Big Truck VS Small Truck-better mpg

[gear junkie]

I didn't want to get Carl's thread sidetracked. On paper the small truck will beat the big truck in fuel economy but I believe a big truck saves fuel because you don't have to go back to the supply house or the shop. You have everything with you in one shot. What's your thought?

[ToUtahNow]

I agree Ben unless you have a bunch of guys out there doing minor stuff you need a truck which has tools and materials on it. I know several shops which have these guys go out in little trucks that are limited in knowledge and ability and when they can't handle it a real plumber comes out in a real truck. In the long run they make pretty good money with cheap labor but It does not seem fair to the customer.

Mark

[Service Guy]

I originally bought the small astro thinking that it would save me on fuel, etc. It turns out tiny Astro got only around 15 mpg! So the fuel economy was pathetic for a small cargo van. The Extended GMC 3500 gets around 11 mpg city driving. The astro was not a huge savings considering the VERY dramatic cut in cargo space.

BTW, going from the minivan to working out of my EXTENDED fullsize van is like heaven! I can carry all I need and even walk around in the back to get stuff (bent over of course.)
I am able to keep all my cable machines, a handtruck, shop vac, etc, etc. plus stock a lot more parts...like faucets and disposals to upsell while I am already at someone's house.

[gear junkie]

Is the 3500 fully loaded because 11 mpg is great compared to some people I know? I plan on buying a isuzu npr chassis with a hackney body. All I need is 40k.

[Killertoiletspider]

For the work our company does, Astro vans work great, since most material gets delivered to the jobs by the supply house.

[Service Guy]

Is the 3500 fully loaded because 11 mpg is great compared to some people I know? I plan on buying a isuzu npr chassis with a hackney body. All I need is 40k.

Actually those numbers were while the trucks were empty. 15 for the astro, 11 for the 3500. Of course weighted down they will be worse. I am in the process of tracking it. I will post 'weighted' mpg's for the 3500 as soon as possible.

[gear junkie]

Wow, 15mpg for the empty astro is really bad. I get 16 now and my truck is fully loaded.

[Service Guy]

Wow, 15mpg for the empty astro is really bad. I get 16 now and my truck is fully loaded.

I have a lead foot.:D I have consciously lightened it quite a bit since buying the big gas guzzler though!:eek:

[Service Guy]

For the work our company does, Astro vans work great, since most material gets delivered to the jobs by the supply house.

Yes, for jobs where you can get a delivery truck to foot the bill, smaller truck is better.

However, for a full-service plumbing or HVAC business, you need a warehouse on wheels.

[Devine Plumbing]

Go big or go home.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg94/devineplumbing/IMG_0385.jpg

But seriously even with a truck this big well stocked there is always something that I need to go somewhere and get during the day. I am thinking of getting something bigger.

[ToUtahNow]

Go big or go home.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg94/devineplumbing/IMG_0385.jpg

But seriously even with a truck this big well stocked there is always something that I need to go somewhere and get during the day. I am thinking of getting something bigger.

We went the Step-Van route for a while but tired of the smell and the noise. Of course or bulkheads were a cage with a passage door so while it secured the bed it did not separate the bed.

Mark

[Devine Plumbing]

Yes, I added a partition and installed a bench seat in case my kids needed to ride. I am now thinking about ripping out some of the big Snap-On shelves and installing shelving units that are not quite as deep. Some of the angled shelves make it tough to store items on them. Time to put a door or passage window in the partition wall. As it is now I have to lower the lift gate on every job.

[TomSV650]

I agree Ben unless you have a bunch of guys out there doing minor stuff you need a truck which has tools and materials on it. I know several shops which have these guys go out in little trucks that are limited in knowledge and ability and when they can't handle it a real plumber comes out in a real truck. In the long run they make pretty good money with cheap labor but It does not seem fair to the customer.

