A couple of thoughts about a work vehicle. I differentiate between the type of work being performed in order to use the best vehicle. Currently I use a Prius (40 mpg) for family and personal use, so, when I'm simply running work errands or conducting simple repairs, I use it and get excellent gas mileage. When I'm conducting more extensive repairs, as well as major renovations, I use a Dodge 2500 4x4 crew cab long bed with topper (9 mpg). My Dodge mini van (that I posted about previously) has now died and family/work needs require a larger truck. The Dodge allows me to pick up workers (as well as my 3 year old in a car seat), get on and off my 30 acres in snowy weather and lay down full sheets of plywood/drywall under cover and locked. I researched for half a year to find such a truck and bought used for $10k with 200,000 miles. The characteristics of a work vehicle often combine with personal needs and help determine the needed vehicle.
I I am in the north east and I have large parking lots with my buildings so I buy Ford F250s with snowplows on them. In Minnesota I would imagine you would encounter snow as well. Having a pick up truck can be indispensable for a DIY landlord.
I am looking to consolidate my fleet (3 cars lol). I have a Ford Explorer SUV, Lexus LS400 sedan and a 1994 F150 pick-up (all owned outright). The truck is RWD, but has a cap on it. I was thinking of using the explorer as my work vehicle/bad weather vehicle (AWD) and selling the Lexus and Pick-Up for something cool, as I am into cars.
My thought is that the Explorer can be used for light-medium jobs and I can buy a trailer for less than $500 for the rest. The second car would be a convertible/coupe, that I could practice my automotive hobby with. I would reduce my insurance by $95 a month (Baltimore insurance is expensive) and the maintenance on each vehicle would be minimal as I am proficient with tools. What do you guys n gals with experience think of this plan?
It all depends on how often you need the hauling capacity. The explorer alone would easily do the job for us.
We own 5 units, are DIY and have a 2010 Prius. We have the seats folded down and have carried a lot in it.... like tools, wood, water softener salt, gardening supplies, chainsaws, lawnmowers. Everything we need for the kind of jobs we do.
Almost any vehicle with a trailer hitch will be sufficient for most any other job I can think of. We borrow a family member's Subaru outback with a trailer hitch and a roof rack (for ladders) when we have larger jobs. We find we have to rent a trailer about twice a year. No need to buy a trailer IMHO. If you are doing this daily, then that's another story.
I only have one unit at the moment, so I'm sure the Explorer could handle it all as you said. It has the towing package so it has a hitch and roof racks. I like the idea of renting a trailer too, I even found some cheap ones on CL for under $500 that I may snag in the future!
I think a lot depends on just how intensely DIY you are, but that being said...
I have settled on a pickup truck and trailer combo for my needs. I have an enclosed trailer for all my tools, and an open trailer with 2 foot treated plywood sides for mulch, rock, or things that are oversized. This allows me to drop the trailer(s) at the job sight and still be able to go pick up more materials etc. While my guys still have the tool trailer to keep working. A pickup truck and trailer(s) combo give you maximum versatility IMHO. I can carry materials and 4 other guys if needed.
I have a 2004 Tundra with 157k miles on it. It serves all my needs, most of the time. There have been a few times I wish the truck had more hauling capacity. Too bad Toyota doesn't make a 2500/3500 capacity PU. Means I can't pull a heavy dump trailer, or move around skid steers or excavators I occasionally rent.
So again, just depends on how intensely DIY you are.
Tony, I don't know if I want to be that hands on in my business. I'm handy with tools and yard work but I don't want to count on me having a truck and being super hands on in my business plan. I want to steer towards a passive portfolio, I feel that keeping a truck and gearing up for major demos would put me in the wrong direction.
I hear ya'!
I still struggle with being as hands on as I am. I struggle tuning things over to someone else. My goal has been to get to know everything inside out, then move to a higher altitude in the business. That way nobody can BS me on anything. Problem is I still like being very hands on. Blessing and a curse at the same time I guess.
I love being hands on too! But I find that I stretch myself too thin, with a full-time job, GF and other business ventures I find that my sanity suffers!
Got to love a fellow car guy on here @Kevin Williams` My advice is if you are looking for a fun car you can tinker with look at older Mercs - you can score them cheap needing work. I am in the middle of finishing up a 1975 Mercedes 240D
I am not sure what your individual needs are although what you are thinking of doing sounds like a solid plan. I use and abuse my 1992 K2500 6.5 turbo diesel for all sorts of stuff - I can't kill it. Hauling, plowing etc. It clicked over 363k while pushing snow the other day.
@James McCard I have my eyes set on a W209 CLK55/CLK550 or SC430 (I'm part of a Lexus club). I'm looking to cash out my truck and car and get it cash. Any thoughts on these two?
I have a few cars but my main landlord vehicle is a 1996 F350 4 door 8 foot bed 7.3 diesel 4x4 with a plow. It's the Swiss Army knife of vehicles, there is literally nothing it cannot do. Very reliable and gets ok mpg too.
The investor side of me says the Lexus is the best choice, the bad boi inside me says go with the CLK55/550 (both are N/A).
I would love a crew cab truck as a daily, that would be awesome. I'd rather have that than the explorer it is what I have now. Maybe I should sell them all and start from scratch?
I have a Ford F-350 four door Super Duty (Diesel). No issues with 4x8 sheets of anything or 10 ft long Home Depot count meter tops. 4 wheel drive I've is great on snow, ice, and while fishing/hunting.
Drove out with two job site boxes full of tools from Denver to Indiana where I have two rentals last November. No issues (and I ended up replacing 5 doors while there). Dogs liked the spacious back seat.
I can't afford the newer trucks so I buy used diesel trucks - they last forever (just stay away from the 6.0)
6.0 is fine once it is bulletproofed - I'll stick with my 6.5 Turbo Diesel though as it's cheaper to run then a Cummins/Powerstroke/Duramax parts are cheaper as well.
Yeah I am a weird minority haha. @Thomas Hickey I haven't driven a truck with more power and the 6.5 blows away the 350 gas job in regards to power that was also available in my truck. I just plan ahead when it comes to hills as that is the only time it is really an issue when I am towing a heavy load.
A buddy of mine makes a good living bulletproofing the 6.0s once it is done they are very reliable.
Reason I said stay away from 6.0 is because I had a 7.3, sold it (we all make mistakes in life) and went to a 6.0 that I currently have a few years later. I've had mine bulletproofed - check engine light still comes on with the P0401 error on occasion (I'm convinced it's a short). I can't do the EGR delete because of emissions laws where I live. I get around them by disconnecting and re-connecting the battery to clear the codes and reset the light. Truck runs great though LOL
I was only considering gas 1/2 tons until now, do you find that you use the extra torque or is it just nice to have? I don't plan on pulling any stumps or houses lol