Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777 Report post Posted October 21, 2017 I have had all 3, and each had their advantages for roof cleaning and soft washing. Box Truck brought in the most business, by far! A Freaking Rolling Billboard ! But hard to work out of, compared to a trailer of flat bad I had several trailers, nice if the truck breaks down, you are never out of business. I had a trailer break loose on me, and spill 600 gallons of mix on the side of the freeway, in the grass. Trailers are nice, they keep the leaks away from the truck. We currently use Flatbeds How about you ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bubbad2u Report post Posted October 21, 2017 I ran a pick up when I started, then an enclosed trailer and now an open trailer. This winter I want to find a flatbed to complete the cycle. I like the pickup but ran out of space quick. The enclosed trailer always had a leak or exhaust problem and everything was hard to get too. The trailer is nice but I hate pulling the trailer all the time. And I end up using my truck for work and personal. I think I would rather have a truck just for work. I rally like the flatbed and am thinking about a F350 or the like, but am undecided about which size bed, I am thinking 10'. I would love to hear some opinions. I would like to ultimately have room for 2 pressure washers and air roof pump, a couple DI tanks about 200 gal of water and 100 gal of SH, 4 hose reels. I think all that will be tight on a 10 bed. Joe 1 Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777 Report post Posted October 21, 2017 1 hour ago, Bubbad2u said: I ran a pick up when I started, then an enclosed trailer and now an open trailer. This winter I want to find a flatbed to complete the cycle. I like the pickup but ran out of space quick. The enclosed trailer always had a leak or exhaust problem and everything was hard to get too. The trailer is nice but I hate pulling the trailer all the time. And I end up using my truck for work and personal. I think I would rather have a truck just for work. I rally like the flatbed and am thinking about a F350 or the like, but am undecided about which size bed, I am thinking 10'. I would love to hear some opinions. I would like to ultimately have room for 2 pressure washers and air roof pump, a couple DI tanks about 200 gal of water and 100 gal of SH, 4 hose reels. I think all that will be tight on a 10 bed. Joe I strongly believe in a Dually. The 1 ton truck has bigger everything, and the dual wheel tires can save your ass, if you get a flat. Here is one of my very first trucks of any kind And here is our current flatbed 1 1 Roof Cleaning Jacksonville FL 904-304-0810 and AVPSNC reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bubbad2u Report post Posted October 22, 2017 On 10/21/2017 at 4:57 PM, Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777 said: I strongly believe in a Dually. The 1 ton truck has bigger everything, and the dual wheel tires can save your ass, if you get a flat. Here is one of my very first trucks of any kind And here is our current flatbed Cool, it is hard to decide what to get, I started drawing out some plans last night for another build in the back of a truck. With all the proportioner options out there 100 gal of SH will go a long way. For 90% of what I do a pickup will work fine, it is the other 10% that is hard to figure. Joe Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777 Report post Posted October 23, 2017 20 hours ago, Bubbad2u said: Cool, it is hard to decide what to get, I started drawing out some plans last night for another build in the back of a truck. With all the proportioner options out there 100 gal of SH will go a long way. For 90% of what I do a pickup will work fine, it is the other 10% that is hard to figure. Joe Honestly, If I were new, I would go box truck, because they are a rolling billboard !!! LOL, the more we drove it around, the more work we got Yes, they are harder to work out of, but the hardest work is, having no work Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bubbad2u Report post Posted October 23, 2017 5 hours ago, Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777 said: Yes, they are harder to work out of, but the hardest work is, having no work True statement right there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777 Report post Posted October 24, 2017 1 hour ago, Bubbad2u said: True statement right there. 1 Roof Cleaning Jacksonville FL 904-304-0810 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ultimate Roof Cleaning & Pressure Washing Report post Posted October 28, 2017 I like my enclosed trailer. I have it wrapped so it too is a billboard. Paid itself off quickly. I like the fact I can lock all my equipment up if need be wherever we are. Problem now is, I need a dual axle.. 1 Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777 Report post Posted October 28, 2017 Yes, a dual axle would have been nice, especially with all the weight we sometimes carry. It looks great ! 