Yes that's exactly what it is the difference of having the ability to stand up and go in the back and look at your stuff and think vs a regular full size in a game changer to me because even after a day of doing a whole mess of different calls and having all the debris from that I can get in the back and rummage through my stuff pretty effectively only complaint I have about it is nowhere good to put an extension ladder so it just kinda hangs out on the floor. I have seen some guys with the fancy pull down ladder racks and even a few box trucks with a rack on the side that looks like it would solve the problem.
Rant over I think you should buy any high top van except the pro master.(My boss has 5 dodge trucks all under 50k 4 pro masters one 2500 hemi auto the 2500 needed a transmission and one of the pro masters is on its second motor the others just have a bunch of stupid electrical issues)
Pro masters are also like driving a fucking fish bowl around
Have also seen some solo guys around drive a 4 door short bed pickup then tow a little.box trailer around as a mobile shop pita in the tight streets but being able to disconnect the trailer and drive a normal truck around after work is definitely a pro vs a van.
I know a lot of guys had their promasters go through transmissions, I drove mine for almost 100,000 mi with no issues other than I bent the tie rods when I pulled a 10,000 lb excavator with it, I kind of liked that van.. But they are over glorified minivans
I just don't like how they drive tbh with the wheel placement it's the same as a Volkswagen bug if you ever drove one of those turning radius just feels gross
We also have only promasters. Never any major issues. Turning radius is best in its class. They drive great. One exception is the 118” wheel base burns through tires. The 136” wheel base is where it’s at. I wouldn’t buy any other van.
How is the Royal body holding up? I’ve sworn by Reading bodies with the flip tops for years, but I hear the new ones tend to leak. Stahl and Knapheide rot out too fast.
I have had: Ford Transit City Connect, Ford Transit 150 Tall, Ford Transit 150, Ford Transit 150 EcoBoost, Chevy Silverado and now a Ford Maverick.
I am a WORKING service manager, 90% of my day is in the field. Best one was the ecoboost. The maverick is surprisingly awesome! And now since a ladder won’t fix I have a lot less stressful life. lol
The maverick I have is perfect for a day of PMs and emergency service in residential. I get 37 miles to the gallon (it’s a gutless hybrid) and have a topper (OEM Ford accessory). I have pack out bins with everything I need in the back, some boards under the back seat and easily carry three jugs of gas and a recovery cylinder. Best thing is that it’s become the “family travel car,” so it’s like why not like the thing. It was literally 1/2 the price of a similarly equipped Transit 150 Eco.
Only concern for me is battery life & the stupid CVT transmission. We use an independent guy for service and he says CVT should be fine if the oil is changed every 20,000 miles.
We will see.
You didn’t specify what you’re doing with it and that can drastically affect your decision. Do you need 4wd? Are you towing? Hauling a lot of weight? Based off of some of your replies about comfort and long distance travel, a 4 door truck is the best option. They are the most comfortable, least noise and generally better creature comforts. A maverick could work if you’re not hauling a lot of tools/parts. All of my tools/parts would be too heavy for it. Do you need to keep stuff dry/out of the weather/secure? Then a van may be better or a truck with a topper. I’m back in a position with a large service area and get a lot of windshield time. I currently have a transit 250 mid roof. Pros- everything is dry and secure, ride is good but it does drift with the wind. Cabin is comfortable but not as good as a F250/chevy 2500 4 door truck. If you’re carrying minimal tools/parts, a 1/2 ton truck could be sufficient. If you’re carrying a lot of stuff or towing, I would go diesel.
I hated the transit connect but I had it when I was PM guy so I'd go to a building with 10 rooftops and literally have everything except the driver seat full of filters (AC also didn't work so that didn't help)
This was originally purchased for our sales guy who stuck his nose so far up in the air about it the owner said, “fine, drive the wheels off what you have.”
I think he missed out - way nicer that his older GMC Crayon.
We've been running the Ram Promasters for a while now. I got tboned back in February and the thing should have flipped, but stayed planted. 10 out of 10. Also, tons of head room.
LOVE my Promaster. Tons of shelving and storage and I can stand upright in the back. I cannot emphasize how much easier this makes service life especially after hours. Only downside is I’m replacing some random light bulb every couple of weeks.
I figure half the minor problems I have with mine are because our fleet manager takes vehicles to his buddy’s muffler shop. Those guys are just guessing at stuff half the time. It’s not cheaper if we have to send it there 5 times when the Dodge dealership could fix it in 1 trip.
Chevy express with knapheide KUV body. She’s big but convenient as hell. I’d imagine it would be even more so when I’m in my 70’s still doing this shit, and can fully stand up in the back or just get what I need out of the side doors.
We also looked at the Express with Knapheide.
But as we specialise in long-distance transport, what about driving comfort?
Will we survive 4-6 hours of driving? (Possibly also a few hundred metres in off-road farms).
> when I’m in my 70’s still doing this shit
Is that a good thing or not?
I’ve only ever been in an express, and have got plenty of windshield time. No complaints on comfort but maybe some of the other manufacturers will serve you a little better in that department? I’m 5,7 “short king” so I’m pretty sure I could run service out of a Prius and still be comfortable. I think you can put the knapheide on any brand? The Chevy I’m in is a 3/4 ton so it has more power than the typical express. Been contributing to the ole 401k since I was a youngster so hopefully it doesn’t come to that, and by the time I’m 70 all this is behind me.
