Which setup for my business? (work vehicle content)

I can't help but scratch the entrepreneurial itch, and after much review and thought, I've got another one. This thread, however, is not meant to pick apart the business idea, but to help me decide which style of vehicle to use.

The idea is an exterior cleaning business. Offer homeowners and businesses a way to clean those high up, hard to reach areas. Window washing, pressure washing, gutter cleaning. In the winter (if it ever snows again) I plan to offer snow removal, and maybe hanging Christmas lights (thanks, Ronholm.)

I'm thinking I'll need some extension ladders, a pressure washer, some glass cleaning supplies, and whatever else. I shouldn't need a ton of tools, so a utility bed pickup is not really necessary. Also, soon we'll have our second baby, so there will be times I'll need to pick up my kids after work. Thus, a single cab pickup may not do the trick.

Option one:

Non-single cab pickup with a rack. Hard to find a cheap truck that is non single cab and cheap, but this would be most feasible with the snow plow part of the equation. However, that leads to.

Option two.

SUV with a trailer. Doesn't necessarily have to be this new, but with a smaller utility trailer, it can haul all ladders, pressure washers, etc and still haul the family is comfort. Plus, rolling a pressure washer up a trailer ramp is much easier on the ole back than lifting it into a pickup bed. These things can be found in 4WD constantly, and it's not too hard to find a Suburban or Tahoe around here. I also see these things constantly with snow plows. This may be the best compromise.

Option three:

BAM! Panther chassis baby! I've wanted one of these things for awhile, and with my family outgrowing (maybe, can't tell yet) my Nissan Sentra, these may be a good compromise. On paper, they're the same as an F150. They can be had cheap, and are about the best bang for the buck when it comes to year model/price. Finding a clean, well taken care of one is always a crap shoot, but I think it would do the job just fine. Lack of 4WD will not allow for plowing, though.

What say yea?

Option 2. Unfortunately, most likely the most expensive too. You will be able to disconnect the business part and still have a nice family hauler. The order I would choose 2,1 and a distant third 3.

Datsun1500 wrote: Showing up in a crown Vic towing a trailer will make you look like a fly by night company, not a professional one.

Care to elaborate? Not arguing, I just don't see it.

The right option

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Steve,

As much as I love the 4x4 vans, that's way out of my price range.

I just said the right option, nothing about a cheap option, lol

I'll vote for option 2 but without the trailer. Get a Suburban and just get a roof rack for the ladders and a good thick rubber liner for the back. Keep the third row out, and you'll have as much room as a short bed truck.

E Series van FTW.

Throw a latter rack on the top and carry on.

Or even something like this.

With these, all the important stuff is locked up.

With a water tank on board you could even do onsite car washing or just about any type of cleaning.

Buy a car to haul the family around in.

Datsun1500 wrote: If you pull up in a truck, or even a SUV with trailer, you look like an established business. If you pull up in a car with a trailer you look like a guy that hooked a trailer to his daily driver because he can't afford 2 cars. How many business do you see run out of cars with trailers?

I agree, a Crown Vic could create a perception issue here. Might be an exception if it was wrapped or otherwise professionally modified to serve as a work vehicle. I have, however, seen quite a few small wagons and crossovers done up as mini work vans that looked very professional. They typically have roof racks with ladders, good quality graphics, and simply suggest they were a business decision to use a smaller vehicle because the job didn't call for a big one.

I couldn't see plowing with a Kia Soul, though.

Option two, for a few reasons:

1) All your tools will be locked inside.
2) Suburbans are generally much cheaper than the same model year truck.
3) You can unhitch and leave your tools behind for weekend use.

As someone mentioned, as you're building your business, a Suburban with a ladder rack could be a great option. Then you could always add the trailer later on.

2wd Van & trailer, beater 4×4 for plowing snow. Plowing is murder on trucks, unless your planning to get a real heavy duty truck, plan on serious wear and damage from commercial plowing. And even with a true heavy duty truck the road salt will be an issue.

I agree, I would drop plowing unless you want to replace that truck on a yearly or every other year basis. Damage from the stress of plowing combined with roadsalt is murder on a vehicle.

