Okay, so the Subaru with thule racks bit the dust in March, and I was in a fix as I quit my job and was broke. Luckily, I was able to work with a friend and save some money to buy an '88 Toyota pickup. I’m still rolling with a 2 ladder setup, and it works well, but hauling that thing around all day is heavy!
I know many will say to invest in a stack set, but I’ve been able to get to every window (aside from a skylight staircase set), so I can’t quite justify the expenditure.
The extension is a 27ft., 3-fly werner, and the step is a 4’. Would you just keep rocking this setup, or pick up a 17’ or a 20’? I told another window cleaner I’m tired of hauling ‘the beast’ around all day, and he recommended a 17. Another friend who runs her own show said the ladder she uses most is her 20’. At that point, we’re approaching the weight of the 27… Another option is to pick up a 17’ LG for versatility purposes (but it’s heavy), in which case I wouldn’t need to buy a ladder rack. If I bought a 17 or 20’ extension, it would be ridiculous not to mount a rack on the truck.
I’m still in growth mode (8 months in), so much of what I make goes back into the business.
Keith,
I worked on building my business with stacks. They were a pain to use on the outside compared to the extension ladders.
Having gone full time I am expanding my business as well and am following the experience of a friend who has been working it solid for the past 5 years. He has two extensions, 20’ and 28’ (which I just bought) and says this covers all his outside window and gutter needs. For indoors I have actually switched to using the Unger Indoor WFP system, (using my wfp pole but you can use other poles of course) for skylights and my friend is a wagtail fanboy and says he never takes a ladder indoors now with using the wagtail. YMMV but I hope these points might give you some options in your thought process…
Naw, I wouldn’t buy another extension. I’d save up for a wfp setup and a wrap for your truck. That truck should last a million miles and a wrap would make it look super sharp.
The ladder I use the most is the 17’ LG. It’s not that heavy compared to your 27 and it’s versatile enough for stairs and pretty much most inside work (I’ve had one house where I needed the 24" extension inside). The 27, to me, would be an outside only thing.
I’ve got a 22’ werner multiladder, but it’s a beast compared to the 17 lg but I don’t use it very often. Oh, and the 17’ werner multiladder is cheaper than the lg, but it’s heavier and not as well built.
Lowes & homedepot have those single ladder racks . It’ll make your truck look a little more professional and get your extension out of your bed where your gear is.
I don’t use ladders inside very often but when I do it’s the lg. I mainly use a pole (12’) and wagtail. For outside, I’ve got a backpack with pure water and that’ll get me pretty much anything outside except for ccu type cleans.
Definitely Werner mt17 if your on a budget comes in handy for me all the time but I would also recommend a 20 foot extension ladder
I have a crew I send out with every ladder from 2 to 32 and when I’m on my own with no trailer And no rack I use a Dodge Ram with 5.5 bed with a Werner mt 22 mt 17 and mt 13 or whatever it is heavy but get the Job done. I have stack ladders but rarely use them unless it’s a tight squeeze. Thanks Ross
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17’ LG with leveling feet built in (forgot the model) it is! I just landed an account with weird victorian windows above a staircase, so this should be good.
I likely won’t wrap the truck as the bed is already half wrapped in duct tape to cover up rust and a football sized hole. I have no idea how many miles it has on it because the instrument cluster has been replaced, but it hasn’t stalled since I gapped and put in NGK v-power plugs.
It’s the 2wd version of the hilux they tried to kill in top-gear, so it should be solid.
I’ll be getting this ladder rack because the LG will sit in the bed: TRUCK LADDER RACK $99
I won’t be going WFP for a while because I’d only use them for big commercial. I haven’t been able to achieve the same results as I do when using traditional methods, particularly on cut-ups. I’ll probably be getting a 20 at some point once the rack is installed and use it as my primary ladder. They’re quite a bit lighter than the 3 fly 27’.
Yeah but if you take care of it, it should last you pretty much as long as you want to keep it. When you get some duckets, go down to the junkyard and get a bed, then wrap the whole thing and you’ll have one of the sharpest window cleaning vehicles around.
When I did a lot of residential I used the 24 extention outside or piece ladder if 24 was to big. I always used price ladder inside. It always comes in handy for spots you just can’t put an extention ladder. Not only that but less chance of breaking stuff when bringing ladder inside.
This is what we kept on van and is what I will be doing when I go solo
3 ft step ladderror
6 ft step ladder
sectional ladder
24 ft extention
32 ft extention
wfp 30 ft pole
I could clean just about anything with this set up
one time I didn’t have immediate access to the 40 ft extention so we put 32 ft ladder at a 60° angle footed it and wfp off it
I remember those shamwow commercials! There just happened to be pieces of camping foam behind the seat when I bought the truck, so I used it to protect the cab. Why spend extra money on stuff out out of budget when I can be productive with what I have. I’ve found that it’s the person they’re talking to more-so than the truck. I’m getting a rack, but only for work-site efficiency and adaptability. No one has complained about my rig. They are excited about my work and persona. The nice stuff, I’ll buy when I can pay cash… I learned the hard way…
[MENTION=36863]walkthruglass[/MENTION] I use the same ladder. I feel that it’s pretty light; even with my heavy levelers on it. I use it for exterior/interior work. I do a lot of work in $500k-$1 million+ homes in Denver-metro area, I have never felt it was too big to handle on the inside. Getting a ladder rack will definitely free up space. Also, I use Werner’s quickclick stabilizer(standoff); it can be used with the ladder collapsed to its 9 ft. height.
I’m getting a ladder rack for business efficiency. “looking” professional, and being a person who trusts you right away regardless of the way you setup your rig are important factors when starting out from my experience. My relationships with my clients are almost like family. They want me to take them and their kids climbing and skiing… Eat dinner with them, etc. I’m only a year in… Very motivated.
That’s great that you can instill that kind of trust in your customers. But don’t forget that your image also a factor. I’m sure once your image match your customer service, you will be unstoppable.
I carry 24, 18 and 6’ ladders on the trucks and the same plus a 32’ on the trailers. I have a local welding shop make my racks for me. They build exactly what I want, powdercoat them and the cost is close to what you can get from the box stores. It provides local jobs and builds good will in the community
They’re all hippies and pot is legal. If you showed up on a bike and brought cookies, you’d get the job. Just kidding. Sort of.
In boulder, having a small truck like that shows you’re eco friendly (compared to the big gas guzzlers) but you need ladders (or else you’d be driving a subaru or a prius). Actually, a subaru would be a great work vehicle up there.
As long as he’s talking about fishing, biking, hiking, or whatever, they’ll probably like him.
Do they make ladder racks for Prius’s? If so, I’m suggesting it to ALL my hipster window cleaner friends… Maybe they’ll drive to Colorado, and come back a changed man?
