I'm going to start shopping for a new business vehicle

March 19, 2019, 09:28 PM

mark123

quote:
Originally posted by Bulldog:
Not wanting to create a thread drift, but why are you looking at getting out of mowing?

I'm capped at what one guy can make. The equipment is so expensive that a lot of what I do make goes to that. There are so many uninsured companies out there that can undercut us legit guys. They usually only last one year but they still take work away. Old folk still think $4 is good money for a mow. And the biggest reason is that I've found its better to take a little bit of money from a lot of people than to take a lot of money from a little bit of people.

March 19, 2019, 09:39 PM

a1abdj

My accountant says that a pick up requires you to track your business mileage separate from your personal mileage for tax purposes.

quote:
I do not have a pix handy but a 1 ton with a Knapahide service truck that has the raised top on it would be the "cats meow" imho.

But that same pick up with a work body on it is 100% business use for tax purposes.

March 19, 2019, 10:45 PM

bigmule

Mark, my two pennies here...

Sprinter all day!
Low bed.
Bulk head and vented cargo bay. Reduced smell..
Double or single axle.
Diesel and lots of stock space for Aux batteries.

March 19, 2019, 11:37 PM

LS1 GTO

quote:
Originally posted by Skins2881:
quote:
Originally posted by RHINOWSO:
I guess if it ain't broke, don't fix it (ie Pickup Truck).

Or you could really upgrade and get an EM-50.

Stripes?

That's a fact, Jack!!

March 20, 2019, 03:09 AM

mark123

quote:
Originally posted by bigmule:
Mark, my two pennies here...

Sprinter all day!
Low bed.
Bulk head and vented cargo bay. Reduced smell..
Double or single axle.
Diesel and lots of stock space for Aux batteries.

I don't know whay that is.

March 20, 2019, 03:47 AM

sj4550

quote:
Originally posted by sj4550:
quote:
Originally posted by sj4550:
quote:
Originally posted by mark123:
quote:
Originally posted by bigmule:
Mark, my two pennies here...

Sprinter all day!
Low bed.
Bulk head and vented cargo bay. Reduced smell..
Double or single axle.
Diesel and lots of stock space for Aux batteries.
I don't know whay that is.

Dodge's newer commercial vans. They have smaller and large versions. You see alot of plumbers and a/c guys running them. My son sometimes drives one at the motorcycle shop. Has a sliding deck and they load a Harley in them with ease.

March 20, 2019, 05:34 AM

V-Tail

quote:
Originally posted by mark123:
quote:
Originally posted by bigmule:
Mark, my two pennies here...

Sprinter all day!
Low bed.
Bulk head and vented cargo bay. Reduced smell..
Double or single axle.
Diesel and lots of stock space for Aux batteries.
I don't know whay that is.

Not sure about currently, but when I looked at a Sprinter for our business, they were made by Mercedes and could be bought as a Mercedes, or re-badged Dodge or FreightLiner. That was a few years ago.

Very nice van, Mercedes turbo-diesel engine. A pretty extensive choice of sizes and load capacity. We were looking at a large body for room, but no requirement for heavy weight capacity. Really wanted it, but it was too pricey.

March 20, 2019, 06:24 AM

mark123

I think the sprinters are all v-6. Will that handle a 200 gallon tank and 1100 lbs of fertilizer? I have been happy with a 350 gas engine.

March 20, 2019, 08:21 AM

BigSwede

If you are going with a pickup, check this

https://www.4are.com/fleet/

March 20, 2019, 08:30 AM

mark123

quote:
Originally posted by BigSwede:
If you are going with a pickup, check this

https://www.4are.com/fleet/

Excellent information. Thank you.

March 20, 2019, 08:47 AM

Woodman

While I may be talking out my derrière, I've always thought the Sprinters were made for bulk rather than weight. And the brakes will get chewed up with any kind of serious weight in the truck. And a dual rear is no answer.

I'd associate a flatbed with a fabricated diamond-plate machinery cabinet with your type of business. Something rated for the 5,000 pounds in the bed. Sounds like you'll be carrying over 3,000 pounds.

March 20, 2019, 09:25 AM

mark123

quote:
Originally posted by Woodman:
While I may be talking out my derrière, I've always thought the Sprinters were made for bulk rather than weight. And the brakes will get chewed up with any kind of serious weight in the truck. And a dual rear is no answer.

