Hi Everyone,
Its not official but my current work truck has almost had last rights. So where do I go from here? I’m a remodler who does a pretty wide spectrum of building activities … decks and additions to fine finish work and many steps in between …. rarely new houses but sometimes large enough additions that its almost a new house. Primarily work alone but sometimes hire short term help.
I’m thinking I’d like to find and Ford E250, 6 cly, manual trans …. used 8 – 10K price range….. been using a pick-up with canopy. Live in Alaska with more than our share of rain and snow so am thinking about vans.
Any ideas or thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks …
Replies
I love the van. I have an E 250 all decked out. why do you want a manual trans? Because of where you are, what about a pickup 4x4 with a good cap? The box trucks for the all around guy (me too) are becoming popular. They're pretty lunky though.
Hi Jer ... thanks for the reply ... those two styles are my choices. The van would be better for hauling sheet goods and keeping both that and my tools out of the weather but a PU with a cap (lower heigth top rack than a van) is better for hauling lumber. ???????????Wanted a manual trans because of operation in cold weather ... easier to hill start or push start ... well OK ... maybe this opinion is a hold over from my youth when all I could afford were junkers ... can't really remember when I last needed a start assist but then I have been driving a Toyota PU.Thanks
homebuilder1
Fords 300 cu in six is a real work horse and reliable as heck! The 3/4 ton part may be over kill because unless you carry that much weight regularly you'll just have a stiff ride and expensive tires.. The neat thing is that same engine is used by a lot of industrial stuff and you can buy rebuilt engines for about a grand or even less...
Rust worries me there in Alaska, Ford still hasn't managed to avoid the rust demon in spite of improvements..
Chey's V8 isn't quit as durable as Fords six is but you can buy a brand new engine for about two grand and it has a warrantee and that will get you another 200,000 miles.. The body on newer Chevy's is less prone to rust than Fords are.. plus the V8 gets better mileage than Fords six does..
I can't say mch nice about Dodgeexcept their diesel is extremely reliable and doesn't mind a shot of either to get started.. Dodge's transmission is tougher than either Ford or GM's but the rest of it tends to be higher maintinace..
Pickup VS Van, Vans are OK if you never travel long distance with them.. if you do, don't be surprised at your desire to chew your left leg off after hours in the seat..
Thanks frenchy,You have confirmed my opinions about Ford, Chevy and Dodge. There sure are alot of E-Vans up here .... been really noticing a big upswing in van ownership in general among fellow small contractors last couple of years. Have liked hearing others opinions ... thanks
I find it just the opposite.
I can drive for hours in my GMC Savana van with no problems. The seats seem just right to me.
But after only an hour or two driving my wife's car, I get uncomfortable.
And the bench seats in the various pick-ups I've had weren't all that great, either.
Enjoyable post.
Vans dont do sh*t in the snow and 4WD trucks excell. Trucks are a poor tool truck with out it being a commercial 1 ton rig.
Pickups haul very few tools needed by this guy .
So the compromise may be a 4wd short wheel base and a dual axle trailer coverd wagon.
Tim
Hey Tim"So the compromise may be a short wheel base and a dual wheel covered trailer"Are you thinking a Jeep Wrangler and a covered wagon? I am and want a new Unlimited but my wallet can only afford the used E250. Insurance would be cheaper AND alot more fun away from work!Tom
Lemme be specific .
You cant be in a contest with a SWB 4WD reg cab pick up backing trailers unless youre in one.
They will put a tool trailer anywhere one can be put and theirs nothing better out there doing it in a 10 to 16 ft trailer .
Then for the same money some others are spending you can get
A new silverado , a 16 ft utility trailer, a 14 ft ramp ATV trailer, A 12 ft covered tool trailer and a 14 ft flat bottom boat and trailer for the same money as some trucks people are buying .
That type of truck is cheap.
Tim
You don't mention annual miles driven, but in AK, these may be many thus annual fuel costs may be a significant factor.
I recently sold my 1990 F-150 with the 300 CI 6. and full Pilgram hi-top canopy. I loved that truck! It did far more than any 1/2T should be asked to do. It consistently gave me 18-22 mpg and day-to-day reliability that rivals a Honda civic or Toyota Corolla.
