New Truck?

RopeaGoat

Question for all who have an opinion:

What's better a van set up with approprate shelving, etc. or a truck with an enclosed utility bed?

rex

i think every one has there favorite type of truck to work out of.....but for me i worked out of a cube van for many years and sold it to buy a 16'trailer....if i had to do it again id buy a brand new cube van trailers are kind of a pain....ive used both for service and new work

send_it_all

For plumbing and heating, I would think a van would be ideal.

MechanicalDVR

Service work, nothing beats a van. Install work nothing beats the space and carrying capacity of a cube van or box truck. A utility body is ok but never seem to have enough room unless you are talking 9' with walk in height in the bed.

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KillerToiletSpider

I have a GMC ext cab pick-up with a contractor's topper. I like it because I can keep clean clothes and boots and my breifcase, etc. in the backseat.

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72chevy4x4

I'm loving my 'cube van'-has a laptop mount, ac adapter hardwired and in a pinch the back acts as a bathroom (don't ask). The big question on box van's is totaly enclosed or with lots of lockers accessed from the outside. Not sure if security is an issue as each has its own lock. My van is outfitted w/ shelves galore and lots of toolboxes for specialty items. I've seen plumbers make lots of bins to throw parts in.

Celtic

I find that using the basic forum font gets better results.

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KillerToiletSpider

Those are hard to park in downtown Chicago. My full size pick up truck is a pain the butt to park.

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A flush is better than a full house.

randomkiller

I drive a F250 with a service cap, its perfect for what I do. The best thing for me is parking, most big access is from the back and the side doors are higher than most cars, much better than dealing with a vans side doors.

PARA1

I'm looking at the sprinter van (170) when I trade out of my HD 250 service body. [diesel, 25 mpg, 6.5 ft. headroom....and a $43,000 price tag after bins and security.]

Noah

I've got the 05 sprinter 2500 high top(35k naked) and yeah the mileage is good but the next one I get will be the non-high top model. It's a pain in the ass tryin' to store pipe, not to mention a big ladder. Only complaint so far are the automatic locks are wearing out, gonna try to get it retrofit with manual locks.

Herk

My first year in business, I had a service body. I think that's probably the most annoying - doors left open that you can't see; sides you can't see over, walking around looking for something in all the boxes, etc.

Over the years, I did a lot of new houses, and had a huge step van at one time - an International 1-1/2 ton. Great for working out of - I had enough pipe and fittings on it to plumb about five houses. But I couldn't keep a tranny in it, and only had it for a year, and went back to pickups.

When I switched to service, I got a maxi-van - lots of room, but still the bending over while inside. That's broken down at the moment and I'm using a pickup again, with plastic covered tubs for service parts. I don't like it.

My next truck will be a cube - probably an Isuzu, which is the most common. I've been keeping my eye on one - has everything but a/c. It'll be diesel for the mileage.