Window cleaners whom use a car with back packs

[Marko067]

I can tell you Van Mount wouldn't be quicker on my work, with my Backpack set up there isn't a job I can't do I work with my wife and we do a Residential Home it has 22 flats in it and Communal Windows it's a £200 job and it takes us one and a half hours the car stays in one place and we refill Backpacks 6 times for the whole job that's 3 times each. 

I’m the same as you. I’ve got a mate who works with his son from a van. He uses a reel and his son works with a trolley. We were talking the other day and I was shocked to learn that I consistently cover 50% more work per day than the two of them together working with just my trolley from my car. We’re both residential only, so I can only surmise that working with a trolley/backpack is better for certain types of work than working with a reel from a van

 

[Chandlers]

I had a van. And I wouldn’t go back. I get through 12-15 customers before 1pm everyday and I only use 8x 20 litre barrels. I trad the front doors and any downstairs privacy glass windows. Doing out of my car is super quick with a Gardiner backpack. Fillip up takes 12 seconds per fill. All of my work is very difficult access. Cars every where side gates galore bins everywhere bbqs etc. A van reel system just didn’t suit. But this is totally personal preference don’t let anyone bully you into buying a van if YOU don’t need one. If you are happy doing it your way do it. There’s plenty of customers who like the look of my shiny car and tidy set up carting R2D2 around ( Gardiner backpack) and my low car I can get to ladders on the roof quicker then any of you van lot out there! 

I never run out of water. If it’s a big job. It’s pencilled into another day that’s just good organisation. And also. This winter. Made me laugh with all the constant insulation and heating the van system needs. I bring my backpack in every night. Needs charging anyway so that’s no bother. And my pole and 10metres of hose. Takes 2.5 minutes to do and nothing’s froze. Don’t get me wrong. If I had a big block of flats or rows and rows of houses. A van.  But everyone’s rounds are different and some people go here there and everywhere. Do a great job and Look smart. If you’d like a walkthrough of the car setup can send you one. Thanks 

 

[Poles Apart]

do you have a charger in the car for the backpacks or do they last the day on one charge? 

My big Backpacks have never run out of charge think they can last 5 days

 

[Bart90]

My big Backpacks have never run out of charge think they can last 5 days

What backpacks are you using?  I think gardiners say 9 hours battery life for theirs between charges.

 

[Dave B]

What backpacks are you using?  I think gardiners say 9 hours battery life for theirs between charges.

They say 9 hours but I remember to charge mine once a week if I'm lucky and use it all day Mon to Fri and never have run one flat

 

[Bart90]

They say 9 hours but I remember to charge mine once a week if I'm lucky and use it all day Mon to Fri and never have run one flat

Slightly off topic but what do you use for pole hose Dave?

 

[THL4KEL]

Worst thing about using back packs/trolleys and containers is the water evaporaration and spillage. 25litre containers when first used for whatever purpose were fitted with a removable cover at the top of the bottle and then the cap put on top. Be great if someone made a container that did not leak. My van is always dripping wet..

 

[THL4KEL]

I am going to give this a go - 



Using this - 

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F141120177410

Hopefully it will stop moisture going airborne and spills in van.

I normally fill up Gardiners backpack prior to setting off to a job. Now I'm just going to fill up once I arrive at the job. 

 

[Dave B]

Slightly off topic but what do you use for pole hose Dave?

Gardiners green pu hose or the orange pu stuff from teleskopic on ebay

No need for o rings with fittings and very strong and light

 

[Iron Giant]

Worst thing about using back packs/trolleys and containers is the water evaporaration and spillage. 25litre containers when first used for whatever purpose were fitted with a removable cover at the top of the bottle and then the cap put on top. Be great if someone made a container that did not leak. My van is always dripping wet..

You need to keep them upright ? I've never had an issue with the ones I use even laid on their side but I don't fully fill them 

 

[Iron Giant]

19 hours ago, THL4KEL said:

I am going to give this a go - 

You'll not get much water in that jam jar ? if you are putting down rubber matting mate buy a roll from Ark Rubber  its what I have in my van the wide ribbed it's really good stuff

 

[THL4KEL]

I did a temporary fix, folded a freezer food bag in half and put it over full container opening and screwed lid on it. Doesn't leak now. 99 percent water tight.

 

[Iain jones]

I use my car Citroën C4 to carry my Gardner backpack, poles, brush and sack truck.

4 25 litre containers 3 behind driver and passenger seats and one in the passenger foot well, my bucket etc. 

I haven't had any issues with spillages. 

Using my car isn't ideal, having to empty the car before using it for family stuff is a pain, one of the options is to get rid of the Citroën and buy a estate car 

 

[clean machine]

How about pulling a trailer ? It saves changing your car !

