A high pressure washer originally designed for cleaning up road construction equipment is catching on fast with farmers who heard about it through word of mouth.

"We've been making and selling a hydraulic-powered, high pressure washer for mounting directly onto large construction equipment for six or seven years," says Mike Hansen, product manager, Pace, Inc. "Prospective customers kept asking if they could run the washer units on their skid steer loaders so we decided to make a skid steer unit. That unit was so popular we've made one that mounts on a 3-pt hitch for easy use around the farm."

The Brandon, South Dakota firm hasn't begun actively marketing the power washer to the farm market, but word-of-mouth sales are strong and it's easy to see why. The 4 gpm pump pushes out water at 2,500 to 3,000 psi, depending on the hydraulics powering it. A 10-20 gpm hydraulic system operating at 2,300 to 2,500 psi is required to power the washer.

The self-contained washer unit comes complete with water pump, 65 gal. water tank, 50 ft. hose, gun and wand. A water filter protects the pressure pump, and water can be sourced either from the tank or from a water hose. A pressure gauge, flow control valve, and unloader valve are standard. The water pump is partially protected by an easily removed plate that also serves as a step on one side of the unit.

Flow and pressure from the hydraulic-powered pump are easily controlled by increasing or decreasing engine rpm's. At four gpm, the 65 gal. tank can provide sufficient water for more than a quarter of an hour continual washing.

Mounted on a steel platform with a Melroe style backplate, the pressure washer rolls in like a bucket or any other attachment. It attaches quickly to a wide range of skid steer loaders including the Bobcat 600, 700, 7700 and 800 series; the Case 1835C, 1838, 1840 and 1845C, New Holland L464, L465, LX465, L565, LX565, LX665; and John Deere 4475, 6675 and 7775.

The unit also mounts on a tractor Cat. II hitch, using 3-pt. hitch adapters that attach to the platform.