shop-talk
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: [Shop-talk] Better construction vehicles?

To: shop-talk@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Shop-talk] Better construction vehicles?
From: Pat Horne <pat@hornesystemstx.com>
Date: Sun, 17 Oct 2010 10:09:07 -0500
  Jim,

I've always been a big fan of having everything I might need for a job 
on site each and every time. My previous vehicle was a full size Dodge 
3/4 ton van. It held everything I needed, but it was too tall for some 
places and it only got 12 MPG.  When gas prices shot up I was in a 
position where we bought a new car and needed to get rid of one of our 
old ones. The choice was between the Dodge van and a 96 Ford Taurus 
wagon. We got rid of the van and now I only carry the tools I need every 
day in the wagon I have several trailers, including an enclosed trailer 
for tools and a 16' flat bed trailer for materials. I can carry a couple 
sheets of plywood or drywall on top along with long trim, etc, or if I 
need to haul a pile of materials I hitch up the flat bed trailer.

If the Impreza is working fine, and not nearing the end of its life, I'd 
just get a trailer that will hold the sheet goods, or if you need to 
transport longer material often, a longer trailer may be right for you. 
In bad weather you can always tarp the load.

A trailer is much cheaper than a replacement vehicle, and you don't have 
to haul around the extra weight and size when you don't need it.

I wish I had gotten the Taurus years earlier!

Peace,
Pat

Thusly spake Jim Franklin, On 10/17/2010 9:31 AM:
> I've been thinking about getting a better vehicle for my side construction
> business. The Impreza does great except for the plywood sheets :-)
>
> A pickup truck isn't weathertight and rides like a truck, and more often than
> not I'll have things in there that don't want to be bounced around.
>
> I've been thinking about a mini-van. A few people have told me theirs will
> haul 4x8 sheets. I'm assuming if it can haul 7 people it'll be ok with bags of
> mortar, etc. Any thoughts?
>
> thanks,
> _______________________________________________
>
> Shop-talk@autox.team.net
> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
> Suggested annual donation  $12.96
> Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
> Forums: http://www.team.net/forums
> Unsubscribe/Manage: 
>http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/shop-talk/pat@hornesystemstx.com
>
>
>

-- 
Pat Horne, Owner, Horne Systems
(512) 797-7501 Voice            5026 FM 2001
Pat@HorneSystemsTx.com  Lockhart, TX 78644-4443
www.hornesystemstx.com
-- We support Habitat for Humanity - a hand UP, not a hand OUT --
_______________________________________________

Shop-talk@autox.team.net
Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
Suggested annual donation  $12.96
Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
Forums: http://www.team.net/forums

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>