Truck vs van

Originally Posted by jimicrk

Just wondering how much it would cost to repair the truck you already have.

Second that.

What are you driving now? A car? Got a hitch on it? Puting a hitch on and buying a small 6x4 trailer can be as cheap as couple hundred. Then you could get the 2k in cash to buy a truck rather than financing one now

Van = Always a "Secure" load. Safety of items being locked inside it. Protection from the elements

Truck = WAY easier to load. 4x4 capable... MANDATORY for here in the midwest

Craig's list auto parts has tranny and engines all the time or nearby auto yard.

Mini van, or cargo van? Big difference.

in mini vans, watch out for the tranny, a mechanic friend of mine told me most of them have car trannys in them.

There are quite a few on here that use mini vans. the key is to be good at cramming stuff and taking the seats out. A trailer can help when needed, but watch your combined weight.

I forgot who it was, but someone loves them for hauling computer towers.

Yea you question has a lot of room for imagination. I agree with the others, first look into replacing the transmission. If you do it yourself you will learn a lot and perhaps save enough to pay for some of the tools you may not already have.

I own a cargo van, its a ford e250(3/4 ton), its made to do the job want it to. I receintly got rid of a chev 1/2 ton p/u with a 6' bed. I liked having both vehicles. The way I used them was pick up in the van and tear down on the tail gate of the truck. I would then toss the shred forward on the truck for the trip to the yard. I found the 6' bed very limiting and my son was in need of a vehicle.

Since using just the van I am seriously considering buying a trailer and put my shred directly into the trailer. This would save me moving the shred a least one more time.

One of the things I like best about using my van is I don't have to cover my load or worry that something will fall out while I am headed to the yard. Also I have my one customer will put a pallet in the back
and then push it forward with the second. jThis has made for very fast loading for me. Mike

to me it would depend on what your scrap focus is. if you plan on doing mostly scrap metal (steel, ali, copper, appliances etc.. ) I'd go with a truck )with at least a 6' bed, preferably 8'. or a cargo van if you can acquire a trailer at least the size of a truck bed. If you are going to do anything that you may want to resell (eWaste) that you want to keep completely dry, a van is the way to go, or if you stick with a truck, you need a cap or cover, and then you're back to needing/wanting that trailer for everything else anyway. just my take on it.

Around my area that would be ticket winner for sure. Can you say unsafe load and overloaded (could break an axle).

Originally Posted by t00nces2

Can't do this with a van....



Not sayin', just sayin'....

no but you can with a trailer behind it

Originally Posted by t00nces2

Can't do this with a van....



Not sayin', just sayin'....

You could if you organized it.

I have had 3 full size fridges, washer and dryer, and 2 dishwashers in one van load...didn't have to put anything on the roof and no one on the road had any idea what I was up to.

Then there was the week (4 1/2 days actually) earlier this summer that the van and trailer harvested upwards of 40 tons from a bowling alley.

I feel fortunate to have a van and F250 but the van gets used most days due to it having multiple doors with thresholds lower to the street, built in sidewalls, weather tight and privacy second to none.

I sure would like another Box Truck for 48" loading docks. Ideally, I would have a van, (currently running a Ford E-150 with 10 ply tires and helper springs), a dump trailer and a 24' box truck.

I think one thing people overlook when it come standard size cargo vans is the longer bed...10ft as opposed to 8ft pick up bed.