Pending new job=new work truck. Opinions plese.

[T.Low]

I will most likely take a job with a different company within the next two weeks or so. I will turn in my company F-150 that is in my ASV Sig. With the new company I will get a $400/mo. truck allowance. Not awesome, but I am also getting an increase in access to the market share and an increase in commission percentage, blah blah blah, considering the times, its a great deal.

The new job will be the same as the old, outside sales for construction supply. The new co. will give me a laptop with wifi card and printer, all to be set up in my vehicle as a mobile office. Exactly what I have wanted from the old company...

I need your opinions on what vehicle to get.

I will get a gas card so mpg is not a big factor.

I tend to look at this as adding to my fleet of vehicles at the house rather than an independent vehicle purchase for work. And thats where it gets confusing.

I need to drive around to construction sites and measure for needed product ( a simple materials "take-off") . Sometimes it will be nice to have some sample product as well as brochures with me. WHile some sales guys don't like to, I like to have the ability to deliver product in a pinch to help out my customers, sometimes as big as a few doors and some trim. After I measure the building, the new computer system allows me to input my figures and print out a bid in (suppossedly) 30 minutes or so, at the construction site to give to the builder right then and there. The office will be an hour away from my territory (and my house). My vehicle is my office.

I project 25k mi/yr. on the vehicle, just for work.

Gee, my current Astro would be the perfect vehicle for this job! Except that I already drive it 10-13k mi./yr for recreational purposes, so my '03 that currently has 70k mi on it, could easily end up with 140 -150 thousand miles on it in two years. Possibly 200k in 4 yrs! Certainly not what I was looking for when I built it. I want to put 8 to 12k mi/yr on it, make it last and stay as reliable as can be for as long as possible.

SO what do I get then?

I've liked having the versatile fleet consisting of a sporty suv for the wife, my rec van, and a 4x4 pickup. So I could get another f-150, Chev 1500, or Dodge Ram 1500 Hemi etc. A pickup would work for the job I need to do.

But a van would work better. Build a counter/desk right behind the driver's seat along the wall, to work at on the laptop and to keep all my files organized. Include a small fridge and micro wave oven as I usually eat in the truck about 3-4 times a week. Then have samples and displays set up in the rear, along with a mountain bike so I can go straight to the trails at the end of the day instead of having to go home first (or at lunchtime in the winter when there is no daylight left at the end of the work day)

I'm really leaning toward a van; either another awd Astro or a full size may actually work better. But if I get a van, I'd really like it to be 4wd for all the usual reasons. Then my buddy with the Sportsmobile says "too bad you couldn't find a used one with a pop top, then your builder could come in and stand up and walk around looking at your samples and reading your proposals".

So then I find this and think, wow, that would work really well for all of the above. What do you guys think? Anyone know anything about the reliablility of the 8.1? That thing could have 140,000 miles on it in two years. How bad is it on gas? It could be set up quite nicely and I think pretty comfortable to drive and spend every day in. The possibilites are endless. Especially if I could talk him down a couple grand.

http://reno.craigslist.org/cto/1445038462.html






But then I'd have two custom 4x4 pop top vans. Thats just weird. There's a good possibility that i could buy my current company truck off the old company, but it would be about $5-7k more than that van.

My brother in law recommends a Dodge Grand Caravan. It would certainly work...and they're fairly comfortable to drive...but then it would be strictly a work vehicle...I'd never want to drive it on my free time, thats for sure. I'd probably even park it out back behind the garage so I wouldn't have to look at it.

So, in general; a 1/2 ton pick up or van? Opinions?

Thanks guys.

[original_balzer]

go with a van

[Smiliesafari]

A van will certainly keep everything dry and safe from sticky fingers. The type of van will depend on size and quantity of materials you'll need to carry. The Sprinter looks like a roomy van. I don't know if there is a four wheel version. I was in the construction trades for years. Never had four wheel and never got stuck. Just be careful where you drive.

[LiftedAWDAstro]

For $20k you can buy 2 AWD Astro or Safari vans and have the perfect vehicle for what you want to do.

I guess it really depends on what you want. An AWD Express or Savana will allow you to lock every thing up and keep it all dry. I would stay away from the van you posted. The 8.1's were know to burn a quart of oil every 1k miles and it already has over 90k on it. Like you said, you already have a perfect pop-top camping van so why have 2?

[ihatemybike]

That 8.1 is not going to drink fuel, it's going to chug it. You'll be lucky to see double digit MPGs. Anything that large my mind goes straight to diesel.

