Rich.
Yes & No......
I believe one of the biggest Negatives...is not the LABOR issue !!!!!
It becomes the availabilty & cost of PARTS......."DOWNTIME IS THE ENEMY"...
Some guys can't or won't PICK-UP a wrench...and some are dangerous with a pair of PLAIRS !
We ran PTO units for 20 years....Very LOW MAINTAINCE....also bullet for New Techs......
Now that we are running SLIDE-IN's...Maintance is double ..."at least"....
Both designs have their PROS & CONS.....
It is JUST as IMPORTANT to purchase the right UNIT for your Business Model.....
If you do RESTORATION & COMMERCIAL work... you need a-lot of POWER for production !!!
If you do MOSTLY RESIDENTIAL cleaning... you DONT need a BEAST.....
All TM units use basically the SAME componants....Just a variation of SIZE......
Almost all of the TM's out there will last for years..."IF THEY ARE SERVICED PROPERLY"
You don't use a THIMBAL to empty a BATHTUB.................
And you don't need a BACKHOE to dig one POST-HOLE.......