GEAR-001  FLEET & GEAR NCO · SUNDAY SERIES · WEEK 1

Inventory as of August 30, 2026

Full pull-out of all three vans and the trailer. 98 photos, two walkthroughs, one driveway. Everything cataloged, condition-tagged, and headed back into a van with a job to do.

← Gear reportsVan gear checkBuy list

BLUF The gear base is deep and the big machines are healthy. Three real problems: the 8" collector flex hose is at end of life fleet-wide, one van has a motor oil spill (source found and contained), and strap hardware is rusted out everywhere. Plus two storage hazards fixed on the spot. Handle those and this fleet is squared away.

The Fleet

Three CQA vans and trailer
The fleet. Three wrapped Promaster vans plus the enclosed trailer, emptied for the full catalog.
Full driveway gear spread
Everything out. The first-half spread staged for sorting.
VanStatusNotes
Van 1 (oil van)Needs workEmptied except hose reel, gas vacuum, compressor. Motor oil on rear floor, degrease in progress. Its compressor has a sticky pressure relief valve, replacement on the buy list.
Van 2Needs workBottom and bulkhead cleaned. Compressor on pallet needs a permanent mount. Disconnected ground cable getting terminated properly.
Van 3BlockedCompressor strapped properly, likely the working one. Rear can't be unloaded, key missing.

Big Machines

John Deere compressor
John Deere / Honda GX compressor. Near-new. Needs a permanent mount instead of the wood pallet.
RS3 rotary screw compressor
Compressed Air Systems RS3. Honda GX390, 150 psi. Healthiest machine in the fleet, service clock starting.
Meyer negative air machine
Meyer Machine gas negative-air unit. Working, worn paint, pre-season bearing and engine check due.
Two Hypervac units
Hypervac negative-air pair. One housing is duct-tape patched over a crack and both foil intake collars are shot. Reseal before season.
MachineCondition
Meyer gas negative-air duct vacWorking pre-season inspection due
2x Hypervac negative-air unitsPatch + test cracked housing taped, intake collars shot
Rotary brush duct vac (Briggs Vanguard)Working lives in Van 1
John Deere compressor (Honda GX)Near-new needs mount + fresh straps
RS3 rotary screw compressor (GX390)Near-new 500-hr service clock started
Horizontal-tank gas compressorFix sticky relief valve, replacing
BE Commercial pressure washer (Honda)Tips missing nozzle holder empty, one orphan tip recovered
Port-A-Blaster coil cleanerUntested
SMITH foggerGood to go
Airless sprayer + gun + 6 hosesPaint-caked pressure-test, gun may need rebuild
Reelcraft hose reel + ~200 ft lineNear-new
DeWalt 20V power cleanerBroken salvage battery + tips

Collector Hose — Worst Gear in the Fleet

Flex hose with tape repairs
The hose spread. Every section carries field tape repairs. Tape means leaks, leaks mean lost suction on every job.
Torn hose ends
End of life. Two ends torn off their cuffs, wire helix exposed, cuff rings detached.

Count: two long 8" sections, three medium, two small, one 10" half-length with reducer, one 6" with reducer, one loose 8-to-10 reducer. Replace New sections and cuffs are the number one purchase, from duct-cleaning supply (Nikro / Meyer), not big-box.

Rods, Whips, Brushes, Patches

Rod and brush inventory
Deep stock. 60+ whip rods, rotary brush heads, PVC rod quivers, one brand-new whip head still bagged.
Tape and patch inventory
Tape audit. Full 181-series lineup plus ~14 partials to consolidate. DC-181 foil patch stock is down to 2 sheets while 8 metal blanks wait.

The DIY 4" PVC pipe quivers work and get standardized across all vans. Repair pile: a few taped rod ends, one bent wand, two rusted pliers. Full rod count happens at van reload.