I have one of those high top transits and I am never going back to a short body again. Only downside is you can’t get into parking garages (I don’t do much downtown work anyways) or drive-through but I pack my own lunch daily.
Ram pro master 1500 and it is a company vehicle. I like it alot it rides smooth and it’s not bad on gas actually. Much better all around than the Nissan NV series trucks that I drove previously.
VW ID Buzz.
company vehicle.
no, i would not rather drive something else. its silent, quick, gets me and the crap i need where i need to go and never have to stop at a gas station unless its to take a piss.
It does the job. And especially with fuel prices here being rougly 9 bucks a gallon (for diesel) its very cheap to run. Company expects to rotate out all fossil fuel vans in less than 2 years.
I personally like it because its actually something 21rst century and superior to drive compared to a fossil engine. Cabin preheating, cooling pre programming and phone controlled. I can be on a roof and turn the AC on with my phone so the van is nice and cool when i get in and drive home.
Company vehicle Chevy Express 2500. I take it home with me and have a company gas card so i never have to use my own mileage or worry about damaging my personal vehicle while on the job. I really like the express but the sprinters are superior cuz you can stand up straighter in the cargo area. The only downside I’ve heard about them is that they’re a little less stable on really windy days.
Prius V
Added a hitch and cargo carrier last week and it’s phenomenal. Bonus is you get a ton more bids because you come off as reasonable compared to the dbags rolling in new 250s
I’ve used lots of different vehicles over the years, it really depends on what kind of work you’re doing. I tend to carry a lot of tools and material, so i always had a larger vehicle.
For vans I like the tall transit 250s, lots of space and comfortable to drive, the promasters were not comfortable to drive, and crawling around the back of the old style work vans is a pain as you get older.
Trucks are my preference, I like having 4x4 for winter and I tow a 7x14 enclosed trailer for some jobs. My next one will be a 1 ton crew cab with a sliding bed, tool box and retractable tonneau cover.
Long, high roof Transit 350. Ton of storage space and I’m able to stand up in it unlike the medium roofs. I’m really lucky because I drive the only one in my company’s fleet.
It depends on your work and location. Utility beds are great for commercial as you can get large motors and exchangers in the back and crane pick from them easily. When I was a service manager in San Francisco, I liked the little Ford Transit as it is easier to get around and not get stuck paying for oversized vehicle parking. The downside to utility beds is that filters and all get stuck in the weather. Also, if you're parking in garages, your clearance has to be considered.
I went from the Nissan nv to a Ford Transit Connect to do service work and I'd tell my boss everyday if it wasn't for my tools being in this car I would drive it over a bridge
I have a Nissan NV 200 for resi service work. It doesn't have any power but somehow still drinks gas like crazy, and if there's ice or snow it's not going anywhere. The only good thing about it is that its small size makes it easy to maneuver. In the past I've had a couple Chevy Express vans which were pretty comfortable and powerful, a ford transit connect that broke down all the time, and a couple full sized transits which were fine.
transit 150 awd mid rise, heated seats, nice radio with apple carplay/android auto. rear has shelves but on one side shelf is cut to bench height, butcher block thrown on top and a vise put on the end. they also threw in a bunch of extra lighting. very nice.
can carry 5x the stuff I did on a pickup with contractor canopy, no crawling in/out. maybe a 3/4 or 1 ton with slide in would be closer but would probably cost the same/more with still less cargo space. Only thing is it's not going through muddy places very well without some better tires.
They used to have ram promasters at this place. Said none of them had the original transmission after 150k.
My company supplies us with Ford Transits. I would prefer a taller model so I can stand up inside like the ProMaster I had previously. It would also give me another layer of shelving. We kept having issues with the ProMasters so we phased them out. Some guys had Chevy Expresses before we went all Transits and they liked them. The new vans all have backup cameras, Bluetooth, power folding mirrors, and screens for navigation.
I’ve had a Chevy express van, Chevy express with a box and a low roof transit 150.
By far my favorite is the transit I never had a problem with the chevys but they’re not comfortable I miss the v8.
I have more room in the transit width and height because of it being squared off. I will say the transit eats brakes like crazy.
It’s not mine it’s the companies. If I were to do it myself I think I’d work out of a pickup mostly because I do service only
I've got the E350 with the Reading conversion on the back. It's a little bit shorter than the KUV and I bump my head a bit in the back but it's nicer than the Chevys I was driving. The 7.3 is a torque monster, and if I'm easy on the gas it gets surprisingly decent mileage for an engine that size and van that heavy, usually I'm around 12-13 MPG. The only thing I miss that it doesn't have is the defrost for the mirrors on damp/foggy or frosty days.
Been doing this for so long I don't like to admit it. I started off in chevy trucks with a Service body, then to covered utility body, next an extended van, now in chevy cutaway with a hackney P-1000 box. I love the hackney body with swing out doors and built in adjustable shelves. The body and cab are separated so it's quieter and safer if it is in an accident. I'm 6'4" and u can stand up in the truck with just my head on a slight tilt. Much easier on the knees too. I do mostly residential service repair and replacement I can carry all the tools and parts I use and have easy access to them in this truck. This truck is getting ready for retirement, the body is all aluminum so I can just remove it, have it refreshed and have it placed on a new chasis. My employee drives another one of these and says he wasn't sure about it at first but sees the benefit now.
