truckmount or portable?

That's exactly what Doug Heifferman said last time I took one of his classes.

 

First, let me say that this choice can depend a lot on where you are located. I am in central FL and the houses here are mostly of newer designs and there are not any electrical issues to deal with. If you live in an area where electricity is a big problem due to older houses, you have to weigh this factor in. Another factor here is that most of the houses are one story and the landscape is flat. In areas with lots of stairs, a portable can be a pain in the a$$.

 

Ok, so lets rule out the electricity and landscape issues and concentrate solely on the machines. With the release of the RV360i, combined with a few of the high powered portables of today, I can honestly say that it does not make any sense at all to use a truckmount as your primary unit. If you are fortunate to have the means to own more than one van, by all means having one of each is ideal. Sometimes a truckmount is simply easier to use and sometimes a portable will save some headache. As far as cleaning quality goes, it is not an issue. With my Certified Pile Lifter, RV360i and Mytee M5 with booster, I can do a much better job than ANY truckmount using a wand. The RV360i is a far bigger advantage than a TM is and the Mytee combination allows very similar dry times to a TM. A Recoil with booster should give similar results.

 

In the past, things were different but times are changing. We only use our truckmount vans on special instances at this point and have received nothing less than raves from our customers.

 

For those about to enter the business, it does not make any sense to spend 10 times the money on a truckmount. Having said this, a portable user has to do his best to make his van setup as efficient as possible. We use the Mytee electrical adapter and zip-tie two 25' electrical cords together to make portable setup fast and easy. We also have quick connects on the waste hose as well as the incoming fresh water hose. Personally, I don't believe in one-man crews and if you are using a portable, it is even more important to have a 2 man crew.

 

Consider the strategy of survival in this business. While many of your competitors are spending about $1000 a month on gasoline, not to mention some are making a $500 monthly equipment payment, they are under far more pressure than you if you are using a portable and a more fuel efficient van. I use a Mercedes Sprinter, which gets 22-24 mpg overall, about double that of a domestic van. With the truckmount gulping down a few gallons per hour, I am saving about $700 a month just on fuel, per van.