Vacuums, Power, Cords

Shark vacuums and Packouts
Electric vacuums. Two Shark uprights, one with a broken dust-cup latch. A third vacuum is on the list so every van carries one.
Charger and pop plugs
The charger bottleneck. One DCB112 for the whole DeWalt battery fleet. Second charger on the list. Pop plugs by the hundreds, splitting into three ammo cans, one per van.

Four extension cords, two jumper cable sets (one with cracking clamps), three DeWalt fans (grilles need a blowout). Battery test day: every pack charged, dead ones marked, counted before buying more.

Straps, Rigging, Fuel

Strap pile
The strap pile. Rusted ratchets, sun-faded webbing, whole fleet. Culled and replaced with fresh 4-packs.
Gas cans
Fuel cans. Five cans, three with brittle cracked tops. Old Blitz-style, no flame arrestors. EZ-Pour push-button spouts ordered, the sun-faded one retires.

Chemicals & Consumables

Chemical stock
The good stock. Bio-Fresh x2 (fogger juice), Tri-Pow'r, coil cleaner, OdoBan, rag-wash kit.
Disposal pile
The disposal pile. Rusted aerosols and unlabeled jugs headed to county hazmat, not the trash.
Encapsulation buckets
Encapsulation stock. Two 5-gal buckets of antimicrobial encapsulation paint, plus the dedicated oil funnel.

Simple Green is out (restocking, $9.98/gal at Lowe's). Duct patches low. Sheet metal screws by the thousands decant into organizers. Three mastic cans, brushes toast, new chip brush multipack incoming.

Storage hazards, fixed on sight

Loose torch cylinders sitting in a metal bowl, and a jug of 12% hydrogen peroxide (strong oxidizer) stored beside the fuel cans. Cylinders now upright and separated, peroxide moved away from fuel. Rule going forward: fuel, oxidizers, and flammables never share a shelf.

PPE & Uniforms

Suits and rain gear
The clothes pile. Mostly laundry. Fresh stock: new WP Weatherproof 32x30 pants and one new Western Safety XXL rain suit.

Two hard hats (date stamps to check), bagged N95s, ear plugs, three bags of gloves (labeling by size), two hi-vis vests, debris umbrella + inspection mirror rig (verify it opens). About 40 microfiber towels through the wash.

Damage & Safety Findings

Oil van floor
FoundVan 1 oil floor. Source identified: a leaking Pennzoil 5-qt jug, now contained. Degrease scheduled.
Torn wall panel
FoundTorn wall panel. Two punctures with sharp edges by the hose reel mount. Getting patched.
Ground cable
FoundVan 2 ground cable. Disconnected, exposed end through a floor hole. Getting terminated.

Also flagged: unfinished roof-vent wiring, ceiling mildew in one van, one cracked wheel chock, and a fuel-shutoff-before-transport habit added to the gear check.

Van Assignment Plan (Draft)

End state: each van is a self-contained job kit. Nothing leaves the driveway without a van and a home in that van.

Every van carriesShared / house stock
Gas vacuum + compressor + hose reel (mounted) · flex hose set with good cuffs · rod quiver + whip heads + brushes · drill/impact + bit stock (1/4", 5/16", PH2) · foil tape + patches + mastic + screws · pop plug ammo can · drop cloths + door stops · fogger juice + sprayer + Simple Green · electric vacuum + DeWalt fan · ladder(s) per assignment · PPE bag · gas can with good spout · extension cord · jumper cables · "Duct Serviced" stickers + yard signPressure washers · Port-A-Blaster · encapsulation paint + airless rig · SMITH fogger · spare rods/brushes/whip heads · bulk screws + bulk tape · rag laundry rotation · spare straps + webbing coils · battery charging station · wagon · trailer overflow

Final assignments land after test-and-tag day and the Van 3 key hunt. Ladder pool: two 4-ft, three 6-ft, one 8-ft.

The wall sheet + the buy list

Every van gets the gear check taped to the wall. The buy list is priced out for Lowe's, Harbor Freight, and Amazon (no Home Depot out here).

Van Gear Check → Priced Buy List →