I'm starting a new job Monday, and I'm going to be coming out of work smelling like garbage. Literally. I'm going to be driving a garbage truck, and I'm not sure yet how much of that smell is going to cling to me, but I understand it's a possibility.
I'm also unsure of whether or not I should buy a cheap beater that I can stink up and not worry about wrecking the interior. Now my DD isn't exactly nice and new, it's an 03 TrailBlazer that's approaching 200k miles. It's not exactly cherry, but it was lady owned and it's in better shape than most.
I'm leaning towards just keeping my TrailBlazer and taking measures to combat the smell, and saving myself the money of buying, maintaining and insuring another vehicle.
What say ye?
Put a seat cover on the seat, that way you can toss it after it gets too smelly and get another.
Are you able to change clothes before you leave work? You could also put some serious covers on your blazer seats. I do love any excuse for another car though.
Do you have a pretty girl in your life who also rides in the car? Do you want one to? That might sway my decision if I were in your shoes.
Make sure to start a thread teaching us all about garbage trucks. I still think they're cool.
I would imagine they have a locker room at the shop where you can shower and change clothes. Also, these days don't most garbage trucks have provisions for picking up and unloading the cans automatically? If that's the case you should have minimal contact with smelly stuff.
Beater Lyfe!
I'd find a $400 Corolla and rock that.
I'd recommend a beater, but the interior smell will cost you concourse points at the challenge.
Unfortunately I'm doing a rural route and it's old school, jump out of the truck, throw the bags in the back, take off again. One man trucks, no hanging off the back like the old Hollywood image that comes to mind is.
The weird thing is that the Monday route is mine... I'll be picking up my own garbage.
Not sure if there's a locker room. The building isn't very big so I don't imagine there is one.
Yes the wife occasionally rides in it, but usually if the two of us are going anywhere we take her Odyssey because it's much nicer and gets much better mileage.
A quick glimpse at Facebook Marketplace shows several beater trucks for less than a grand.
Beater trucks are great because as long as it's still running it'll always be worth about a grand. You literally can't lose with them if you keep them alive.
Alternate idea: Get a gym membership that's on the route home. Minimizes your time to stink up the car, gives you a place to shower/change, might even kickstart a fitness routine if you don't already have one.
There is nothing like a good beater. All of my favorite vehicles have been less than $1k, and even better were then ones <$500. They could take a beating and not care, and I didn't have to care either. Magical experience, a good beater.
That being said, I'd not bother buying one to avoid the possible smells. Cheap seat cover, cheap overalls, both, frequent cleaning. Mix and match until you find the best combination for the least cost/effort.
At 200K+ miles, your vehicle is a beater. Save up for a date car. Garbage men do OK.
The above is an opinion.
In reply to wheelsmithy :
That's kind of my thought. It's not some really clean, less than three year old sports car, but I don't know if it's condition is poor enough to classify as a beater.
For your personal vehicle,a Rubbermaid style box for your boots in the back. Keep your gloves,rain gear etc. in the work rig in a tote bag, if you can. A beach towel over your seats may do.
What type truck are you going to get. Cabover or conventional? I did 21 years in Sanitation, 10 of which at the worlds largest Landfill. Keep your rig clean. Drove all kinds of equipment, never got filthy unless there was a slob driving it before me. If you like, wear a rubber butchers apron. The idea is to get the trash in the truck, and not on you. Although it happens sometimes. Enjoy your new job. Sometimes the Mongo you find is great stuff.
I’ll have a $450 2003 Toyota solara coupe in a month or so if the trailblazer starts getting stinky
I’m ALWAYS in favor of buying a beater.
(So, I have this rolled up carpet that weighs like 125lbs I need to get rid of fast. Can I toss it in your truck?
)
In reply to BoostedBrandon : do you want to fix and insure another vehicle!
Me? I’d put plastic on the seat and plan on replacing it when it gets shabby.
Sounds like you need a P71 with a hose out interior. Sub $1000 buy in, fairly bullet proof, and most likely better mileage than the trail blazer
I am very pro-beater, but "I might smell bad" is a very poor justification for one.
Change your clothes, or hose off, get a seat cover, clean your car more often, etc. Any/all of those things is more economical and easier than another car.
Seat cover, coveralls if needed and drive with the windows down.
But beaters are always fun
Could always go junkyard a different seat and preemptively swap that out if you are worried.
Second the rubbermaid tote(s) for work clothes, keep some clean stuff in the car and change out before driving if you are gross.
Even if it comes out as a relatively clean gig I would still keep extra clothes in your car, just one set, for that one day you end up accidentally taking a garbagewater bath.