Only problem was towing things...the rental yards around here required a minimum 3/4T to pull even the small generators. So I took care of that with a 14' aluminum flat trailer with removable sides. We had to often go to 3rd gear on hills (5-speed manual), but we always got there!
Good luck
BruceM
I use diesels. Ford diesels....a used diesel with 100,000 miles on it (in my experience) is still in it's infancy (if it has been maintained). I get 18 - 20 mpg and plenty of power. I would stear away from the 6.0 liter and buy used 7.3 liter diesel. I think 2002 or older. Resale here in TX is easy and gets the extra you pay for the the diesel returned. Diesel vans are avaliable, but certainly less common than trucks.
We have had 4 in our company with over 1,000,000 miles recorded and very few problems.
I am thinking about a new truck, but considering a Dodge Cummings diesel because of some bad reports I have peronally received from guys with the now standard 6.0 liter.
Just my thoughts. I did fill my F350 7.3 liter diesel with fuel (35 gallons) and drove to mom's house in Memphis, TN (650 miles) without a stop for fuel, and still had fuel to burn. I did not need to do it, but wanted to try.
Edited 7/31/2006 1:21 pm ET by txlandlord
txlandlord,Yeah thanks .... I have wondered about those Dodge Sprinter's ... large volume, diesel and standup head room inside .... hard to find in the used market though.Anybody know about them?
HB1, been considering changing to a van also, looked at a couple of sprinters that I spotted at the lumberyard , owners said they LOVED the diesel part and were getting around 26mpg!, lots of room in the high top and the standard roof as well, but a bit pricey, around $40,000 new, I hear Dodge is taking over the sales from freightliner who was the original marketer, but the mercedes diesel motor will stay. One fella I spoke with said a local dealer was selling them @$31,000-$32,000!!haven't yet been able to verify that. Maybe I'll wait till there is a used market available for these sprinters!
Geoff
Hi Geoff,
Yeah ... thats a bit pricey for me too right now. Think I have found a nice E250 for 8K. Think I'll get it and in a couple of years trade up ... who knows what will be available by then ... maybe a tough-as-nails tree climbing hybrid that gets a 100 mpg.If I read the posts here correctly many think a GMC van is a better vehicle than the Ford. THere are a lot more of the Fords on the West Coast it seems .... or else more of them are for sale .... mmmmmmWhat are you driving now? I've been in Toyotas for the last 12 years ... its going to be hard to drive a van but I know I'll really like have more space and dry tool / material storage.Thanks for the reply,
Tom
Hi Tom,
been driving a '98 Ranger XLT Ext.Cab 4x4w/ custom cap ( three door access) and beefy custom (1 1/4" tube stock w/ extension over cab , can carry 16' lengths no problem.) lumber rack. bought in Sept. of '01 w/ 124,000 mi. for $8,900., now have 238,000 mi. 6 cyl. 4.o liter. Not unhappy but looking for the same thing as you , more space for tools and ability to haul sheet goods etc, in weather. What is the longest length you can fit in the E250? I think if I could get 10' s in I'd be a happy camper, do delivery for longer stuff. I'm in same boat as you ,sole-proprietor , helper when needed, but mostly me,myself, and I doing the work! I've considered the E250 as well.
Geoff
Hi Geoff,
Haven't bought a E250 or GMC Savana yet but have found a couple on the internet that I'm interested in .... hope it won't be like finding an internet girl friend ... where they are all slim, no facial tatoos, and no bad habits.... Anyway no vans for sale other than new in my area so will have to travel and hope for the best with the internet / newspaper ads. Might hapen this weekend ...? ... if I can get away for a few days from current jobs.
Until the check is written I'm still looking and listening to advise. Thanks to all who have responded. I have gotten some good pointers.
Tom
From my experience, decent used vans are hard to find. If they're still working good, the current owner is not likely to trade up just to be in fashion (like they might be if it were a car). And if they're selling it because it's all used up, you wouldn't want it.
I wound up buying a used fleet vehicle (a '98 Ford E250) with over 200K miles. They were selling it because that's their policy. As long as it's still working, they don't sell until 200K.
