Serious advice needed about making a go at this

[Iron Butterfly]

I'm very serious about trying to make a living at this. Because of this, I'm thinking my choice of wheels may needed revising.



See, the only vehicle I have access to at the moment is a minivan. Now, granted, it's a Grand Caravan with all but the front seats removed (oh how I love the easily swapped seats), but I'm wondering, would it be worth it to try to secure a loan to get a decent truck? Or will the minivan be okay at first? Also, keep in mind I haven't been blessed with the need for tools very much... I mean, we've got some, but I've been looking at impact wrenches and ooh, do they look sweet.

So, basically, I guess what I'm asking is, if I keep using the minivan, can I make enough to afford a truck in a reasonable amount of time (keep in mind that we hauled a full sized fridge to the yard int h back of the thing, with the rear gate secured, and possibly could have fit a washer or dryer in behind it), or will doing so screw up the van to the point of needing repairs, thus eating at my "save for truck" fund?

[IdahoScrapper]

Look for a $500 beater truck on craigslist. Or I suppose you could put a hitch on your van and get a small trailer.

My current vehicle is a $500 dollar beater piece of ****. ('96 Nissan Quest). I took both bench seats out and cut the carpet to just behind the front seats. I've had as much as a 2 dishwashers, a dryer, an elliptical and some odds and ends in there. Granted they were cut down to size.

I like it versus a truck because everything in inside and secured.

However, all of my hauls are small. In time I want to get a truck and trailer. In the event I have a larger haul, I use dad's truck and trailer, but he's kind of a hard ass about it, so I prefer my own equipment.

What's your budget? Depending on where you live I know where you might be able to get a cheap step van that's been retired from Frito Lay. Could get a bunch of junk into one of those.

[Mick]

I always advise using what you have and build up as you build the business. You CANNOT predict the future except in the case of payments. Get a hitch and put a small trailer on that Grand Caravan. You'll be more efficient and designate a percentage of your income to the truck fund. There are always exceptions to everything - for instance I'd been using a 4'x8' trailer that was overloaded with 400 pound loads for about a year. I got a job for about 15 tons of auto scrap but it was about 30 miles to the scrap yard. Now, I financed an 18' dual axle car carrier and paid it with the money from that job. Amazingly, the bigger jobs started rolling in but I didn't have to worry about making the payments.

Plus; when you buy up, you can sell the little trailer - probably for what you paid for it. There'll always be somebody out there who's in the position you are now.

[Iron Butterfly]

One thing I forgot to mention, though. I live in the city, with street parking only, no garage and no driveway. So the question then becomes, can I park a minivan with trailer at curbside? My gut says probably not, but you never know.

[Iron Butterfly]

I'm in Philadelphia, happy to say.

[Ace]

I agree with Mick. Don't spend money you don't have yet. See if you can make a go at this with what you got. I have a 94 ford explorer, it can't hold ****, but it can hold a load of copper wire, aluminum can's, scrap aluminum, brass. Things like that. I take the occasional washer, dryer, misc heavy cast or steel items. But I make sure I take some copper, aluminum or brass along with it. In time I will get a truck, but doing this part time, I haven't had a need yet. The problem you may run into is that you don't have a place to take things apart. If you want to invest in something do get a trailor. Good luck

[Iron Butterfly]

I'm now looking into garage space rental here, and it's not too unaffordable. A trailer + local garage (or even self-store) might be the way I'm going to go. The bonus on a self-store is it gives me a sort-of workplace to break things down, too. And if it's as profitable as I've read/I hope it is, we'll be able to finance a truck that way. Thanks for helping me think this through, guys. I knew if I posted this here I'd get great advice.

[matt018]

Just get a beater. You will wreck the thing in a few years and buy another. I have a 600 dollar truck that has paid for itself many a times. Also a payment is the last thing anyone needs. Own what you have.

[Rich]

As Mick said do the best with what you got now and save a little off each scrap run for a truck. Hate to say but when my truck was down (04 Dakota) I had to use the wife's Ford Expedition a few times for scrappin. When your ready, you shouldn't have trouble finding a beater in Philly for under a grand.

[ScrappyMcGee]

I would definitely buy a beater pickup. If this is not an option you can still enjoy success with a caravan.

As I said in one of my first posts, I bought my truck (98 Dakota) from my scrapper buddy who was forced to give it up due to injuries. Instead of buying a car and resting his body he bought a GM family van and took the bench seats out. He continues to scrap; the only thing he can't fit in the van is fridges, which I pick up and split with him.

The Dakota, btw, is much smaller than the landscape trucks I've become accustomed to, but through the magic of ratchet straps, I'm still able to load 6 washer/driers/stoves and drive them to the yard for $80, minus about two bucks worth of gas.

Even if I buy a larger truck for landscaping this summer, I'll keep the Dakota for scrapping.

Hell, until the yard put a ban on it, they used to get a steady parade of scrappers wheeling stuff onto the scale in shopping carts.

[tjlock]

I wish I had a beater truck, but I will use the good truck I have. I have put some damage on it due to scrapping. Hole in the bed of a truck, busted the tailgate cover off, and don't forget the scratches.

Funny incident though. When we got hit by the tornado during the summer, my truck took over $5,000 of damage. Got it fixed up and while it was getting its makeover, I was sorting the debris that wound up in my yard and the neighbors yard and piling the metal up waiting for the truck to get done to start running it in and getting money to start getting what I needed to make things a bit more manageable.

So the first day I have my truck back, I start taking in loads. On the 4th load, I decided I would take the chain link fence in. It was all rolled up and I carried it over and tossed it in and "BANG" Didn't notice the steel post entangled in it and bounced it off the roof of the cab. Put a dent in it, which is still there cause I am not paying the deductible again to fix it. 2 inches from the back window that was previously replaced.

Basically, scrapping takes a toll on vehicles one way or another. Damaging it yourself, or putting the extra wear and tear on it.