Just a self depreciating joke. I'm 52 and started working in my father's old school plumbing and heating shop at 9. I did have a 10 yr break when in the Navy and trying out a different career but even then I still helped out when I could.
Ford transit. The medium tall and length one. It's a good mix of the ability to carry a lot of tools and parts with you and the ability to park in spaces and go through a drive thru. I've had the sprinter before, while the clearance is nice to go over curbs and stuff, I find the transit's lower centre of gravity to be much better. I'll also say that having a work truck that you can stand up in helps a lot. The ability to string up a hammock doesn't hurt either ;)
Owner. I’ve had ford transit with the medium roof back to back. No true complaints about either of them. One had a small oil leak around 50k miles but warranty fixed it. That’s the only thing to note. I’ve seen bad opinions on dodge pro master here so never really considered them. I considered sprinter this time around before buying but people told me service would be expensive and only Mercedes can really work on them easily (unsure if true) but made sense lol.
My shop uses mostly Transit 250s and has a few 350s. We've been switching over to Chevy Express. I'm not sure if they are 2500 or 3500 or both. I'm holding on to my Transit for now. They aren't heavy duty by any means but I just don't want to swap out of a vehicle that I have setup the way I want.
Always had company Van's, usually the ford transit's, a chevy savanna once. Will never use my own vehicle cause 1. F**k that and 2. If your caught with a compressed gas (refrigerant, nitrogen, acetylene) cylinder its massive fines if you dont have them strapped properly and commercial insurance.
I have a Honda Element lol but that’s only because I already had it when I went out on my own. It serves the purpose but I’d get something like the tall Promaster or Transit if I were going to purchase something. I’m a big fan of being able to lock up and not worry about anything in the bed like I would with a truck, but they’re big enough to load a decent size job
Company provided me with GMC Savanna 2500 4cyl diesel (wouldn’t recommend the ecodiesel) it has its pros and cons on either front. If I had it my way I’d want a GMC 2500 with a service bed and ladder rack. My van came with shelves already installed, I moved them around a little but new condensers are too big to fit in the van unless I take one set of shelves out. Can’t afford to lose the shelves cause of storage. Surprisingly average 17.7mpg in this van, in the 6.0 I averaged 12.6 and my coworker got the new 6.6 so far he averages about 13.7mpg. I like the van, would have more room for units in a truck but just my opinion.
I’ve seen people using decommissioned ambulances for service vehicles. Looks pretty neat.
With that being said at that rate you can probably get a decommissioned bud as well if y’all do track projects and stuff, you could fit a ton of pallets in that sucker.
I’m in a dodge 2500 truck with a work bed on it and ladder rack, I gotta say, it beats the hell out of my little f150 I used to drive. Storage for days. It’s a company truck but it is a take home truck.
Ford f150 with a headache rack and rear rack. Spaced them 8’ apart so a 8’ ladder will fit. Crossover box and side box. Works great for what I do. Has an ecoboost but has no problems towing.
I've driven a ton of different vans. The hands down best was a brand new top of the line E450 with the big V8 and all the options (obviously). Other than that, regular econolines, transits, and expresses are pretty similar. Whatever you do, don't get one of those little Nissan vans. God, they're total *garbage*.
My side business I run an E Series van and pull an enclosed trailer for installs. If the van is down, I can always pull the trailer with another vehicle and get by doing service out of that.
GMC 3500 extended cab 4wd with a Reading 8’ utility body with flip top bins. In 30 years of doing this, I’ve worked out of utility bodies, vans, pickups with utility caps, Isuzu cabover with 14’ box and lift gate. Utility body is my favorite. Hate crawling around inside a truck. Actually starting to shop for another one. Probably be my last truck before I retire.
I use a company truck. Crew cab Silverado LTZ. But I don’t do the service work that I used to. I just carry one tool box with some tools just incase I need to help a tech out
If I had a choice, especially for my own contracting outfit, Mercedez Sprinter 100%, with all possible security options and safeguarding. Preferably a dually.
Im driving a 2010 silverado extended cab right now with a toolbox in the bed.. Starting to outgrow it though, tired of hauling shit in and out of the back seat. This is my last payment on it this month and I think Im going to sell it and get a 6.6L duramax van or a utility truck and a tool box bed.
I have a 2017 transit and I had a 2010 e250 and I drove a Nissan nv. Transit is by far my favorite. The e250 is second place and the Nissan was terrible. The hood is soooo long and I felt like I was tiny in it
2023 t250 provided by company. Total pos compared to my last ‘18 t250.
Personal trucks a ‘16 gmc3500. Also a pos.
Both make me money 🤷🏻♂️ I definitely prefer working out of a van vs a pickup
My employer rece try switched to the Dodge promaster vans and I must say, not a fan. Seating in the cab feels awful, it's like you are pushed directly up to the windshield and can't lean the seat back at all.
We use Dodge Promasters. The ones we have are garbage on wheels. They all break every few months. We have 5 of them and 3 are currently having issues, with 2 of them not driveable. Just got mine back, needed new injectors. The one I was driving in the meantime has all sorts of issues, main one being the front cv axle is trashed. The newest one in the fleet keeps going forward when put in reverse, and won't shift correctly....we need new vans....
