I bought a fully working wfp trailer with r/o and that's how I learnt. But it was a waste of money. I ended up with a SWB Citroen Relay and TBH it's probably too small for the 2 of us with a 650 liter 2 man system on board.

If I was younger and had a lot of working years left, then I would look at a LWB 3500kg van.
Click to expand...
Ok mate, at what point does the water become pure? I read somewhere if you run out of water you can just fill it up again, i'll be honest what i was thinking was start off with a 250 litre system to build the work up then upgrade as i see profits rising, i still have my other trad work to keep me going inbetween going to do wfp jobs

 
Yeh but you top it up with 25litre barrels also off ebay...I have four...you could have more.....25litres when you get good can do quite a lot of house...and you dump the barrels on route..its the way a lot of us do it as I only have a car and they jam in the footwell for security.../emoticons/biggrin.png
Click to expand...
 
Yeah i'd thought of that mate but that is still only 125 litres, i'm just checking all angles i'm not saying it wouldn't work

 
yeh I m not man enough to wfp all day...I have to have a rest and trad for a bit:rofl:

both ways have good points and bad....and one bad one about wfp...which you can easy get away with most days ....is ...the water patches on paths....in this weather you have to be very careful where you leave them patches...:eek:

 
yeh I m not man enough to wfp all day...I have to have a rest and trad for a bit:rofl:
both ways have good points and bad....and one bad one about wfp...which you can easy get away with most days ....is ...the water patches on paths....in this weather you have to be very careful where you leave them patches...:eek:
Click to expand...
One thing i have learned on here though is people saying the wfp is exhausting, i used to think they were just being lazy running about with that and that it was an easy shift lol

 
I would have to agree with what spruce is saying myself as we have been down the same route buying kit we soon grew out off and learnt the hard way.

IMHO you need to buy the right kit so you can do the job. This needs to take future growth into consideration. It also needs to take other things into consideration as well. For example, you may start wfp because you need to safely clean those top windows from the ground but you will continue trading the downstairs windows.
However, you will quickly find that it is quicker to pole all windows but you haven't got enough water capacity to do this. Now your system isn't an asset to you, its throttling you as your growth is being restricted by your equipment.

We have found that to do a good days work you need to have a 500 liter tank on your van as a single operator. Most days you will use between 350 and 400 liters - great, but you have more if you need it.

An Escort van isn't big enough to carry that so its a waste of time getting one. If you have a 600LX Berlingo/Partner van, then you will find that that is also too small. You need an 800 LX Berlingo/Partner or a LWB Transit Connect T220 or T230. If your Combo van doesn't carry the weight its useless to you no matter how good a condition it is in.

When you start wfp the equipment needed and its application seems so complicated. I bought a fully working wfp trailer with r/o and that's how I learnt. But it was a waste of money. I didn't have enough water to last the day and as I processed it directly into the trailer tanks I lost a few hours of work each day even when I carried an extra 100 liters in plastic containers. I ended up upgrading the r/o, processing water into an IBC tank and scrapping the trailer. The trailer prevented me from doing a day's work. Everything was exposed to the elements and there were days when I couldn't work because everything was frozen up. I replaced it with a SWB Citroen Relay. The difference was like chalk and cheese. But today, 7 years on, TBH it's probably too small for the 2 of us with a 650 liter 2 man system on board.

If I was younger and had a lot of working years left, then I would look at a LWB 3500kg van.
Click to expand...
 
I would have to agree with what spruce is saying myself as we have been down the same route buying kit we soon grew out off and learnt the hard way.
Click to expand...
I'm having to find a happy medium because i cant go out and get a bigger van and a bigger system at the moment, and would that even be wise considering i havn't done it before i am thinking, but if i had the dough i would probably just do it

 
One thing i have learned on here though is people saying the wfp is exhausting, i used to think they were just being lazy running about with that and that it was an easy shift lol
Click to expand...
BUT...I do believe...or I think...its good for stomach muscles...

I am increasing my wfp daily...

I had a :turd: job today...which I underpriced ....and for those of you out there that dont know...when pricing dont rush..

It was the worst rain storm for ages and as I went round the corner to look at the back and spied the conny I couldnt be bothered to go any further and get wetter..

also she had come in and was waiting for a price...which never helps..

wanting the job as she had said the old windy had retired and its a small enclave in the middle of nowhere so I was hoping for the rest....I said £12...

laters....I FIND OUT...two extra side windows I hadnt seen....and the conny....was glass above the gutter on the end and also ...down to the ground...

I started to pick up the neighbours and I found out the other windy was charging £15 and managed to charge the others that...so having this one which was bigger than the rest for £12 really peed me off...

I left it til she phoned me and that wasnt often although I was doing the others more often..

each time she came to the door I was just waiting for her to say ...how much..? and you know what my answer would have been...

and then one day.....her hubby came to the door....:cool:

and so ever since it has been £15 probs worth more now days...

anyway I went to clean it today but....I told her two ish ...I managed to stall by doing others til four ish as I WAS hoping she would take her pair of dogs out for a walk.as they yap like mad..but she didnt...it was apparently too cold...

and knowing how long it took me she said do you think you will have time ...to which I replied oh yes I will make it...

can you guess what secret weapon I used on the conny:whistle:

anyway made it in time:cool:

its not so easy to sneak a full wfp trolley through two gates and over a hedge and banana too but I did it..but...I THINK she may have spotted my new method..:thumbsup:

 

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