The lease on the compound ends on Friday, the new space has a borehole and a gate wide enough for a truck, and you are standing in a yard full of wet hoses, two pressure washers, a compressor, vacuum cleaners and three plastic tanks. A car wash looks light until you start counting what is actually bolted, plumbed or wired into the ground.
The move goes well when you separate what is equipment from what is installation, and when you drain everything before it touches the truck.
Walk the yard and list what stays
Before you call a driver, walk the compound with a notebook. Write down every item and mark it as moving or staying.
- Pressure washers, hoses, spray guns and lances.
- Air compressor and its hose reels.
- Wet and dry vacuum cleaners, polishers and buffing machines.
- Water tanks, pumps and any borehole fittings you own.
- Generator, extension reels and any distribution board on the wall.
- Shade frames, benches, sign boards, drying racks and the waiting-area chairs.
- Chemicals: shampoo, wax, tyre shine, degreaser and polish.
Anything the landlord owns, such as the borehole itself or fixed tiling, stays. Settle that in writing before moving day, not during it.
Drain, disconnect and dry
Water is the enemy of a clean move. A full tank on a truck is heavy and slops around, and a pressure washer with water left inside can leak into everything below it.
- Run each pressure washer until the pump is empty, then coil the hoses and tie them.
- Drain the tanks completely. Rinse and let them dry in the sun if you can.
- Switch off the generator and let it cool. Follow the manufacturer's guidance for fuel, and carry fuel separately from the load, not inside the machine. Our generator moving checklist covers this.
- Have an electrician disconnect any wiring from the wall. Do not pull cables out yourself.
For the plumbing side, moving a borehole pump, water tank and plumbing fittings is the useful read.
Pack the chemicals separately
Car wash chemicals leak, smell and sometimes react with each other. Keep them in their original containers with the caps taped, stand them upright in a plastic crate, and put the crate where nothing can fall on it. Never load chemicals next to food, passengers' bags or the generator.
If a container is already cracked, empty it into a sound one outdoors, or leave it behind. A spill in the truck bed will take longer to clean than the whole move.
Protect the machines
Pressure washers and compressors have exposed pump heads and gauges. Wrap each in a blanket or old towel and lay the gauges on the side facing the cab wall. Compressors are heavy and sit on small wheels, so strap them to the truck wall instead of trusting the brakes.
Buffing machines and polishers have soft pads that pick up grit. Bag them separately. Vacuum cleaners go in last, because they are light and can sit on top.
Ready to move?
Request a truck or van on Sphere
Choose your vehicle, propose your price, and verified drivers in Lagos, Abuja and Ibadan accept or send a counter-offer.
Lift with the right people
A compressor with a full tank is more than two people should try. Ask the driver what help is available, and agree loading and offloading help before you accept an offer. Our guide to lifting heavy items safely is worth sharing with whoever is carrying.
If the new compound has a step or a ditch at the gate, bring planks or a ramp. Do not drag a compressor across a bare floor.
Plan the loading order
- Compressor and generator first, strapped against the cab wall.
- Water tanks, empty and nested if their size allows.
- Pressure washers and vacuum cleaners above them, wrapped.
- The chemical crate in a corner you can reach, wedged upright.
- Shade frames, benches, signs and chairs last.
Unload in the opposite order. Set up the water and power before the first customer arrives, and test the pressure washer before you open.
Choosing the vehicle
If you only own one washer, a vacuum and a few tanks, a pickup van may cope with two trips. A full car wash with a compressor, generator, shade frames and tanks needs a truck. See how to choose the right truck size if you are unsure.
How to do this on Sphere
Open the Sphere app, choose a truck or pickup van, add the pickup and drop-off and describe the load in plain terms. For example: "two pressure washers, one air compressor, a generator, three empty water tanks, shade frames and a crate of chemicals". Propose a price. Nearby verified drivers accept it or send counter-offers, and you choose the one you want.
Useful pages: truck hire in Lagos and business moves in Lagos. If your yard is closer to a mechanic shop, read relocating a mechanic workshop.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move a pressure washer with water still inside?
Better not to. Run it until the pump is empty so nothing leaks onto the rest of the load.
How should I move an air compressor?
Drain the tank, wrap the gauges, strap it to the truck wall and use enough people to lift it.
Can chemicals travel with the equipment?
Yes, if they are in sealed original containers, upright in a crate and kept away from the generator and anything fragile.
Do I need a truck or a pickup van?
A small set-up may fit a pickup van in two trips. A full yard with a compressor, generator and tanks is a truck job.
What should I tell the driver about the load?
Give counts and mention the compressor and generator. Say whether there are steps or a ditch at either gate.
Request your move
Request a truck or van on Sphere
Choose your vehicle, propose your price, and verified drivers in Lagos, Abuja and Ibadan accept or send a counter-offer.
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