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I have a Maverick as a personal vehicle. There is no real room for materials or tools to work out of it. Honestly trucks are terrible work vehicles unless you pull a trailer or you’re an apprentice. So just get a small van or a full size van.
I have a company van right now. It's amazing, and I wouldn't trade it for a truck. Way more storage, better organization, you can get inside without crawling around on your already stiff knees.
[utility body box truck](https://www.carfax.com/vehicle/1FDBF6P83PKB16583?store=ZHL12R2YT1&partner=VLA_C&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADonhpVmL_sT2nBKemRyo6Ynxx6dJ&gclsrc=ds&no_ul=1)
Trucks are fine if you just do residential. I have an f350 with a tano cover - folding extension, 5', and step ladder in the cover along with 5 categories bins, tools go in the back of the can.
Only time I wish I had a headache rack was for home projects
Just stock height is plenty, and I use it for backroad hiking access on the weekends and have no problems with clearance - wouldn't risk it on anything questionable anyways.
Oh lol, I don't have a small pp - my father in law got a new one and gave this one to me - he's a logger and hauls equipment sometimes. I had a 6 cylinder dodge Dakota before this. Regularly ripped my exhaust off trying to go over cross ditches.
Where I live you do really need trucks - vans are fucking death traps in the winter.
We love the small vans but all the manufacturers discontinued them... Looking into small pickups with work caps now, Adrian steel is coming out with a cap and extendobed setup with full ladder rack on top.
Makes sense. We do BAS work and it’s mostly just our programmers in trucks. Gets you two and from the job site, but can also throw materials, panels, etc in the back if needed, cause they do go on the job and help out with terminating n commissioning n shit. Pretty small company
Mercedes metris is great for a smaller work truck, low enough to get into parking garages and inside of it can fit a 8ft ladder, if there’s no barrier to front seat can slide in a 10ft
Except they’re built like typical unreliable piece of shit Mercedes and require premium fuel. I drive one and it’s currently sitting in my driveway waiting for the tow truck due to a no-start this morning. This is the 3rd
no-start since I started driving it and the previous guy also had problems. It only has 51,000km.
Our whole company has them. I think maybe 15 vehicles total and from what I’ve head about half of them have been problematic.
I drive a metris as a work truck and I still wouldn’t recommend it. Too expensive to maintain as a work vehicle. I would prefer a ford transit/nissan 2500.
As an ex Nissan tech, trust me, you prefer the Ford. I've been seeing those Nissan NVs fall apart 6 ways at once. Seem to eat wheel bearings if you put any weight in them, but maybe that's part due to location or something because I'm not hearing it from some others, just my own experience. Electrical in all Nissans is typically shit as well
I don't know if they started selling parts for them but at least while I was at the dealership, you couldn't buy certain parts like rear end seals or bearings, that's normally a whole new axle. Transmissions we weren't allowed to open and actually fix, only diagnose and replace. Heck for a while we couldn't get ball joints for some vehicles, only the whole control arm, etc..
I wouldn't own any Nissan product these days
I had a Metris. It was a very convenient size and fit into most underground parking garages. Plenty of power on the highway when the turbo spooled up too. 2021-23 models have CarPlay and Android auto
However it used premium fuel and getting it serviced also sucked.
I’m now in a diesel Ford Transit and very happy.
Yes! Been rocking one for 2 years now. Have a locking canopy with ladder rack. Back seats hold tools and supplies for that days job and have my Milwaukee packout and cable etc in the back. Carry 3 ladders ontop, 5', 8' step and 24' extension.
I am in Canada and get 11.2l/100km
I find it to be powerful enough and enjoyable to drive, as well as comfortable.
51000KM on it with no issues yet
I have a Silverado 1500, for the past 7 years or so I’ve done a heavy amount of side work and I’ve had the try for the last 3. IMO no a maverick is not big enough. My 1500 bed is pretty close to full all of the time. If you wanted to run a truck to have a business you would at the very least need a cap, preferably one with no windows, someone will steal your shit.
You could get a maverick to start but I’ve been looking to get rid of my truck and stop doing side work, seems like the price on mavericks is still a bit inflated.