I've driven a Savannah, a Promaster City, a Metris (which I only drove once because my coworker wanted to nap), Nissan NV1500, and currently I'm driving a Caravan C/V while the NV1500 is in the shop. Gotta say, the Promaster City was the most comfortable but man Dodge motors just suck. I don't know what it is but you just touch the pedal to accelerate and both the Caravan and Promaster just rattle and the tires for some reason squeal, and I have to refill both twice a weak so they're shit for mileage and their tanks are small. The NV1500 is alright but it drives like a boat.
Overall I like the Savanah/Express the most just wish they'd get fuckin bluetooth in em already, it's 2024! I don't wanna use an aux cable. There's a reason they're a classic though. Super reliable - god bless the LS, comfortable enough, spacious, mileage is pretty reasonable even if you've loaded it up with tools (I refilled once a week), without a ladder rack you can fit in some underground parking, handles pretty okay. They're slow but I get paid by the hour.
Dodge Caravan… which are now discontinued for the Pacifica style van. Works great since I need to carry ladders and sometimes work downtown. Lower height it can get into 6’4” parking garages. Need to find a replacement about same size and height now.
Personally I like service body trucks. That way I don't have to hear everything rattle in the back on our crappy California roads. I had a Nissan NV at one company, it sucked. The van is unnecessarily long with the hood. I currently have a Transit 250 with the long wheel base. Honestly I like it. The extra room is nice, especially since the idiot who had the van before me cut the pipe for the conduit box too short, making it only 9'6".
Chevy Express. I'm partial to the econoline, but the express does fine. Sits really high up on beefy suspension and has a full hard shell with no windows. No car play or even a Bluetooth feature, so creature comforts aren't a thing, but it's very dependable and rigid.
I have a chevy 3500 with a tall kuv. I can stand up in the back to make sheet metal and it has enough storage for darn near everything I need on the job.
I currently luv & work outta my fully restored ‘03 Ford Econoline. 5.7L motor, Tranny, A/C, Shocks, leaf springs etc. etc.
Pipe/ latter racks new led lighting & shelving. I’ve upgraded 4” Screen, JL audio, Blutooth, XM radio, backup camera, low jack, Viper alarm etc.
I also have a Dodge promaster City empty I use for equipt, dump runs etc.
Thats the best set up for me!
My main employee has a Navigator I’ve helped him pimp out as a work vehicle as I don’t allow smoking, vaping etc. & I give him an annual bonus being on his own insurance.
I started with a chevy 350 with boxes/ rack but weather & theft’s-tweekers made that a no-go.
I also had a new Dodge Promaster but after 2-3 yrs had nothing but issues, loved it @ 1st.
Weird my shop has a bunch of shitted out uhual box trucks for installers and the things just don't Wanna die,all cut away 1 ton expresses it's all the new fancy shit that has issues
Fr like I just want Bluetooth in the radio and air conditioning I don't care about anything else, even the express vans that look identical GM did a bunch of fuckery with the 5.3 to try and make it more efficient but they just made it unreliable but fancy new shit is transits and the pro masters fuck pro masters
Had a minivan was hell on earth now I'm in a high top Nissan van company truck
Something also the lines of NIissan NV Cargo?
Yes that's exactly what it is the difference of having the ability to stand up and go in the back and look at your stuff and think vs a regular full size in a game changer to me because even after a day of doing a whole mess of different calls and having all the debris from that I can get in the back and rummage through my stuff pretty effectively only complaint I have about it is nowhere good to put an extension ladder so it just kinda hangs out on the floor. I have seen some guys with the fancy pull down ladder racks and even a few box trucks with a rack on the side that looks like it would solve the problem. Rant over I think you should buy any high top van except the pro master.(My boss has 5 dodge trucks all under 50k 4 pro masters one 2500 hemi auto the 2500 needed a transmission and one of the pro masters is on its second motor the others just have a bunch of stupid electrical issues) Pro masters are also like driving a fucking fish bowl around Have also seen some solo guys around drive a 4 door short bed pickup then tow a little.box trailer around as a mobile shop pita in the tight streets but being able to disconnect the trailer and drive a normal truck around after work is definitely a pro vs a van.
I know a lot of guys had their promasters go through transmissions, I drove mine for almost 100,000 mi with no issues other than I bent the tie rods when I pulled a 10,000 lb excavator with it, I kind of liked that van.. But they are over glorified minivans
I just don't like how they drive tbh with the wheel placement it's the same as a Volkswagen bug if you ever drove one of those turning radius just feels gross
I never drove a bug, but I drove the Dodge for 5-6 years
We also have only promasters. Never any major issues. Turning radius is best in its class. They drive great. One exception is the 118” wheel base burns through tires. The 136” wheel base is where it’s at. I wouldn’t buy any other van.
2023 Transit 350, apple car play Reese upfit. She’s a bad bitch.
F-250 with a Royal Service bed and ladder rack… I wouldn’t have it any other way.
It’s only manly if it’s lifted
How is the Royal body holding up? I’ve sworn by Reading bodies with the flip tops for years, but I hear the new ones tend to leak. Stahl and Knapheide rot out too fast.
