Truck Mount Cleaning Equipment

Truck mount carpet cleaning equipment (commonly called truck mounts) are the most widely used systems for professional carpet cleaners. They provide the advantages of more powerful machines for deeper, more thorough cleaning and faster drying times. This reduces the amount of labor needed per job and improves the job turnaround thereby allowing the operator/owner to do more work in less time. The manufacturers of these machines continue to add features and functions that make them easier to operate and quieter in operation.

Slide-in truck mounts are the most common and widely used. They are called ‘slide-in’ because they slide into the vehicle and are bolted to the van’s floor. They are self powered with their own motor and can be installed in many different types of carpet cleaning vans regardless of age.

Van powered truck mounts are relatively new to the scene and sold primarily by Hydramaster. These units are powered by the van engine itself via a special belt-driven shaft and clutch assembly installed between the passenger and driver seats. They have the advantage of being easier to operate and take up less space in the van. However, they have more stringent requirements on van type and age and are much more difficult to transfer to another vehicle.

Truck mounted cleaning machines

Truck mounts come in many shapes and sizes but all share these basic characteristics to be used for comparison purposes:

Self-Powered – a key benefit of truck mounts is the ability to generate their own power thus making them self-contained without the need of any outside support e.g. customers electricity. They use either gasoline or propane on engines ranging from 16hp to 60hp. The smaller engines are usually air-cooled with some of the larger models being water-cooled.

Water Power – truck mounts can use high pressure water systems usually in the range of 300-400 psi. This high pressure improves the cleaning process and, if synchronized correctly with the vacuum system, can result in less residual water on the carpet.

Water Temperature – one of the more significant benefits of a truck mounted system is the ability to generate higher water temperatures. They use their own water via on-board tanks which can be heated to higher temperatures than portable cleaners and thus facilitate better extraction of soils and dirt. The higher temperatures also help release the cleaning agents in the chemicals used for carpet cleaning. These systems can deliver water at 150-180 degrees F which is safe for any carpet.

Vacuum Power – truck mounts are able to use positive displacement vacuum pumps thus allowing them to clean several hundred feet from the unit with little loss of efficiency. This gives them a real advantage over the larger portable systems and is one of the key reason for their wide adoption. Vacuum is measured in CFM (cubic feet per minute) with these machines able to generate 290 CFM to as high as 405 CFM. This capability results in deeper cleaning and faster drying times.

There are several companies that produce truck mount carpet cleaning equipment. Most of these companies have been around for years thus giving the customer a wide selection of quality equipment. Most companies make multiple models ranging in size and price to satisfy the smallest owner/operator to the largest commercial cleaner. Features, functions and prices all vary so be prepared to spend some time to compare each companies products.

These are the major companies to review:

•    Hydramaster

•    ProChem

•    Sapphire

•    Blueline

•    Butler Sytem

•    WhiteMagic

•    Steam-Brite

Maintenance of truck mount carpet cleaning equipment needs to be considered at the time of purchase. First off, installation into your van requires a trained technician to insure proper operation and safety. Secondly, you will be entering into a long-term maintenance relationship with the company so you need to insure they have the right amount of expertise in your local area to handle any mechanical repairs you might need. A local service facility and parts inventory is an important consideration when evaluating different products. Finally, make sure you understand the warranty for the product you’re purchasing. These machines are work horses, day-in and day-out, so you need to unserstand your protection should something fail.