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My new Gardiner backpack trolley

ECLM
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I did have the reel on the other side but it was unstable much better on the backpack side and no danger of pulling the trolley over. I made up a piece of hose with a female eezi snap connector on to stop the reel leeking in the van it just goes in my pocket when I'm working, instead of fitting a pole tube I added another bungee to the trolley and moved the backpack slightly to one side so the base of the pole has somewhere to stand the pole.
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what van have you got like the look off it am working out of my car at mo but thinking off getting a van

 
what van have you got like the look off it am working out of my car at mo but thinking off getting a van
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It's technically not a van it's a Citroen Berlingo Multispace so it's a car BUT! You can configure it how you like? Split 60/40 seats in the back fold one/two or none up, I can get 200 litres of water in there in containers without any seats folded, I adapt it as I need it and when not at work it's a family car love it. 350 litres with seats folded no problem and it takes the weight. With seats folded it's effectively a van with windows.

 
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I made a new trolley for my awkward access jobs so i don't have to use the reel in the motor for all jobs

25m of hose wrapped round the handle but i rarely need to use that much to do a job

Hinged lid with locking mechanism so i just open it and connect charger to the battery

View attachment 6806

Oh and the little hozelock to rectus connector hanging on the side in cabletie loop is for conny roofs etc to connect hose direct to tap

View attachment 6805

 
Great read. I have looked into all this for a while and have tailed a few van mounts cleaners and put a lot of thought into it. The van mount system is no better than a back pack, I have atch guys with ex amount of 1000s into the their van sets ups clean next to me and we both take same time, the delivery of pure water at 000 is the same from my brush to his brush, his water is pumped form a tank and mine from a back pack, so what is the difference, i would not benefit at all buying a van and spending loads on it and to tax, mot insure it all and run the equipment, i just really dont see the point imo, even if its small gains, its not enough compared to costings. I think the back packs are great allrounders love them, some really good ideas on here and great reading.

 
I mostly agree with you although remember that with a backpack you'll be stopping to refill it regularly and will need to carry plenty of water in drums in your vehicle. I used to hate filling my drums, now I just fill the tank. Another thing that I found tiresome was lifting it in and out of the van constantly. Not a massive problem but still harder than opening the van door and grabbing the end of your hose. Another thing to consider is that having only a backpack limits the size of job you can sometimes do. I wouldn't want to be turning up to clean a college with only a backpack for example. Both certainly have their place although I'm pleased I have both.

 
I mostly agree with you although remember that with a backpack you'll be stopping to refill it regularly and will need to carry plenty of water in drums in your vehicle. I used to hate filling my drums, now I just fill the tank. Another thing that I found tiresome was lifting it in and out of the van constantly. Not a massive problem but still harder than opening the van door and grabbing the end of your hose. Another thing to consider is that having only a backpack limits the size of job you can sometimes do. I wouldn't want to be turning up to clean a college with only a backpack for example. Both certainly have their place although I'm pleased I have both.
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I have the exactly same set up as you Neil, I pull up next to my RO tank and fill up each night takes seconds, I do have a few jobs where the backpack comes in handy.

 
Working from a van would be a real pain for me much of the time due to parking and access issues. Therefore I use a lightweight trolley and work from a car and probably always will unless my round changes dramatically. It is all residential and very compact. I can cover between 25 and 35 properties a day easily.

However, if I were starting from scratch now I probably would go for a medium sized van and use a trolley as a pumping station and for those awkward to reach places as I doubt any new round I could build would be as compact as my current one and lugging even a lightweight trolley in and out of a vehicle every five minutes I can see would be a real pain.

 
Great read. I have looked into all this for a while and have tailed a few van mounts cleaners and put a lot of thought into it. The van mount system is no better than a back pack, I have atch guys with ex amount of 1000s into the their van sets ups clean next to me and we both take same time, the delivery of pure water at 000 is the same from my brush to his brush, his water is pumped form a tank and mine from a back pack, so what is the difference, i would not benefit at all buying a van and spending loads on it and to tax, mot insure it all and run the equipment, i just really dont see the point imo, even if its small gains, its not enough compared to costings. I think the back packs are great allrounders love them, some really good ideas on here and great reading.
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Yes, a van mount is better than a backpack for one reason. If you have a round of small house's, great for a backpack (I do have one). If, however you have a round of massive houses or commercials a backpack is a lot of pis5ing about, where as a van mount is no problem.