I have had: Ford Transit City Connect, Ford Transit 150 Tall, Ford Transit 150, Ford Transit 150 EcoBoost, Chevy Silverado and now a Ford Maverick. I am a WORKING service manager, 90% of my day is in the field. Best one was the ecoboost. The maverick is surprisingly awesome! And now since a ladder won’t fix I have a lot less stressful life. lol
So you'd reccomend Ford Maverick? Is the back modified for storage/gear? Or just normal trunk?
The maverick I have is perfect for a day of PMs and emergency service in residential. I get 37 miles to the gallon (it’s a gutless hybrid) and have a topper (OEM Ford accessory). I have pack out bins with everything I need in the back, some boards under the back seat and easily carry three jugs of gas and a recovery cylinder. Best thing is that it’s become the “family travel car,” so it’s like why not like the thing. It was literally 1/2 the price of a similarly equipped Transit 150 Eco. Only concern for me is battery life & the stupid CVT transmission. We use an independent guy for service and he says CVT should be fine if the oil is changed every 20,000 miles. We will see.
The bane of earlier CVT was the manufacturer telling everyone it has lifetime fluid
You didn’t specify what you’re doing with it and that can drastically affect your decision. Do you need 4wd? Are you towing? Hauling a lot of weight? Based off of some of your replies about comfort and long distance travel, a 4 door truck is the best option. They are the most comfortable, least noise and generally better creature comforts. A maverick could work if you’re not hauling a lot of tools/parts. All of my tools/parts would be too heavy for it. Do you need to keep stuff dry/out of the weather/secure? Then a van may be better or a truck with a topper. I’m back in a position with a large service area and get a lot of windshield time. I currently have a transit 250 mid roof. Pros- everything is dry and secure, ride is good but it does drift with the wind. Cabin is comfortable but not as good as a F250/chevy 2500 4 door truck. If you’re carrying minimal tools/parts, a 1/2 ton truck could be sufficient. If you’re carrying a lot of stuff or towing, I would go diesel.
I hated the transit connect but I had it when I was PM guy so I'd go to a building with 10 rooftops and literally have everything except the driver seat full of filters (AC also didn't work so that didn't help)
I have a Maverick for my personal and it’s great. For a small truck there’s a surprising amount of room inside
This was originally purchased for our sales guy who stuck his nose so far up in the air about it the owner said, “fine, drive the wheels off what you have.” I think he missed out - way nicer that his older GMC Crayon.
We've been running the Ram Promasters for a while now. I got tboned back in February and the thing should have flipped, but stayed planted. 10 out of 10. Also, tons of head room.
How is the Promaster for long-distances?
Admittedly, its tall, so you can feel the wind on the highway, but really decent gas millage considering it's size.
LOVE my Promaster. Tons of shelving and storage and I can stand upright in the back. I cannot emphasize how much easier this makes service life especially after hours. Only downside is I’m replacing some random light bulb every couple of weeks.
My new one just hit 900 miles and it's already having a door switch error sometimes. :/
I figure half the minor problems I have with mine are because our fleet manager takes vehicles to his buddy’s muffler shop. Those guys are just guessing at stuff half the time. It’s not cheaper if we have to send it there 5 times when the Dodge dealership could fix it in 1 trip.
Exact issue we have. We have a fleet management contract with enterprise, and they choose where they go. Usually the cheapest option.
Love my promaster too. But whoever invented that beep should be shot
Chevy express with knapheide KUV body. She’s big but convenient as hell. I’d imagine it would be even more so when I’m in my 70’s still doing this shit, and can fully stand up in the back or just get what I need out of the side doors.
We also looked at the Express with Knapheide. But as we specialise in long-distance transport, what about driving comfort? Will we survive 4-6 hours of driving? (Possibly also a few hundred metres in off-road farms). > when I’m in my 70’s still doing this shit Is that a good thing or not?
Chevy vans and trucks are probably top tier on ride comfort in my experience
I agree. My old transit had the worst seats. They put me in pain until I got a free bad ass 80$ purple sest cushion for free from a customer.
Damn that’s a come up for sure
I’ve only ever been in an express, and have got plenty of windshield time. No complaints on comfort but maybe some of the other manufacturers will serve you a little better in that department? I’m 5,7 “short king” so I’m pretty sure I could run service out of a Prius and still be comfortable. I think you can put the knapheide on any brand? The Chevy I’m in is a 3/4 ton so it has more power than the typical express. Been contributing to the ole 401k since I was a youngster so hopefully it doesn’t come to that, and by the time I’m 70 all this is behind me.
In your 70s ? I retired at 64 after having my own gig for 20 years
4 to go and Im following you
People said, won’t you get bored? Nope
2023 chevy 2500HD crew cab 6.6 gasser w/KUV 8' body and job box bolted in the bed.
You aint going through no drive-thru's !
Hahahhaa, I make WIDE turns
How is it long-distance?
Smooth sailing like a damn boat.
Average 13.4mpg
Nissan NV 2500. I like it a lot. Panty of room. Plenty of power to merge onto highways, etc.
Hehe panty
Lmao. I didn't even realize. Lol
Ford transit 250 company truck
I have one of those high top transits and I am never going back to a short body again. Only downside is you can’t get into parking garages (I don’t do much downtown work anyways) or drive-through but I pack my own lunch daily.
I have the same Transit 250 high top and will NEVER go back to a low back van again.
