Finding a high powered pressure washer which just does the job, can be maintained easily and has all the adjustability you need is a difficult task.
In a hurry? I loved this pressure washer for its price, if you are considering purchasing it, do it, you won’t regret it, though do read the article below to find out more about this awesome machine.
Power washing can be a very expensive proposition, to say the least. But it is still one of the best ways to avoid all that ‘elbow grease.’
However, finding a gas-powered pressure washer that is powerful enough to get the job done and, at the same time, relatively inexpensive, is a tall order, which is why i’ve put together this unbiased troy bilt 2800 psi pressure washer review, this is a warts n’all review hopefully aiding your purchase.
The Troy Bilt 2800 Psi 2.3-GPM Cold Water Gas Pressure Washer
The modestly priced Troy Bilt 2800 Psi Pressure Washer for most home cleaning needs.
Here it is important to note that you should not go for an online deal regardless of how lucrative it may seem.
This pressure washer is on the heavy side, the shipping costs will easily cost more than any discount that may have been offered.
Apart from that, it is essential to first, inspect the machine before you purchase it. This holds true for both used as well as brand new machines.
Of course, the ‘made in USA’ label for many of Troy’s units is an added attraction.
If you have a wood fence that needs to be washed after years of accumulated gunk and grit then you would need a pressure washer for the task at hand.
This holds even truer for any fence that has a lot of tough mildew growing on the wood, especially on that side of the house that is permanently in the shade.
The Troy Bilt 2800 Psi Pressure Washer 2.3-GPM Cold Water Gas Pressure Washer with its Briggs and Stratton Engine seems like a perfect fit. And the pressure rating is more than enough for most home-based tasks.
When you go into the market to get this machine, you might be a bit surprised to see that there are plenty of refurbished items on sale at a nominal cost.
But the price differences are negligible, so why not just opt for a brand new one? This machine boasts of a variety of nifty advantages that set it apart from many other machines.
Briggs & Stratton S2800 2800 MAX PSI at 1.8 GPM Gas Pressure Washer with Detergent Injection, 25-Foot High-Pressure Hose, and 4 Quick-Connect Nozzles
- 2800 MAX PSI at 1.8 GPM / 2.1 MAX GPM at 2000 PSI
- Briggs & Stratton 725EXi Series engine fuels projects with reliable power & hassle-free maintenance with Just Check & Add technology, which means you'll never change the oil for the life of the engine
- Get carefree performance from the maintenance-free Easy Start pump specially designed for high-performance and easy, low-effort starting
Features & Specs
Some of its top features include the following:
- Solid wheels
- Long manual wrap cord
- Soap Nozzle
- Hose storage
- Automatic trigger safety lock-out
- Replaceable Nozzles
- 4 different nozzles
- Built-in soap and detergent dispenser
- Internal soap tank
Specifications
- Weight (lb.) 56
- Pressure range (psi):2800
- Pump protection: Thermal
- Hose length: 24 feet in total
- 2.3Flow rate (GPM)
- Engine size: 190Hose (ft)
- Warranty: 2 years
- Handle: 32 inches
- Temperature range: 100(F)
Price
The unit is considerably less expensive than many of its Japanese counterparts. For example, a Honda with a total psi of 2400 will set you back over $600.
The Troy is less than half the price at around $280 or so (depending on the store you visit).
Usage and Ergonomics
The unit is sold in ‘knock down’ condition. That is, you will have to assemble it on your own. This is not a very difficult task since you just have to attach the steel handle to its base. Once you are done with that, you should install the plastic tip and gun holder, and that’s it.
The engine oil is included in the deal. So you will have to fill up the crankcase and then top off the gas tank. It is important to read the instruction manual completely before attempting to start your machine.
A quick perusal of the instructions will show that it is absolutely imperative to connect the main water hose to the pump and the water flow should always be up and running even before you try and start your pressure washer’s engine.
This is an essential step with almost all pressure washers because the pump has not been designed to operate in a vacuum. And it will, therefore, be very quickly damaged if there is no freshwater flowing through it.
The nozzle wand is very sturdy and built to last. Since it is made of stainless steel, there is no chance of any rusting and corrosion.
It comes with a ‘quick detach’ feature so that you can change your nozzle tips very easily.
At 25 ft, the unit’s pressure hose is very long but not so long that it could become tangled in the underbrush. This way, you can work in a fair-sized area without trundling the heavy unit too much.
Starting Operations
Once you get the water running, you should prime the carburetor bulb a few times in rapid sequence. Set the choke on fast mode and then yank the pull cord as fast as you can. This should get the engine started right up.
You can use different types of detergents thanks to its roomy internal storage tank. However, it has only one tank, unlike other models that have multiple tanks for different operations.
This means that you have to switch detergents whenever you have different cleaning tasks. For example, you can pick and use different cleaners for driveways and vinyl surfaces, and once you are done, you may switch to a specialized wood fence cleaner.
Using the Cleaning Unit
It is possible to use the cleaning solution injection system to spray the target area with your chosen cleaning agent. Once you have finished this task, you should let the cleaner sit for at least 15 minutes or so.
