Which Self Serve Equipment is the Best ?

[TJ_DOT]

Hello Everyone,

We have recently bought a carwash that have very old and barely functional Self Serve Equipment. We have decided to scrap it and upgrade to a brand new equipment.
Doing some research on the available manufacturers out there ? Can some one give some insight on the best manufacturers available in the market.

Here is the criteria we are looking for:

1) Should have all the Latest functionalities available
2) Should have latest technical advancements (Like send alerts when the soap drops to certain level)
3) Give us reports that tells which functionalities are used and how often
4) Longevity of the Equipment with minimal operational issues
5) Budget

Appreciate if someone can help us find the SS Manufacturers that fits the criteria.

Thanks,
TJ_DOT.

 

[MudMoney]

WOW ,that is a tall order.Angthing can be done for a price,most of us on this site took basic equipment and added our options later as needed.

 

[MEP001]

My criteria for SS is that it be solid and simple, IDGAF who uses what, it just needs to work well and consistently, be easy to access and service, and you HAVE TO LOOK IT OVER EVERY DAY. Send alerts for low soap? It takes five seconds a day to check the buckets and barrels. You should be laying eyes on everything in the room every day checking for leaks or problems. Also, your #2 and #5 could not conflict more.

 

[tdlconceptsllc]

Just curious what was or is the Brand of equipment you had of the pumpstand ?

 

[TJ_DOT]

Existing pumpstand has many pieces put together from different manufacturers. More like a custom built!

 

[tdlconceptsllc]

Existing pumpstand has many pieces put together from different manufacturers. More like a custom built!

Post a picture we won't laugh we will tell you the honest truth weither is savagable or not how many bays do you have ?

 

[TJ_DOT]

Here are the pictures!

 

[MEP001]

That equipment looks AOK to me.

 

[TJ_DOT]

Yes it is, also has other components added as they broke...

 

[MudMoney]

I got that set up by A Ok mines 21 yrs old, just routine maintenance to keep it going. Wash I sold last year has 30 yr old A OK equipment. I updated as new electronics came on the market,etc. Save yourself a lot of money and fix and maintain what you have in equipment room. Customer doesn't know the difference.

 

[Greg_T]

My criteria for SS is that it be solid and simple, IDGAF who uses what, it just needs to work well and consistently, be easy to access and service, and you HAVE TO LOOK IT OVER EVERY DAY. Send alerts for low soap? It takes five seconds a day to check the buckets and barrels. You should be laying eyes on everything in the room every day checking for leaks or problems. Also, your #2 and #5 could not conflict more.

I wholeheartedly agree that the equipment needs to be simple, reliable, easy to access and visually looked over every day.

 

[mac]

Whatever you choose look for something that has the pumps in a stack configuration. Belt drive with built in belt tensioner. Three phase if you have it. Forget about the fancy stuff. You simply won’t use it after a few months.

 

[Greg Pack]

SO what SS companies are offering some of the new technology?


I bet Tom Hoffman (Hoffman car wash in New York)makes something you'd like.

 

[Greg Pack]

Thought I would add this: Pricing of new SS varies widely. A friend of mine recently priced the budget lines of Etowah Valley and it was almost half the price of a "premium" brand. One could make an argument to buy the budget line and replace it twice as often.

 

[I.B. Washincars]

One could make an argument to buy the budget line and replace it twice as often.

Seriously though, when would we ever need to replace SS equipment if the original is stainless steel? I will add that I actually did replace mine at one wash. The stands were not stainless and had rusted to the point that they were falling over. That was in 2012. I replaced it with pump stands made in 1995. The stuff is like Mexican food, the same basic ingredients arranged different ways.

 

[Dan-Ark]

Looks like a pretty good setup to me. Compact, all stainless. unless there is some electronic nightmare behind the panels with the lights that tell you what is cycling at the moment. I would fix and run what you got. In fact I would have loved to UPGRADE this setup for my second location... ended up just going with a new etowah valley low pressure/tank stand and still running the junkey pump stands from 1989. (new motors and pumps). How is low pressure delivered? My wash had an old well pump (complete with pressure tank) when I bought it and one flo jet.

 

[Randy]

The biggest problem I’ve found with car wash equipment is everyone who fixes anything all have a different idea as to how it should be fix and they fix it as cheaply as they can. I other words they have low work standards and you end up with a Jerry rigged cobbled up mess. My 1982 Chemex pumping equipment is still running strong today as it was the day it was installed in 1982, it pumps water out to the bay at 1500psi. AOK equipment was good equipment back in the day. If it’s maintained properly it will last life time. In looking at the pictures I see a cobbled up mess that wouldn’t be too difficult to straighten out. Everyone wants to buy new, new isn’t any better than what you have now, just take care of what you have. I’ve known a few operators who have bought new equipment only to be disappointed that it didn’t solve their problems, they still have break downs and have to work on it.

 

[tdlconceptsllc]

Here are the pictures!

Your pumpstand is good. Just needs to be cleaned up and everything tighty up and make sure it's all working. Unless you want to buy a new one if you have your heart set on it. Carolina pride makes super nice ss equipment and the others as follows in order national pride, etowah valley, Ginsan, D&S equipment any of those co produce great equipment for self serve. I would just redo what you have in all honesty and buy new meterboxes

 

[cantbreak80]

Here are the pictures!

That ain't a mess!

THIS is a mess...



This is what it looks like now...with a reconfigured 30 year old, painted steel frame!
And, pumps with identical plumbing.
Low tech and super easy to work on.


Yeah...I'm bragging.

 

[mac]

Now those are bragging rights. Damn good job.