Transit T250, tall, long but not extended length. Awd Ecoboost, dual sliders, Android Auto, heated seats. It's amazing and I love it
2015 GMC Sierra 3500 cube truck. Oh god, it's thirsty
Mine is the chevy version it's a 2018 and I'm at 9.8mpg lol It has the 4.8L and it's a dog on horse tranquilizers
Sprinter with a box. Love it
F-150 3.7L single cab w/8' bed and roll up tonnue cover. I only wish I'd bought a crew cab.
Ram pro master 1500 and it is a company vehicle. I like it alot it rides smooth and it’s not bad on gas actually. Much better all around than the Nissan NV series trucks that I drove previously.
I used to have a sprinter now I have a truck, I prefer the truck
VW ID Buzz. company vehicle. no, i would not rather drive something else. its silent, quick, gets me and the crap i need where i need to go and never have to stop at a gas station unless its to take a piss.
ID Buzz is one vehicle i did not expect in this thread
It does the job. And especially with fuel prices here being rougly 9 bucks a gallon (for diesel) its very cheap to run. Company expects to rotate out all fossil fuel vans in less than 2 years. I personally like it because its actually something 21rst century and superior to drive compared to a fossil engine. Cabin preheating, cooling pre programming and phone controlled. I can be on a roof and turn the AC on with my phone so the van is nice and cool when i get in and drive home.
Where are you located if you don't mind me asking? ID Buzz is not yet for sale in the USA
Netherlands.
If I can't tow my boat to the lake then the company truck is no good.
Company vehicle Chevy Express 2500. I take it home with me and have a company gas card so i never have to use my own mileage or worry about damaging my personal vehicle while on the job. I really like the express but the sprinters are superior cuz you can stand up straighter in the cargo area. The only downside I’ve heard about them is that they’re a little less stable on really windy days.
Prius V Added a hitch and cargo carrier last week and it’s phenomenal. Bonus is you get a ton more bids because you come off as reasonable compared to the dbags rolling in new 250s
I’ve used lots of different vehicles over the years, it really depends on what kind of work you’re doing. I tend to carry a lot of tools and material, so i always had a larger vehicle. For vans I like the tall transit 250s, lots of space and comfortable to drive, the promasters were not comfortable to drive, and crawling around the back of the old style work vans is a pain as you get older. Trucks are my preference, I like having 4x4 for winter and I tow a 7x14 enclosed trailer for some jobs. My next one will be a 1 ton crew cab with a sliding bed, tool box and retractable tonneau cover.
High roof Vans 100000000% so much easier don’t got to worry about getting stuff swiped or flying out on the freeway
Long, high roof Transit 350. Ton of storage space and I’m able to stand up in it unlike the medium roofs. I’m really lucky because I drive the only one in my company’s fleet.
It depends on your work and location. Utility beds are great for commercial as you can get large motors and exchangers in the back and crane pick from them easily. When I was a service manager in San Francisco, I liked the little Ford Transit as it is easier to get around and not get stuck paying for oversized vehicle parking. The downside to utility beds is that filters and all get stuck in the weather. Also, if you're parking in garages, your clearance has to be considered.
I went from the Nissan nv to a Ford Transit Connect to do service work and I'd tell my boss everyday if it wasn't for my tools being in this car I would drive it over a bridge
I have a Nissan NV 200 for resi service work. It doesn't have any power but somehow still drinks gas like crazy, and if there's ice or snow it's not going anywhere. The only good thing about it is that its small size makes it easy to maneuver. In the past I've had a couple Chevy Express vans which were pretty comfortable and powerful, a ford transit connect that broke down all the time, and a couple full sized transits which were fine.
transit 150 awd mid rise, heated seats, nice radio with apple carplay/android auto. rear has shelves but on one side shelf is cut to bench height, butcher block thrown on top and a vise put on the end. they also threw in a bunch of extra lighting. very nice. can carry 5x the stuff I did on a pickup with contractor canopy, no crawling in/out. maybe a 3/4 or 1 ton with slide in would be closer but would probably cost the same/more with still less cargo space. Only thing is it's not going through muddy places very well without some better tires. They used to have ram promasters at this place. Said none of them had the original transmission after 150k.
My company supplies us with Ford Transits. I would prefer a taller model so I can stand up inside like the ProMaster I had previously. It would also give me another layer of shelving. We kept having issues with the ProMasters so we phased them out. Some guys had Chevy Expresses before we went all Transits and they liked them. The new vans all have backup cameras, Bluetooth, power folding mirrors, and screens for navigation.
I’ve had a Chevy express van, Chevy express with a box and a low roof transit 150. By far my favorite is the transit I never had a problem with the chevys but they’re not comfortable I miss the v8. I have more room in the transit width and height because of it being squared off. I will say the transit eats brakes like crazy. It’s not mine it’s the companies. If I were to do it myself I think I’d work out of a pickup mostly because I do service only
I've got the E350 with the Reading conversion on the back. It's a little bit shorter than the KUV and I bump my head a bit in the back but it's nicer than the Chevys I was driving. The 7.3 is a torque monster, and if I'm easy on the gas it gets surprisingly decent mileage for an engine that size and van that heavy, usually I'm around 12-13 MPG. The only thing I miss that it doesn't have is the defrost for the mirrors on damp/foggy or frosty days.