Mark

There's no correlation between truck size and plumbing experience. :rolleyes:

[Devine Plumbing]

There's no correlation between truck size and plumbing experience. :rolleyes:

Sure there is

[ToUtahNow]

There's no correlation between truck size and plumbing experience. :rolleyes:

But of course I never said there was. What I said was I know of several shops which have guy with less experience working out of small trucks and guys in big trucks with more experience coming out to save them. The size of the truck does not give them the experience but the shop figures why set a truck up with sewer cameras, pipe locating and leak locating equipment if the guy doesn't know how to use them. One of the shops has twenty trucks but only two guys which I would consider qualified plumbers. The shop makes a lot of money but when a guy suspects a slab leak a new appointment is set up for a "supervisor" to come out to locate and repair the problem. This of course is at an additional charge to what the customer has already paid. So basically the experience of the guy is what set the size of the truck in this shop not for plumbers in general.

Mark

[DUNBAR]

When gas gets about $7 a gallon I'm going to buy a school bus and turn it into my mobile office in the front, living quarters in the middle, my inventory and tools in the back.


That way I can call it a day right outside the customer's house, wait for the next call and I pull out from there.


Neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeext!:nyaa-nyaa4:

[JCsPlumbing]

I'm going for an AirStream. :p

J.C.

[Drain Medic]

When i worked for companies, i started off using a Ford Diesel van. Drove one of those for 5yrs. Then switched companies, went to a Chevy van. Didnt like that as much as the diesel. Small, slower, and not as much room as the diesel. Drove the Chevy for a yr and they went to Hino box trucks. I was in heaven with that truck. Hackney body in the back. It had a pull out ramp in the back, and you could walk around upright in the back. The stock back there was insane. It was like a mini supply house. There was even a spot on top of the shelf for the ladder. All those shelves and a US Jetter in the back as well with a side rollup door for the hose and controls. It was a super sewer truck. I never saw anything like. My old co did their homework on the trucks and we were kicking butt with them. Only downfall i had with those box trucks was driving around Center city Phila and trying to park on the small streets. I do miss the box trucks, as it had everything. I have 2 Chevy Express Vans now. Nice and easy to park in the city, but cannot carry half the things i use to have in the box trucks.

[Service Guy]

I considered getting a box truck also Greg. Parking was one problem. Do you have the extended version Chevys? It adds a couple feet of floor space in length, which surprisingly makes a big difference.
I really like the extended GMC and will probably get another one if I don't go to a box truck next time.

[PLUMBER RICK]

for years i drove a gmc 1 ton van. fully loaded at 9200# the mileage was not so great. probably around 7mpg.

since 2000 i drive a gmc w4500. same as the isuzu. now it carries 14,000# and gets 5-6 mpg.sure it has everything, but there is no reason for me to have that much stuff in the truck as i have it at the shop too.

drain cleaning doesn't require as much parts as plumbing. but i do both.
i guess i'm used to the luxury of having the stuff right outside. but at the same time i can easily return with anything that i don't have in the truck.

next truck will probably be a 1 ton van again.

rick.

[Drain Medic]

I considered getting a box truck also Greg. Parking was one problem. Do you have the extended version Chevys? It adds a couple feet of floor space in length, which surprisingly makes a big difference.
I really like the extended GMC and will probably get another one if I don't go to a box truck next time.


No, i dont have the extended van. Next van will be though.

[DuckButter]

Sure there is
Not in your case.

[DuckButter]

I'm in a small truck...not a Ranger or an S-10, a 1500.
It has become the most frustrating experience of my life attempting to stay organized...I even made two custom sliding racks so I could slide everything out and it's still often overwhelming to find things.
I need a van, but for now the cost of gas is whats stopping me.
I've been entertaining the idea of a small trailer or similar to keep excess tools and stock in that I can take for larger jobs when needed.

At well over $4 a gallon, I just don't want to paint myself into an expensive corner buying a larger cube van or box truck that'll eat a gallon every 10 miles.

I have a buddy who has been offering to sell me his van...it's an 8 cylinder chevy, he's looking to size down to a 6 cyl 1500 for the same reason I'm afraid to get a larger truck...he just bought the van 6 months ago and says the gas is breaking his bank.