CONFIGURED AROUND YOUR APPLICATION
Compare portable wash bay configurations
A portable wash bay is not a one-size-fits-all product. The right setup depends on what you are washing, how vehicles enter and leave the bay, the loads placed on the containment area, wash frequency and where the captured water will go.
Trade Wash reviews these factors together, then recommends the containment, access and water-handling options needed for the site.
Light vehicles
Portable systems for fast site setup
Cars, utes and light commercial vehicle
A portable car wash bay or light-vehicle setup can be configured around the available footprint, vehicle movements and wash frequency. Options can include light-vehicle ramps, a wash-water transfer pump and side curtains where additional splash control is needed.
Typical Considerations
– vehicle length, width and turning approach;
– light-vehicle ramp access;
– wash frequency and water volume;
– indoor or outdoor location;
– proposed wastewater destination.
Heavy vehicles
Trucks, plant and heavy machinery
Portable truck and machinery wash bays require closer checking of vehicle dimensions, axle or point loads, tyres or tracks, access and repeated traffic. Heavy-duty ramps and HD wheel tracks can be included where they are suitable for the proposed vehicles and site.
Typical considerations
– largest vehicle or machine and operating weight;
– wheeled or tracked equipment;
– ramp and wheel-track requirements;
– turning room and available wash-bay footprint;
– mud, sediment, oil and other likely contaminants.
Site Specific
Site-specific wash-water pathways
The wash bay provides the containment point. From there, the system can be configured to capture and transfer wash water towards an appropriate holding, approved discharge, treatment or recycling pathway. The required pumping, screening, storage and treatment equipment depends on water volume, contaminants and local requirements.
APPLICATIONS
Where can wash water recycling make sense?
Water recycling is most useful where wash demand is frequent and predictable, contaminants can be treated to a defined reuse quality, and the site has space for raw and treated-water storage.
A practical system also requires operators who can complete routine checks, manage consumables and maintain the treatment equipment.
- Fleet and vehicle wash facilities
Recurring wash cycles create predictable water demand and may allow treated water to be reused for suitable stages of vehicle washing. - Remote and water-constrained sites
Treatment and storage may reduce reliance on limited water supplies or frequent wastewater transport where operating controls are strong. - Industrial and equipment washdown
Treatment stages can be selected around known contaminants and a defined reuse task, such as initial machinery or equipment washdown. - Sites with high disposal costs
Reusing a suitable portion of captured water may reduce holding volumes, pump-out frequency or pressure on the approved disposal pathway.
WASH WATER AND RUNOFF
How is portable wash bay wastewater contained and managed?
Vehicle and machinery washing can produce wastewater containing soil, sediment, oil, fuel residues, detergents and other contaminants. This water should not be allowed to leave the wash area uncontrolled or enter stormwater drains without an approved treatment and discharge pathway.
A portable wash bay creates the containment point. From there, the water can be collected and transferred towards the storage, treatment, recycling, approved sewer connection or off-site disposal pathway selected for the site.
01
Contain the wash water
Keep wash water within a bunded footprint selected to suit the vehicles, wash activity and available site area.
02
Capture and transfer it
Direct captured water towards the collection point and use the supplied pump to transfer it away from the wash bay.
03
Manage the contaminants
Remove gross solids and add suitable holding, filtration or oil separation where required by the wastewater characteristics.
04
Route it appropriately
Transfer the water to holding, an approved sewer connection, treatment, reuse or authorised off-site disposal pathway.
Requirements vary by location, site and proposed discharge pathway. Trade Wash can help configure the containment, collection and equipment around the intended water-management approach. Discharge permissions and final approvals are issued by the relevant authority.
COMPARE OPTIONS
Portable wash bay, vehicle wash mat or permanent wash bay?
The right option depends on whether you need a containment surface, a complete relocatable wash bay system or permanent washdown infrastructure.
| Option | Best suited to | What it provides | Site Commitment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle wash mat | Sites that need a bunded containment surface and already have suitable access, pumping and wastewater arrangements. | A portable PVC washdown footprint. Ramps, pumps, wheel tracks and water-management equipment are selected separately. | Lowest permanent commitment and readily relocatable. |
| Configured portable wash bay | Leased, temporary, project, remote or changing commercial sites. | Containment configured with the required pump, ramps, wheel tracks, spray curtains and wastewater connections. | Relocatable and reusable without committing to permanent wash-bay construction. |
| Permanent Wash Bay | Long-term depots, workshops and high-frequency fixed washdown operations. | Purpose-designed civil containment, drainage, collection and connected treatment or storage systems. | Fixed infrastructure requiring a planned civil project. |
CONFIGURATION AND PRICE
How much does a portable wash bay cost
Trade Wash supplies portable wash bay systems for purchase and quotes each setup according to the vehicles, site and required configuration.
A light-vehicle wash bay and a heavy-duty drive-through system can require substantially different containment, access and wastewater equipment. These six factors have the greatest influence on the final quote.
[ 01 By Size ]
[ 02 Containers & Loads ]
[ 03 Access and protection ]
[ 04 Transfer needs ]
[ 05 Wastewater pathway ]
[ 06 Freight and location ]
PORTABLE WASH BAY FAQS
Before you request pricing
The correct configuration and final price depend on your vehicles, wash activity, site conditions and intended wastewater pathway. These are the questions we confirm most often before recommending a portable wash bay system.
What size portable wash bay do I need?
The bay should be sized around the largest vehicle or machine using – not the average vehicle in your fleet. We consider vehicle length and width, turning approach, ramp access, wash activity and the available site footprint before recommending dimensions.
Can a portable wash bay handle trucks and heavy machinery?
Yes, when the containment area and access equipment are configured for the proposed vehicles and loads. Heavy-duty ramps and wheel tracks may be included after checking vehicle dimensions, axle or point loads, tyres or tracks, traffic frequency and the supporting surface.
Does a portable wash bay include water treatment?
Yes. Heavy sediment, mud and grit should usually be managed before the inclusion of a separator. Excess solids can reduce capacity, increase maintenance and affect separation performance.
Can a portable wash bay be moved to another site?
Yes. Portable wash bays are designed to be relocatable and reusable. Before relocation, the new site should be checked for available space, surface condition, vehicle access and the proposed wash-water destination.