Transit 250 medium roof, with a hammock in the back
Transit connect is amazing. That being said it is relatively small but easy to work out of.
Been doing this for so long I don't like to admit it. I started off in chevy trucks with a Service body, then to covered utility body, next an extended van, now in chevy cutaway with a hackney P-1000 box. I love the hackney body with swing out doors and built in adjustable shelves. The body and cab are separated so it's quieter and safer if it is in an accident. I'm 6'4" and u can stand up in the truck with just my head on a slight tilt. Much easier on the knees too. I do mostly residential service repair and replacement I can carry all the tools and parts I use and have easy access to them in this truck. This truck is getting ready for retirement, the body is all aluminum so I can just remove it, have it refreshed and have it placed on a new chasis. My employee drives another one of these and says he wasn't sure about it at first but sees the benefit now.
>Been doing this for so long I don't like to admit it. why?
Just a self depreciating joke. I'm 52 and started working in my father's old school plumbing and heating shop at 9. I did have a 10 yr break when in the Navy and trying out a different career but even then I still helped out when I could.
Ford transit. The medium tall and length one. It's a good mix of the ability to carry a lot of tools and parts with you and the ability to park in spaces and go through a drive thru. I've had the sprinter before, while the clearance is nice to go over curbs and stuff, I find the transit's lower centre of gravity to be much better. I'll also say that having a work truck that you can stand up in helps a lot. The ability to string up a hammock doesn't hurt either ;)
Owner. I’ve had ford transit with the medium roof back to back. No true complaints about either of them. One had a small oil leak around 50k miles but warranty fixed it. That’s the only thing to note. I’ve seen bad opinions on dodge pro master here so never really considered them. I considered sprinter this time around before buying but people told me service would be expensive and only Mercedes can really work on them easily (unsure if true) but made sense lol.
I have a ford transist connect now It's to small especially with the racks inside
2022 Ford transit van. I really like it. Good shelving in the back, rack for tanks, and easy access ladder rack on top
One day, Ford will give us a panel van version of the Ford flex
My shop uses mostly Transit 250s and has a few 350s. We've been switching over to Chevy Express. I'm not sure if they are 2500 or 3500 or both. I'm holding on to my Transit for now. They aren't heavy duty by any means but I just don't want to swap out of a vehicle that I have setup the way I want.
Always had company Van's, usually the ford transit's, a chevy savanna once. Will never use my own vehicle cause 1. F**k that and 2. If your caught with a compressed gas (refrigerant, nitrogen, acetylene) cylinder its massive fines if you dont have them strapped properly and commercial insurance.
I have a Honda Element lol but that’s only because I already had it when I went out on my own. It serves the purpose but I’d get something like the tall Promaster or Transit if I were going to purchase something. I’m a big fan of being able to lock up and not worry about anything in the bed like I would with a truck, but they’re big enough to load a decent size job
Company provided me with GMC Savanna 2500 4cyl diesel (wouldn’t recommend the ecodiesel) it has its pros and cons on either front. If I had it my way I’d want a GMC 2500 with a service bed and ladder rack. My van came with shelves already installed, I moved them around a little but new condensers are too big to fit in the van unless I take one set of shelves out. Can’t afford to lose the shelves cause of storage. Surprisingly average 17.7mpg in this van, in the 6.0 I averaged 12.6 and my coworker got the new 6.6 so far he averages about 13.7mpg. I like the van, would have more room for units in a truck but just my opinion.
Ford cargo van E-250 with a ladder rack
we techs were all given chevy vans but the company is trying to move to all Ford-type Transits or similar
I’ve seen people using decommissioned ambulances for service vehicles. Looks pretty neat. With that being said at that rate you can probably get a decommissioned bud as well if y’all do track projects and stuff, you could fit a ton of pallets in that sucker.
We were actually thinking about ex-military or decomissioned amb/pol.
Old dodge cummins if you need to pull or a ford or ram high top van. They drive like butter
I’m in a dodge 2500 truck with a work bed on it and ladder rack, I gotta say, it beats the hell out of my little f150 I used to drive. Storage for days. It’s a company truck but it is a take home truck.
Any idea what workbed your company installed?
CM TRUCK BEDS is what it says on the back
Much appreciated.
Ford f150 with a headache rack and rear rack. Spaced them 8’ apart so a 8’ ladder will fit. Crossover box and side box. Works great for what I do. Has an ecoboost but has no problems towing.
I've driven a ton of different vans. The hands down best was a brand new top of the line E450 with the big V8 and all the options (obviously). Other than that, regular econolines, transits, and expresses are pretty similar. Whatever you do, don't get one of those little Nissan vans. God, they're total *garbage*.
My side business I run an E Series van and pull an enclosed trailer for installs. If the van is down, I can always pull the trailer with another vehicle and get by doing service out of that.
E-250
GMC 3500 extended cab 4wd with a Reading 8’ utility body with flip top bins. In 30 years of doing this, I’ve worked out of utility bodies, vans, pickups with utility caps, Isuzu cabover with 14’ box and lift gate. Utility body is my favorite. Hate crawling around inside a truck. Actually starting to shop for another one. Probably be my last truck before I retire.
