Converting to WFP, trolley or van

Hi guys I'm currently a traditional domestic window cleaner but I'm looking to convert to WFP. 

Could anyone advise me is there any trolley set ups that rival the full van rig out?

Or am I best off biting the bullet and going all in with a fitted van system? 

Thanks 

If you have the money for it, go for a van system. You'll quickly outgrow the trolley.

On the other hand, I have a van system but also find the use for a trolley on certain jobs. So you could start out with a backpack on a sack trolley to get acquainted with wfp, and then upgrade later.

Squeaky clean said:

Hi guys I'm currently a traditional domestic window cleaner but I'm looking to convert to WFP. 

Could anyone advise me is there any trolley set ups that rival the full van rig out?

Or am I best off biting the bullet and going all in with a fitted van system? 

Thanks 

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The trolley has it's uses, but  grew tired quickly of having to go back to the van for a barrel.. not to mention the physical stress of lugging barrels in and out every day.

Bite the bullet and save effort with a van mount.. a cheap cheerful set up for £700 to get you going.. ( that's 7-8 decent boozy nights out) ?

I have to say I prefer trolley as like not having big hose to reel in & out & also if ur jobs are close together it's great. Each to there own tho

Bwfc said:

I have to say I prefer trolley as like not having big hose to reel in & out & also if ur jobs are close together it's great. Each to there own tho

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My personal opinion is a trolley (or backpack) is an add on (useful one) to a full van mount for the occasional tricky access issue.  Some lads will struggle on with a back pack or trolley day in day out and claim they like to do so however I can't for the life of me see why. A full van mount WFP is so much more useful. 

Cheers guys 

I started off with a 50 litre trolley but within 6 months I bought a tank and stripped the trolley and used it for my van mount.

So if you decide to go trolley route it's an easy conversion to van mount using your existing trolley set up.

Just need to buy a tank....I also upgraded to an 100 metre hose reel.

Donkey work changing them barrels every 2 or 3 houses.

Nudel said:

If you have the money for it, go for a van system. You'll quickly outgrow the trolley.

On the other hand, I have a van system but also find the use for a trolley on certain jobs. So you could start out with a backpack on a sack trolley to get acquainted with wfp, and then upgrade later.

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Hi nudel, i do that too, after yrs. With vanmount , ive bought a gardiners backpack fittet on a little collapsible trolley, for those Odd jobs with a few windows and a long walk about to the back. A great supplement to the van system . Really saves the hassle trailing that hose 100 mtrs to the back. 

I've a facelift trolley,been using it the past couple of months.It's getting taken apart as soon as possible!!!takes up too much space for me.Just gonna connect to my tank and work from there

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If you have a trolley with a good pump such as a Shurflo with a Spring controller that Purefreedom use on their trollies then this is a good conversion. Van mounts need heavy duty pumps to pump water through 100 meters of mini or microbore hose.

Some of the pumps used on backpacks are small and not suitable for use when converting to a van mount.

On 02/09/2018 at 21:11, Green Pro Clean Ltd said:

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I think the only difference having a back pack is you have to fill it up and walk back to fill it up, apart form that, there is not much else that adds to time.  I lift my back out the car put on the floor and walk away and clean with long hose. I been wanting a van but finding it hard to convince myself to get one. The gain of a minute or just over per house is not enough for me persoanlly to then have to pay for another vehicle on top of my car, paying tax,mot, insurance and repairs etc and kitting it out and maintaining it.  Plus I have the factor of kids whom now have cars so we have 4 cars on the drive and no more space really for another unless play musical cars lol. Hard one and not sure what I am going to do. Have tested cleanign againt my mates van set up not much in it really, I am building a trolly set up with some help of some of the guys on here whom have lent advice, so that should help more in terms of coilign the hose in. Id love a van tbh but just can not justify it and will eat alot more money of course, I would make a little more but in terms of time I dont see how I can make that much more. I can knock out 18 -20 house a day when I work and that does me, my work my money, very little outlay and its so much easier and faster than TRAD what I done lol. Each to their own and depends on array of circumstance too.  

BTW - THANK YOU FOR THE VIDEOS GREEN PRO!!!  Great stuff and interesting, all the best ?

Mr Clean said:

I can knock out 18 -20 house a day when I work and that does me, my work my money, very little outlay

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And there's the kicker 'WHEN I WORK AND THAT DOES ME'  

When you are in it just to earn what YOU want and be happy at that that's one thing, when you're in it to build a sustainable business model with employees etc that's another.  Today we did 37 houses from 8am till 4:30pm. We lost an hour and half to sat nav issue and 30 mins to lunch.  That hour and half could have been another 5 - 7 houses on the day.    No way you would want to do that with a trolley or backpack - You would have to be daft to argue otherwise. 

Also remember that your cars insurance is void if you are using it for business purposes, must have business use on your policy or you could come unstuck. 

