van vs truck

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M

MBLES

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our shop is looking to start new residential homes electrical. full rough and trim. we are trying to figure out which vehicle van or truck for residential work. we will be doing residential and commercial so i was thinking something versatile. a single cab truck i can put 3 man crew, a van only 2 man crew. is it common to have crews take their own vehicle to job site on new residential homes?
 
Often, when the job is closer for them than driving to the shop I allow the employee to meet at the job.
 
Only two men in a van........ says you.

I snapped this going over the sunshine skyway in Tampa last week

36d7f469a39300f8c9df6967d1c0a378.jpg



I'd get a van. You'll probably be keeping a lot of material on the vehicle as opposed to job site storage, and I think you'd want something to keep it locked up in.

If getting more than two men to the job is an issue, get a crew cab with a utility body.


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You want a van to keep everything clean, dry, and secure.
In Vegas pick-ups with utility beds are more popular.
But we don't get snow or much rain.

Why would you want to pay 3 people to drive to a job?
If they are required to report to the job first in the US then your required to pay truck travel time.
If your only working 1 home or track at a time you could get away with a gang box.
For a large project a box truck.
 
chris1971 said:
Been there. Done that. I couldn't agree more.:thumbsup:
Click to expand...
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me too.... i'd put a bullet thru peter's head before i'd work out of a pickup as well.

if you get a van with a walk in body, and good bin locks, that would be about
the best thing to work out of, unless you do a lot of work downtown where you
have to park in parking garages.

then your life sucks.

regular bed on a pickup = surely you're joking.

utility bed on a pickup = soggy, wet, or stolen. pick one.

utility bed with a pull over cover = a pile of stuff you can't get to easily.

van with racking = you have a fighting chance.

the last two years, i was using a long body E-350 diesel van, towing
a 14' trailer. that was about right for the work i was doing.
 
I'm a small 2 man shop trying to expand..currently have van..agreeed working out of truck is more painful than stabbing myself in the eye with a needle.
Trying to expand. Thinking of 6x12 enclosed trailer. Keep stocked for residential. Have guys drive personal car to job. I would drop off trailer for them to work out of and pick up when job is complete
 
Be sure to watch this before the next time you cross that bridge:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMjBGLxMdP4
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge Disaster

brantmacga said:
Only two men in a van........ says you.

I snapped this going over the sunshine skyway in Tampa last week

36d7f469a39300f8c9df6967d1c0a378.jpg



I'd get a van. You'll probably be keeping a lot of material on the vehicle as opposed to job site storage, and I think you'd want something to keep it locked up in.

If getting more than two men to the job is an issue, get a crew cab with a utility body.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
 
Working out of a van is the best choice. Put shelves down each side, short ladders down the middle. 12 ft & 8 ft ladders on top with a Weathergard conduit box between the two ladders. Keep your switches & receptacles in original boxes and rotate your stock. I say rotate your stock because Decora devices can get jostled around and the face of the device can get scratched where it is not usable. My .02 cents
 
Put me down as a van guy and now having had a Transit for about 18 months I would say get a Transit. Lots of room inside.
 
I've worked out of both and have to agree that most situations a van is the way to go. With you saying you'll be doing both commercial and residential you will want the ability to carry a lot of different materials onboard so keep that in mind.
 
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