I think I got lucky because I haven't had any significant problems in the 8K miles I've owned it. As a fleet vehicle, I expected it to get regular maintenance, but I don't really know how it was treated on a daily basis. I do know that it was most likely only driven by one person.
For my next van (maybe in a year or 2), I would really like to find something newer with much less mileage and I would be willing to spend up to about $12,000. I figure I'll be looking for a long time. In fact, since I know how I use it and I have certain "requirements" (sliding side door, rear glass, remote entry, etc) I may even be forced to buy new
-Don
Hi Don,
I'm only doing web searches but I'm finding vans in that price range here on the west coast. I don't know about remote entry but rear glass and sliding side door. How does your van drive with that many miles? What have you had to do for it? Got rust? THat's a big one where I live. Vehicles rust out and still have great running gear.Good Luck,
Tom
My '98 Ford E250 with over 200K miles still runs great. Especially the engine. It starts without fail, runs smooth, doesn't burn oil and still gets the same gas mileage as it ever did (just under 12 mpg).
I've had to to brakes, brake cylinders and some of the emission components. Basically stuff that I think of as maintenance.
There's a little play in the front end so it wanders on the highway when it's windy, but all vans do that to varying degrees. I'm not in a "rust zone". I'm in central New Jersey (not near the shore) and my truck has no rust at all.
All in all, I would buy another one. That is, of course, if Ford stays in business :-).
-Don
You DID get lucky with your van choice ... Good Luck and I hope it continues. I'm not used to thinking about vehicles being driven so long. In my area rust cancer takes over and makes you start worrying about your liability if something big falls off your truck while driving down the freeway. Got rid of a PU truck a few years ago when I would worry about when the passenger door would fall off at 60 mph.
Tom
g. In my area rust cancer takes over and makes you start worrying about your liability
And what area would that be Tom?
be fillin in profile
Tim
Southeast Alaska ... Juneau in particularNo guts ... no glory I guess. Had a mmmmmmm guess I forget now ... think it was a 84 Toyota PU. Got so rusty that you better not open the passenger door but was most worried that the tailgate would fall off on our 20 miles of freeway. Had a safty chain hooked up to it just in case. One day I crawled under it and noticed that the frame aft of the axel was abot rusted through. Was thinking of turning it into a flatbed until
I saw that. But .... it didn't matter how cold it was the engine always started and purred.. tranny was good ... 160K and still on original clutch. That truck was small but it made me money by never wimpering the whole time I had it ... even with 2000 lbs of gravel in the back. Hated to get rid of it ... funny how you can develope a "friendship" with something like a vehicle ....Tom
I just got a Sprinter- 140" wheelbase and high roof. Just under 22 MPG so far with a ladder rack.
Plenty of room inside. The 270* rear doors are real sweet. No problem with power. Plenty comfy- but I haven't done any looong drives yet. Maneuvers better in the parking lot than any other small van (Astro) to full size extended cab truck that I have driven. It has a 400,000 mile rated service life.
Only two (maybe 3.75) drawbacks...
As mentioned previously, they ain't cheap, but they are comparable to a new domestic van with a diesel engine.
Something inbetween the size of a Sprinter and a regular van as far as height goes would be nice, but the height is what I like. It is definitely bigger at home and up close than on the road.
No 4wd is available in the NA market.
Towing capacity is only 5k# (including interior payload), so if you do major towing, a Sprinter is not for you.
You might have better luck (quantity and pricing) with used Sprinters as the new body style 2007's come on line. High mileage expediter vans are bringing almost half of the new selling price.
The 2007's don't have a rain gutter (spy shots), so if a ladder rack is important, you will be drilling holes.
The "spy specs" on the 2007s point to more power, a bit longer and a bigger GVWR.
Probably not too much more new diesel stuff coming to the USA until the ULSD fuel issues are finally resolved- maybe 2008?
Did I mention that the ladder rack is way up there?
so the 0 - 60 isn't that bad ?
did you get the dual rear wheels ?
how do you get the ladders off the top, anyway ?
carpenter in transition
so the 0 - 60 isn't that bad ?
Nope. Pretty respectable.
did you get the dual rear wheels ?
Nope.
how do you get the ladders off the top, anyway ?
