Your thoughts on CRB machines?

I never used them but Im thinking I like when I see them being used. who uses them and what say you? I have the HOSS but think I would prefer something not as heavy....I love the HOSS but im thinking I want something thats used daily....the HOSS is only pulled out when I have a heavy soil issue and need to really scrub....or commercial. (wich I havent done much of yet) Whats a good one? what should I stay away from....I want quality and durable.....not a small home owner vac type.


I hope this topic isnt a touchy one.

Its a great tool,   I prefer CRB then rinse with wand over any rotary in most any situation.

Its amazing what it digs out of the carpet


we like it because we generally dont pre vac, so it has a big wow factor with the customers

also since we started using them all the time we now pre spray very lightly

This saves chems, saves time not having to spray nearly as heavily, and then wanding is much faster after its been CRB'd



used to think it added time to the job but once you get used to actually how light and fast you can pre spray, and then how much less you have to flush the carpet on wet strokes... it's faster and carpet drys almost 2x as fast compared to a heavier pre treat.


when you dont use one sometimes you feel that you need to pre treat quite a bit, because nobody likes going back and re-spraying areas

CRB machines are awesome sales products for their wow factor and their ability to dig up pet hair. If they have cats, it will pull up enough to make another cat....that stuns the customer.

They also make really good grooming tools in how they will "fluff" up matted carpet....really good for stairs.

As for which one? I don't really think it matters that much. Sure, there are those that say only buy the German ones or what not, but I think it is all crap.

I have a relatively inexpensive Strong Dry unit that has never let me down for the last year despite the heavy usage. The roller tray was cheap and the wheels kept popping off, but I don't care as it saved me on the purchase price. I think I only paid a thousand for it back then.

I would skip the brand and find the one that is in the size that you want which has brushes that you can find. The rest is just sales talk.

Well...I ask brand because I dont really know of any. some may have better options or what not. I found a whittaker so far....just didnt want to buy something and you guys say WHY DID YOU GET THAT ONE!...lol everyone knows that one sucks!. I like my HOSS but think I would get much more use out of a CRB.

You would get more use out of a CRB. Get a set of stiffer brushes and it will scrub a tile floor as well.

15 inch or 20?

I may look to unload the HOSS and get the CRB.....I think I have more of a market for the CRB than the HOSS....Dont get me wrong I love the HOSS, just havent been using it much....Maybe things will get busier and I should just keep it and use both as needed. IDK!

Keep the HOSS, you will need it some day and be glad you had it.

As for the CRB, either size would work well on residential. I have a 19/20 inch model, but that 15 inch might be light enough to use on stairs, so I would look at that one.

I still use a cyclo polisher for stairs, but I left it off the truck the last time and had to use the CRB. It was heavy and a pita, but it did a great job and the customer was very pleased. A smaller CRB would be great.

Requested info from Strong. We'll see.

Yeah I think keeping the HOSS will be what I do....I just hope it gets busier to justify both. lol

You will like the CRB...I am certain of that.

As for getting busier, can't help there. Things are dead right now for me too.

Rule out the Prochem Pro Caps CRB machine it has had a bad reputation for being cheaply made.

Mo wrote:Rule out the Prochem Pro Caps CRB machine it has had a bad reputation for being cheaply made.

Good point, I forgot about those.....junk.

^^I think that's what I have, but sold under the "Windsor Icapsol" name, I have noting to compare it to but have only had to replace a couple belts on it over the last few years.

I also think the CRB is a great tool, and would recommend it if you don't have one.

Im looking to get another one soon, really glad I never paid full price for strong drys

They started at like 4800 or something, quickly dropped to 3800, now marcus will sell you one direct for less than 1800


perfect example of how our industry has overpriced equipment, like those VLM rotary machines... 7 grand, ya right! some metal with a motor and a shampoo tank

Agreed OP machine pricing has gotten out of control.

They only price them that way because people buy them that way.

We are more at fault then the sellers. Any CRB is worth owning, maybe even more so than a rotary extractor, but they should not cost you more than an extractor.

ya should be right around the cost of a rotary, relatively same amount of materials and a motor

and definitely an OP machine shouldnt cost what I paid for a 45blower brand new truck mount

They sell for what the market will pay.....when I invented my tool for concrete I went to a tradeshow and didnt have a clue on price....when you invent a truely new tool and idea it doesnt come with instructions.....so, I priced high and knew I could lower.....First customer paid for 3 units at $349 each and they now sell for $198 ea....I learned the sweet spot and tweaked tooling and manufacturers to get it here but found the correct matrix. It wasnt easy....there is ALWAYS someone who will pay top dollar just as there is always someone who wouldnt accept a dollar to take one. Pricing is hard to do...you dont want to leave money on the table and you dont want to price yourself out....selling to cheap does serious damge as well

The one thing I see as not helping the guys who sell CRB machines are how they bash HWE. makes me want to just back off the whole deal. lol I would try a safer approach if it was me....market to both and leave it alone.

I bought a 15inch CRB with spray attachment last year, love it would not be without one, i can connect a 50ft solution hose from the crb to my mytee big boss 5 gal sprayer, so i spray and agitate at the same time, works great, fast easy set up- follow up with extractor or on occasion an op machine with cotton bonnet.

What CRB did you buy Kevin. Did you ever get a spray tank for the Varioe?
That  is a a big time saver to be able to pre spray and pre scrub at the same time.

Just found the Cimex's....anyone have or know about them.

Dont wait for me to get one to have an opinion.

Stop writing checks, your worse than me and my guitars right now.

You don't want nor need that Cimex. It really only has value on wide open commercial and it doesn't sound like you are targeting that market. Even then, I wouldn't recommend it.

Don't get me wrong, for what it does, it does very well. I just don't think it fits many business plans any more.

I was lucky enough to be able to barrow one for a large commercial encap job, and it worked great...heavy and well build I'd say....other than that, I'm useless.

Rob...I want a divorce! lol my wife says the same thing....I do have a use for it...I have Two Casinos and 16 retirment homes I can push into tomorrow. Im going to be doing 85% residential and then 15% commercial roughly...I dont want commercial but like what a small group will do to my yearly.

I need the CRB but dont want regrets.