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We are in the process of shopping for another shop truck to replace old faithful. A 1996 Ford Econoline w/190K. It still looks great and never fails, so I am in a quandry. We do need to update to a pickup, but a van is also handy at times. We sure cannot afford both. What do you use to transport your product, and boost your image at the same time? Here is a pic of the old girl. Advise from the masses?
[ April 25, 2003, 12:56 PM: Message edited by: Rick Beisiegel ]
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3503 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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For my needs, a small pick up with a camper shell and a rack on top covers most all my needs. We also have a flat bed trailer that can be towed.
Most tools can be in the bed while signs are on top. Sometimes posts are on top and signs stacked on the trailer. The truck suits our basic requirements and it's seldom that I find need for a full sized pick up. The stuff our truck won't do, requires either the rental of a crane or the brief borrowing of a larger rig and a bunch of manpower.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6812 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Our needs are a little different than most here. I have a little Dodge Dakota pickup... with the V8 engine. It is a blast to drive empty. And I can easily park it when I go to town.
It also has the guts to pull our 16' van trailer full of tools when I need to. And for all the jobs in between I am just comleting a brand new 12' flat deck trailer.
When involved in begger jobs anything that doesn't go into or on the trailers will be delivered by a transport company.
-dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8764 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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I had a 99 Dakota extended cab. I loved it.
Then my husband got the idea that a Durango would be more useful for me. I caved and told him I'd try it, but if I hated it, I was getting another truck.
Well, my boys (the weiner mutt and jack russel terror) love it. I fold 1/2 the back seat down and it's like romper-room for them.
I have found some things easier to haul it in than in the bed of the pick up. New vinyl cutter and copier(never get it into backseat of pickup & I would never put it in the bed), don't have to worry about plexiglass flying out of the bed, I loaded up all my paints, gorilla ladders, etc and they stayed dry when I went to work on a wall while it was snowing like crazy. I haven't tried any 4x8s yet... Man, I hate to admit when my husband isn't completely wrong.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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I'm with Si!!! I have a Plymouth Voyager extended van. Easy on gas. They don't rust out. Mine now has 110,000 miles on it (180,000 km) and it still looks good. I can load any number of 4x8s in it. Thats all I need.
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
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We like to run our trucks into the ground, so after 22 years we just retired our 2nd 1/2 ton PU and Maris replaced it with a 16 ft box truck (cube Van). It only gets about 12 mpg in town, but so does my conversion van. I think a "run about" car is in our future soon. (also have 15 year old daughter)
Back to box truck: Maris is outfitting it for a "shop on wheels" to service our apartments as well as sign installs, deliveries, etc. And if I ever can get my sh*t together and follow my own advice, I will put killer graphics on it. (Our last PU took 2 years to get graphics - dumb!) A 16 ft rolling billboard! (Got any suggestions?) I think the advertising and convenience of ALL the tools on board will be worth the gas mileage.
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We have three trucks. (One is a 1991 Chevy which Andy decided to paint One Shot brilliant blue (we all say its PURPLE!)) That one has just been retired to the children as it still runs, but does not do much for the company image. The other trucks are a 2000 Chevy ext cab long bed and a 2003 Chevy ext cab long bed as well. When you have children to take to the job site, the bus size truck is a MUST. They all worked great for us, but the best thing about the newer trucks are the updated image. We also like to change the logo a bit with the different trucks so when people see us in town, it will turn their heads. You know they need to pay attention to the new guys to be sure they are not any competition to their business. We have also considered buying a small enclosed trailer for scaffolding and a small amount of paint along with tools, hardware, etc. But we have not gone that route yet. On larger jobs, we have loaded both trucks and a trailer with scaffolding and is sometimes a pain, but it still gets the job done.
-------------------- Lauri Goretski Custom Murals N6334 HWY 107 TOMAHAWK WI 54487 CustomMurals1@aol.com Posts: 127 | From: Tomahawk Wi | Registered: Apr 2003
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For the past 25 years or so, I have used pickups with utility beds. There is room to lock up the tools and an open bed for hauling. I built double decker ladder racks so that I can carry panels on one layer and ladders on another.
The back two crossbars on the rack and the middle two are removable so that I can get bulky items in the truck (like my friends' refrigerators that I always get roped into transporting). I should get one of those bumper stickers that read: "Yes! It's my truck. No! I won't help you move!"
Being able to remove the crossbars also allows me to put my A-frame in for hauling Granite slabs. I have also found the A-frame very useful for bringing sheet material back to the shop without damaging it. It is also handy on installations. I can load many signs upright on the frame and still have room in between for concrete, tools, etc.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5107 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Can't beat a van---used one for years. Doesn't matter what you wind up with, as there's always some job bigger than what you've got anyways. We had a little (20 ft) open bed trailer that was great for hauling big stuff around on---leave it parked and pull it out when you need it.
BTW, doing graphics on a nice cargo van will help lead to work!----vans are soooo much easie than dealing with pickups, especially with all the new pickups with their flares and add-ons and crap. Buddy of mine just got a new Chevy Avalance---beauty truck---good luck getting anything to stick to all the plastic cladding though!
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I have a small truck which is good for a variety of things I like to do (outside of sign work) but I wish it had an 8 foot bed. There has been a number of times when I've been trying to take some large panels and they are hanging out the back. I'm thinking of getting one of those big racks so I can put the ladder up there and other schtuff.
-------------------- Brian Diver PDQ Signs Everett, Wa
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I sold my 1992 Ford pickup to a friend a year ago and now it is happily pulling race cars to the track. I bought a Trailblazer and a 1966 Ford pickup for signwork. The Trailblazer is mostly for personal use,but does handle quite a bit if necessary. I hauled 400 pounds of pottery plaster shortly after I bought it. The guy at the pottery shop couldn't believe I was hauling it in a Trailblazer, but I feel I need to get my monies worth out of it.
The old '66 is from Arizona and needs a paint job, and that will come when I have time to mess with it. It's an old camper special, so I will probably put original colors back on it.
Pam, Pam's Signs
-------------------- Pam Eddy Niles, MI ple@qtm.net Posts: 460 | From: Michigan | Registered: Dec 2000
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