So who has arches on pay vacs and what are the best products, most bang for the buck. Im thinking of a new vac site on a larger property to get vac and detailing away from self serve area. Thanks all!
Arches on pay vacs
- Thread starter Zal
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soapy
Senior Member
traveler17
Well-known member
Would you mind posting some pics when you have an opportunity. Interested in seeing them!! Thanks!!
soapy
Senior Member
There should be a couple of older threads on them I posted years ago.
soapy
Senior Member
Here is a picture and my best recollection of the build. I used 2 booms from Kleenrite and bolted them to my center light pole. I run 2 inch vac hose up to the end of the arch. On the arch I use a 4 inch PVC pipe to support the hose. At the end of the arch I couple it to a tapered vac hose going from 2 inch down to 1.5 inch hose. This helps keep things from clogging up any where in the hose and if I do have a clog I unscrew the tapered hose clean it out and reattach it. Varies Zip ties along the way to keep hoses in place along the boom. I have had this setup for over 10 years and it works well at keeping the hose off the ground and easy to vac both sides of a car.
I would not do arches on pay vacs. I spent 100K on Gin San arch vacs about 3 years ago and I'm replacing them within next month or two when the new vacs come in. Learned my lesson. Yes it was expensive. Vacs get clogged constantly. Do they look cool YES but if they dont work there good for nothing. NOT BASHING GIN SAN because all arch vacs are same. Also If they are pay vacs customers get pissed when they dont work. If they were free it's no big deal they will move to another stall. Save your self the headache and money.
If your set on arch pay vacs I got 20 gin san arch vacs ill sell you but you cant say I didn't warn you
If your set on arch pay vacs I got 20 gin san arch vacs ill sell you but you cant say I didn't warn you
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tdlconceptsllc
Well-known member
I like your honesty I was on the fence about this for 2 years between arch and standard vacs. What brand and how many motors are you going back with just curious. I ended up in the process of standard vacs renovation project now. You did have 2inch hoses on i am sure to reduce clogging.I would not do arches on pay vacs. I spent 100K on Gin San arch vacs about 3 years ago and I'm replacing them within next month or two when the new vacs come in. Learned my lesson. Yes it was expensive. Vacs get clogged constantly. Do they look cool YES but if they dont work there good for nothing. NOT BASHING GIN SAN because all arch vacs are same. Also If they are pay vacs customers get pissed when they dont work. If they were free it's no big deal they will move to another stall. Save your self the headache and money.
If your set on arch pay vacs I got 20 gin san arch vacs ill sell you but you cant say I didn't warn you
Earl Weiss
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No concern someone will hit that pole?
soapy
Senior Member
I have very little problem with clogging since using the tapered 2 inch to 1.5 inch hose. I also try to maintain keeping ends on the hose which restrict larger items from getting sucked in. When I do get a clog it is in the hose end claw or other attachment and rarely right at the upper coupling point of the joined hoses. I simply have to unscrew the the 2 hose and unclog the tapered hose. I found the easiest way is to take the hose to a water supply line like a garden hose type and blast water through the hose. The volume of the water is key rather than the PSI.
Thank you. Going back to Jim Coleman two motor combo vacs. The two motor is just as strong as the 3 motor arch vacs. The clean out doors are also completely secure. The locking latches for the clean outs on the gin sans are very poorly designed. You dont even need a tool to pop the latch pin off.
At first I used the tapered 2" to 1 1/2" hose. With that hose the nozzles are 1 1/2" which get clogged way to easily. I remember opening up the new vac area and within 30 minutes I had three or four clogs due to snapple caps, masks, and whatever. I ran that for about a few weeks to a month but after receiving multiple phone calls everyday that the vacs are clogged I switched to two inch hoses and nozzle. It defiantly decreased the clogging but now when it gets clogged its at the connection the hose meets the arch. Pull the ladder out type of fun.
My workers do the unclogging so I dont know exact amount but I would say about 7 vacuums get clogged a week. I see them unclogging at least 1 vac a day. I would say with my Coleman vacs w/ no arch I would get about 1 CLOG A YEAR TOTAL OF ALL VACS.
If the customers picked up all their garbage before vacuuming I probably wouldn't have a problem ever but if we start talking about all the things customers should do we'll be here until next year.
I disconnect the hose from the vacuum to the arch and run a fish tape through the arch and hose to clear the clogs. Much easier than dragging the ladder out, still a pain to deal with.
My guys run the vacuum then use a stick of 1/2" pvc electrical conduit to unclog. They used to use fish tape but swear by the conduit and say it's a lot faster.
