| The capabilities of small carpet cleaning companies are | | | | use a clutch-type mechanism that attaches to the |
| significantly improved with the use of truck mount | | | | drive-train to transfer power from the van's engine |
| carpet cleaning equipment. This equipment, mounted | | | | to the cleaning machine. This requires much closer |
| in a regular cargo van or box truck, provides cleaning | | | | integration between the van and the truck mount |
| power to match that of the largest service provider. | | | | equipment. |
| These truck mounts, as they're called, are used to | | | | The primary advantages of this type of machine is |
| perform carpet steam cleaning which is the preferred | | | | the quiet and efficient power they can provide. A |
| method for cleaning most carpets. There are two | | | | late model van at idle makes very little noise and can |
| different types of truck mounts, slide-ins and van | | | | provide all the power required and more. They are |
| powered (or sometimes called direct drive). Let's | | | | also very efficient with space utilization, usually being |
| take a look at the pros and cons of each type. | | | | installed directly behind the front seats using the |
| The slide-in truck mounts are so called because they | | | | console area as the place to attach to the drive-train. |
| slide into a regular van and are bolted to the floor. | | | | This leaves plenty of room available for the other |
| This makes them very flexible and relatively easy to | | | | equipment needed to fit out a carpet cleaning van. |
| setup. They are powered by gasoline or propane | | | | The primary disadvantage of these truck mounts is |
| motors that are integrated with the overall cleaning | | | | the lack of flexibility and cost. The companies that |
| machine thus transforming regular cargo vans into | | | | manufacture these machines usually have strict |
| service ready carpet cleaning vans. | | | | requirements on the age and make/model of the |
| The primary advantage of these truck mounts is the | | | | van. A specialist is required to install this type of |
| ability to use them in any make or model cargo van, | | | | machine. They are powerful machines and usually the |
| new or used. This provides a lot of flexibility | | | | top-of-the-line for the vendor. Thus, their cost makes |
| especially for small operators who can acquire used | | | | them better suited to a more established carpet |
| vans to start their business while minimizing their | | | | cleaning service. |
| capital outlay. The major disadvantage is the noise | | | | Both of these truck mounts can provide excellent |
| and heat these machines can generate. They're the | | | | capabilities for any size carpet cleaning business. Each |
| equivalent of small air-cooled generators and need to | | | | business operator will have to make his own decision |
| be constantly running during the cleaning process. | | | | based upon his vehicle of choice and the scope of |
| The van powered truck mounts use a different | | | | services provided. |
| source for their power supply...the van itself. They | | | | |