Question for the experts - Ring O Matic Pit Cleaner

[wyatt]

I read your posts all the time and this is my first post. I own 3 separate 4/1 SS/InBayAuto car washes. Recently our dump site decided they would no longer accept car wash material unless it was tested first (an extra 500 bucks every time I have the pits cleaned).

Anyways, I want to know what you guys think my best option is:

Option #1: Bite the 15k bullet and buy a Ring O Matic clam pit cleaner.

Option #2: Buy a dump trailer and a pull behind backhoe - should cost roughly 4k for the dump trailer and 3k for the backhoe.

Option #3: Continue to foot the bill with the local septic company. (usually 1.5k per cleaning + .5k for water testing at three car washes 1.5 times a year = 9k)

Option #4: Hope I can find some used equipment in good condition.


Let me know what you guys think.

 

[soonermajic]

.4 is the best option, but may take a while...

 

[wyatt]

.4 is the best option, but may take a while...

True, I'm also in Idaho so shipping anything that big will be expensive.

 

[soapy]

If you have some property to put it.on buy a dump trailer and rent a small track hoe for about $175 a day. You can do all 3 location in a day. I just did it this week.

 

[Car_Wash_Guy]

4 followed closely by 1.

I was lucky enough to find a used Ring O Matic 500 a few years ago for I think $3000. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a new one.

You can also buy a few Handi-Clams and some energetic and eager youngsters(if there are any left?) and pay them to clean the pits by hand.

 

[MudMoney]

I think it depends on how many times you have to pump your sumps vs the charges the other guy will do it for.I have a model 750 ring-o-matic and can pump a 700 gallon bay in 30 minutes.I have never used a clam shell type,other thing to keep in mind is pumping at nite so as not to interfere with day time business.i used to have the water quality dept at local college test my sumps,in 30 years I never went above federal minimum for toxicity.

 

[Jeff_L]

If you did option 2, you would hen have the ability to use those items for something else when you’re not scooping your pits.

 

[soapy]

If you buy a dump trailer be sure it is strong enough to actually dump the dirt. I have rented one's in the past that would not lift the heavy mud and black sand. My trailer was $6000 but will dump the mud. Sissorlift trailers won't. My ringomatic struggles with the black sands we get.in Idaho.

 

[wyatt]

Interesting, what is your dump trailer rated for?

Also, on a separate note, if I were to go the route of buying a Ring O Matic, has anyone tried setting up a business to clean other car wash pits as well? I'm thinking it may help offset the initial cost BUT there always seems to be regulations on things like that. Has anyone tried or looked into doing something like that?

 

[Car_Wash_Guy]

I guess it would depend on the laws and regulations where you are. Here, you're able to dispose of it how you choose on private property. The landfill considers it special waste, and after testing, charges $22.75/ton for sludge and $50.00/ton for contaminated soils.

We have drying pit and it goes into the dumpster or backfill an ever eroding hill on my property.

 

[soapy]

My trailer is rated at 10,000 lbs. Anything larger requires a CDL. It uses the same ram as the larger 12k to 16k trailers.

 

[Damoni88]

Option 1. I bought one and have 3 ss cws. Best decision ever. Think of it like this it will be yours and it will pay for itself in less than 2 year's. My opinion! Good luck!