truck vs vans?

[fastplumber]

i didn,t know what i wanted. a small truck or large truck. or did i want a van? one day at home depot i seen a guy get out of an old EMS ford van, he was more than happy to show me his truck it was cool in was fully light up in side it had shelves and lots of storage to. i saw his about one year ago he said they were hard to find. i wanted one. three weeks ago i found mine. it is a 1996 e350 turbo-diesel ford. it is basicly a small cude van heavy duty ever thing. it even has all the flashing lights and sierens on it. i payed $12000canadain safetied and e-tested

www.ambulacetrader.com is a good place to see more used EMS trucks for sale.

people don't forget you when you pull up in an ambulace.

[ToUtahNow]

There was a company down here which had a dozen of them set up as service trucks. After a while he closed down his service business and just had a one truck sewer video company. Now after several years he had to go buy a new truck because he wore all of his ambulances out. They seemed to get a lot of attention but did not have many miles left on them since the engines ran a lot more than the odometers turned.

Mark

[All Clear Sewer]

I myself like the Truck thing as Vans are a pain to get things in and out of.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/4213P1030629.JPG

[PLUMBER RICK]

allclear, i prefer the van/ cube truck. i can stand up in mine and i'm 6'1''. the contents are kept dry and secure. gmc w-4500 with 12' box and curb side utility bins.

how do you find parking for a truck and trailer?

i too have trailers for my pipe bursting equipment and jetter. sometimes i have to disconnect it to get a spot close to the job. with truck 20' and trailer 13' it would be tuff to find 1 long spot here in l.a.

do you always tow the trailer? is that where all the good stuff located:D

rick.

[All Clear Sewer]

Parking has not been a problem with the little trailer but I`v out grown it and need a bigger one so it might start being a problem soon. I keep all the good stuff in the trailer except the SeeSnake, it stays at the shop unless I know there is a call for it on a job I`m heading too. That's why I`m getting a bigger trailer, I`m out of room. The trailer lives behind the truck 24/7.

[Australian Plumber Josh]

I keep all the good stuff in the trailer except the SeeSnake

Just be careful with that information. There are people around who are far less honest than those posting on these boards.

[fastplumber]

good point josh, my shop got broken in to i lost about $11000-12500. i was sure i knew you did it but couldn't prove it. i battled with my inserance for almost one year.

sorry for my spelling


fastplumber out.

[plumbdog10]

I think it depends on the type of business you are operating. As a commercial construction foreman, I always drive utility bed pick-ups (provided by the company). This is the only way to go if you are doing this type of work. We in my area are always hauling concrete bags, compactors, etc., yet need tools and misc. material available, but we need bed space.

Having worked for shops which support both construction and service plumbing, I have concluded that vans are the best for service. You guys carry snakes, etc. which do not fit into utility tool boxes, and need additional protected space for small replacement parts.

Just my opinion.

[ToUtahNow]

When I still had the Plumbing business I had 14' Super Structures mounted on Isuzu trucks. They basically were 14' walk in box vans from the back but 14' utility beds from the sides. Now that I just do inspections I have a van with a 10' utility box van.

Mark

[TozziWelding]

I love my diesel F-350 with the 4x4 for getting in and out of muddy and remote job sites, but storage is minamal. The best truck ever, was my fathers Grumman alumanum step van. This truck had all the room you would ever need, and none of the van crampedness. What I really want to make is a 4x4 step van, the ultimate service truck. If truck designers ever worked a day in our world they would know what we need. Till then I will build my own.

[HVAC HAWK]

i didn,t know what i wanted. a small truck or large truck. or did i want a van? one day at home depot i seen a guy get out of an old EMS ford van, he was more than happy to show me his truck it was cool in was fully light up in side it had shelves and lots of storage to. i saw his about one year ago he said they were hard to find. i wanted one. three weeks ago i found mine. it is a 1996 e350 turbo-diesel ford. it is basically a small cube van heavy duty ever thing. it even has all the flashing lights and sierens on it. i payed $12000canadain safetied and e-tested

www.ambulacetrader.com is a good place to see more used EMS trucks for sale.

people don't forget you when you pull up in an ambulance.


I'd be a little careful about old EMS trucks , they have a lot of hard miles on them . i know sum that got good ones and some got bad ones .

just check them out good

[bigPipe09]

I think these are the best vehicles for service vans. They get excellent gas mileage, and are designed by mercedes benz...a person 6 feet tall has no problem standing in one. Also i think they look pretty slick....




http://www.dodge.com/sprinter/img/sprinter_config_wheelbase.gif

[Newman]

I think these are the best vehicles for service vans. They get excellent gas mileage, and are designed by mercedes benz...a person 6 feet tall has no problem standing in one. Also i think they look pretty slick....




http://www.dodge.com/sprinter/img/sprinter_config_wheelbase.gif



They are Mercedes...
Just re-badged as Sprinter for Dodge...

[RiR]

Hi Tozzi! I don't know if it's big enough for you, but dare I suggest the Land-Rover Defender! Mine is 32 years old, more reliable than the new stuff, a lot of my neighbours have got, and it doesn't know when to quit! OK, I'm a member of DLRK, the Danish Land-Rover club, and they have some awesome courses in terrain driving, but as a rule, I stop before the Land-Rover.
Bu the way, the bodywork is Aluminium, (recycled beer cans to be sure!)