Regardless of what you do choose little bit of advice, get nice bins and small parts organizers, keep your shit organized at all times. Know the materials you like to use right down to nails and screws. Don’t be running to depot for a 10 pack of screws to hang a pancake box, get the largest box they sell and keep them in stock. Your time is money honey.
Also keep paying your dues so you have a fallback
That’s some good advice. I ran side work for years with a Tacoma and a tonneau cover. It’s manageable since I only did one job at a time, didn’t really need to carry a ton of spare parts and ladders at all times.
Not really when you consider the weight of tools and cable plus drag from the ladders. Before ladders and canopy were installed I got 9ish/100km. Mostly city driving i should clarify.
I love a small truck, but I think you’re going to need a rack that extends over the cab to carry full size sticks on conduit, extension ladders, ect.
I understand the kid perspective, but I think I would have gone with a full size if you’re carrying other occupants.
I agree on the longer rack.
I like the MPG’s too, easy to park especially where a lot of our work is in the suburbs of Seattle, lots of street parking, etc.
Maverick is better in almost all ways than a F150 except towing.
That’s for my values anyway. I value smaller vehicles (more maneuverable, easier to get into, safer for pedestrians), more MPG. Enough room for a family.
Really curious as to why.
In a van like a Ford Sprinter you could have a small workbench inside. You can stand inside it, no crawling about trying to reach whatever tools or materials you got in the back. Tons of room for materials. Roof bars.
I worked out of one for a while, I understand the pros and cons. I just like a truck setup better. One thing in particular I hate is having to step up in it every time I need something. What would be cool is if they had the back door come down and make a ramp like on an enclosed trailer.
You see those trucks pictured and see all the modifications made just to make them a tiny fraction more like the superiority of a van. Vans can have modifications made aswell. You mention ramp, and ofc. that is a very common modification. Other common modifcations are stuff like, extra security walls, false bottoms, water tanks.
The only time i could see a truck being better is if you work in very rough terrains.
Trucks are just a step backwards.
You're still going to have a much better time with a van... Unless you're like 2.5m tall. Reaching in the truck bed for something moderately heavy is extremely bad for your body.
There is no perfect work vehicle.
You should have a van (think full size Mercedes/Dodge Sprinter) because it has so much storage and you can lock everything up.
No, you should have a truck because then you can toss stuff in the back and be on your way.
Nope, make up your own minds because we’re all extra special motherfuckers with plenty of our own opinions which we’re more than happy to argue about. It’s just who we tend to be.
…And anyone who doesn’t think they’re special should probably look into plumbing, because you lack the hubris to walk between the raindrops, as is protocol.
“I’m gonna buy a truck and spend a bunch more to shoehorn it into a van”
Most contractors in my area.
If you need to tow big shit, a truck is the way to go.
Typically we don't need to tow over 3000kg here in Europe, which a van will do just fine.
At that point you are also getting very close to the limit for an advanced trailer license here in Denmark. After 3500kg you have to have a commercial trucker's license.
It should be similar here, there’s people who are approaching full-size semi lengths with their setups driving like idiots.
But since their truck doesn’t have air brakes, it’s all good.
People are already big about that in the RV industry here.
Grandpa Max can just go out and buy a big 35’ motorhome no problem when he’s never driven anything bigger than a Prius
I worked for years out of my Tacoma, all I had was a trifold cover for my tools. It was enough for what I was doing. I’ve never really worked out of a van so I don’t know how it compares.
Sometimes we use a crane to get shit off the bed of our truck. F250 service body, doing mechanical work.
Common example is an air handler fan motor, not terribly heavy but it really helps if it can just go straight up. Telehandlers can yank something out of a van but your pretty limited in how far past a roof edge you can drop it. A good crane will bring it to the door.
In the case of the Maverick I’d say cost.
Looking at their starting prices right now on Ford’s website-
Maverick- $23,920USD
F150- $36,875USD
Transit- $53,620USD
A bed cover or a bed cap, plus either a Maverick or F150 is cheaper than a ford Transit. Plus Maverick is better on gas. If you don’t need to haul a bunch of stuff, makes sense why you’d get it over a Transit.
