As a truck wash business owner, you undoubtedly want to invest in the right truck wash equipment. Having the right truck wash equipment can be an asset to your vehicle detailing business. It is equivalent to quality service and better returns.

Determining which ones are worth investing in can be tricky though, as there are plenty of truck wash equipment in the market. Innovative products and state-of-the-art equipment abound! You probably already have several lists of must-haves from various sources.But how, exactly, should you choose?

Remember that there are several things to consider when making a decision on which truck wash equipment to invest in. What type is your truck wash? Are you just starting out or expanding? How much is your budget? What types and how many trucks do you wash in a regular day?

Truck Wash Equipment: How to Choose the Ones to Invest In

Here are some tips to help you decide which equipment to spend your money on:

Invest on truck wash equipment that is appropriate for the services you offer

If your truck wash business provides hand wash services, investing in traditional hose and bucket might seem more economical but in reality, it might not be the best option. Just imagine the length of hose that a semi-truck or a 53′ truck will require, the amount of water you need to prevent soap from drying on the surface, the wastewater treatment facility you have to build to prevent chemical runoff and the time you need to finish detailing. You might just end up spending more for what you bargained for.

A steam pressure washer, on the other hand, uses just two gallons of water for detailing a whole truck, does not require several feet of hose, cleans the entire vehicle in half the time and does not need a water treatment facility.

In other words, consider how the equipment will affect your day-to-day operations, from the convenience of both your detailers to the effectiveness of your service. Here’s another example: A vacuum cleaner is essential to clean the interior of the truck. Invest on a powerful wet and dry vacuum cleaner. It is a very valuable equipment for a truck wash. Cleaning the upholstery and carpets would be a cinch with a wet and dry vacuum cleaner. If you plan on offering additional services, like truck detailing, then you will need to invest on additional equipment. You would need to invest on rotary buffers, polishing equipment, etc.

Invest on truck wash equipment according to the type of your truck wash

There are generally two types of truck wash and detailing businesses – fixed and mobile. A fixed truck wash business operates out of one location where they provide their services. A mobile truck wash, on the other hand, usually operates out of a trailer or a truck. If you have a fixed truck wash business, it would not be advisable for you to invest in a mobile steam cleaner. On the other hand, if you are looking to expand and offer mobile truck wash services, a mobile steam cleaner should be on your list of equipment to have.

Invest on truck wash equipment as your truck wash business grows

Another thing to consider when choosing the truck wash equipment to invest on is your business plan. If you are just starting your truck wash business, you can start with a long hose and big buckets. As your clientele multiplies, you can consider investing on a steam pressure washer. Depending on your budget, you can opt to rent them, buy used wash equipment or a brand new one.

As your business grows, you can then consider going big time. You can start considering investing on automated truck wash systems. There are several types that you can choose from, whether you have a fixed truck wash or a mobile truck wash. Again, it’s important that you consider the different factors. There are mobile systems for a mobile truck wash. There are automated truck wash systems that can wash several trucks in an hour. So you can choose the system, depending on the number of trucks you have to wash in a day. There are also automated self-service systems if you have a self-service kind of truck wash. When considering going automatic, remember that it is important that you invest on truck wash equipment according to the services that you offer. Is automated the way you want to go? You may want to steer clear of automated systems and highlight the personal touch that your personnel puts on every washing job. In this case, you would want to skip investing on automated systems and invest in personnel instead .

Conclusion

Selecting the cheapest equipment to use in your business may end up costing you more and may also ruin the reputation of your business. Of course, you want the best truck wash equipment for your truck wash. But then again, the most expensive truck wash equipment is not always the best for you. Therefore, it is important that you take into consideration all the important factors when making the decision on which truck wash equipment is worth investing on. The truck wash equipment worthy of your investment is the one that can go with the direction your truck wash business is taking.

The list of questions when choosing which equipment to invest on can go on and on. Considering a franchise can eliminate all these questions and worries because your business partners’ extensive business experience can help you in your business venture. Check out the DetailXPerts franchise opportunity today!