I'd associate a flatbed with a fabricated diamond-plate machinery cabinet with your type of business. Something rated for the 5,000 pounds in the bed. Sounds like you'll be carrying over 3,000 pounds.

At least at the beginning of the day.

March 20, 2019, 09:30 AM

kz1000

------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Yidn, shreibt un fershreibt"

"The Nazis entered this war under the rather childish delusion that they were going to bomb everyone else, and nobody was going to bomb them. At Rotterdam, London, Warsaw and half a hundred other places, they put their rather naive theory into operation. They sowed the wind, and now they are going to reap the whirlwind."
-Bomber Harris

March 20, 2019, 11:53 AM

Georgeair

quote:
Originally posted by mark123:
I think the sprinters are all v-6. Will that handle a 200 gallon tank and 1100 lbs of fertilizer? I have been happy with a 350 gas engine.

quote:
When the 2019 Sprinter Cargo Van is equipped with a 144” wheelbase and a standard roof height it has the ability to handle 319.1 cubic feet of cargo inside. This same setup provides the 2019 Sprinter Cargo Van with a 3,501-pound payload capacity and a 5,000-pound max tow rating.

link

Price of a used one may be an issue, but not capacity it seems.

Sample used pricing

March 20, 2019, 03:00 PM

old rugged cross

i ran across a fed ex guy at a fueling station in a Sprinter type rig. It was a newer unit. Pieces falls off of it. I asked the guy how he liked driving it. He did not have a lot of good to say about it. This one was a Mercedes with diesel iirc. While probably good rigs. Not what I would be looking for in the type of business and rig you would need, imho.

Not sure if they come in 4wd, but think I would buy a 4wd rig iiwy.

March 20, 2019, 06:13 PM

shovelhead

Mark, I see you are familiar with Knapheide https://www.knapheide.com/products

From my past experience their support after the sale is top tier the last 16 years I was in dealerships I dealt a lot with them. I don't think you could go wrong with them.

If you do not mind a little drive to Michigan I have two ex-coworkers at two different GM dealers that deal with commercial and fleet sales. I can put you in touch with both of them. One is just outside of Detroit, the other in Lansing. I'm out of that business almost two years but still keep in touch with them.

Gas vs. Duramax, it's going to depend how far you drive, miles between stops, idle time and how long you are planning to own it as least as I see it. And I would probably lean toward the C-K (pickup) chassis. The G series vans are a bear to work and there are currently only two choices for engines, the 4.3L V6 and the 6.0L V8, both gas. Duramax is no longer available in that chassis.

Let me know if I can be any help.

March 21, 2019, 08:51 AM

RHINOWSO

quote:
Originally posted by Skins2881:
Stripes?

Figured someone had to get it sooner or later.

March 21, 2019, 01:36 PM

mark123

quote:
Originally posted by shovelhead:
Mark, I see you are familiar with Knapheide https://www.knapheide.com/products

From my past experience their support after the sale is top tier the last 16 years I was in dealerships I dealt a lot with them. I don't think you could go wrong with them.

If you do not mind a little drive to Michigan I have two ex-coworkers at two different GM dealers that deal with commercial and fleet sales. I can put you in touch with both of them. One is just outside of Detroit, the other in Lansing. I'm out of that business almost two years but still keep in touch with them.

Gas vs. Duramax, it's going to depend how far you drive, miles between stops, idle time and how long you are planning to own it as least as I see it. And I would probably lean toward the C-K (pickup) chassis. The G series vans are a bear to work and there are currently only two choices for engines, the 4.3L V6 and the 6.0L V8, both gas. Duramax is no longer available in that chassis.

Let me know if I can be any help.

I'm still in the decision and option phase but I may hit you up, of course BigSwede is also in the mix.

I drive anywhere from 6 to 30 miles a day depending on the route. Lots of idling in traffic and lots and lots of turning the engine on and off during the day. I really don't see a benefit to diesel.

March 21, 2019, 01:37 PM

mark123

Can anyone explain why a GMC truck is about $5500 more than a comparable Chevy?

March 21, 2019, 01:58 PM

BigSwede

quote:
Originally posted by mark123:
Can anyone explain why a GMC truck is about $5500 more than a comparable Chevy?

It shouldn't be, might have something to do with " select model bonus cash" it's extra money on the somewhat older inventory and won't be on others. GMC and Chevy has it