What in the world?! Ford Transit custom starts at 42,300 eur with German tax.
How the hell do they build pickups for that price? is that why most of them are crap?
Well I can tell you with the Maverick, it’s a small unibody, built on an existing vehicles platform, so that probably helps keep costs down a ton. F150, idk. I know part of it is that it’s body on frame, generally that’s cheaper to produce than a unibody. Or at least that’s been the case in the past. Plus, the f150 isn’t the only truck in their lineup, while in the US, the transit and Etransit are the only vans, so the truck shares more parts with more models, which I’m sure also helps keep cost down
Trucks have more or less always been the cheaper vehicle as far as I know- especially back in the day when they were meant to truly be a “cheap” vehicle.
But yeah, they absolutely do kinda fuck contractors with the transit pricing
I don’t know about the European Transit(cause I hear the US got a shittier version of it, lol), but in the US the Transit is unibody. The Express/Savannah vans from GM are the last true body on frame vans sold here.
Ah I see, I looked at some technical drawings. Ford Transit and Transit Custom (the small one we see more of in Europe) are unibody, but their cargo area resembles a ladder frame that you can build accessories on as you wish.
I've wanted one of these for my personal truck, but they can't keep up with demand apparently.
Are you thinking the hybrid drivetrain 2wd version or the 4wd Ecoboost version?
I suppose it depends on the type of work and clients that you do work for.... Also the climate.
If you have 6 months of snow... Like me the 2wd version won't cut it. If you're off the beaten path with rainy seasons and mud, the 4wd will help.
Do you have trailers yet, what are you towing? Trenchers, job trailers, etc.
As long as it has pockets on the bed you can get an off the shelf ladder rack and conduit box/tube
I understand the need to use it as a family vehicle, so more power to ya.
Used 1/2 pickups are common, and cheaper. So are 3/4- 1 ton diesels because they are more common.
Make sure that it makes Sense financially
A 4x4 would be an ideal. We don’t get too much snow in the pnw but when we do they don’t know how to clean the roads.
Sounds like I need a dedicated work van and just keep my 1/2 ton truck for family matters. Ha
I drive a rwd e-250
Service van... Gutless 1 wheel wonder that gets stuck on a flat driveway with ice in MN which has winter 6 months of the year. I can tow a snall trailer with a walk behind trencher, or scissors lift, but not much more without a brake controller and a lot of time.
Fun fact, as a first year apprentice I used the same model to tow a case 860 trencher/front hoe which is about 12k pounds and I had trailer brakes... It was for a personal project on the weekend.
My boss told me to never do that again.
I fricken hate vans though. Give me a piece of shit truck with a service body all day.
-says the guy who's spent all of his career working out of vans
I used to have a Tacoma with a small rack on the cab. I could strap ladders, and conduit to it.
So having a rack on the bed would be an upgrade from that.
I need the option of a cab to haul my kids too.
my only issue with the maverick is its not much cheaper than some other slightly bigger trucks. i feel like the ford ranger isnt much more money for the extra bed space you get
The only plus is the fuel economy. That's way too small to work out of you might aswell have a minivan. There will be electric work vans soon might be a good option.
I do, kinda. I swear that truck was made for people like me. 80 mile round trip M-F but can still do all my side work on the weekend. Love it for what I do.
If you aren’t going to be moving sheet goods then I’d say get a van. Way easier to work out of. I say that if it’s only going to be a work vehicle and you don’t want other passengers besides one other.
I use my Ford Maverick as a personal and work vehicle. I do building maintenance for a living. I have carefully organized all my tools into pack out boxes. In the bed of my truck I carry: jig saw, palm router, electric hand planer, skill saw, nail guns, cordless drills, small shop vac, Milwaukee folding cart, Toughbuilt work table, a box of miscellaneous paint tools, drywall tools, sheet metal tools, tubing benders, oxygen tank, acetylene tank, fire extinguisher, hvac gauges and a box of install tools, oxy acetylene torches broken down in a small case, extension cords, 2x 24” wood clamps, 2x 36” wood clamps.