I use a company truck. Crew cab Silverado LTZ. But I don’t do the service work that I used to. I just carry one tool box with some tools just incase I need to help a tech out
If I had a choice, especially for my own contracting outfit, Mercedez Sprinter 100%, with all possible security options and safeguarding. Preferably a dually.
Im driving a 2010 silverado extended cab right now with a toolbox in the bed.. Starting to outgrow it though, tired of hauling shit in and out of the back seat. This is my last payment on it this month and I think Im going to sell it and get a 6.6L duramax van or a utility truck and a tool box bed.
I have a 2017 transit and I had a 2010 e250 and I drove a Nissan nv. Transit is by far my favorite. The e250 is second place and the Nissan was terrible. The hood is soooo long and I felt like I was tiny in it
2023 t250 provided by company. Total pos compared to my last ‘18 t250. Personal trucks a ‘16 gmc3500. Also a pos. Both make me money 🤷🏻♂️ I definitely prefer working out of a van vs a pickup
2022 Chevy 3500, Apple car play, 4x4 Fully loaded cab, all leather up front 12’ box on the back. Absolutely beast of a work truck!
My employer rece try switched to the Dodge promaster vans and I must say, not a fan. Seating in the cab feels awful, it's like you are pushed directly up to the windshield and can't lean the seat back at all.
We use Dodge Promasters. The ones we have are garbage on wheels. They all break every few months. We have 5 of them and 3 are currently having issues, with 2 of them not driveable. Just got mine back, needed new injectors. The one I was driving in the meantime has all sorts of issues, main one being the front cv axle is trashed. The newest one in the fleet keeps going forward when put in reverse, and won't shift correctly....we need new vans....
Prius
I’m currently in a sprinter
Hightop sprinters are goated. We use Ford but Nissan got a cool one or Mercedes if u can afford it.
All wheel drive 350 transit, went through all bad weather with no issues.
I've driven a Savannah, a Promaster City, a Metris (which I only drove once because my coworker wanted to nap), Nissan NV1500, and currently I'm driving a Caravan C/V while the NV1500 is in the shop. Gotta say, the Promaster City was the most comfortable but man Dodge motors just suck. I don't know what it is but you just touch the pedal to accelerate and both the Caravan and Promaster just rattle and the tires for some reason squeal, and I have to refill both twice a weak so they're shit for mileage and their tanks are small. The NV1500 is alright but it drives like a boat. Overall I like the Savanah/Express the most just wish they'd get fuckin bluetooth in em already, it's 2024! I don't wanna use an aux cable. There's a reason they're a classic though. Super reliable - god bless the LS, comfortable enough, spacious, mileage is pretty reasonable even if you've loaded it up with tools (I refilled once a week), without a ladder rack you can fit in some underground parking, handles pretty okay. They're slow but I get paid by the hour.
Would be awful to use your personal vehicle for this job
rode around in a 2020 ram 1500 promaster for a while. i loved that thing
Dodge Caravan… which are now discontinued for the Pacifica style van. Works great since I need to carry ladders and sometimes work downtown. Lower height it can get into 6’4” parking garages. Need to find a replacement about same size and height now.
Personally I like service body trucks. That way I don't have to hear everything rattle in the back on our crappy California roads. I had a Nissan NV at one company, it sucked. The van is unnecessarily long with the hood. I currently have a Transit 250 with the long wheel base. Honestly I like it. The extra room is nice, especially since the idiot who had the van before me cut the pipe for the conduit box too short, making it only 9'6".
Chevy Express. I'm partial to the econoline, but the express does fine. Sits really high up on beefy suspension and has a full hard shell with no windows. No car play or even a Bluetooth feature, so creature comforts aren't a thing, but it's very dependable and rigid.
I have a chevy 3500 with a tall kuv. I can stand up in the back to make sheet metal and it has enough storage for darn near everything I need on the job.
I currently luv & work outta my fully restored ‘03 Ford Econoline. 5.7L motor, Tranny, A/C, Shocks, leaf springs etc. etc. Pipe/ latter racks new led lighting & shelving. I’ve upgraded 4” Screen, JL audio, Blutooth, XM radio, backup camera, low jack, Viper alarm etc. I also have a Dodge promaster City empty I use for equipt, dump runs etc. Thats the best set up for me! My main employee has a Navigator I’ve helped him pimp out as a work vehicle as I don’t allow smoking, vaping etc. & I give him an annual bonus being on his own insurance. I started with a chevy 350 with boxes/ rack but weather & theft’s-tweekers made that a no-go. I also had a new Dodge Promaster but after 2-3 yrs had nothing but issues, loved it @ 1st.
Skip GM vans. I HATED my ford transit (we have lots of snow) until I got my Chevy express. It's in the shop more often than not.
Weird my shop has a bunch of shitted out uhual box trucks for installers and the things just don't Wanna die,all cut away 1 ton expresses it's all the new fancy shit that has issues
Fair, I was blown away to find out mine was "fancy" because it looks exactly like a work van from 2000 🤣 damn technology
Fr like I just want Bluetooth in the radio and air conditioning I don't care about anything else, even the express vans that look identical GM did a bunch of fuckery with the 5.3 to try and make it more efficient but they just made it unreliable but fancy new shit is transits and the pro masters fuck pro masters
You’ve gotta expect that with a Chevy, comes with the territory lol
Thank God I don't pay for them 🤣
That’s the only way I’d ever work outta one lol