mhiscox
Expedition Leader
For a while, and still around as of today, Orange Onions has offered a 12-volt pressure washer for $40 plus shipping. I'm as skeptical as the next guy, but figured the worst that could happen is that I could tell everyone it's useless.
Well, it's kind of an interesting thing. Not as a pressure washer, though. In spite of dire warnings about all the damage it could do you--and you could, I suppose, put the proverbial eye out--it's maximum pressure is about the same as the flow from the "jet" setting on a garden hose nozzle and the flow is a good deal less. The nozzle can adjust down to a spray that you could water plants with or spray for bugs. Even on full pressure, it just stings a little if you put your hand in front of the spray.
But while too wimpy to qualify as a "pressure" washer, it is a nicely self-contained way to store three gallons of liquid and then squirt it somewhere. It did have enough power to get the bugs off the Sprinter's windshield once I put some soap in the mix, and it sort of washed the truck. Not as good as a self-service car wash, but not totally lame. If you had the right kind of mud attached to your vehicle, it could probably get it off.
It would likely prove handy for washing off picnic tables, cleaning tarps, etc., most anything you could get done with three gallons of water and a garden hose. It's not got the power of $40 woth of RV style water pump, but as a self-contained thing with a hose, nozzle and container, it might be a reasonable choice.
It's not poorly constructed. The plastic connectors look absolutely mickey-mouse, but the worked fine and didn't leak a drop, nor did the nozzle. The 12V cord is detachable, with the normal "lighter" connection on the inlet end. And it's kind of nice the way everything tucks into the pockets on the side
As I say, there's an adjustment on the nozzle from a narrow stream to a spray. One of the more interesting questions is whether I can fill the tank and carry it on the roof, have it pick up some solar gain and have a trick easy-to-use shower system. I'm thinking it will work. Alternately, use cooler water and "mist" everyone at the campsite on a hot day. (Or have yourself a high-tech glamper way to put out the campfire.
)
You absolutely wouldn't want to pay the $170 list price for this thing, but at $40 you might find it handy and maybe have some fun thinking up worthwhile uses for it.
http://www.orangeonions.com/product/MNOM35ORG/Nomad_H2O_OnTheGo_Portable_Power_Washer.html
Well, it's kind of an interesting thing. Not as a pressure washer, though. In spite of dire warnings about all the damage it could do you--and you could, I suppose, put the proverbial eye out--it's maximum pressure is about the same as the flow from the "jet" setting on a garden hose nozzle and the flow is a good deal less. The nozzle can adjust down to a spray that you could water plants with or spray for bugs. Even on full pressure, it just stings a little if you put your hand in front of the spray.
But while too wimpy to qualify as a "pressure" washer, it is a nicely self-contained way to store three gallons of liquid and then squirt it somewhere. It did have enough power to get the bugs off the Sprinter's windshield once I put some soap in the mix, and it sort of washed the truck. Not as good as a self-service car wash, but not totally lame. If you had the right kind of mud attached to your vehicle, it could probably get it off.
It would likely prove handy for washing off picnic tables, cleaning tarps, etc., most anything you could get done with three gallons of water and a garden hose. It's not got the power of $40 woth of RV style water pump, but as a self-contained thing with a hose, nozzle and container, it might be a reasonable choice.
It's not poorly constructed. The plastic connectors look absolutely mickey-mouse, but the worked fine and didn't leak a drop, nor did the nozzle. The 12V cord is detachable, with the normal "lighter" connection on the inlet end. And it's kind of nice the way everything tucks into the pockets on the side
As I say, there's an adjustment on the nozzle from a narrow stream to a spray. One of the more interesting questions is whether I can fill the tank and carry it on the roof, have it pick up some solar gain and have a trick easy-to-use shower system. I'm thinking it will work. Alternately, use cooler water and "mist" everyone at the campsite on a hot day. (Or have yourself a high-tech glamper way to put out the campfire.
)
You absolutely wouldn't want to pay the $170 list price for this thing, but at $40 you might find it handy and maybe have some fun thinking up worthwhile uses for it.
http://www.orangeonions.com/product/MNOM35ORG/Nomad_H2O_OnTheGo_Portable_Power_Washer.html