Using a box truck for scrapping

Starting the hunt for a vehicle to use for scrapping(See my other thread). I've been think about using a box truck, I was renting the 10 footers from u haul before and Im always able to fit a lot in there, plus I could use it as a break down space also and not have to rent an extra storage space. I looked on the forum but it seems everyone here uses either vans or pick ups and couldn't find much info about box trucks. Has anyone used one for scrapping before here? Do they hold up well or am I better off just getting a van? I like the cargo vans too but then you have tall things like commercial fridges, etc they are sorta inconvenient. I'm not crazy about pick ups because everything hangs out and they can be hard to secure the load when you have a lot of stuff. Plus cops around here love to stop you for everything so I like the fact that the box trucks and vans are closed.

I looked at box trucks and decided that 10ft trucks were not large enough for me. I went with an e350 ford cargo van as the payload capacity is larger than a box truck. Make sure you check that as you bay be surprised. The Ewaste weight can add up very quickly. Last thing you want is to get stopped for some reason and a cop decide he wants to weigh your truck. Also, make sure you get tags that cover the weight you want to carry. Regular car tags won't cut it on a cargo van or a box truck.

I owned this truck for about a year:



It was a 1997 Ford E-350 with the 5.4 Triton (Gas), and a 15' body. That's the longest body that you could get on an E-350.

My truck was a piece of junk (Literally rusting away), but I had it long enough that I can offer some insight.

1. It's enclosed. For me, that was huge. I do E-Waste. If I were hauling over $10,000 of computers, would I want people noticing? Would I want a catastrophe if it rained? That was great, but a little snow did drift in through the back. That may have been just my truck, though.

2. Space: Tons. I'll address some of this later, but everything fit nicely with tons of room to spare.

3. Fuel: I got 8MPG, no matter what I did. Drove conservatively? 8. Loaded. 8. In a hurry? 8.

4. Weight Limits: Here's where the box van was no bueno for me. Mine had a GVWR of 10,700#, and weighed about 7500# empty. That left me with roughly 3000# of carrying capacity. This wasn't good for E-Waste. Servers are small and heavy. For what you're doing, this may be a moot point, though.

5. Driveability: It surprisingly wasn't too bad. I could drive mine for over 2 hours, and be comfortable.

6. Break Down Space: Yes! I had a desk and chair in mine. It was nice for that.Throw the valuables out the back, and have shred ready to go. I only made 1 yard trip with it, though. It fell apart before I could do another.

7. Holding Up Well: Yes, but not mine.

I know a lot of people who run 1 Ton box vans. I personally know of a high mileage 1993 Chevrolet that serves duty daily, crossing Wyoming and Montana frequently. Mine was approaching 200k miles, and was from the Rust Belt. It was flat out a stupid purchase. They work well, if you're not carrying dense objects. For appliances, I think they'd work well. For computers, though, the weight limits were just too low. My 1987 Chevrolet 1/2 ton can tow more than the box van could haul.

The platforms are the same as the van. Stand in front of one- you can literally see that it's just a van that was sawzalled onto a box. You'll get the same engine, transmission,....

In winter, they're a bit dicey. In Wyoming, that's a big thing. Is it where you live?

I'd own one if I wasn't hauling heavy, dense E-Waste. They blend in, are inconspicuous, can do a decent amount of work, and run smoothly. I'd go for a GM one, though. Ford sold a lot more, but I just don't like the 5.4 Triton. It would motor along at 55-60MPH loaded, but I had to rev the engine a lot to get power. I knew my truck was dying due to cancer (rust), though, so I didn't care. I hooned the engine a bit.

If you get a Ford, go for the V10 or the PowerStroke diesel. But, I'd go for a GM with the 350 or the 6.0V8. I think the engine is more suited to the task.

And, do not buy a U-Haul! I looked at a couple- they're clapped out pieces of junk. Go with Ryder/Penske, or a privately owned one.

What are you hauling? I can give you some more specific advice....