After that, you should change the nozzle tip to the desired angle so that you can really go to town on whatever cleaning project you have in mind.
This holds particularly true for most single-level houses since the 25 feet hose can reach right up into the gable as well as the drainage gutters and roof peaks.
In fact, it is incredible just how dirty even a new house can get in only a few months. But your pressure washer can help strip away all the layers of dirt and grime and increase your home’s curb value.
Similarly, if you are a ‘do-it-yourself’ kind of person, you will love the pressure washer’s ability to blast away the years of accumulated grit. This way, your fence, wall, or porch will be ready for a fresh paint job.
You can also use it to make your driveway and gate look as good as new. However, you will need to work a lot harder when using it on concrete surfaces since this is not a very powerful pressure washer.
This means that you will have to go over the more exposed areas many times before can get them to their ‘just-built’ condition once again.
Build Quality and Finish
As far as overall build, quality, and performance are concerned, the product comes with a well-known brand name.
Its frame is sturdy yet compact. Unlike other conventional units, it does not take up a lot of space in your tool shed or garage when not in use.
The unit’s multiple quick detach tips are easily available even if the original ones break down.
You can swap them easily with any other commercially available tip from your nearest hardware store. Moreover, the pressure hose is also a ‘one size fits all’ standard size, and the replacements are readily available.
The Engine
The Briggs & Stratton engine is powerful enough to fuel even ambitious projects with hassle-free maintenance and reliable power. It is also effortless to maintain, thanks to its “Check and Add” Feature.
This innovative feature sets its apart from most conventional engines that require periodic changing of the engine filter.
This means you will never have to go through the tedious procedure of changing the engine oil. You will just need to check the oil level in the engine and ‘top-up’ when required.
The engine has been designed to work for long periods without overheating. The 25-feet flexible hose has been built to endure a really hard-working life, and it can work well at high pressure without any fear of rupture.
Safety Mechanism
The spray gun is well-equipped with a state of the art trigger safety-locking mechanism. It ensures that the trigger cannot be pressed until and unless you open the safety lock.
Quick-Connect Tips
Since all surface finishes are different, the spray tip should not be the same as well.
The Troy Bilt 2800 PSI pressure washer has four ‘quick-connect’ spray tips that are a great help in ensuring that your cleaning projects go a lot easier and faster.
The four tips are all individually color-coded for easy recognition. They include the following ones:
Soap Nozzle Tip
The black soap tip should be used to apply different types of powerful detergent to help in the breakdown of dirt and grime.
It does not react to even harsh solvents and will not corrode or rust easily, even with excessive use.
0° Tip
The red zero degrees nozzle tip is set for the highest pressure. It is a good option for stubborn substances like paint and oil. It is also ideal for many hard-to-reach places.
15° Tip
The yellow-colored 15-degree tip is the most commonly used one. It is used for the general cleaning and rinsing of driveways house siding and various other similar surfaces.
40° Tip
The white-colored forty-degree tip is to be used for more delicate tasks that do not require harsh and abrasive pressure. It is a handy option for cleaning the patio and garden furniture as well as your car.
Strong All Steel Base
The Troy Bilt 2800 PSI pressure washer has been constructed over a steel base. The company claims that it is twice as strong than any conventional tubular pressure washer frame currently available in the market.
In fact, they back it up with a five-year limited frame (only) warranty.
The tough corrosion-resistant base is extremely durable. It both encloses and protects the unit’s main pump. It also has a user-friendly and easily reachable front hose connection.
Finally, it helps to prevent any sort of damage to the machine’s most important components when it is moved around for different projects.
Noise Reduction Abilities
This is a noisy machine. This is why you should not start your project early in the morning if you want to retain the goodwill of your neighbors.
In fact, it would be a ‘sound’ idea to wear hearing protection whenever you want to use this machine for an extended period. However, the same is the case with many different engine-operated pressure washers.
Major Drawbacks
However, it is crucial to note here that the unit does not have an excellent rating when it comes to usage after storage, especially in cold climates.
Once you are done with the project and store it for next year’s cleaning efforts, there is an off chance that the unit will fail to start.
Perhaps, this is why there are so many refurbished units available at very low costs. While they may work very well at the outlet and on your initial cleaning spree.
But if you are not able to start the machine after a few months, it will take the spring out of your ‘spring cleaning’ initiative. Apart from that, it is not powerful enough to clean hard concrete surfaces in a single attempt.
Conclusion
This is a cracking pressure washer, it does have some storage issues, but if you make sure to winterize your pressure washer it should come out the other side in good stead.
It’s on you to ensure this machine works well the following spring, you can’t just throw this machine into storage once you’re done, give it some love and attention, and you’ll be cleaning away happily next spring.
Hopefully, in this troy bilt 2800 psi pressure washer review, you’ve come to the same conclusion as me, that It’s well worth its price, it’s a fantastic bit of kit for the price. If you have any questions please ask them in the comment section below.
