• FireRetardant@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Have you considered a cargo van? They tend to get slightly better fuel economy than similar sized trucks. I also find them much better to work out of. Their beds are low, their cargo is covered, you can build shelves and workbenches along the walls, they lock more securely than a truck cap, and they have better visbility.

    • Miles O'Brien@startrek.website
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      2 months ago

      I’d like to have one, actually. There’s a few with a sloped front that allows for way better visibility that get great gas mileage.

      Everything is expensive as shit though…

      I’d love to get an Electric van. I don’t need the huge amounts of height some have, it seems trucks get wider and vans get taller. the enclosed cargo space is great for peace of mind, though.

      In a perfect world I would get a van with a small frame and small forward silhouette, with no hood or sloped hood, that sits no more than 8ft off the ground. Having a higher suspension, or the ability to raise the suspension for better off-road clearance is nice for some jobs, but not strictly necessary.

      • FireRetardant@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        I just started working out of a tall van I can stand in. I can’t imagjne going back to crawling around vans. We do need a lot of space for some of our jobs so we do end up needing the larger cargo area. The back of the van doubles as a workshop which is nice as well. Our company did buy a smaller all wheel drive van for some of the more remote places we service.

        The upfront cost is a lot but compared to modern trucks worth making the switch when the time comes to replace a work truck. Another benefit of the van is the side can be an excellent billboard when you put the company phone number and name along the side.

        • Miles O'Brien@startrek.website
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          2 months ago

          Oof yeah, if you work IN the van, standing room would be fantastic.

          Right now I have work tables I flip out of my truck bed that all my stuff goes on. If I had to fabricate things on the fly more often, I’d definitely want the tall enclosed space. Slap an exhaust fan on there and good to go.

          I imagine it’s great for cold days and rainy days, too…