Thanks for the inquiry. Here are several answers from prior e-mails that have asked basically the same question- ---------------- A truck mount, like any item's results depend on the operator, not on the equipment. Anyone can screw something up if they don't know what they are doing, or have poor results. The real benefit of a truck mount is less labor intensive for better results, generally, over a portable. Yes, it cost more initially, but with proper maintenance, they last forever. My present one is a 1985 model. My first one was a 1976 model, and it is still running every day. Your dollar per hour income can increase without raising your fees, but if you also raise your fees, your dollar per income has no upper limits. Plus, they are a big improvement for doing water damage extractions over a portable. Go for the best one- don't skimp and get a cheap one because it is cheap, made of cheap components. This is the kiss of death. Same as with anything. --------- I have operated truck mounts since 1976. I have had slide-ins and CDS units. The total operating costs for slide-ins is more than for CDS units, because of the extra weight to haul it around, purchasing kerosine, fuel oil, or propane, in addition to the gasoline it uses while running, plus the gasoline used to haul it around, extra wear on the trucks brakes, shocks, etc. because of the weight, plus upkeep on the slide-in's engine. Running the TM off the truck's engine is at a low idle, and the gasoline consumption is about 1 gallon per hour of operating time. I am presently running a 1985 Chev Astro with a Ballweber CDS in it. As of April 2000, the chassis has 203,000 miles on it, and approximately equivelant miles of 400,000 miles running the engine turning the machine. The engine has not had any major repairs, just regular maintenance. The total cost is a great deal less, and this is my 3rd CDS unit. Do yourself a favor, and get a CDS unit. ------- In my opinion a heat exchanger is better- for several reasons- With a separate fuel, sometimes you run out, before you finish a job, and have to break down, go get that fuel, which is never convenient to the job, go back and finish the job. Where will the extra fuel be stored? Under the truck, or inside the truck? Where will you get it, and what is the cost of the fuel, the tanks, the plumbing, etc, etc. I have had both, and after a SECOND steam explosion when the thermostat failed with a propane fired model, I said forget it, and went for a heat exchanger CDS type. The heat exchanger type cannot generate more heat than you can use, unlike any separate fired type. There is also the maintenance and repairs on the separate fuel system, soot accumulations in the truck, etc. None of that with the heat exchanger system. -------------- Any slide-in weighs more than any CDS. You have to haul it around 100% of the time. The additional weight is harder on tires, brakes, shocks, etc, more gas consumption to carry it around all of the time, Higher cost and frequency of maintenance on the separate engine, etc. Some CDS machines are geared up, so the van's engine turns about 1100 to 1300 RPM, for the blower to turn at 2200 to 2600 RPM. Some CDS machines are a direct drive, and the van engine turns at 2200 to 2600 RPMs. With the higher engine speed on those machines, yes, you will use more gas, harder on moving components such as power steering, water pump, etc. I have had all 3 kinds of truck mounts, and I have found the geared up types are lower total operating cost than the others. My present one is a 1985 model, and very little maintenance on it other than grease and oil. -------- I have leased, then bought the last 2 I have had, both CDS TMs. One Ford, one Chev. No problems. A friend has a CDS in a Ford with a diesel engine in it, and he loves it. I know someone else with a Dodge and his CDS. So, they can go into any van. I agree about checking with your attorney, and accountant and have him check out the lease agreement first. Some of these can be VERY tricky. ------- Re temperature in cleaning. Generally, the hotter, the better. However, a point is reached where the benefits begin to drop off. You will find that 180 degrees is perfectly adequate for most all cleaning, and more heat than 180 does not mean more cleaning. Heat over 180 cost more than the rise to 180 degrees, and is harder on all components. Over 190 degrees, the efficacy of the solution begins to drop off, so if you had 240 degrees, it would only give the same kind of results as 160 degrees. Of course there is the cleaning formula used to take into consideration, too. Some formulas degrade with heat