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Ed, I've been toying around with the idea since towing a trailer is a PITA at certain homes, especially townhomes.. I've been looking at UHauls, but I'm afraid to buy something with almost 200k of the clock..

Ed, 

We have a 12 foot box and that is more than plenty of room for us. We carry a 24 and a 16 foot extension ladder however I use the 16 foot ladder on 99.8% of our jobs. The only down side we have noticed is the gas mileage. Everything else is great!

Good Luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

 

Used Uhauls start at around $4600.  We got this pretty lady for $1200 with 2 new batteries.  She was the last of their diesels.  Don't fear the miles, they maintain their equipment very well.  Feel free to beat them up on price, I offered half of what they wanted and they countered in the ballpark plus the batteries.  They seem to have phased out the pickup truck chassis and gone strictly to vans, so get a bargain while they are still available.  Our truck Big Red is a 14' retired Uhaul.  Next week she gets wrapped and starts to earn her keep as a billboard.  She's already earning her keep as a truck.  We already spent more on fixing her up than the purchase price, but we're still way ahead of the game financially.  The gaurd dog was an extra cost and no, she is NOT for sale. 

Art I noticed the Miracle Grow feeder. As if a brick hit me in the head I got the brilliant idea of downstreaming the MG through my pressure washer. I hate that little plastic crappy feeder made in China. If theres a lot of landscape on the job it all gets blasted with MG.

I have thought of a box truck, but only for the ad space. I would get tired of climbing in and out of the truck for anything. That is why I went from a 20 x 8 tandem open trailer to a 12 x 6 single axle. Easier to manuver in and out of tight driveways and less...way way less maintenance. I Still have a trailer with a pair of 250 gals and also a single 150 gal for apartment complex roofs only on a tandem axle with 2 hose reels. It sits with tanks half full of water to prevent corrosion and I take off the pumps and flush them with vinegar to neutralize the SH. These days we are not pumping in apt complex roofs like before 2008 but have done a few exteriors so she sits idle and I take her for a spin once a week so she doesn't get lonely and fall apart on me.

JHWorth wrote:

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I have thought of a box truck, but only for the ad space. I would get tired of climbing in and out of the truck for anything. That is why I went from a 20 x 8 tandem open trailer to a 12 x 6 single axle. Easier to manuver in and out of tight driveways and less...way way less maintenance. I Still have a trailer with a pair of 250 gals and also a single 150 gal for apartment complex roofs only on a tandem axle with 2 hose reels. It sits with tanks half full of water to prevent corrosion and I take off the pumps and flush them with vinegar to neutralize the SH. These days we are not pumping in apt complex roofs like before 2008 but have done a few exteriors so she sits idle and I take her for a spin once a week so she doesn't get lonely and fall apart on me.

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 I've got a knee that needs replaced, but I'm too young to have it done.  The first thing I do when we arrive at the job is pull out the ramp.  It makes working bearable & I've even noticed my guys using it as well.  If the homeowner is home, I'll go to the door and let them know that we're on the premises and invariably by the time I get back to the truck the ramp is down.  At the end of the job, I invite the homeowner out to inspect as we clean up and my guys leave the ramp out 'till the truck is loaded and put it back in before they close the back door.  By the way, the guys who work for me are younger than me, but they do rock. 

garyw wrote:

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Art;

Don't put up with the pain. Have it replaced. I did both of mine at the same time, and its the best thing I ever did to feel better.

Gary

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 I appreciate the advice Gary & I told the doctor I'd like to have it replaced, but he says that I'm too young and I'll wear the replacement out.  (He was amazed that I wore out two custom built knee braces, but I was younger and worked much harder back then.)  I told him to do it anyway & as I wear it out technology would improve and offer a better product, but he wouldn't do it.  I got a second opinion and that doctor agreed.  In three years I'll be 45 and we'll discuss it all over again.  BTW, pain don't hurt, as they say. 

Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa FL (813) 655-8777 wrote:

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This is the correct Miracle Grow plant food because it contains acid that MIGHT neutralize the chlorine. ANY acid releasing plant food will, in theory, work.

It can't hurt, but plenty of water, with all plants watered before, after, and during the roof cleaning is always best, followed by a whole or a partial roof rinse, if there are no gutters, and sensitive landscape below.

 

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 I am on the same page as Chris, don't trust the MG to keep plants alive. That is too risky I rather fully or partial rinse the roof and then saturate the plants with regular water. I am a stickler when it comes to water. My first plant damage was a Sago Palm when working at Mallard, I felt horrible! So from there on out I always put the plants before the cleaning in a way. The cleanings still came out perfect and never killed another plant.

Roof Cleaning Wilmington NC (910) 622-7942 wrote:

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I added some pictures of Big Red with her new bumper.  As always, the guard dog was present.  She mostly gaurds what's in the back.  It is a temporary set up, but we've been working with it.  I'd love to stay and chat, but the guard dog looks hungry & I'm a little scared of her. 

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 Art The truck looks good in red. You can make hooks for the hose and ladder out of wood. 3/8th ply, 2x4 out and 2x4 up. Glue and screw. Make a z. Jam the plywood part into the bumper rail.

-- Edited by Art O on Friday 14th of October 2011 09:45:38 AM