I'm not running down using backpacks, I like em, but to say they are equal to van mounts is nonsense I.m.o

 
Yes, a van mount is better than a backpack for one reason. If you have a round of small house's, great for a backpack (I do have one). If, however you have a round of massive houses or commercials a backpack is a lot of pis5ing about, where as a van mount is no problem.I'm not running down using backpacks, I like em, but to say they are equal to van mounts is nonsense I.m.o
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Reading this, it really comes down to what is bets for you and your round. I have made the choce to stick with my car and back pack, I have a filling station right in middle of where I work, so just collect water at a fantastic rate of ££. I have no overheads at all of a 2nd vehicle and alot of houes and parking a van would be a complete pain in the ass, I see van mount cleaners friends whom have real issues and hoses running over paths and I would worry. I just do not see a reason or time saver using a vanI dont think I will get a van tbh. I really dont think it will save me time, or not enough time to warrent the extra cost, filling back pack is like seconds.

I pick back pack out of car ut it down and will no have a hose long enough to just leave it there, have a univalve to save water and will be able to do the whole house as takes 22L. This thread has really helped as made my mind up going forward. Its also all about end product, end of the day where ever delivery system you are using pure 000 water comes out, so do you want to spend 1000s getting pure out or less with a decent bak pack set up? Again, I have picked up so much work form franchise companies near me where they have all the van etc and clean like **** so its all down to what suits you and how well you use it. Great thread, thank you, got some good ideas:)

 
Reading this, it really comes down to what is bets for you and your round. I have made the choce to stick with my car and back pack, I have a filling station right in middle of where I work, so just collect water at a fantastic rate of ££. I have no overheads at all of a 2nd vehicle and alot of houes and parking a van would be a complete pain in the ass, I see van mount cleaners friends whom have real issues and hoses running over paths and I would worry. I just do not see a reason or time saver using a vanI dont think I will get a van tbh. I really dont think it will save me time, or not enough time to warrent the extra cost, filling back pack is like seconds.
I pick back pack out of car ut it down and will no have a hose long enough to just leave it there, have a univalve to save water and will be able to do the whole house as takes 22L. This thread has really helped as made my mind up going forward. Its also all about end product, end of the day where ever delivery system you are using pure 000 water comes out, so do you want to spend 1000s getting pure out or less with a decent bak pack set up? Again, I have picked up so much work form franchise companies near me where they have all the van etc and clean like **** so its all down to what suits you and how well you use it. Great thread, thank you, got some good ideas:)
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If you are happy with your set up, that's what matters, so good luck.

All I was saying is a backpack on the houses I clean (I do very affluent areas so massive gaffs) would be difficult. I would have to re fill at least twice, plus the walk back to the van twice on every house. It would make my job a nightmare.

Each to their own etc /emoticons/smile.png

 
If you are happy with your set up, that's what matters, so good luck.All I was saying is a backpack on the houses I clean (I do very affluent areas so massive gaffs) would be difficult. I would have to re fill at least twice, plus the walk back to the van twice on every house. It would make my job a nightmare.

Each to their own etc /emoticons/smile.png
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Yeah I am happy I was goig to start trad, and this is s much easier and quicker. when i do a large house i place a barrel round the sde of the house so dont have to go back to car, seconds. I just find it all so easy the back pack gretat stuff. I have picked some tips up, got a long 30m hose so i will only life back pack out of car and leave ti there and use the uni valve so i can do a whole three bed house in one go and one fill up. Larger ones i fill up and clean front top up again and do back its no hassel matter of 45 second or so if that. But yes, its all about learnign some tips on here already got some better working practices in place now. I think I shoudl be hitting 15-16 a day now. I am still happy the faxct you can have a job where you are on your own and free and no pressure at all, and get 150-200 a day with working 9-4ish for me, just brilliant! loving being a window cleaner, I wish i did it years back is my regret. Thanks again!!

 
Yeah I am happy I was goig to start trad, and this is s much easier and quicker. when i do a large house i place a barrel round the sde of the house so dont have to go back to car, seconds. I just find it all so easy the back pack gretat stuff. I have picked some tips up, got a long 30m hose so i will only life back pack out of car and leave ti there and use the uni valve so i can do a whole three bed house in one go and one fill up. Larger ones i fill up and clean front top up again and do back its no hassel matter of 45 second or so if that. But yes, its all about learnign some tips on here already got some better working practices in place now. I think I shoudl be hitting 15-16 a day now. I am still happy the faxct you can have a job where you are on your own and free and no pressure at all, and get 150-200 a day with working 9-4ish for me, just brilliant! loving being a window cleaner, I wish i did it years back is my regret. Thanks again!!
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There is no such thing as one being better than the other 75 per cent of my work would be a nightmare with van mount, snagging and trip hazard.