1 Ultimate Roof Cleaning & Pressure Washing reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bergman Roof Cleaning Report post Posted November 1, 2017 Never had a flatbed, but considered it. I like an aluminum enclosed trailer to protect all my equipment and tanks [ I carry 2 pressure washing machines too ] from weather and thieves! Had 2 pressure washers stolen from open steel trailers-2 years in a row, they took 1 a year about 3 weeks before Xmas. I guess I paid for their kids presents? I have had a nice trailer now for about 6 or 7 years. It is 6' 4" from floor to support rails on ceiling [ was taller before I built up the floor. ] In 2014 someone ran a red light and ruined my truck and damaged the trailer. The truck was destroyed, but the trailer I had fixed for $1300.00 Because of SH leaking in previous enclosed trailer [ and of course all open steel ones ] it always rusted out the under framework, springs etc. So, when I got this one I put in a double floor, with no nails! I coated the original floor with plastic roof cement and glued and screwed a 1X4 trim around the sides to hold it down-plus put pieces of plywood covering it, with a bunch of 5 gal buckets spread around to get it to glue down tight [ each 5 was full, so each weighed about 40 lbs each. I put a vinyl floor on top-also with plastic roof cement and did the same with the plywood pieces and buckets.Then I caulked it all in yearly with good silicone and never had a leak! When I had the wreck, I put in a 3rd 3/8" floor, in the same manner and new 1X4's all was great until about 10 days ago, when a woman made a U turn and really smashed it up. Now, I am working out of a backup steel trailer, until I can find another enclosed aluminum trailer. Then, I get to do all the work over again! These pictures don't begin to show the real damage-frame damage and interior wall damage and the wheel is bent. The 3rd pictures is the trailer with the truck that got totaled in 2014. Well, gotta go bid a couple of jobs. Catch ya later! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777 Report post Posted November 2, 2017 Wow Chuck, the SH really did a number on that enclosed trailer! LOL, our old Box Truck had SH fumes inside that were so bad, I finally just totally removed the rear door. Many people fail to understand that SH does not have to leak to do damage. The Fumes are also corrosive and dangerous to not only your health, but to your equipment as well. 1 Roof Cleaning Jacksonville FL 904-304-0810 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Roof Cleaning Jacksonville FL 904-304-0810 Report post Posted November 4, 2017 I've been happy with my open trailers for a while now. I wouldn't mind a flatbed with a low bed height, because it takes up a lot less space. This thing here is 36' long! Cul de sacs can be a real pain, and parking isn't easy sometimes. Flatbed and box truck win there. Having all that SH far from my truck helps too. Trailers rust quick though. Having a shop to keep them in helps, and venting the tanks below the trailers helps. I'm working on new signs, but these can be a nice billboard also. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bergman Roof Cleaning Report post Posted November 4, 2017 On 11/2/2017 at 7:48 AM, Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777 said: Wow Chuck, the SH really did a number on that enclosed trailer! LOL, our old Box Truck had SH fumes inside that were so bad, I finally just totally removed the rear door. Many people fail to understand that SH does not have to leak to do damage. The Fumes are also corrosive and dangerous to not only your health, but to your equipment as well. Not really. It had very little rust-especially for a 2003 trailer! The vehicle that smashed into it did quite a number on it though! The only serious rust, was on the very bottoms of the doors. Otherwise, it was all solid and I never let rust stay. I keep it wire brushed off on a weekly inspection basis and use rust converter, oil primer and oil paint, as rust appears. It is a constant fight of course, because as you said, just the SH fumes will start rust going, if it can reach bare metal! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777 Report post Posted November 4, 2017 there used to be a roof cleaner up here that had an aerodynamic enclosed trailer he pulled with a small chevvy 6 cyl truck. He carried 200 gallons of pure SH. He would mix on site in plastic drums he placed near the roof. He used an electric pump that ran on 117 volts, and he simply stuck his feed down in the drum, and got up and sprayed it out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bergman Roof Cleaning Report post Posted January 16, 2018 On 11/3/2017 at 11:06 PM, Roof Cleaning Jacksonville FL 904-304-0810 said: I've been happy with my open trailers for a while now. I wouldn't mind a flatbed with a low bed height, because it takes up a lot less space. This thing here is 36' long! Cul de sacs can be a real pain, and parking isn't easy sometimes. Flatbed and box truck win there. Having all that SH far from my truck helps too. Trailers rust quick though. Having a shop to keep them in helps, and venting the tanks below the trailers helps. I'm working on new signs, but these can be a nice billboard also. Would you please explain "venting the tanks below the trailers helps" Why would running an air vent below the trailer, be better than having the air vent up as high as possible, as I do? ( Because my aluminum enclosed trailer got wrecked, I'm temporarily using an open steel trailer, until I find just the right enclosed replacement ) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Roof Cleaning Jacksonville FL 904-304-0810 Report post Posted January 16, 2018 The idea is that you basically run a hose from the lid vent to underneath the trailer. This helps because the fumes from SH are heavier than air, and they fall down onto the trailer and contribute to rusting it out. It's just one extra thing to slow down the decay by venting it to ground level below your trailer. Also, on my old trailer the ladder racks were right above the tanks, and you can see how it rusted those terribly in comparison because it vented right out the top. Diverting those fumes anywhere else will help. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites