At a glance A well made, robust car battery powered pressure washer that’s an invaluable tool against muddy bikes and early wear of moving parts.
Tested by
Oliver Laverack, tester for The Bike List
Performance
A little while back we reviewed the 18 volt cordless version of this pressure washer and gave it 4 stars all round. We couldn't fault its rugged design, solid performance and versatility. The 12 volt version of the Nomad is essentially the same unit except it's powered by your car's battery via a cord that plugs into the cigarette lighter or power socket instead of having an integrated battery. This simply means that you need to be near your car when you clean your bike which isn't too much of a problem as the power cord and hose combined offer a generous reach of around 10 meters / 30 feet. More than enough to make sure you aren't splattering the mud from your bike straight on to the bodywork of your car.
Not having an integrated battery pack means the 12 volt unit is a little smaller and lighter. However the smaller unit size doesn't mean less water as both units have the same 14-litre capacity making them both heavy items to move about when full. The cleaning power or wash pressure of the 12 volt unit is 8 psi lower than the 18 volt version at 90psi but having used both units the difference isn't noticeable. The ideal pressure is one that cleans all the mud off your bike but at the same time doesn't strip grease and oil from all the working parts and 90psi seems to do that perfectly. Most pressure washers suitable for the home that you might use to clean your patio will operate at approximately 10 times the pressure of a Nomad. If you do make the mistake of using one this powerful it will clean the bike so well that all the oil and grease keeping the moving parts working smoothly will also have been stripped away which really isn't a good thing.
The spraygun nozzle is adjustable allowing you to shoot anything from a solid stream to a fine spray. I found somewhere in-between the two was spot on for virtually everything including cleaning myself after I'd cleaned the bike. The super-tough hose has plastic connectors either side that attach it to the tank and spraygun creating a very solid, leakproof seal. When you've finished cleaning the quick release connector system is just as easy to unclip. The power cable plugs into the Nomad just below where the on/off switch sits and the other end into any suitable power socket in the car. Some larger cars such as estates and 4x4s have an additional power socket in the boot area which you'll probably find more convenient especially if the Nomad is already in the boot when you get back from your ride. The neoprene pouch attached to the side of the tank uses rugged, heavy duty zips and is the perfect size to house all of the above items when not in use.
One 14-litre tank will do a good job of cleaning two muddy bikes but you may need two if they're especially caked. Before putting the bikes back in the car I found it handy to wipe them down with a cloth. Then when you get back hopefully the bikes are mostly dry and you can chuck some lube on the chains and squirt a bit of water dispersant on the key areas with moving parts. A useful addition to the tank would be a water gauge or transparent strip in the tank to give you an idea of how much you've got left to go and whether you should start being a bit more frugal. The 18 volt version includes a filter which attaches to the neck of the removable tank and means you can collect water from a nearby river or lake and not have to worry about damaging the electronics in the base or the internals getting gunked up. Unfortunately, you can't do the same with the 12 volt version as dunking the whole thing would damage the electricals in the base.
Having used the Nomad after virtually every muddy ride over the past few months I've come to appreciate how much easier it is to clean your bike straight after a ride. Not only does wet mud come off more easily, but your bike is clean when you chuck it in the back of your car, too. Doing all the hard work straight after a ride also means that you won't be tempted to ride the bike when it's still dirty and any moving parts that might otherwise be clogged with grit and grime will last longer. Even if you use a cycle carrier the dirt can get all over your roof or cover the back of the car which means you then also need to hose your car down. I know all too well what it's like, especially when you've beasted yourself on a full day's ride and you get home with a dirty bike in the back of the car, and the last thing you want to do is clean it. All you want is some food, a shower and then some more food. Take it from me, if you have a pressure washer with you when you get back from your ride you're way more likely to clean your bike there and then, saving you more effort later on. It's as simple as that. Plus the Nomad is super versatile and has an endless list of other potential uses, some of which are listed here. Nomad have missed one obvious trick though which is the potential to power the pressure washer from the home via a three pin plug. On my regular road rides this winter I've cycled straight from my door and then had to connect the Nomad to the car when I got back to clean the bike. It's not a big problem but would have been a nice addition. All in all, the Nomad 12 volt is just as well made as the battery powered 18 volt unit and if you don't need the extra convenience of being able to clean anywhere then you save yourself £60 too.
Buy from www.nomad-direct.co.uk
Nomad says:
Introduced in 2008 this is the next generation of 12 Volt Auto Cord portable pressure washer. It gives increased performance over all other 12 volt products on the market that are powered from a vehicle's power port or cigarette lighter socket. What's more, we've taken care of every detail, such as soft grip caps and handles, oversize tank cap and chunky spray nozzle adjuster.
What you get: Nomad 12 V washer, hose, spray gun, 12 volt power cable and user manual.
Find out more www.nomad-direct.co.uk