Box trucks can be had relatively cheap. Even Uhaul sells them off occasionaly

In leaning more toward a ext cab bucket truck with utility bed well organized underneath. You would have an inboard generator and air supply on hand already... Pretty handy items. Our bucket truck is a big block Ford with generator and inboard air. It's a 90 model and was only around 3500. Best thing ever for washing siding or fixing gutters.

Check what kind of liability comes with plowing in your area. We got out of it when I was towing because you had to also salt and shovel the property as you were getting drug into any slip and fall claims. What was a quick $20 during a storm turned into too much of a headache as a side business.

Edit to answer your question:

Option 2, the guy that does my lawn and plows also does power washing and handyman work. He uses a Tahoe with a trailer since he picks his kids up every day. For that type of schedule it seems to work well.

Datsun1500 wrote:

BoostedBrandon wrote:

Datsun1500 wrote: Showing up in a crown Vic towing a trailer will make you look like a fly by night company, not a professional one.

Care to elaborate? Not arguing, I just don't see it.

If you pull up in a truck, or even a SUV with trailer, you look like an established business. If you pull up in a car with a trailer you look like a guy that hooked a trailer to his daily driver because he can't afford 2 cars. How many business do you see run out of cars with trailers?

Well, I'm that guy so I guess that would be an accurate description, lol.

Thanks for the input, guys.

Would something older be tacky looking? Say, a mid nineties Pathfinder or 4Runner?

Not only is older fine, I think for a small business, it's preferable. Hollywood new rigs give people the impression that your'e doing "too well" and they think theyre being taken advantage of. If you drive a decent e36m3box work vehicle that looks well kept but humble, you avoid that.

In reply to BoostedBrandon:

You're thinking of hauling a trailer full of equipment with a 4-runner?

Short wheelbases suck HARD for towing not to mention the lack of power in those two options.

Buy a good, used, 1990's Ford, Chevy or Dodge and tow with that, you'll be fine.

Trans_Maro wrote: In reply to BoostedBrandon: You're thinking of hauling a trailer full of equipment with a 4-runner? Short wheelbases suck HARD for towing not to mention the lack of power in those two options. Buy a good, used, 1990's Ford, Chevy or Dodge and tow with that, you'll be fine.

Our 4Runner is a phenomenal tow vehicle.

In reply to mtn:

What year?

Sorry, I've been shoved around by a loaded trailer in a short wheelbase truck, I won't do that again.

A V6 4-runner is not something to tow a good sized trailer with.

For towing, more is better. I love my big F-250HD, it turns what would be a long, hard slog with a trailer into a sunday drive in the country.

Edit:

1994 4-runner tow rating: 3500 lbs, 150hp with the V6

1994 Pathfinder tow rating: 3500 lbs, 153hp, V6

You can try it, I wouldn't.

I like the idea of a suburban and a trailer. Thinking about the type of services you want to offer, it seems like the best fit to give people a good impression.

I think used uhaul or Penske is a great option. Cheap and professional with some graphics.

Whatever you go with must be clean neat and professional looking. It dosent have to be new, just need to look like it is maintained. Noone needs to know it has 300k miles.

fanfoy wrote: I'll vote for option 2 but without the trailer. Get a Suburban and just get a roof rack for the ladders and a good thick rubber liner for the back. Keep the third row out, and you'll have as much room as a short bed truck.

+1 for this.

Fueled by Caffeine wrote: I think used uhaul or Penske is a great option. Cheap and professional with some graphics.

This. I would buy a used box truck and get a vinyl shop to do graphics.

I see auto detailing guys around here driving real crappy looking vehicles. No, I don't think I'm going to be calling you. Even a lawn service should have decent looking trucks. But then, I do see a guy riding a bike, pulling a trailer with his mower and tools.

I had a small landscape business out of high school. We had two '68 Chevy pickups and a 4x8 trailer.

Edit: they were both early 70's

How much will an Explorer Sport-Trac tow?

Extended cab pick up does family and work duty for me.