With another ladder :)
Hi Danskio224,
Just one business in my town is driving a Sprinter and I sure like the looks of it. Previously, I had a '85 Step Van - 12' behind driver seat, 6 cyl - Chev 292, Grumman body. Being designed as a delivery vehicle, it would turn tighter than my toyota. It was a great work vehicle but got 9mpg. Still, I might go back to another one .... but now that I have seen the Sprinter a more modern vehicle might be just the ticket.
Might need a cajonies implant so I'd be brave enough to sign on the dotted line.
Tom
Edited 8/2/2006 3:47 pm ET by Homebuilder1
Danski0224,
Did you find a nice used one or did you buy new? If used where / how did you find it?
Tom
Edited 8/2/2006 3:49 pm ET by Homebuilder1
I bought it new. Decent used ones seem to be selling for close to new- I didn't think the savings were worth it and I am never in the right place at the right time for the "deals" anyway.
I plan on keeping it for a while.
If you like the van with the box behind it, there is a Sprinter cab/chassis available.
Hey danski0224,
How do I find out about the van /box?
THanks,
Tom
That's easy....
Pick the vehicle that you want in a cab/chassis or cutaway version....
Then pick the type of body that you want.
In my area, you can find vendors under the "truck body" listing in the yellow pages. Commercial truck dealers will be of help, too. Internet search under Knaphi(e)de, Stahl, etc.
Heavy duty van cutaways with enclosed utility boxes are pretty popular around here. Pickups with open utility boxes are a close second followed by vans with cubes behind them.
I have only seen Sprinters with flatbed stake bodies so far.
This route (cab/chassis or cutaway with a box) will not be cheap, but you may be able to get what you really want. Dealers here have them on the lots to look at.
Do not fool yourself into thinking that a gasoline engined van or truck with a big box will get better than really low double (or high single) digit gas mileage. You must go diesel to get the mileage. Now you are in Sprinter price territory. Choose wisely if you have the money to make the investment.
If you go domestic van/truck, don't play around with anything less than a 3500 series chassis. Those boxes are heavy before you put tools in them.
Hope this helps.
I drive a 2001 E-250 and I love the ability to carry the tools I need and have them fairly organized. I am in a similar situation as you, myself and my 2 boys work together. We do alot of little jobs and a great variety. I need lots of different tools and I don't have to go to the shop every morning and plan which seet of tools I need. Most contractors around here drive pickups with a small box across the back, and the bigger outfits have trailers. I can get 10' sheetrock inside and the lumber racks let us carry most anything on top. We even put the 16' work bucket for a skytrack on top of the van to return to the rentall.
I'm 5' 7" so it's easy for me to get in and get stuff. Snow doesn't seem to be a problem, and we get plenty of it. Maybe it's because of the tool weight. But I don't try to do amything stupid with it. I've only gotten stuck in mud. I
I bought my 1st E-250 (94) with 171K on it for $5,000 and we are still driving it at 216K. The 2001 had 90K and I gave about $9,000 for it.
The drawbacks are gas mileage 12-14 mpg (with a tailwind) and the tools rattling around as you drive. Most of our work is in town, so they are basically traveling toolboxes. We also have an old pickup and it is invaluable for hauling trash to big windows.
E-250s have been pretty reliable for me. The transmission is going on the 94' but we just keep driving it, it'll give us problems one day and then be good for a month. I hope that helps you.
I did a search for used sprinters in a 150 mile radius.
the LEAST $$ was 25999 for one with 150K miles...
even though this may well be "just broken in"
I cant see paying 25K+ for any 150000mile vehicle with a Chrysler badge on it!!!
The Diamler Benz/chrysler merger is akin to Larry the railing guy doing satirs for Jerrald Hayes...I have no comment...
The Sprinter has a 400,000 mile rated service life. Says so, in print, in the sales literature. So the 150k mile version still should have 2/3 of its' life left given basic maintenance.
It seems- at least at the retail level- they hold their value. Who knows what *real* the trade in value on that is... the old "too many miles" at trade-in... and "all highway miles" on the sales sticker game. They are a niche vehicle.
The high price of used versions is why I bought new. I bet I can sell my 05 VW TDI for almost what I paid for it new- even now with 20k miles on it. The dealer won't give me crap for it, but it commands a high price elsewhere where buyers want a TDI. 1996 Passat TDI's (especially wagons) can fetch $10k.
