Pressure washing skid to fit in truck bed

[Dmiller67]

Looking to get into the pressure washing business and don’t want to buy another truck to fit my equipment in and don’t want to mess with buying and storing a trailer. Grateful for any help. Thanks. Oh I have 2023 freedom gladiator.

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[SargeDiesel]

IDK, maybe look into something like the roller systems they use for refrigerators and such.

 

[sharpsicle]

What is your plan for water storage? Usually once you get a water tank, you get a trailer because that’s a lot of weight to put in the bed.

 

[Dmiller67]

IDK, maybe look into something like the roller systems they use for refrigerators and such.

Thanks! Good idea I’ll look into that option.

 

[Dmiller67]

What is your plan for water storage? Usually once you get a water tank, you get a trailer because that’s a lot of weight to put in the bed.

Well that’s why i was looking for a compact skid to fit in the truck bed. I’ve thought about a small trailer but live in hoa so I’d have to rent a space to store it.

 

[sharpsicle]

Well that’s why i was looking for a compact skid to fit in the truck bed. I’ve thought about a small trailer but live in hoa so I’d have to rent a space to store it.

Well then I would recommend you decide first and foremost what you're going to do for your water supply. Most serious pressure washer guys have the ability to bring their own water. It's convenient, controllable, allows you to literally work anywhere, and is a professional offering you can have.

I also don't know how it is by you, but out here many of my friends that own pressure washing businesses were able to get permits to refill from fire hydrants. If you mentioned to them you're starting your own PW business without a water tank on a trailer, they'd call you nuts and/or uninformed. You won't always be able to use the client's water, so you must be prepared.

But they do what's best for them, and that doesn't mean it's the only way to go.

If you decide to have a water tank, do yourself a favor and get a trailer. Water tanks will not play nice in the truck bed. Your payload will only let you carry 100 gallons or so max (likely 50-75 gallons), and then since it's not a solid it's going to act worse than any other load every time you corner, brake accelerate, pretty much anything.

If you decide not to have your own water, and plan on using your client's water at every appointment, then you can rig up something like @SargeDiesel mentioned.

 

[SargeDiesel]

Well then I would recommend you decide first and foremost what you're going to do for your water supply. Most serious pressure washer guys have the ability to bring their own water. It's convenient, controllable, allows you to literally work anywhere, and is a professional offering you can have.

I also don't know how it is by you, but out here many of my friends that own pressure washing businesses were able to get permits to refill from fire hydrants. If you mentioned to them you're starting your own PW business without a water tank on a trailer, they'd call you nuts and/or uninformed. You won't always be able to use the client's water, so you must be prepared.

But they do what's best for them, and that doesn't mean it's the only way to go.

If you decide to have a water tank, do yourself a favor and get a trailer. Water tanks will not play nice in the truck bed. Your payload will only let you carry 100 gallons or so max (likely 50-75 gallons), and then since it's not a solid it's going to act worse than any other load every time you corner, brake accelerate, pretty much anything.

If you decide not to have your own water, and plan on using your client's water at every appointment, then you can rig up something like @SargeDiesel mentioned.

Great points. My buddy is in pest control ... he has a big tank in his work truck... he has mentioned the challenges... seems he goes through tires and brakes pretty often.

 

[cranbiz]

Water weighs close to 8 Lb per gallon. 100 Gal is 800 lbs then you need to add the weight of the pressure washer and fuel, soaps, etc. The tank isn't light and really should have baffles in it.

You are quickly exceeding the payload of a Gladiator. Like others have said, you really need a trailer.

 

[hjdca]

Pressure Washers Direct has "truck mounted pressure washers with tanks" - hot or cold on a steel platform, but, it seems they all require a 6 foot bed or 6.6 foot bed. You could add a bed extender, like used for motorcycles and keep your tailgate down, and also buy an engine picker from harbor freight or something like that to load and unload the whole platform when you want to take it out....

 

[SightsOfIron]

Could always get something like this too BEDSLIDE Product Family

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