Green Pro Clean Ltd said:

And there's the kicker 'WHEN I WORK AND THAT DOES ME'  
 
When you are in it just to earn what YOU want and be happy at that that's one thing, when you're in it to build a sustainable business model with employees etc that's another.  Today we did 37 houses from 8am till 4:30pm. We lost an hour and half to sat nav issue and 30 mins to lunch.  That hour and half could have been another 5 - 7 houses on the day.    No way you would want to do that with a trolley or backpack - You would have to be daft to argue otherwise. 
 
Also remember that your cars insurance is void if you are using it for business purposes, must have business use on your policy or you could come unstuck. 

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I hate my trolley.....having to waste time filling the thing and getting more water means I'm wasting time that I could be using to make more money.I'm only started but getting addicted to making money,lol

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Green Pro Clean Ltd said:

And there's the kicker 'WHEN I WORK AND THAT DOES ME'  

When you are in it just to earn what YOU want and be happy at that that's one thing, when you're in it to build a sustainable business model with employees etc that's another.  Today we did 37 houses from 8am till 4:30pm. We lost an hour and half to sat nav issue and 30 mins to lunch.  That hour and half could have been another 5 - 7 houses on the day.    No way you would want to do that with a trolley or backpack - You would have to be daft to argue otherwise. 

Also remember that your cars insurance is void if you are using it for business purposes, must have business use on your policy or you could come unstuck. 

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Hi,  Thats good going id like to do 37 houses lol - the money is good imo I am happy with a few hundred a day and not long hours, the back pack is fine for me, love my job, just the best, I think imo how many more houses a day would I get done moving form a trolly to a van set up?  I think persoanlly I need to sit wth someone properly and see what gains I could get in reality. from what I have seen Its not that much.

The kicker for me is fine - I run a music business and the money I get window cleaning is absolutly fine, tbh not many jobs about where your free on your won, no stress, no hassle, earn £200 plus a day and 9-4 odd, fantastic job, ok its not millions but its a well paid job for what it is ? Everyone has their methods and their aims. I wanted less stress and to be on my own, working from WFP is a breeze compared to ladders etc.

Im thinking about wfp , im thinking trolley over van system as some of the houses i do would be awkward with the van system , if i put a 200 ltr tank in the van them some 25ltr drums . Could you leave the trolley in yhe back and put the pipe into the 200ltr tank and use as a van mount ? Then you still have the trolley and 25ltr drums for the awkward jobs ? Been looking at the nano from purefreedom . Cheers

It's whatever suits your business. For me trolley works great and I do more than most that have van system probably coz my work is closer together so better but if they weren't I probably would get van Mount... U got to decide what is best not others? 

Unless you specialise in awkward access property then the way forward is a van mount and backpack for the ODD tricky job.  One of my main reasons for avoiding trolleys etc is all that unnecessary stress on your body lifting in and out barrels, trolleys etc.  It's not a minute here, a minute there, it's a minute to walk back and forth, another minute to refill, another minute to faff about and so on.  Truth is with the van mount we pull up, open a door, grab the pole, walk to the first window, clean, reel in and drive off to next job.  

Unless you have tried a van mount you simply can not appreciate the difference it will make.  

Any one that is up this way is always welcome to call by and see the proof for themselves.  Sure my system is a bit more advanced than many with electric reels etc but not as fancy as some.  If you know someone with a van mount ask to have a try, the light bulb will go on in your head.     

Most of my work is trad but use the trolley a good bit for awkward high jobs and signage and I completely agree it causes stress on the body lagging 25L barrels of moving water about & is tedious refilling aswell. The Purefreedom trolley has been brilliant for me, it is a fantastic piece of kit but could not use it long term. 

I don't need a van setup at the moment, I have a massive trad round at the moment keeping me busy but I do want a van setup to diversify in the future. It seems so much easier than the trolley setup & bit more professional. Each to their own but it will be the way I will go once I get the small task of paying for my wedding out of the way!!!

Green Pro Clean Ltd said:

Unless you specialise in awkward access property then the way forward is a van mount and backpack for the ODD tricky job.  One of my main reasons for avoiding trolleys etc is all that unnecessary stress on your body lifting in and out barrels, trolleys etc.  It's not a minute here, a minute there, it's a minute to walk back and forth, another minute to refill, another minute to faff about and so on.  Truth is with the van mount we pull up, open a door, grab the pole, walk to the first window, clean, reel in and drive off to next job.  

Unless you have tried a van mount you simply can not appreciate the difference it will make.  

Any one that is up this way is always welcome to call by and see the proof for themselves.  Sure my system is a bit more advanced than many with electric reels etc but not as fancy as some.  If you know someone with a van mount ask to have a try, the light bulb will go on in your head.     

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I have tried it but just gets on my nerves with hose lagging about. Each to there own I am different even drive automatic van...not many people get that either

Electric reel now that be worth doing as seemed so much hassle winding it in

Running a hose across roads/public pathways, just not an option for me. Rather put in a few minutes extra at the end of the day and not have to worry..

THL4KEL said:

Running a hose across roads/public pathways, just not an option for me. Rather put in a few minutes extra at the end of the day and not have to worry..

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Yeah, that is my worry to, when thinking of getting a van with a tank in it. I think I would still run a trolly system, I prefer to be on the property with my gear than a hose trailing across paths etc, one accident and your fooked!