Truck or van?

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  • davidtu
    Senior Member
    • Apr 2006
    • 708
    • Seattle, WA
    • BT3100

    #1

    Truck or van?

    (Umm... a vehicle is a "Tool" right? Anyway, no better forum occured to me, so...)

    What do most of you have to transport your wood & sheet goods? Truck or van? What is better? At some point I will buy one or the other, which should I set my sights on?
    Never met a bargain I didn't like.
  • BigguyZ
    Veteran Member
    • Jul 2006
    • 1818
    • Minneapolis, MN
    • Craftsman, older type w/ cast iron top

    #2
    I have a sedan for all of my lumber and sheet goods.... I guess that's why I don't get sheet goods!



    Insteresting question though. I've looked for a super cheap vehicle for projects (landscaping, home improvement, and WWing), and never thought to go with a van...

    Comment

    • drumpriest
      Veteran Member
      • Feb 2004
      • 3338
      • Pittsburgh, Pa, USA.
      • Powermatic PM 2000

      #3
      I use a Pontiak Aztek. Best vehicle (versitility wise) I've ever owned, love it. Unfortunately they are not going to be making it any more.
      Keith Z. Leonard
      Go Steelers!

      Comment

      • Hoyden
        Established Member
        • Jan 2005
        • 122
        • Twin Falls, ID, USA.

        #4
        I have a 1976 Ford Pu. works for sheet goods, plants and gardening, trips to the Dump, Heavy and tall items. even hauls my golf cart.

        that said my brother works his tile business out of a cargo van, the van closes up and locks at night. only thing in its favor I can see.
        PawPaw

        Comment

        • LarryG
          The Full Monte
          • May 2004
          • 6693
          • Off The Back
          • Powermatic PM2000, BT3100-1

          #5
          I've had both, there are significant pros and cons to each. A pickup with a cab-high camper shell (what I have now) is perhaps the best compromise. The cab has a small enough volume that the heater and a/c don't need two forevers to take hold, and you can be as rough-and-tumble as you want to with the bed of the truck. The camper shell provides weather protection and reasonable security, and if you need to haul something long you can leave the shell door open and extend the long stuff out over the tailgate.

          That said, if you don't need either vehicle for any other purpose, like towing a boat or hauling dirt bikes, a small, flatbed utility trailer is the cheapest way to get stuff home from the lumber yard. Just add a hitch to your current vehicle and you're all set.
          Larry

          Comment

          • DaveStL
            Established Member
            • Jan 2006
            • 100
            • St Louis, MO, USA.
            • Jet 10: Xacta RT

            #6
            For me, the important thing was to have at least 4' width, and enough length to have a minimal overhang with an 8' sheet. My Ranger with straight sides has just over 4' width, but those with the cool stepside bed don't.

            Think about what else you'll want to carry, though. The garden tractor won't fit in the bed w/o dropping the blade deck, because of the truck's narrow wheel wells.

            Dave

            Comment

            • mschrank
              Veteran Member
              • Oct 2004
              • 1130
              • Hood River, OR, USA.
              • BT3000

              #7
              Guess it depends on what other uses you want for it. If only for hauling sheet goods & lumber, then a pickup with a ladder rack would be ideal. If you also want to haul bark dust, gravel, garbage...a pickup is ideal.

              On the other hand, if you also need a people transporter, or want to haul stuff you need to keep dry (a valid consideration in the PNW) or don't want blowing out, you might lean towards a van. My wife has a new Toyota Sienna mini-van. The back two rows of seats come out/fold down and I can haul full 4x8 sheets in it with the back hatch closed...but she would probably get upset if I used it for a load of compost or manure!
              Mike

              Drywall screws are not wood screws

              Comment

              • gmack5
                Veteran Member
                • Dec 2002
                • 1972
                • Quapaw, Oklahoma, USA.
                • Ryobi BT3000SX & BT3100

                #8
                I have the best of both worlds

                I have a Chrysler Mini-Van (Town and Country), with the #2 & #3 seats pulled out, it'll handle a 4 X 8 sheet easily. It has a 3.8 Liter V6 engine.

