New Vacuum Islands

[TEEBOX]

I'm considering expanding my current vacuum count to 8. My building is 128 in length and I have 75 width from the building to the curb. Currently I have 3 vacs. To many people waiting for vacuums! $1.25 for 4 minutes.

The question is should I angle park the new vacs? Also should I remove the existing vacs (currently parallel with building) and move them to the curb side so that people driving by can see them vacuuming? My traffic Que would be closer to the building if moving vacs to curbside.

I would have to close off an existing driveway ingress but I have another on the same side. Wouldn't be a problem traffic flow wise.

I'm tired of them whacking the mats against the building.

Your thoughts!

 

[Waxman]

No; just add on more vacs where they are and/or put some more in other convenient/easy locations where you have power. why tear out what is already there and working. if you could extend the island a little on each and and add 2 more vacs that's what I would do.

don't spend money changing the egress and tearing things out that are now making you money.

 

[Earl Weiss]

Sorry, I can't picture your current layout.

Does this sound right. Bldg runs from North to south and is 128 feet long at the west side of property and from the east wall of the building to the East side of the property is 73 feet in width? Vacs are currently Parallel to the building. How far from the east wall?

 

[TEEBOX]

yes, but 75ft in width. 3 foot wide pads.

 

[TEEBOX]

sorry I don't know how to post a pic

 

[JMMUSTANG]

At my oldest wash I had vacs in front of all the bays and I had put a couple perimeter vacs around the exit.
I had no lost vac income from the vacs in front of the bays and the perimter vacs, which were turbo vacs with 2 price points-$1.00 for 2 motors and $1.25 for 3 motor did phenomonal.
It was because of the older wash I decided to put all my vacs on the perimeter.
By moving your vacs away from the front of the bays you will open your bays for greater traffic flow-thru.
Saying that I did exactly that when I built one of my newer wash.
My bay flow-thru traffic did go up but the vac income suffered.
Talking to customers about this they told me by the time they were done washing the car they usually forgot about the vacs.
So my thinking is leave the vacs in front of the bays for now build out your perimter vac/vending islands.
I have installed manual vendors between the vacs, dropping the money into the safe in the concrete vac base.
Today I would install an electric 5 selection Little Tree vender with an Armorall, towel or a 3 selction vender between the vacuums to optimize your customers attention and more income.
Also think about adding at least one, if possible, carpet shampoo, tire shine, multi scent, air machine. dryer etc. to draw more attention to the perimeter vacs.
At least plan ahead for the added services by runnig extra electric or at least pvc so you add it later.

 

[Earl Weiss]

Since this is the conveyor section, I am guessing bay concerns are not an option. Still not sure of the "3 foot wide pads." means.

So here is a suggestion . Assuming Vacs are next to your east wall as described above. Vacs can be spaced along the wall staring from the entrance at 15', 45' , 75 Feet, and 105 Feet. People wll place their front door at the Vac and this will give them a 25 foot space to parallel park in to. 30 feet to the west Place islands slightly Staggered So cars at the building with doors open are not ligned up with cars at the center islands. Center island can have 2 vacs each with space in between facing direction of travel and can be combos so people on either side can choose either one. With a car to the east side of the center isalnd you will still have almost 30 feet clear space for an entry line. I assume they make a U turn to enter so this gives them a wide turn. This would allow up to 8 more vacs or you could just eliminate the ones by the wall. Leave the wall for Vendors / change machine.

Still not sure if I picturethe layout correctly.

Another option is copy the common free vac concept for this type of operation . Pull in back out spaces along the wall. Angled or Perpindicular. VAcs can be every 15 feet or so allowing the typical 12 plus 3 feet for islands. Double vac Islands would be at 15',45',75', 105' on center.

 

[JimmyJaffa]

Why have vacuum islands? Unless this is a self service car wash, the islands take up too much valuable real estate. Having an angled layout with 10'6" perpendicular (approximately 12' horizontal) spacing is more than adequate having the canister vacuum at the head of the car. With that spacing, and with a 128' by 75' area, you could have 16 to 18 vacuum spaces.

 

[TEEBOX]

Who would you recommend? I like that layout a lot?

 

[Earl Weiss]

Why have vacuum islands? Unless this is a self service car wash, the islands take up too much valuable real estate. Having an angled layout with 10'6" perpendicular (approximately 12' horizontal) spacing is more than adequate having the canister vacuum at the head of the car. With that spacing, and with a 128' by 75' area, you could have 16 to 18 vacuum spaces.

Putting the vac up on a pedestal whether at the front or in between serves to protect it.

At the front will require longer hoses. You copuld use a similar frame to what Tommy has where each pay vac is at the head of the space lined up with the diividing line and a metal arch that allows the hose to drop near the center of the car.

 

[TEEBOX]

my building is 35 wide so I'm left with only 40 feet in width for navigation lane and vacuums.