Let's hear the good, bad and the ugly regarding box trucks.

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bjp_ne_elec

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Location
Southern NH
I'm just getting a new EC business going, and right now, am just working out of a pick-up - obviously not the optimal "EC rig". I see quite a few guys up here in the NE area running around with those box trucks, with most having the side boxes installed. Let's hear both the good and the bad - and maybe there is even an ugly.

I'm concerned about how the boxes hold up with the winter (salt, sand, etc.) as well as how user friendly setting up a box truck is.

Thanks

Brett
 
All aluminum box bodies hold up best in the northern states, had one of these trucks with my ex employer. I backed up into everything tho .:( Diesel if you can afford it
 
Are you talking about an over-sized service body on a cut-away van?
Prone to theft, unless you add steel bars across the cabinets, and thieves will still try. But you can access things from all sides, forget to lock one, and you find it empty later.
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Or a regular cut-away with just a box? GIANT BILLBOARD ADVERTISING You can stand up in it, is a huge plus. Put whatever shelves and a gang-box for tools in it, for that matter build an office inside. With the "moms attic" you can put 24' ladder inside as well. Can only be accessed from the back if in tight spots it can be a hassle, but often you poeple wont park too close to you... ;) (With a pad-lock on it. Easy bolt-cutter action there) But install one of these on some powerdoor locks on the roll-up, and pass-through door.
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Either way get an alarm with auto-locking doors, and contacts on every opening. For that matter look into GPS thieves love our trade....

Weather-wise, I think the latter would hold up better. Most service bodies are usually steel, and a cargo box has less 'moving' parts, and fiber-glass. And you can get out of the wind, rain or snow inside it.


Oakey, you can get rear veiw cameras for backing up.....
 
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77401 said:
No EC needs to carry the amount of stuff an over-sized service body on a cut-away van can carry.
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If you do a lot of service work, or run a sizable crew out of it you do...

I used to work for a guy who require all of the material required for a 125 service on the truck at all times. Full array of breakers and devices, etc. Service work is a little different, in that if you dont have it on the truck right then you might not have billable time for a late night call. If its on the truck, knock out the job and off to the next one.

I do a lot of remodels and TI's. I do what I like to reffer to as "roll in, and roll out" work. Most of it downtown. I roll in, drop mat's and heavy tools off to guys that bus it (Or however they can) to the job with hand tools, lay them out, and roll out to another job. Same there.... Same at the next. Same in reverse... With 2 hour max parking, and no stopping zones at rush hours nobody is getting tickets, or wasting time having to shuffle around for the facist parking tweeks, and I'm at 3 jobs a day. (Most within a few miles of eachother.)

I see other guys with F350's and 3500's with negative springs.....
Depends on what you work, and how you need to work it....

For the record, I drive a 2500 Savanna, and need something bigger....
 
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The drawbacks to the box truck are the gas mileage, the size, and the price. I have one and need it for the jobs that truck goes to. Also have utility cut away, and 3 regular vans.

If you have a shop, a regular van is probably the way to go. If not, you might want the box truck as more of a rolling shop. Utility cut away is the best all around IMO. If you get one that is single wheel, not dually, GVW is less than 10,000 and you do not need to follow DOT reg's.
 
j_erickson said:
If you get one that is single wheel, not dually, GVW is less than 10,000 and you do not need to follow DOT reg's.
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That's what I've used since '97. The '97 GMC had a GVW of 9,600# and my 2001 has a GVW of 9,500. The payload (GVW minus the empty weight) seemed to be the best value for the dollar. Before I buy a vehicle I compare mileage estimates, payload capacity and general ease of operation. I don't keep them over 100,000 miles (that way I don't have to change the spark plugs, lol).

It's time for a new ride, so I'm looking and thinking too.
 
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