I have a 1 ton Toyota dually with a box and liftgate on the back. I bought it mainly for my coin op. business but I used it plenty of times for going to the scrap yard with scrap I collected over time. Worked awesome for used engines with the liftgate. Can fit a gaylord of scrap in it. I still have it. When the summer time comes I may have to run it again because of the new account I got.

oh and in CA. I was told by the CHP my truck did not need a DOT number being it was classified as a 1 ton truck. I was questioned by a city traffic cop once but other than that never bothered about it. I never stopped at weigh scales either. It is a private 1 ton truck. YMMV though.

Is your Toyota 10,000# GVW or lower? I don't know much about the Toyota box vans.

I know a man who specifically chose his Chevrolet box van (Mentioned above), because it has a 10000# GVW. If it was 10,001 GVW, he'd need DOT numbers to cross state lines.

If you're GVW is 10,000# or less, though, you won't need DOT numbers. You're free to go!

Thanks for all the input!! To Matador, I usually have a mix of everything. I usually pick stuff up on trash days, dumpsters, etc and I have a few buisnesses, apt buildings, and houses that call me when they have scrap around the neighborhood. Until today that I lost my storage space, I used to pick stuff up on foot, bring it to the basement and break down whatever needed to be taken apart and rent a truck to bring in ferrous once I had at least a ton, and walk the non ferrous to the yard which is about a 30-40 minute walk from me. I've wanted to get a vehicle for a long time now and now that I have nowhere to store scrap I'm really looking out for one. Once I have the vehicle I'll drive all around and try to get as many scrap and e waste contacts as I can.

Look into a cheaper box van with a 350. Out here, they can be had for less than $2000.

How much space do you have to park? Sometimes, an older 18-24' truck can be had for not much more money.

Depending on your area regulations, some places may have an issue with you parking a large box truck. Of course, out here, there's a scrapper that uses a cut up school bus!

If the regulations allow it, I'd get the most truck that you can. How many times has someone complained that they had a 1 ton truck instead of a 1/2 ton?

Oh I forgot to mention, I live in Brooklyn. It's gets pretty cold here but probably nothing compared to people living in other parts of the country.

As for parking, it's really tight around here. Especially later in the day. I see trucks parked quite often so I would say there's probably no law against it but I'll look into that. And lol there's a school bus scrapper here too, I once saw some EMTs unloading scrap out of an ambulance at the yard too.

Any tips on how to get scrap contacts? I'm probably overthinking things as I have a tendency to do but I'm worried about investing in a vehicle and insurance and not being able to make much of a profit with it.

I was talking sort of about this in another post. I rent u-hauls to do scrapping vacations mainly since if things go wrong I can just get another truck but I like larger ones like 16ft or bigger so I have plenty of space to tear down and drop off at yards as I go along I also rent them for bigger pick ups. I think for everyday stuff if your going to do a lot of weight it would not be worth it unless its something beefy as stated above those small heavy things add up fast. even 10klbs of servers can be a handful of pallets on a big truck and with fuel and other overhead its a pita.
never tried vans and such so no input there but I am sure they are a lot less overhead

Originally Posted by RevenantDusk

Oh I forgot to mention, I live in Brooklyn. It's gets pretty cold here but probably nothing compared to people living in other parts of the country.

As for parking, it's really tight around here. Especially later in the day. I see trucks parked quite often so I would say there's probably no law against it but I'll look into that. And lol there's a school bus scrapper here too, I once saw some EMTs unloading scrap out of an ambulance at the yard too.

Any tips on how to get scrap contacts? I'm probably overthinking things as I have a tendency to do but I'm worried about investing in a vehicle and insurance and not being able to make much of a profit with it.

Nothing wrong with living in Brooklyn - I worked with a guy that was from there when I was living in Iowa. Anyhow, on the contacts just google search the type of scrapper you're looking for. For over here, I have three to choose from but only one gets my business because of rate and customer service. I supose if you were up for long hauls you could save that you have and drive it over here but that would be up to you wither an 8hr drive for some scrap is worth it. I thought it was worth the 8hr drive to go get the wife's hevanese but that's another story...

-Matt