over a certain point. Cleaning formulas are not all the same. There are a lot of factors to take into consideration when selecting a machine, not just heat. A better thing to consider, in my opinion, is total overall costs. What will it cost per year/month/week/day for routine operation, frequency and cost of maintenance, weight of the components, space in the truck, etc. I don't recommend any brand, but I think you will find over the course of a year, and into the future, the CDS types of machines have a lower total cost. You need to talk to a couple of people who have each type of machine and get their input before buying anything. ---------- I know several people who started out with slide-ins in trailers. They were fine for city streets, or come directly in a driveway, and back out onto the street. Lots of driveways are too short for a car and trailer. Lots of driveways are curved. Some driveways are steep and curved. A few are steep, and double curved, with trees, bushes, etc, and are IMPOSSIBLE to back up or down. Forget the trailer, and go for a van, and save yourself a big headache. ----------- Consider this. It takes 11 horsepower to run a size 4 blower at maximum load, and it takes 3 horsepower to run the Cat, or other water pump at full load. Most of the time you are not running under full load, but you do want the extra horsepower when you need it, and not have the engine bog down under a load. So... I suggest going for the most powerful engine, and have it loaf, rather than having a weak engine struggling to keep going. Which one will last the longest? The more powerful one. This is reason #469 to get a CDS. ------- Every slide-in weighs more than any CDS. Every slide-in takes up more space than a CDS. Every slide-in takes time to warm up on the job, the CDS is hot and ready to go when you arrive at the job. Every slide-in is a lot more noisy when running than any CDS. Every slide-in is a maintenance hog, and some are a maintenance nightmare, CDS machines are all simple, and require very little maintenance. Some slide-ins require disassembling the engine every 500 hours, and de-carbonizing it, then re-assembling the engine. Never with a CDS. With a slide-in, the parts that break are usually behind several things, and you have to remove these to get at the broken part, adding to the total down time. With a CDS, everything is in plain sight with the shroud off, and easy to replace a broken part. Some slide-in engines are not dependable, and require a lot of maintenance and repair. All slide-in engines require some maintenance that the truck engine also requires, such as oil changes, grease, spark plugs, distributor, oil and air filters, etc. Why add to the total maintenance time and cost, when the truck engine also needs these, but the total is only half of the machine's engine. --------- RE: moving the machine from one truck to another, for any reason- it takes about 2 days to move a CDS machine from one truck to another. The cost runs about $500.00 on average. It takes 2 days to move a slide-in from one truck to another, and the cost runs about $500.00 on average. I have done both of these moves, and this is the way it goes. --------------- All 3 of my CDS machines were 6 cylinders. One Ford, one Chev, one Astro. Since it only takes 11 to 15 horsepower to run the CDS, there is no reason to require a V-8 engine. That depends on the truck you select. Running a CDS actually extends the truck's engine life, not shortens it. the reason is- keeping the engine hot, and fully lubricated, means it will run virtually forever. Yes, external things wear out. I have replaced the starter on my Astro 3 times. The water pump 3 times. The power steering pump twice. Rebuilt the carburetor once. The engine has never been apart. Routine tuneups, oil and grease at 3000 miles. Very low overhead. Not bad for over 500,000 miles equivelant. -------- Re- brands of CDS- the Ballweber is no longer being made, or I would recommend that. The Butler, Cleanco, White Magic, Hydramaster, and recently Prochem with their hydraulic machine on the market. OK, I have looked at all of these, and in my opinion, the Cleanco, made in Canada is the best engineered one. The Butler is good, but badly designed, and takes up as much space and as heavy as any slide in. Reliable, but poorly thought out. Same with Prochem's and Hydramaster's. I had a Hydramaster for 5 years, as a second truck for my employee, and would not have another. If I was going to buy one today, it would be a Cleanco, for many reasons. -------- Any more questions? Gary Eagles may soar, but weasels aren't sucked into jet engines.