 

[oldtimer]

Hi,

Hope you are all well.  I am seeking advice on how to kit out my car best possible for window cleaning.  Firstly, I am unable to get a van due to partly funds but mainly space to put it as have 3 other cars in family.  So I use my car and it works well, my filling depot is close by right in the middle of my work area, so works very well.

I am just wanting to know form other car users how you may go about water proffing your car or what set ups you have.  I use barrels  in car and boot and place my back pack gardiner in the boot of my FORD FOCUS. I fill up at the wate depot and do not have to remove the barrels from the car so easy enough I find the water can spill time to time but the barrels seem to get wet on outside and damp the seats and boot.....So.

1) Do oyu have a storeage system like plastic boxes to put barrels in? or whats best?

2) Any wet proof covers or lining available?

3) Was thinking of making a pull in pull out plastic set of boxes cut down for boot but not sure its best idea?

4) So any advice on set ups, kool ease of use ideas? best prevention of damp seats boot linning.

5) Is there a system that i can put into my barrel and it transfers water to my back pack? help on  the lifting???

Thank you very much interested to hear any advice.  All the best.

hi bud I  got  the same car as you and I have a  my back seats down and I put a 150 ltr tank in  I only do the tops WFP I still use trad  don't  like using it but it works saves me up and down on the ladders   just put a small tank in the back lad the old focus can take it  

Hi,

Hope you are all well.  I am seeking advice on how to kit out my car best possible for window cleaning.  Firstly, I am unable to get a van due to partly funds but mainly space to put it as have 3 other cars in family.  So I use my car and it works well, my filling depot is close by right in the middle of my work area, so works very well.

I am just wanting to know form other car users how you may go about water proffing your car or what set ups you have.  I use barrels  in car and boot and place my back pack gardiner in the boot of my FORD FOCUS. I fill up at the wate depot and do not have to remove the barrels from the car so easy enough I find the water can spill time to time but the barrels seem to get wet on outside and damp the seats and boot.....So.

1) Do oyu have a storeage system like plastic boxes to put barrels in? or whats best?

2) Any wet proof covers or lining available?

3) Was thinking of making a pull in pull out plastic set of boxes cut down for boot but not sure its best idea?

4) So any advice on set ups, kool ease of use ideas? best prevention of damp seats boot linning.

5) Is there a system that i can put into my barrel and it transfers water to my back pack? help on  the lifting???

Thank you very much interested to hear any advice.  All the best.

 

[Fraggle]

Quick query... Managed to acquire a few 25 litre drums from a Carwash today, how much rinsing is generally required to make them like new for pure water, is there any way of checking they're completely free of residual detergent?

 

[spruce]

Quick query... Managed to acquire a few 25 litre drums from a Carwash today, how much rinsing is generally required to make them like new for pure water, is there any way of checking they're completely free of residual detergent?

Check the tds of the water once you have filled them. Then clean your own windows and check the results when they are dry.

 

[Bart90]

Quick query... Managed to acquire a few 25 litre drums from a Carwash today, how much rinsing is generally required to make them like new for pure water, is there any way of checking they're completely free of residual detergent?

I've been recycling fabric softner and non bio detergent 20L containers for months. A good few rinses out then fill with pure and check TDS. Occasionally it will read 7or8 ppm but after a few uses back to zero. I'm quite happy cleaning with up to 12 ppm anyway so it's been no issue for me. They smell sweet initally but that goes after a while.

 

[Fraggle]

Thanks for the replies, I'll rinse plenty and test before use.

 

[David K]

Hi,

Hope you are all well. I am seeking advice on how to kit out my car best possible for window cleaning. Firstly, I am unable to get a van due to partly funds but mainly space to put it as have 3 other cars in family. So I use my car and it works well, my filling depot is close by right in the middle of my work area, so works very well.

I am just wanting to know form other car users how you may go about water proffing your car or what set ups you have. I use barrels in car and boot and place my back pack gardiner in the boot of my FORD FOCUS. I fill up at the wate depot and do not have to remove the barrels from the car so easy enough I find the water can spill time to time but the barrels seem to get wet on outside and damp the seats and boot.....So.

1) Do oyu have a storeage system like plastic boxes to put barrels in? or whats best?

2) Any wet proof covers or lining available?

3) Was thinking of making a pull in pull out plastic set of boxes cut down for boot but not sure its best idea?

4) So any advice on set ups, kool ease of use ideas? best prevention of damp seats boot linning.

5) Is there a system that i can put into my barrel and it transfers water to my back pack? help on the lifting???

Thank you very much interested to hear any advice. All the best.

Get a Van! Worked from my car when my Van was damaged, man!! I didnt earn more than 1/3 of the money because of the hassle and shortage of water.

 

[Bwfc]

After trying Trolley, backpack & now van mount I will say they can all serve a purpose. It all depends money, vehicle & work. I would say overall van mount best way to go but can understand why one doesn't want to change as it involves hassle & ££. I would say I'm a little quicker too