Pit cleaner
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Car_Wash_Guy
Well-known member
I found mine used last year about 5 hours away. Paid $1500 IIRC. It's 20 years old but works like a champ!
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Of course used if you find one in working condition but that is not easy. Ring O Matics are great machines but require a lot of maintenance and can be expensive to repair so be very careful if you find a used one.
TEEBOX
Member
Forgive me for being so naive, but how does this unit work?
MEP001
Well-known member
There are two types, one has a scoop on the back like a backhoe with hydraulic controls, the other has a vacuum pump where you need to lower a tube into the pit by hand. The backhoe is more complicated but pretty much effortless to operate. The vacuum type is a lot more work.
I am more familiar with the vacuum unit. It works very well if the pits are cleaned on a regular basis when the pit dirt is fairly loose. I am not so sure it requires more work than the backhoe type but the maintenance is definitely more involved. My understanding is that the backhoe type does a better job when the dirt in the pit is more compacted. I think the ease of use depends on your setup. If your pit is in a tight space the backhoe would be much more difficult to use.
I think I am leaning toward the clam type if I have to purchase new, but I am open to either if I can find used. I can't seem to locate any used and have email several of the dealers list on ringomatics website but haven't gotten any replies. I see Kleen-Rite has them listed but short of them i haven't been able to locate any other pricing
pcb
Leprechaun Car Wash
Just call Ring O Matic and they should give you the pricing. I bought a new one 3 years ago and went straight to them to purchase it. I believe it was about $14K for the 1000 with boom extension and hydraulic side to side. I may be off a little on price but I think that's fairly close. I looked for several years while nursing my old 500 model and never found one that I felt I wouldn't have to rebuild to get in good shape.
rbauction.com
I bought my 2001 ringomatic vac excavator 850 used from rbauction.com last year for less than $4000 ( a new one today will cost over $40K) . I hate to give away this secret but rbauction is the best place if you want used heavy industrial equipment- Forklifts, vacuum trailer, scissor lifts, trucks, and tractors. I plan on buying a forklift from rbacution next when I start installing my automatics. A penny save is a penny earned.
I bought my 2001 ringomatic vac excavator 850 used from rbauction.com last year for less than $4000 ( a new one today will cost over $40K) . I hate to give away this secret but rbauction is the best place if you want used heavy industrial equipment- Forklifts, vacuum trailer, scissor lifts, trucks, and tractors. I plan on buying a forklift from rbacution next when I start installing my automatics. A penny save is a penny earned.
Jeff_L
Well-known member
I bought my 850 vac trailer 3yrs ago for about 25k new, straight from ring o matic. Even drove to Pella, IA to pick it up. Couldn't be happier with the purchase, and they are a great company to work with. Haven't had too much maint as others mentioned. Other than a handle breaking off, everything else has been fine. Just have to take care of it like anything else. It does a great job cleaning out the pits, as long as you do them every 6 months or so. That way the mud stays soupyand doesn't get compacted. 1st time cleaning a pit might take some extra work if it hasn't been done in awhile, but the suction on the 850 will impress you. I carry one of those gripper tools ($1 at the hardware store) to reach down into the pit and pick up things that are too big to suck up. Mostly branches, chunks of rock, cell phones, tools, etc.
Feel free to ask any other questions.
Feel free to ask any other questions.
JGinther
Zip-tie engineer
I've got a 750 vac I haven't used in years. Last time I started it up was almost a year ago. I don't have any reason to keep it except that it keeps about 15 square feet from growing weeds in a field. I would be happy to let go for $2500. I think it needs some seals replaced on the tank because it takes a while for the suction to build up. The vac pump still works great though. Message me if interested.
You want to be very careful when you buy anything at Richie Brothers Auction. Most the stuff there is pretty worn out and just about ready for the scrap yard. We have a Richie Brothers Auction site not far from us and we’ve been to there auctions a few times in the past. It makes for an interesting day.
Pm sent, I am interested