If you look beyond the Dodge badge, every other part on the Sprinter has the little three pointed Mercedes star.
There is NO release date yet for 07 DIESEL versions. The first offerings of 07 Sprinters will be GASOLINE. The reality is there MAY NOT be a 07 Sprinter diesel.
seems you see Dodge like I look at Ford....Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
If your diesel is $3.30 per gallon.....
And I just worked it out into litres and did the currency conversion.....your paying 5c more per litre than we are. How weird is that........
Not an exponent of the DILLIGAF system.
and it probably went up since I posted the original pricing...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
change that to 3.49.........Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Or Chebby or AMC
or Yugo
or Stanley steamer.
oops
thats not fair to Stanley...I have no comment...
Homebuilder
I have said this once before, and I will say it again, It is all about the "COOL" factor.
There is nothing cool about a 6 cylinder van, I drive an F-250 supercab, V-10, 4x4, fire engine red, and man it does turn heads. I'ts all about the toys, That is why I love this bussiness. My vehicle is essentially a tool truck, I do not have to worry about picking up material because that is what 10.00$ an hour delivery boys are for. My time is way to valuable to be standing in line at home depot with the other schmucks who can't get there xxit straight. Besides I would rather be driving my F-250 and looking cool, then wasting my time at some lumberyard, thats what they make cellphones for, to place orders.
Caps? no way! Caps are for girls. The way I look at it is if my tools get rusty from the rain I will just go out and buy new ones.
2 wheel drive vans? yeah go ahead and buy one, because when your at home when it snows I will take that job away from all the other guys who can't make it in to work.
Yeah I love this work.
Mark
I have never been snowbound (yet) in the Chicago area with a plain old 2WD truck or van. Not stupid enough to go where I am not really supposed to on a jobsite, either. Maybe the day will come.
For now, I will take the savings from buying 2WD instead of 4WD upfront, and I will also add the savings from not carting around all that extra gear on the 362 days of the year that it isn't needed.
I don't need 6 hour travel times, either.
I can afford to stay home a day or two and not risk an accident with a yuppie that doesn't know how to use 4WD or thinks they are invincible (not directed at you- just the idiots around here).
Yes, I would still like 4WD on my Sprinter, but I do not need it.
4WD is overrated on most of the vehicles it is installed on- savvy marketing, that is all.
danski0224
My message was more tonque in cheek than anything, long hot day in the poconos yesterday.
I go to new construction sites everyday, I probably use my 4 wheel drive on average about 10 times a week just to get out of some of these job sites, now I can always park in the street and walk the 100ft to the house with my tools but at my old age (44) forget it, leave that to the young ones.
Mark
Man does nobody put in a gravel driveway as a temporary access to the site and as a base for the driveway for the completed project.I would think that if the climate is so tough up there that would be near mandatory.
ANDYSZ2WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?
REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST
Andy
up here they use "Ballast Rock" there about the size of footballs, and that is usually to transition from the street to the site, and usually just 1 load,don't try driving over them with your car.
Mark
I kinda figured that :)
I keep hopin' Daimler-Chrysler will come up with a mid-sized panel van (sized between a Sprinter and a PT Cruiser) with their 5-cyl diesel, that'll keep running for a several hundred thousand miles and get north of 25 mpg.
I'd gladly forego some creature comforts (to avoid too high a price tag) for bulletproof construction and great mileage. It wouldn't have to go any faster than 80 mph for me. Would be nice of it would tow 2-5 tons, but that'd be icing.
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
I hear you Jazzdogg...why the 600hp hemi with ferrari red paint?? Gas will hit 4.00 gallon soon. stinky
"why the 600hp hemi with ferrari red paint??"
Why, indeed! Watching Detroit pin its collective hopes on high horsepower and luxury models during a run-up to high gas prices elicits strong feelings of Deja Moo; didn't they use the same playbook just prior to the oil embargo of the early 70s?
I saw a three-wheel vehicle (Two in front, one in back, fully enclosed cab) on TV that looked quite promising, especially as a commuter vehicle for urban areas, but they wouldn't be likely to generate nearly as much profit per vehicle as an H3 Hummer, an Escalade, or a Navigator.
