Van or Pickup to Deliver The Goods

Captain Ruggy · January 20, 2009, 09:35 PM

My van isn't a long one. I can shut the door on 12 footers but nothing bigger. My next van will be a longer one, I had to get this one in a hurry because I was in an accident with my last one and needed a van in a pinch, so I had to take what they had at the time.

We should be able to bend it, a lot of times we will loosen the roll and take the tube out.

I don't like dealing with 15 footers, but you gotta do, what you gotta do, I guess.

Demonseed · January 21, 2009, 04:40 PM

My e-350 was originally an 11 seat passenger van, superduty etc. I took out the rear seats and framed out a plywood floor, but the advantage is the extra heat it produces, I can get 13'6 goods in with the doors closed, and leave the truck running while I prep the job. It was a big advantage. I bet if I took out the passenger seat I could get 15' goods in it.

I think it has 2 heater cores, because I know I have a seperate AC unit for the back. I remember my E-250 cargo van, I was lucky if the heat kept me warm let alone the back of the truck. This one I could have a beach party in the middle of winter in the back.

My bosses have 16 foot box trucks, which are great for Carpet tile, VCT, etc, but they still don't reach most loading docks, they may opt for the 22'/24' truck next time, whatever the largest size you can get without a CDL. I am kind of waiting on their decision, because if they make the upgrade, I will get the option of taking one of the 16 footers, and I can hold off on buying a bigger truck myself. Although I am looking at some of the Sprinters.

Darren Ramey · January 21, 2009, 04:57 PM

I used to work out of an old ambulance. It was ugly, but had 3 separate heaters in it. If you cut the carpet up at the shop, by the time you got to the job site, the stuff would be toasty.

Captain Ruggy · January 21, 2009, 07:49 PM

As much as I would like a box van, it would be total hell trying to find places to park one on half the jobs I do.

My current van is a 99 dodge 1500. It's a really nice van and had all kinds of shelving already in it when I bought it, and they work out great for all my tools, so the only things really on the floor are my air compressor and my buckets of glue. Everything else has a place. I just wish it was a heavier duty van. My old 1 ton Chevy handled anything I ever threw in it. Sometimes I can really feel the loads in my Dodge. Other then that, my only complaint is that it isn't longer.

My next van will hopefully be a long 1 ton Ford.

rusty baker · January 21, 2009, 08:11 PM

I worked out of a Ford 1/2 ton van for years. When it quit I switched to a 1 ton box truck. Went back to a van for a while but realized the box had spoiled me. Now I'm back to the box and really like the extra room.

mcbrides · January 21, 2009, 09:12 PM

Well, guys, this piece of vintage GMC (every morning I call it a piece of shit) can accommodate 350 yards of carpet and underpad, and may JUST level out if it's a heavy ounceweight, but it is a total pig in the snow and if it's not loaded with weight in the back, we are STUCK wherever we go. (I was freaking about the roads in a storm recently and had Deb so freaked out she just wanted to go home.) We have some pretty nasty mornings in the winter here, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. We just keep resurrecting it, justifying that it is a lesser expense than buying a new one.

But if I had to replace it, the selection would lean to GMC, long before the new dodge cube van or Ford's offering. Can't put 30 yards in a bottom-end ford cargo van.

I want this thing to be our retirement (hah!) R-V. Dream on.

rusty baker · January 21, 2009, 09:21 PM

Back in the 80's, the reason so many used Ford vans was the length. From back doors to doghouse, Dodge was 11', chevy 11' 6" and Ford was 12' 2". If memory is right. I know Ford was the only one 12' ft carpet would let you shut the back doors. And we never carried more than 100 yds, that was a day's work.

Nick Arrera · January 22, 2009, 03:48 AM

rusty baker said

And we never carried more than 100 yds, that was a day's work.

And now it is a weeks work for me .

I had a half ton Chevy that i put coil springs on the back that held the weight fairly well . my new 3/4 ton chevy i can load to the roof with wood and you don't even know it is there till you try to stop .
I use to stick pad scraps in the holes of the cpt to keep the cold wind from blowing up to the driver . Put up a cheap clear shower curtain behind the driver on the old van [ can't do it with the new one ]. that was after waiting a 1/2 hr for my feet to defrost one cold day .

Taurus Flooring · January 22, 2009, 02:26 PM

I've been in this business for over 35yrs and I'll never understand why the retailer whom makes the lion's share of the profit , is not the one responsible to deliver the goods on the jobsite. All carpets should be acclimatized at least 2 days before installation.
With most senior installers not using apprentices anymore, it seems only obvious the we go this way.

Captain Ruggy · January 22, 2009, 04:56 PM

I would say the reason the retailers don't need to make sure the goods are at the jobsite, are the same reasons a hardware store doesn't have to make sure that a drywaller hangers drywall is to the jobsite, or a painter's paint.

They are selling the good, not installing it, that is the responsibility of the installer. I never even thought twice about it.

Captain Ruggy · January 22, 2009, 05:01 PM

Also, maybe a little off topic here. But today I loaded up a 15x40, drove the two and a half hours to the job, only to find that there was no heat there.

So I got the monster into the house by shouldering it through a window. Tacked and padded the rooms it will go in and layed the carpet out. It was around freezing in the house, I went to use the bathroom and the water in the bowl when frozen.

The house is empty right now and ran out of oil last night sometime, so I called the homeowner and she is having oil delivered. But my day was totally wasted, I spent about 2 hours on the job today.

mcbrides · January 22, 2009, 05:17 PM

Taurus Flooring said

I've been in this business for over 35yrs and I'll never understand why the retailer whom makes the lion's share of the profit , is not the one responsible to deliver the goods on the jobsite. All carpets should be acclimatized at least 2 days before installation.
With most senior installers not using apprentices anymore, it seems only obvious the we go this way.

After 35 years, Taurus, you should know better than that. The only installers who have product delivered for them are in the union. No thanks, we like earning a decent living without travelling all over the province.

mcbrides · January 22, 2009, 05:24 PM

Captain Ruggy said

Also, maybe a little off topic here. But today I loaded up a 15x40, drove the two and a half hours to the job, only to find that there was no heat there.

So I got the monster into the house by shouldering it through a window. Tacked and padded the rooms it will go in and layed the carpet out. It was around freezing in the house, I went to use the bathroom and the water in the bowl when frozen.

The house is empty right now and ran out of oil last night sometime, so I called the homeowner and she is having oil delivered. But my day was totally wasted, I spent about 2 hours on the job today.

Sorry Ruggy, that's every installer's nightmare in cold weather. Hope you charge the customer back for lost time; it's their responsibility to make sure that you have access, heat, and premises available for access. What if you had pulled up to the house and the driveway hadn't been cleared? Would you spend time shovelling it for access, or just turn around and charge for a lost day?

Jackreed · January 22, 2009, 06:01 PM

I drive a 98 Ford Windstar van with all my equipment in it. The retailers I work for deliver the materials I can't fit in my van. I do help them unload at the site.

mcbrides · January 22, 2009, 07:08 PM

Jackreed said

I drive a 98 Ford Windstar van with all my equipment in it. The retailers I work for deliver the materials I can't fit in my van. I do help them unload at the site.

Do you do so at a reduced rate? In Canada, that would certainly be the case.