[bigPipe09]

the only reason i'd suggest the van is because of the mercedes connection...dodge stinks.

[subiemech85]

you can also get one in the freightliner flavor :D
http://www.hoekstraspecialty.com/index.html

[Hondahead]

I think these are the best vehicles for service vans. They get excellent gas mileage, and are designed by mercedes benz...a person 6 feet tall has no problem standing in one. Also i think they look pretty slick....




http://www.dodge.com/sprinter/img/sprinter_config_wheelbase.gif

I wasn't impressed:( The steering wheel position sucks, its like driving a bus! Traction and handling are mediocre at best. The fuel economy is good but the power was a little lacking. They do look snazzy tho. Maybe I'm just old school but I was glad to get my Ford/E250/triton V8 back! :)

[fastplumber]

i did look at the sprinter very good van but the price is way over priced for what it is. my ambulace looks and runs great if could knew how to post pics i would show it to all, i have seen older ones with more KM and are very rough and i did look for some time before i found this one.

fastplumber out

[TozziWelding]

RiR, no way would an suv work for me. I cary about 1,500 pounds of tools and gear everyday. The welding machine alone is about 700, not to mention the gang box full of tools. I think my next truck is going to be an International medium duty, with a 20' utility box. If I could find an old power company truck with 4x4(and a bucket) I would be all set.

[RiR]

Hi There Tozzi, I wasn't thinking of an SUV as such, but the original model Land-Rover,(the one that dates back to 1948). I thought you had it in the USA as well, as LR-Defender. The 110" carries over a ton. If you're so inclined, you can plow with it, use it as an earth truck, scratches on the paint aren't really an issue, however it's probably underpowered by American standards. By the way, what makes of welding equipment do you use in the USA? Over here, Kemppi is the choice as long as price isn't the deciding issue. Migatronic, & ESAB, being close seconds. We're talking TIG, which I beleive you mentioned was your "persuasion of choice" as well.

[subiemech85]

for MIG welders
esab - yellow
miller - blue
lincoln - red
linde - green
hobart - white

most TIG and SMAW are lincoln

our land rover defenders are little more than luxury toys :eek:

[TozziWelding]

I use Miller welding equipment, and have ESAB oxy fuel torches. Check out www.millerwelds.com and look at the Dynasty 200DX. You will want one for sure. In the truck now I have a Miller Trailblazer 301G with all the bells and whistles, suitcase wire feeder, TIG box, remote, etc..... If I get more heavy pipe work I will get an old Lincoln SA-200.

[smorris]

Hi There Tozzi, I wasn't thinking of an SUV as such, but the original model Land-Rover,(the one that dates back to 1948). I thought you had it in the USA as well, as LR-Defender. The 110" carries over a ton.

We don't get Defenders over here any more, and used ones go for outrageous prices. The 90 stopped about 5-6 years ago, but the 110 probably hasn't been here in a dozen or more. We just get the Range Rover and the new LR2, which the rest of the world calls Discovery. We used to get the Disco, but apparently the negative conotation of the disco era, combined with tying it to the Range Rover, cause the name change in North America.

I almost had a type III about 25 years ago, but the guy sold it while I was driving the two hours to go get it...

[gitnerdun]

I love my Chevy Express extended 2500. It fits in my Garage at home, it fits down a tree infested driveway, all my stuff is inside out of sight and dry. Weighs 8000 lbs fully loaded and rides great at 12 mpg. Sorry, but pick ups look messy and Sprinter are top heavy and narrow to boot. Cubes are.....well kinda boxey, no style. Trailers in Fl get stolen and stripped too often.

[Newman]

I've heard good things about Chevy Express Vans too...
I've got a Dodge full size, but I don't like the narrow opening rear doors! :(

[ToUtahNow]

My E350 Ford van has a utility body which is 6" wider and 8" higher than a normal van. I get the best of both worlds in that it is the size of a regular van but I have all the compartments on the sides of the body. The back doors are still over 4' wide.

Mark

[gitnerdun]

The thing that bothers me about Dodge is that the seats are wwaayy back in the cargo area. You look and you will see that when you look in the drivers window, he is back behind the window opening. I like the fact that with a van you don't have to stand outside, like a utility body. I see guys walking from one side to the other looking for whatever in the side boxes, no fun in the rain. And it rains alot here in FL. To each his own, trucks are fun no matter what.:)

[Newman]

Not to mention I got the short wheelbase!!! :>

[ILPlumber]

I just bought a ford f-650. cat c-7 with allison 6 speed auto. air suspension , air brakes, air ride seats. aluminum wheels. knapheide 14' kuv canopy bed. painted bright red. It is by far the nicest truck i have ever owned. When i get back to a camera i'll post up some pics. it is a beaut.

ILPlumber

[oncall]

I went round and round looking for a new truck/van for the last 2 months. I finally found a sweet deal! its a 97 3500 Chevy/dually/turbo diesel/big enclosed Stahl utility box....with only 45000 miles! all for $9800. It was a municipality truck lightly used, and in excelent condition. I thought it might be too much, but that friggin diesel is a STRONG! I'm real glad I went with the beast!

Gerry