No wonder Toyota and Honda are eating Detroit's lunch! They've taken the long-term view for the last 35 years, whereas Detroit seems to be myopically focused on short-term quarterly financial results.
Sigh...
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
Edited 8/4/2006 7:10 pm by jazzdogg
on any given day... i can drive my F350 7.3 non tubo diesel nice older 1992 extended cab power everything no rust or dents only 160k and get 12-14 mpg.... or my subaru forester nice little car but it ain't me but it will haul some junk and get 22-28 mpg... or i can drive my lexus lx450 (think landcruiser) and get 12mpg... it now has 210k after a short famliy trip last weekend... I know I need to sell it... but i love that thing... i even have folks come up and ask to buy it.... i like it enough that at $60 fill ups i don't even blink...
p
$60 fill ups - I look back on those fondly.
Our suburban (I know, but we have lots of kids) has a 44 gallon tank, and my pickup holds ~35 gallons.
I want a sprinter passenger van.
Treat every person you meet like you will know them the rest of your life - you just might!
diesel just went to $3.30...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
I'm using Diesel for... (so far)
Hot Water, Heat, Tractor, Skid Steer, Excavator, Dump Truck, Generator...
There's gotta be a Sprinter in my future!
Treat every person you meet like you will know them the rest of your life - you just might!
Edited 8/5/2006 3:30 pm ET by Brian
no truck???Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
its not an obsession...yet. still burning gas.
Treat every person you meet like you will know them the rest of your life - you just might!
ponytl
I wouldn't mind a $60.00 fillup. The wife's 04 Durango uses 89 octane, and a fill-up runs about $75.00. As of yesterday, filling my 06 Ram 2500 with diesel took exactly $100.00. Of course, I might have gotten a couple of pennies more in there, but that's how much the station pre-authorized my credit card for. Funny, I used to complain when they pre-authorized my card for $50.00 and I could only squeeze $35.00 in...
Bob
Mercedes already has one- it's called the Vito.
Probably not gonna see it in the USA as long as the Chrysler minivans are around.
"Mercedes already has one- it's called the Vito."
Daimler Chrysler is probably fighting an uphill battle to improve their CAFE numbers with diesel in the U.S.A. But, if they could import 'em, they'd probably sell quite a few!
I can see the ads now: Corleone motors is proud to introduce the Vito; coming soon to a village near you.
The rising high cost of gas and diesel fuel seems almost inconsequential compared to the cost of extra virgin olive oil and protection!
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
Edited 8/4/2006 7:09 pm by jazzdogg
I've got an '81 Dodge Royal 350 (full size van with 1T suspension) with 360ci under the hood. I bought it for $750 (Can) 3 years ago, replaced the starter and the battery, and it has been running fine since. This truck used to be the project truck for a local high school, so mechanically it is sound. It has some minor problems like "radio not working... a few holes in the floor, but it has paid for itself many times over. Fuel mileage is the pits, but I don't go very far; usually.
My boss tells me to come to the shop and get a company p/u when I need to get materials, but my van holds more material more safely than one of his short-box p/u s. And he pays me mileage when I use my own truck, so I don't loose out.
I have always been a "van man". Can't stand pickups. With a p/u and canopy, I find ya always gotta unload half the stuff in the box in order to get at what you need. And my knees just don't like crawling around in the bed while I'm searching for that elusive box of toggle bolts. (I got bad knees from kicking carpet in my teens).
The Sprinters are just too expensive for what you get (IMO) For that kind of money, I'd rather get a "cube" van. More space, and cheaper to service. You can find parts at the local junkyard.
locolobo
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Coastal Alaska--home of the flatbed toyota pickup! *chuckle* Lived on Kodiak for a spell and my chevy truck grew more rust in six months than 20 years in Wyoming.
You'll probably get more van per $, but if there are decent low priced pickups available locally you might think about a standup utility bed that can be moved as your vehicle changes. They are available for single tire or double tire trucks and there is a considerable amount of storage and a more comfortable standing height than most vans.
I'm looking at retired utility company trucks with standup fiberglass utility boxes--or a van. :-)
Cheers