Karcher K1700 Portable Solution Obsessed Garage

The Karcher K1700 Portable Solution is a great option for those of you who are just getting started and want a viable pressure washer that will do the job. The accessories that come in each of these kits will improve your experience and can be used with a better unit down the road when you decide you are ready to upgrade.

At first, I was resistant to sell an entry level pressure washer in my store. But the Karcher K series really impressed me and I knew that there was an audience out there that just didn’t want to cough up $1200 for a higher end pressure washer. For their cost, these units seem to have better construction, motors & pumps than 99% of the cheap consumer pressure washers. 

The K1700 pressure washer gives us the correct amount of flow we want out of an electric pressure washer. 1000 PSI (pounds per square inch) is the sweet spot and what we need to clean our vehicles. Even if you need to blast off your Jeep, or get the salt out of your wheel wells, you’ll have sufficient PSI to get the job done. Remember, flow is King.

There are some other nifty little add-ons built into this unit. It has an On/Off foot switch that’s convenient and easy to access. There’s also a large removable storage bin where you can store all of your accessories. What I don’t like is the soap tank. You’ll never use this thing and shouldn’t want to. Just pretend like it doesn’t exist.

What makes this portable solution a great choice is being able to move about vs having a fixed setup. If you’re someone who doesn’t want to have a wall mount solution or if you’re a mobile detailer, this is what you’ll want to get. 

When I first started on this quest for the perfect pressure washer, what I really wanted for all of us was a small, compact pump that I could put on a shelf that looks and works like the Kranzle K1122TST. That is the main component of my Obsessed Garage Complete Kranzle Pressure Washing Solution. 

Empowering you to make a choice between mounting your pressure or having a portable solution like this one was always part of my vision.

What I really like about this revamp we’ve done with our pressure washing kits is that we’re giving you more options. You’ll have three tiers available to choose from. Basic, advanced, and ultimate. Each package comes with upgraded fittings (Brass or Stainless Steel), an upgraded sprayer/wand, a 50’ High-Pressure hose, and either an original foam cannon or Griot’s Garage The Boss Foam Cannon. 

You’ll see some similarities in these packages but the most obvious difference will be the sprayer and wand combo you’re getting. I want to discuss both of these products in greater detail to give you a sense of awesomeness you’ll be purchasing. 

The SGS-28 in our basic package is a well-built, swiveling sprayer that was based on the SG-28, but has all stainless steel internals. The reason why you want a swiveling sprayer is because it alleviates the issue of the pressure washer hose getting tangled and twisted.

The Original Mosmatic Sprayer in our advanced package has a swivel as well. The difference is that the swivel on the advanced sprayer is made by Mosmatic and is of much higher quality – it swivels much smoother. The trigger mechanism is also a lot more stout, yet requires very little effort to engage. I still install MTM fittings on the Original Mosmatic Sprayer to help keep costs down.

Finally, the OG Spec Mosmatic Swiveling Sprayer. This is my pride and joy. Lots of money and time went into developing this sprayer. This piece uses all the best connections and hardware available in the market. It also swivels but the swivel and QD (quick disconnect) is built into the handle, reducing the bulk on the inlet of the sprayer, making it much more ergonomic.

This kit isn’t complete without the wand. I have two options: the Original Mosmatic Stainless Steel Wand that comes in the basic and advanced kits and the OG Spec Mosmatic Stainless Steel Wand that comes in the ultimate kit. These wands both have a 20° bend in them to make rinsing the roof or the lower portions of your car easier. The notable differences between these two are the fittings and the rubber nozzle protector. The Original Mosmatic Wand uses MTM fittings and has a nozzle protector installed on the wand already. The OG Spec Wand uses Mosmatic fittings and has no nozzle protector. This is because the nozzles that come in the Ultimate Kit have the protector. 

Nozzles are also an important part of your pressure washer accessories and need to be upgraded. The nozzles that come with the pressure washer are prioritizing pressure over flow. For washing cars, flow is king. The nozzles I provide are some of the best out there. In the basic and advanced kits, you get a 4-pack of stainless steel nozzles from MTM. In the ultimate kit, you get the OG Spec Mosmatic Nozzle Assembly.

And last but not least, our pressure washer hoses. Regardless of what package you decide to go with (basic, advanced, or ultimate), each one comes with only a 50’ High-Pressure hose. The quality of these hoses are definitely legit. You’ve heard me talk about how I bought 6 different hoses when I built the wash bay at my old house. I did and I’m not going to apologize for it. 

The High-Pressure hose is a single wire hose that is much more pliable than the 2-wire hoses you’ll see out there. Plus, for car washing, we don’t need a 2-wire. It also has a smooth jacket that is good for when you want to avoid messing up your floor with marks. It’s the right hose for the right pressure washer. It’s just right.

Some of you will get lucky and have this thing for a few years with no problems while others may have it for a shorter period of time. Don’t expect this to be a workhorse pressure washer like the AR, Comet, or Kranzle pressure washers. 

Karcher has a really good warranty to back up their product line. I believe it’s a two year warranty on parts and labor. If yours breaks down, please don’t call me or email my team. We’re not sending you another one. You’ll have to go directly through Karcher. 

This is a worthy machine but what makes it OG-worthy is the accessories that come with it. If I’m you and I’m dead set on getting an inexpensive pressure washer, I’m at least going with our Ultimate Solution.

FAQ & Support

User Manual
Karcher K1700 Operator’s Manual

Support Articles
Why Should I Upgrade My Sprayer and Which One Should I Get? – Upgrading Your Sprayer

Pressure Washer Fittings 101: Fittings and QD Naming
Pressure Washer Fittings 102: Applications and Usage
Pressure Washer Fittings 103: Spray Nozzles

Why is my gun or wand (1/4″ Coupler) leaking from the outlet?
Why is my 3/8″ coupler leaking from the end?
Why didn’t I receive all of my garden hose quick disconnects? I only received two garden hose fittings!