Work Truck

fordblue_ca

I'm going to be starting up my own paint company and am trying to decide the best way to haul all my paint gear around, I was thinking of getting a 5x8 enclosed trailer for about $3100, but I'm also thinking about getting a older van to haul equipment around. my budget is a little tight to start off so money is a bit of a issue aswell.

what would you guy's suggest from your experience??

Thanks

Joe

painterofeveryt

how much gear do you have now?...3100.00 is alot of coin for a new business to buy,,,,my 2 cents.

bigjohnsons34

when I started my business I went out and brought a brand new van $0 down and about $450 a month for 5 yrs.... the way I see it if I can't afford $450 a month I can't afford to go into business, plus every time I go out to start my truck it starts no down time with repairs and it also looks very professional when you pull up to a customers house.... that’s my view, good luck

DecksEtc

$3,100 for a 5x8 enclosed is kinda steep. I paid $3,200 CDN for a 6x10 enclosed. If you go the trailer route, you should shop around for a better price.

fordblue_ca

I have started buying everything I will need for over the past year or so. I have 3 completly sprayers and a small 5.5hp pressure washer all of which I rebuilt, all kinds of extension poles, paint trays and rollers and drop cloths, brushes, Probably more than alot of painters have lol . But I want to make sure I wont need to spend any money on supplies when i start out. So this would be the only major expense for me. I want to look profesional aswell i think that goes a long way when quoting a job, from the clothes you wear to the work vehicle you show up in. I have a explorer sport trac right now but it has limited space and its my daily driver.

Joe

fordblue_ca

what Brand of trailer did you get? Sounds like a good deal, I have looked all around here and that was the best deal, there was one for about $2700 but it was pretty cheaply built.

KellyPainting

i started out w/ a beat up old truck... i like the van idea... start off right..
no need for the trailer if the van is full sized.

You didn't mention ladders? I bought about 8 this year..mostly fiberglass
And you'll only know if you have everything after doing some work..
& save some money for advertizing....Good luck!

DecksEtc

You don't say where you live so I'm not sure if where I got mine will help you but I bought it at a place called Jensen Trailers in Oshawa, ON.

Here's their link http://www.jensentrailers.com/

MattCoops

when I first started I bought an old Chevy Van for 1200.
I still got the thing.
Then you get a brand new van after a few years success.
It's like a gift to yourself

__________________
Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
(978) 601-8774 | cupantile@gmail.com | view tile pictures and more

MattCoops

on a cold day in chevy town you can hear a ford rust

__________________
Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
(978) 601-8774 | cupantile@gmail.com | view tile pictures and more

jackG

start with a used cargo chevy astro or gmc safari it put a shelf system in it and a ladder rack its the perfect start up van i have had 11 astro vans at 1 time the 3800 v6 runs 4eva

ron schenker

The Astro van has a 4.3 litre engine which is a small block V/8 with 2 cylinders chopped off. I love these motors, smooth, torquey, cheap and plentiful parts availability. They don't get great gas mileage though, but way better than full size vans

__________________
Don't worry, the baseboard will hide it!

Teetorbilt

In the beginning, I picked up an E150 long wheelbase, short body w/120K on it for $3,200. The body was perfect and it ran well.

I sold it about 2 yrs. ago for $2,800 w/over 280K on it. The body was still perfect. The operational costs were getting prohibitive and a new engine was just around the corner.

Overall it was an excellent deal and I still see it around town. Body condition is the major selling point and I line the interiors of my vans with at least 1/4" ply to prevent bulging dents from the inside. Two layers will allow for the mounting of shelving, racks, hooks, etc.

I notice that most of the painters here use box trucks, just an observance.

__________________
You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

MattCoops

get an old chevy
you wont regret it

__________________
Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
(978) 601-8774 | cupantile@gmail.com | view tile pictures and more

Brushslingers

I've regretted 3 s-10's and a c-20 thus far.

__________________
Benn

R&S Exteriors

Fix
Or
Repair
Daily

Brushslingers

First
On
Race
Day

__________________
Benn

fordblue_ca

I'm a Ford Man myself, but all vehicles now are pretty reliable, I will have to admit that the astro vans are a good size and square inside which would be good. But it will all come down to what the best deal is.

Thanks for the reply's

Joe

P.S. Chevy trucks do have one feature that Ford does not, the heated tailgate for when your waiting for the tow truck and on star so you can call one!!

MattCoops

i don't know why anyone would use an S-10 as a work truck
it's like a contractor buying a black and dekker drill

__________________
Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
(978) 601-8774 | cupantile@gmail.com | view tile pictures and more

jackG

cant even fit 2 adults in a s-10 or ranger just a waste of money period