Reading your wish list, I'd be looking at a full size diesel van and leaning towards a Sprinter.
http://reno.craigslist.org/cto/1424320966.html

[Cobra]

to no surprise like most other people on here I also will suggest a van, smilies already pointed out why i suggest it. Lockdoc knows the ups and downs of the sprinter from what i remember mileage wasn't bad, i don't know about comfort level, drivablity and i know i've heard something about 4WD sprinters never seen one though. If i had to buy another van and COULDN'T get a stro i would get an AWD savana all our drivers have RWD's and their only complaint is they'll give up the ghost without warning.
One of the drivers is here while typing this and suggests an astro or safari (isn't that ironic) but NOT a awd savana he said when an drive train part breaks they're expensive since there is not a high demand for them but the RWD's are everywhere

[phr1$k37]

Hi Tom,
If you do not need to be hauling anything work / personal than no truck, go straight for the Savana.
Lots of room, comfort and ability to customize. It can also act as your road trip warrior (if not 4x4ing) and save on hotel fees Have you asked Jen what she thinks yet? She like Janice is probably very practical minded and should help push towards one vehicle and not a split.

What cobra just posted about the AWD vs RWD drive train may be a thought but if you are NOT going to 4x4 it AWD is still what I would get. Besides if you do crazy you know for a fact you will go Quigley

[T.Low]

Good advice, as expected, guys. Thanks. Keep it coming.

Jen's first thought was to NOT put that many work miles on the AstroLander. It was a cash build, pd for, use it wisely for what I built it for and get many more years out of it. I'll get a $400/mo. allowance for the work rig. I emailed her the pics of the big GM and she replied "Is this so you can sleep on the job site? " #-o

Sprinters sure are ugly, but they sure are practical. Especially that one Aaron linked too. I guess I need to test drive one. I worry that i'd feel like I was driving an IPS truck like Doug Hefernen.

[phr1$k37]

I emailed her the pics of the big GM and she replied "Is this so you can sleep on the job site? " #-o .

Did I not tell you she would be particular? Hey she has her best interest in the rig for you as well! No denying that!
As for the sleeping part sure! Now you can go on comfy non-4x4 road trips!

[mdmead]

A lot of good points have been made about a full-size van or the Sprinter.

But I'm a truck guy. I like having a pickup around. My choice would be a crewcab with a fiberglass shell on the back. I'd be leaning towards an F-250/350 or K2500/3500 so I could get a longbox too. 4x4 is a must!

I won't argue the van can probably be set up better for your work vehicle. But I find having a pickup very practical overall. I guess you need to consider your current situation... if you lose the truck, how will it impact you?

[lockdoc]

I'm for the Sprinter since that is what I drive. I have the newer style so they are not quite as ugly. Best work truck I have ever had. Two years and I still can't find anything I would rather have. Plus I avg 18-19 mpg. Luckily I don't make the payments on it. Mine equipped with all the cabinets and such ran around 50K.

[T.Low]

A couple of my builders have Sprinters. I've had Sprinters blow by me on the mountain passes, and getting better mpg, with more room. Hmm.

I used to think I'd be able to replace the Astro with a Sprinter AllRad by the time they finally imported them.

[kamenz]

Tom,there are a couple outfits in the US converting Sprinters to 4x4.I think one is in Oregon and he is using the german or austrian 4x4 system and there components.

[blacknome]

Sprinters are great, I love them dealerly but they are very expensive to buy or lease !!!

IMO if you get the $400.00 per month and don't have to show receipts + a gas card for fuel I would be looking at a gently abused Savanna or Cargo Astro. Good freind is an commercial electrician for a family owned company and they have 3 Astros bought new in the late 90's and 3 Savanna's bought new which are now in year 2 of service. They service all of their own fleet and do the repairs themselves. 6 guys each with their own truck so they tend to care for them a little better than a fleet vehicle.

The bigger Savanna van holds more cargo but he finds they are a pig on fuel ( 10 or so mpgs with the 5.3 ) but not one single trouble ( other than replacing the factory tires with Michelins within weeks of buying the vans as they sucked in the snow ) within the 2 years they have had them.

The old Astros are still running with over 500,000 kms on each and they still get 13-15 mpgs. But it seems every 2 years they are rebuildings the trans on one or another and an occasional rear end ( they pull a lot of weight around ) here and there. They are getting near the end of their service life and are looking in to replacing them with Sprinter vans and the guys are looking forward to being able to stand up in the back of the van instead of crawling around.

I never really liked pickups as you cannot secure the load in the bed without a locking cap and then if something rolls to the front you need to climb in to get it. I would rather have a van and a trailer than a pickup.

good luck in the hunt for a new set of work-wheels

[astrozam]

For $400 a month towards payments AND a gas card I would drive the last remaining Pinto with a continuos full tank of gas and let people throw molotov cocktails at me, I am def in the wrong line of work, LOL

Good luck with whatever you get Tom