Electric Power Washer Recommendations

I'm thinking of buying an electric power washer to use, primarily, for my truck. I already have a gas powered one that I use for big jobs but it's too large to keep in the garage - stays down in our barn garage until I need it. I also don't want to spend a bunch of dollars just for a limited use tool.

Anyone found anything decent for under $150?

 

Most of the electrics are $150 and lower. The Karcher 1700 is supposed to be a decent one and I believe has standard fittings so if you've got a much better hose and gun with your other setup it can transfer over without any adapters. This isn't the case with the cheaper electrics or even other Karchers that you'll need adapters for. Bringing this up because most of these units have awful hoses and guns. Highly recommend a longer hose and better gun like a comercial one from MTM. Believe Greenworks is another brand with standard fittings on the PW outlet.

 

I highly recommend this one as I have one and its the most quiet electric pressure washer I have ever used. High quality stuff!

https://www.obsessedgarage.com/coll...tion/products/kranzle-k1322ts-pressure-washer

 

Blue Clean

$199 AR383 Electric Pressure Washer-1900 PSI, 1.51 GPM, 14 Amps Bayonet Connect Accessories, On Board Storage, Portable Pressure Washer, High Pressure, Car Washer, Siding, Driveways, Patio

AR383, $130 at Amazon. 5 years and like new, just don't let it freeze.

 

I've had two different electric pressure washers, and both shit the bed on me. First one was a ryobi and the second one harbor freight (that one's less surprising). I broke down and bought a gas one and it's so much better. This isn't the input you're looking for but thought I would weigh in. Personally I wouldn't bother with one, based on my experience.

 

i do appreciate the feedback. I have a gas powered one that I use for larger jobs and actually have an old Stihl electric that my father-in-law bought years ago. It worked well for smaller jobs but it won't build up pressure past about 650psi and loses pressure totally at random intervals - I'm sure it's just worn out. So, I did order a relatively inexpensive Greenworks and an upgraded foam cannon. At worst, I'm out $85 for the pressure washer and I'll use the gas system.

 

Sun Joe 2030 from home depot

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Sun-Joe...mp-Electric-Pressure-Washer-SPX3000/204202850

I have owned a few karchers in the past and the overall build quality and performance between the two are pretty significant.

 

So, reading into this a bit, thinking about a foam cannon and the pressure washer. Is the purpose of the foam cannon and subsequent foam juice (be it Griot's, Blackfire, CarPro, Chem Bros (oops, Chem guys, no music involved) Gyeon, Poorboy's) to give the said user the ability of washing the auto without the microfiber mitt? and therefore less contact? The only touch part would be the towel dry?

Or, as I still use, is the 2 bucket method, still acceptable? The only thing a cannon brings is foam all over quicker? My experience in sub10% humidity AZ is that the foam stuff starts to dry before you can get it wiped and washed down. My experience was with the Adam's hose pressure foam canon-lite, not a "real" foam cannon.

 

Unfortunately, not at all. Contact cleaning is eventually a must otherwise you're just accumulating the kind of film that will not wash off even with decent soap and wash media. The purpose of a foam cannon is in theory to make it just a little bit safer that when you foam up the vehicle the soap will breakup some of the dirt so it can be rinsed away so your mitt doesn't drag on it. Does this really happen, maybe but the dirt would have likely washed off with a strong hose or pressure washer anyway. Otherwise it's supposed to look cool I guess, though not sure anything to do with washing a car will ever look cool unless you're under a Setting Sun. I do think the pressure washer is well worth it otherwise for car washing.

Personally I'm not a fan of the multi bucket washing, grit guards or otherwise. At some point one of the buckets are full of dirty water if not both. I'm a fan of multiple mitts like 4 or more that never go back in the soap bucket when they hit the car. You could also do multiple microfiber rags, whatever you like. Or use one mitt and use a pressure washer to rinse it clean between sections, it will do better than a rinse bucket.

 

The only time I use a foam cannon is during the winter when my vehicles are covered in salt/brine. The foam helps to loosen everything. It does a great job on the undercarriage too which as everyone knows is a must with Tacoma frames.

 

I've been running AR Blue AR390SS for 3yrs now, its dedicated for car washing/detailing. I bring it inside during winter months. My cars are ceramic coated, so I power wash, foam cannon, rinse, blow dry with leaf blower I put cheese cloth over inlet as to not suck up anything. If really dirty, power wash, foam, 3 bucket method wash/rinse/wheels, rinse and blow dry.

 

The foam cannon allows you to put soap on the truck let it soak and roll off contamination without using any mitt. Eventually you’ll use mitt but get as much off before that. Grit guard a must or you’ll be grinding dirt into paint. Depending on how dirty the vehicle is you might refill the bucket with fresh soap and water more than once during wash.