What is a good pressure washer for mobil detailing???

well it is either goining in back of a pick up bed or in the back of a van. I just need something that will wet and rinse the vehicles and also get that hard to get grim off ocne in a while. something that has decent pressure. I mainly will be doin alot of hand washing and details.
 
Dang, that is a lot of parameters. You could buy an electric machine and have about 1700 PSI and 2 gpm. You could get gas and go bigger, or you could get a 12 volt pump that pumps 5 or 6 gallons aminute, at 70 PSI, or tap pressure. It all depends on what you want and what you think that you need.

Scooter
 
I don't use my machine for car cleaning per say, but here is my rig...

DSC00057.jpg


DSC00014.jpg
 
overtheedge said:
I don't use my machine for car cleaning per say, but here is my rig...



Overtheedge,

That is one sweet hot water unit you have there (and diesel too!!!!...) How many gpm is that pump?
Do you carry a surface cleaner onboard?

Onthespot



p.s. FiveOhMustang,
Consider getting a commercial unit from Home Depot. Specifically, the Excel 2800, 3gpm with a Cat Pump... It will best suit your needs for autos... However, pick up an extra 25' of 3000 psi hose to go with it since it only comes with 25'......
 
onthespot said:
Overtheedge,

That is one sweet hot water unit you have there (and diesel too!!!!...) How many gpm is that pump?
Do you carry a surface cleaner onboard?

Onthespot

DSC00004.jpg


It's a General TS2021 rated at 5.6 GPM. I have a 24" Whisper Wash Ground Force Surface Cleaner mounted on the side rails.
 
Last edited:
p.s. FiveOhMustang,
Consider getting a commercial unit from Home Depot. Specifically, the Excel 2800, 3gpm with a Cat Pump... It will best suit your needs for autos... However, pick up an extra 25' of 3000 psi hose to go with it since it only comes with 25'......


thanx for thwe info on the spot i will definetly check it out. Can you give me more info on the unit? How much does it cost? can it handle when business picks up? Can i hook it up to a water tank?
 
overtheedge said:

It's a General TS2021 rated at 5.6 GPM. I have a 24" Whisper Wash Ground Force Surface Cleaner mounted on the side rails.

Since I've recently started pressure washing more than detailing (much more profitable), I've begun piecing together all the equipment using my existing detailing trailer...
I hope to someday have a rig as professional-looking as yours.. ;)
So far, I'm just 'cold-water' (2 units both 3gpm commercial hondas)... I recently purchased a Landa Cyclone (24" Surface Cleaner) - What a money-maker it has turned out to be! Sidewalks are much easier now...

My next investment will be the M5 X-Jet... This will eliminate putting soap through the machine and tearing out the O-rings in my wand gun as well as make it easier to apply the soap... It's my understanding that this X-Jet allows you to shoot your chemicals 40' without the need for an extension lance...

Anyhow, Didn't mean to hijack this thread - was just impressed with that rig and setup...

Regards,
Onthespot
 
Most bulk water tanks for pressure washers come with the fittings already installed at the bottom of the tank. So it's just a matter of hooking a section of garden hose (supply hose) from the tank to the 'water in' part of the pressure washer...

Here are some pictures to use as an example... (Please note that the inside of my trailer is trashed... I've been pressure washing 6 days a week for the last month and a half, and have had hardly any time to clean it... Some detailer I am huh? I'm thinking of hiring a detailer to keep my rig clean.. LOL)
 
Close-up of water supply line going into the pressure washer. Notice the Y adapter... Top part goes to pressure washer. The bottom part of Y connection is a small section of garden hose for filling chemical buckets, etc... This step was to avoid having to start the pressure washer every time I needed water.
 
So as you can see... It's basically a matter of running a garden hose from the tank to the pressure washer... The connections should already be there...

Hope this information helps...

And now that I've thoroughly humiliated myself by showing off my filthy disgusting trailer that has been to hell and back lately....... I'm going to work!!! :cool

Onthespot

(p.s. At least the exterior of my rig still looks presentable.. :-p )
 
onthespot said:
Since I've recently started pressure washing more than detailing (much more profitable), I've begun piecing together all the equipment using my existing detailing trailer...
I hope to someday have a rig as professional-looking as yours.. ;)
So far, I'm just 'cold-water' (2 units both 3gpm commercial hondas)... I recently purchased a Landa Cyclone (24" Surface Cleaner) - What a money-maker it has turned out to be! Sidewalks are much easier now...

My next investment will be the M5 X-Jet... This will eliminate putting soap through the machine and tearing out the O-rings in my wand gun as well as make it easier to apply the soap... It's my understanding that this X-Jet allows you to shoot your chemicals 40' without the need for an extension lance...

Anyhow, Didn't mean to hijack this thread - was just impressed with that rig and setup...

Regards,
Onthespot

I have the X-Jet and would also recommend you get you a super foamer (also called a foam cannon)

SF-12.jpg


They make one without the bottle. It foams up your soap and bleach mixture allowing a longer dwell time. It's like spraying shaving cream on the side of a house.

Try Delco Cleaning Systems (www.pressurewash.com or www.dcs1.com and also Envirospec (www.envirospec.com)

Delco has a forum for you to learn some things of the trade.

http://www.dcs1.com/dcs1boards/messages/front.cfm?board_id=10

Good luck.
 
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