Let’s face it, there’s nothing worse than needing a perfect tool and not having it with you. Big or small, the right tools make all the difference when it comes to your business’ success. Sure, you might be able to break a frozen nut loose with a ratchet, but a cordless impact will usually make short work of even the most stubborn fastener.
It’s the same thing with trucks and vans, especially those that have been upfitted to put in their own kind of work on the job.
The truth is, you can’t really haul heavy with a half-ton, and it’s hard to deliver a palletized three ton air compressor in the back of a courier van.
Right now, companies that need to expand their fleet are having a tough time getting the trucks and vans they need from manufacturers. Not only are prices way up, but the lack of semiconductor chips is keeping production levels low and the chips that are available are often going to marque models – half ton trucks, high-end SUVs, and sports cars.
In fact, in terms of cargo van production? The numbers are alarmingly low.
The good news is this: There are literally millions of used cargo vans and box trucks looking for new homes. Now, some of those are way past their prime, but many examples of cube vans with low mileage, documented maintenance, and very nice overall condition can be found for pennies on the dollar compared to a new one ton truck or cargo van.
We’ve actually had so many calls about upfitting these types of box vans, used trucks, and older cargo vans we designed a complete checklist – Build It Before You Buy It – to support customers who are considering buying a used truck or van to repurpose and upfit for their business. You can grab your copy right here to start sorting out the challenges of upfitting a late model truck or van.
What’s the checklist cover?
A lot of the little things that fleet owners might not think about in terms of picking the right truck or van – NOT just the price, or the mileage.
A great example is a refit of a late model box van (or cube van, if that’s what you want to call it…). Our client handles furnace installation, and we built this cube van to handle ANY job they’d have.
A big workbench for parts assembly out of the weather and out of the client’s home or office.
A specially designed cubby to store ladders, and its counterpart above it to handle piping needs.
Built in racks and shelves for tools and inventory.
LED lighting for a low draw on the electrical system and plenty of light to work with, no matter what time of day it is.
And the list of what could still be done is even longer!
As you can see, this is a one-ton unit, so towing and payload is ample, but a hydraulic liftgate could be easily retrofitted, along with a power inverter, on board air compressor, and loads of other things.
Heck, if the seat was ripped, we’ve even got van seat covers that not only fit perfectly, they also are tougher than the originals!
Despite the fabrication work we did, the company that owns this van now has a reliable, purpose-built rig that will last for years, carry everything the team could need to the jobsite, and could be easily upgraded for towing a trailer, too.
All for a fraction of the cost of a new van!
Which is exactly why we created the Build It Before You Buy It checklist.
It’s a great tool to not only determine what you need, but what you don’t need, too. It might be “neat” to have a stone-simple “Bull-nose” (1980-1986) Ford, but upftting it to do the job you need it to do could prove difficult – there simply isn’t the aftermarket support for vehicles that old. But if you simply needed a ladder rack, a tool box, and a heavy-duty hitch, that old Ford might be able to still put in a day’s work.
The checklist can help you recognize what, exactly, you’re going to need to get the job done, and when you complete it, our team is always ready to go over your plan before you make the purchase, possibly saving you tens of thousands of dollars.
After all, wouldn’t it be nice to know that your new-to-you truck or van has the aftermarket “off the shelf” support it needs to get to work? Just as importantly, you’d be able to schedule your upfit to start literally the day you take delivery!
So go ahead, grab your copy of the Build It Before You Buy It checklist and start a conversation with our team. By rethinking how you build your fleet, you can save a bucketful of money and still have the perfect truck or van for your business or fleet. If you’re ready to get to work, you can simply reach out to our team at 1-888-435-6466 or simply click right here. Either way, you’re going to be ready to work!