                'Course I also have a 16' X 8' (3500# capacity) Utility Trailer and the Van has a Trailer Hitch on it.
                Stop thinking why you can't and Start thinking how you CAN!
                Remember, SUCCESS comes in CANS!
                George

                Comment

                • Russianwolf
                  Veteran Member
                  • Jan 2004
                  • 3152
                  • Martinsburg, WV, USA.
                  • One of them there Toy saws

                  #9
                  I like a truck. It doesn't have to be new either. I bought my 1970 Jeep Gladiator (full size 4x4 pickup) back in Feb. I paid...... $600. It runs (better than a couple newer cars I've had. and I don't worry about it getting dinged.

                  I keep a couple tarps behind the seats and lumber can get alittle damp without hurting it for the most part (heck, I think it's maloof that stores his outside, uncovered until the sapwood falls off)

                  Now if you are looking for a newer minivan that could be a do all, look at the crhyslers with the stow-and-go seats. that way you don't have to wrestle them in and out to get them out of the way.
                  Mike
                  Lakota's Dad

                  If at first you don't succeed, deny you were trying in the first place.

                  Comment

                  • WayneJ
                    Senior Member
                    • Jan 2004
                    • 785
                    • Elmwood Park, New Jersey, USA.

                    #10
                    My Ranger pick up is all I ever needed. It has a seven foot bed, a bed box across the front, 4x8s go in under the box and over the wheel wells and rest on top of the tail gate, closed. A tarp will cover anything till I get home.
                    Wayne
                    Wayne J

                    Comment

                    • Hellrazor
                      Veteran Member
                      • Dec 2003
                      • 2091
                      • Abyss, PA
                      • Ridgid R4512

                      #11
                      F250 Superduty Supercab 8' bed & a 6.5'x12' Utility trailer. I haul 16' by putting them on top of the trailer gate..

                      Comment

                      • RayintheUK
                        Veteran Member
                        • Sep 2003
                        • 1792
                        • Crowborough, East Sussex, United Kingdom.
                        • Ryobi BT3000

                        #12
                        If it's for hauling in the raw materials, a truck may be OK, but for delivering the finished products, nothing beats a van.

                        Ray.
                        Did I offend you? Click here.

                        Comment

                        • TheRic
                          Veteran Member
                          • Jun 2004
                          • 1912
                          • West Central Ohio
                          • bt3100

                          #13
                          I have a Ford Explorer SUV it allows me to move alot of things inside. If it's a little long for inside (about 7', 8' if it rides up to the dashboard) then it hangs out the back, for short distances. For longer trips I hook up the trailer. The bed can handle 4 X 8 laying flat inside.

                          As someone said before a trailer might be a good choice. If you got the room to store it (I leave mine outside all year round). HF has some cheap trailers of several different sizes. Seems like I remember one that can be setup on end against a wall.
                          Ric

                          Plan for the worst, hope for the best!

                          Comment

                          • DaveW
                            Established Member
                            • Jul 2004
                            • 415
                            • So Cal.

                            #14
                            Originally posted by gmack5
                            I have a Chrysler Mini-Van (Town and Country), with the #2 & #3 seats pulled out, it'll handle a 4 X 8 sheet easily. It has a 3.8 Liter V6 engine.
                            Be careful though - I have the samve minivan (2005), and it appears that with the current generation, 4x8 sheets don't fit. I'm not sure if mine having the "stow-n-go" seating has anything to do with the reduced space. It's an inch or two too narrow.

                            Don't get me wrong - I love how much stuff can fit in the van (given that all I had before was compact cars).

                            Comment

                            • Pappy
                              The Full Monte
                              • Dec 2002
                              • 10481
                              • San Marcos, TX, USA.
                              • BT3000 (x2)

                              #15
                              I have a Dakota long bed. As far as I know it is the only mid size truck with a full 8' bed. There are also reciever notches on both sides for 2x6's so a full sheet of ply will lay flat.
                              Don, aka Pappy,

                              Wise men talk because they have something to say,
                              Fools because they have to say something.
                              Plato

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