Vehicle Options for a Handyman Business

Nothing wastes more time than running around the store to buy one more item. It is much more efficient for you if you carry most of the tools you will need with you at all times. In a sense, as a handyman on the go, you will need to have a small mobile hardware store with you.

That means you will need some storage space. Most handymen get by with a truck that has a cap or topper. It does give them the storage space of an SUV, but they don’t have to switch vehicles if they already have a reliable truck. Of course, if you have the budget to buy a new (or well-used) vehicle, then some alternatives come up. Vans are a proven vehicle for service personnel of all stripes. They have more space than a van with a cap, allowing you to get into your small mobile hardware store.

If you can’t afford a new (or used) hat for your truck, or don’t even have a truck right now, don’t despair. If you’re just starting out, you can certainly get by with whatever space there is in the passenger seat and the rear seat. The most important thing is that everything you drive looks clean and well cared for. The old “pride of ownership” will go a long way here. Your customers might be a bit suspicious if you were driving a top-of-the-line new vehicle anyway, so make the most of the fact that a clean used truck or car makes you sound honest.

In terms of color for your ride, white vehicles look more like standard service vehicles. That doesn’t mean you need to repaint whatever you’re driving right now, but when it’s time to update, choose white for professionalism points.

Another important consideration for your vehicle is fuel efficiency. Expect to drive more than 1,000 miles a month. If fuel prices rise again, even a little, that could seriously reduce your profits. Of course, you can raise your rates a bit, cut back on your service area, or start charging an “out of town” fuel rate, but all of that just masks the problem. According to the government’s fuel economy site, the most efficient standard-size trucks are the Chevrolet Silverado 15 Hybrid wheel drive and the GMC Sierra 15 Hybrid 2-wheel drive. For small trucks, the 2-wheel-drive Ford Ranger and 2-wheel-drive Toyota Tacoma win. For cargo vans, the 2-wheel-drive Chevrolet Express 1500 and 2-wheel-drive GMC Savanna 1500 earn top fuel efficiency awards.

For what it’s worth, I own a predecessor to the Toyota Tacoma, but mine is 4-wheel drive. It’s approaching 200,000 miles and it still runs wonderfully, even with a half ton of cinder blocks in the back. My first vehicle was a GMC Suburban, and while I wasn’t too focused on how well it worked and how useful it was as a work vehicle, the wise old men from rural New Hampshire coffee shops would always approve of it and say, “Now that’s a vehicle. “. It’s sad to note that four-wheel drive doesn’t provide good fuel efficiency, but anyone who’s ever driven a four-wheel drive knows how quickly the power from those extra two wheels drains the gas tank. That said, depending on where you live, having a four-wheel drive vehicle can be the difference between getting to work or not getting to work.

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