 
Must be a pain filling up every house.

I have the PF trolley system 50 litre version and find it far better than filling all the time.

The trolley is a solid piece of kit.

Just need a decent reel now, just worried about leaving trolley too far away....wouldn't take much to slash the hose and load the whole lot into a van and off.....while I'm 75m away.

 
I've been using my Gardiner backpack for a couple of months now and love it. I've had it strapped to a sack barrow that I found when out working one day. It worked but it didn't look great and was a pain trying to keep the hose tidy. It was a bit tall too so was a pain in the **** getting it in and out of the van. Another problem was that the only hose I was using was the pole hose meaning I could never be too far from the backpack. I needed to upgrade.
Today I took delivery of a new sack barrow and some parts from Gardiner. I picked up a hose reel the other day and already had 30m of micro bore that if bought a while back but never used.

Total cost (excluding the backpack) was around £88. The hose reel was only £6.99 (down from £9.99) in The Range. It won't last forever but at that price I don't mind replacing it every six months or so.

It's not the most exciting thing in the world but I thought I'd share it anyway. It might come in handy for someone.

And thanks to @daveyboy1 for pointing me in the right direction when it came to the adapters and fittings.

View attachment 8774 View attachment 8775 View attachment 8776 View attachment 8777 View attachment 8778
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Fantastic job mate. I might do the same with my lite boy

 
Must be a pain filling up every house.I have the PF trolley system 50 litre version and find it far better than filling all the time.

The trolley is a solid piece of kit.

Just need a decent reel now, just worried about leaving trolley too far away....wouldn't take much to slash the hose and load the whole lot into a van and off.....while I'm 75m away.
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Yeah, have to be carefull mate there, but that more than likley will not happen. I agai today saw a van mount and again same conclusionits no faster but has parking issues as he was trying to park up for ages. I think I will stick to what I have its fast enough and simple and so much faster than the ladders lol. Yes just the filling up each house, its ok tbh, only 45 secs or so but yes thats the only down side i can think of, apaet form that its pretty much the same, i now have a longer hose 30m so plonk it out every house today and whole hose is down no moving it could even leave it in car lol All the best:)

 
I've been using my Gardiner backpack for a couple of months now and love it. I've had it strapped to a sack barrow that I found when out working one day. It worked but it didn't look great and was a pain trying to keep the hose tidy. It was a bit tall too so was a pain in the **** getting it in and out of the van. Another problem was that the only hose I was using was the pole hose meaning I could never be too far from the backpack. I needed to upgrade.
Today I took delivery of a new sack barrow and some parts from Gardiner. I picked up a hose reel the other day and already had 30m of micro bore that if bought a while back but never used.

Total cost (excluding the backpack) was around £88. The hose reel was only £6.99 (down from £9.99) in The Range. It won't last forever but at that price I don't mind replacing it every six months or so.

It's not the most exciting thing in the world but I thought I'd share it anyway. It might come in handy for someone.

And thanks to @daveyboy1 for pointing me in the right direction when it came to the adapters and fittings.

View attachment 8774 View attachment 8775 View attachment 8776 View attachment 8777 View attachment 8778
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Can I ask what connectors you are using? I have just bought a reel and have an aquastop into the side of the reel, two QR connectors either side of a section of hose with my pole hose connected. The Aquastop keeps blowing off the side when I use the univalve!

 
Can I ask what connectors you are using? I have just bought a reel and have an aquastop into the side of the reel, two QR connectors either side of a section of hose with my pole hose connected. The Aquastop keeps blowing off the side when I use the univalve!
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Sorry for the late reply. I must have missed the notification. I'm just using an aquastop. It's never blown off when using my univalve.

 
Great stuff guys!!!

So can i confirm there are no issues with using a uni valve with the GARDINER back pack as known? The pump kinds shuts down but make a funny noise, just worried this is stressing the pump and battery life? As I plan to use it now and put back pack on floor next to car and have the uni valve on and then walk to the backs of houses and then clean so the Uni valve will be shutting water off for a while. If this is all ok nd no one has issues then thats just fantastic, how much easier this will make things. Cheers guys /emoticons/smile.png

 

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