Replies

1. 
   hammer1 | Oct 12, 2011 10:52am | #1

   A 4 wheel drive pickup with a plow is mandatory in my area. Snow removal is often a second means of income for contractors. A lot of the roads to lake side cottages are primative and there is often winter work to be had on those. Just getting around on normal roads can be a challenge when the snow flys. Of course, you can haul and load a lot more things with a pickup. I also use mine for personal use, hauling my boat, lugging firewood, landscape plants, going hunting or fishing in remote areas. I hauled 8 square of roofing for a small job last week, loaded with a fork lift and a few weeks before hauled several loads of gravel. You can't do that with a van.

2. 
   nycarpenter | Oct 12, 2011 09:35pm | #2

   I like to work out of a van.   Have it set up with plywood shelves, drawers on the side doors, inside roof storage for guide rails and long levels.  Nothing gets wet and the tools are locked up. (make sure you get the remote entry fob!)  I store  4 x 8's on edge on the left side held with a ratchet strap. (I can carry 30 sheets of plywood).  Pickup truck beds are a pain to get into and I carry too much stuff.  As for hauling materials, I have the big stuff delivered anyway, and still have room for 50 2x4's (10 footers in the van with the doors closed!).  The roof rack for anything else.  I don't need/want 4 wheel drive.  To many things to go wrong.  I prefer Chevy,GMC vans- Fords have front ends that always need camber work- they eat front tires every 15K.  (Sorry Ford fans, but I see too many ford vans with cambered in tires in my friend's repair shop)  Good luck shopping!  

1. 
   slykarma | Oct 29, 2011 09:05pm | #3

   ^ this. All of it. Up to 12' lumber inside, roof racks for moderate quantities of longer materials, delivery when quantities get serious.

   But I have a truck too, for runs to the dump, materials and so on. Just a 15 yr old chev single cab longbox that I got for under $2K. The van is the favoured vehicle. Perfect for when I was a 1 or 2 man reno/finishing outfit. It can't carry all my tools these days, mostly use an on-site shipping container fitted out with shelving and plan table. Van is still enormously versatile for pickup and delivery of miscellaneous materials, tools and fasteners. And it's got more area for business graphics.

3. 
   WoodWolf | Nov 07, 2011 10:29am | #4

   Van

     It really depends on the type of work you do in my opinion. I have been working mostly on restoring and remodeling older houses for the last 15 years (in business 25 years this year) I have been using a van since 1995, first a Dodge Ram 2500 and then a Sprinter 2500SHC in 2003 (great mileage, but lower power if you work in a mountainous area).  Since I use a large number of different tools it functions both as a rolling toolbox and a weather proof material pickup vehicle.  It can carry 12 foot sheets of drywall (I've had 20 plus in it) , 16' material goes on the roof rack (its mostly just trim stock for me).  It also fits in a standard parking space which is important in the town I do much of my work in if that is a consideration.  All in all I find a van more useful for remodeling and restoration type work.

1. 
   hartlandboy | Nov 25, 2011 11:04am | #5

   Van

   Similar to previous poster.  30 years in the reno bus.  The last 12 have been in full size vans   GMC 2500.  Great hauling capacity dry tools too many pros to mention.  I'm not a big enough operator for a trailer, besides I like to have all my tools in my locked up shop every nite