High pressure cleaners

[Silver dub]

I'm after some advice on buying a new pressure cleaner.

I've been borrowing dad's karcher 5.20 every now an then when he's not using it and it's time i brought one myself.

So i'm keen to hear everyone's advice on what good, what's not so good, what you use at home or even work.

I was about to just go and buy a karcher but i'm keen to explore some other brands now.

The only couple of things i would like is to have a good sized pressure hose so i can leave it set up in the garange and not have to drag it out all the time and possibly a wind up wheel for the pressure hose which i noticed some of the karcher and gerni models now have.

[FJ Steve]

I have a Karcher. Wheel it out and connect it every time I used it (usually once a week). Bought it to ensure I could get the brake dust of the wheels with minimum fuss. I don't rely on it to clean the rest of the car. That is done by hand, but I will rinse the car off with the pressure cleaner, using the variable pressure wand, set at medium.

[Silver dub]

What Model karcher do you have?

[FJ Steve]

K3.97M Plus

[DMS_Dan]

I have the K6.99 plus or something. It came with a 10m hose. However recently it has begun developing problems that my last 2 karchers have died from. It has a leak somewhere in the system which means occasionally when your not using it it re-pressurises itself.

My advice would be get the cheapest unit you can find (of any brand) that has a brass or alloy pump and then spend the extra cash on a 10m hose and a foam lance from CCP

[Silver dub]

I have the K6.99 plus or something. It came with a 10m hose. However recently it has begun developing problems that my last 2 karchers have died from. It has a leak somewhere in the system which means occasionally when your not using it it re-pressurises itself.

My advice would be get the cheapest unit you can find (of any brand) that has a brass or alloy pump and then spend the extra cash on a 10m hose and a foam lance from CCP

Dan my dad's has been re-pressurising when your not using it for the last year or so and he's already sent it back twice and still keeps happening. It's really annoying as i actually have to turn it off every time i finish spraying otherwise after a minute or so it starts kicking over and continues unless i turn if off.

I have completely ruled out all the washes without a brass or alloy pump.

I have been looking more at the "gerni" brand ones lately as when i compare one of their units to a similar pressure karcher the gerni's seem to be around $100-150 cheaper than the karchers.

But yes, at the end of the day all pressure washes have their problems not matter what brand you buy but i'm thinking the gerni is cheaper and if it does stuff up it's less $$$$ that i have spent.

I was looking at the spray lances on the car care products site the other day, obviously you think their worth getting?

[Silver dub]

Well i ended up buying a Gerni 140.2 some months ago.

Absolutely over the moon with it and i was surprised how much quieter it was than the karcher.

Came with a foam lance which really helps to soften those dam bugs.

I ended up purchasing 3 of them, one for my dad and my boss and really saved on price!

[Transporter]

Good choice.
I got a quote for foaming attachment for my Karcher 650HD, at $240 I gave it a miss.

[Silver dub]

Why don't you get the autobrite snow foam lance from carcareproducts?

I've heard they are really good and a fraction of the price to the Karcher one you were quoted,

They are also on sale at the moment,

Car Care Products / Autobrite / Exterior / Foam Lance & Pre-Wash / Snow Foam Lance

[Transporter]

Thanks for that,
I almost forgot that they sell them, will probably get it with my next order from them.

[craig_the_german]

I had a small (I think the cheapest) Karcher for about the last 10 years. Seemed to go for ever...however in the last 6 months or so it has been repressurising itself once you release the trigger...as already mentioned in this thread. Spoke to the guys from Karcher who said that it was caused by a crack in the pump housing and that all pressure washers with a plastic pump will do it eventually. Finally it seized last weekend and is now in the trailer ready to go to the tip

I figure I spent about $100 on it 10 years ago and has given 10 years of trouble free use.....I'll just fork out another $100 for the next 10 years

[Transporter]

Look also at the Gerni, it's made by Nilfisk and may be a better buy. I checked Karcher 3.xx series and the pressure from it was not much greater than from the garden hose jet nozzle.

[CarbonVW]

Reviving this thread!

I just used my old mans Karcher fo the first time to wash my car this week. Dam, the thing made the whole cleaner process so much faster and produced the best results thus far for cleaning my car.

I suggest people who are serious about cleaning their cars invest in a high pressure washer!

[NickZ]

I recently bought a Gurni 125.2. Is there anything I should avoid doing with it on the car that could damage the paint? The one that is obvious to me is to maintain some distance when using and if it has variable control to not use it at the highest setting, but any other advice is appreciated.

[Corey_R]

Are there any battery powered or 12v powered high pressure cleaners?