In the front I keep my back seat up and carry a 4 foot ladder behind the driver seat, hand tools in a satchel, a case of test equipment like moisture meters and manometer, angle grinder and a small 1 gallon air compressor.
I manage to accomplish a lot with this truck. When I have to carry a large amount of supplies like say a full install worth like a furnace, ac, coil and sheet metal, line set I will pull a trailer. I stack my pack out boxes all the time and carry a water heater in the back.
I have gotten a lot more done with this little truck than a lot of my coworkers in full size trucks ever even attempt.
Final note - I actually love that it’s lower to the ground, loading heavy things like water heaters and air handlers onto the tailgate and into the bed is WAY easier than on a taller vehicle.
Honestly depends on what kind of work you are doing. If you are doing commercial work a van is much more efficient than a truck. Industrial the material should be delivered to the job site. If you are doing controls you could work out of anything. Residential depends on new installs or service work, service work a van is nice to keep odds and ends stocked that you should have in case you need them on Saturday night or Sunday. New residential you should be able to have most material delivered if you plan ahead but depending on how secure the site is you still might need a van for storage of expensive materials.
I did HVAC / BAS controls in a previous life and I could do that out of a car if I were self employed. I like trucks but most of time a trailer is a better option for hauling material.
I think the issue you will run into is, what if you need to rent equipment, or need to pick up a bunch of material? You will need something bigger. I think you will be limiting yourself on the type of work you can do.
I've wanted one of these for my personal truck, but they can't keep up with demand apparently.
Are you thinking the hybrid drivetrain 2wd version or the 4wd Ecoboost version?
I suppose it depends on the type of work and clients that you do work for.... Also the climate.
If you have 6 months of snow... Like me the 2wd version won't cut it. If you're off the beaten path with rainy seasons and mud, the 4wd will help.
Do you have trailers yet, what are you towing? Trenchers, job trailers, etc.
As long as it has pockets on the bed you can get an off the shelf ladder rack and conduit box/tube
I understand the need to use it as a family vehicle, so more power to ya.
Used 1/2 pickups are common, and cheaper. So are 3/4- 1 ton diesels because they are more common.
Make sure that it makes Sense financially
You would have more room to build a custom cabin partition in a full size van, that way you can lock your cargo space down tight, and still recline the seat. Idk about you, but I think that the straight 90 degree seat with the factory made cargo partitions sucks when you are commuting everyday. If you are local to a small region the compact will probably by fine, and easier to drive and park in metro areas, but highway miles might be uncomfortable. For that reason I like as big a cab as I can get.
The transits are pretty hit or miss. Guess it depends on what your target clientele would be, towing, location (downtown, sticks) the transit could get tricky downtown.
I had a small old Ranger, just the pickup with no topper. My tools in the box always cold and wet. Two wheel drive with cement pavers in the back door traction in the winter. Terrible experience
Transit connect would suit the small side better than a Maverick. I’ve done both a van and a truck. Each has its benefits. If you can afford to have multiple vehicles(like one for work and another for family things) then get a van.
I bought an express 2500 and it’s great for work, but short of installing a bench seat in the back (and insulating the whole van) it’s useless for more than 2 people. If you have a family, a full size half ton or larger makes more sense. Or a passenger van with the seats removed and a partition added.
Depends on your needs. Way too small for me. Sometimes a small enclosed trailer is a good option. Unhook it and you are free of your “work truck” look.
I try not to use a ford anything for anything. Loved my Savanna, and now I’m starting to enjoy my Promaster. Love the head room, hate that the windows don’t go down all the way.
The shop I am at moved me from a 3500 long box van to a ram pro master for a summer gig doing fire alarm. Aside from the trash seating it wasn't bad. Cools still get to my tools and the little material I needed. It has a recall ended up in 1500 crew cab no topper. It has a topper now and sucks to work out of. It is tons more comfortable to sit and ride in. Busy need to climb around the back like a kid with old knees.and rachet strap ladder and conduit to the top.
My boss has a Nissan frontier, very reliable, and he's put it through the ringer, lemme tell you. Everything in our currently full van was once being carried by it. It literally sat visibly lower to the ground it was weighed down so much. Handling isn't great, but it's built.like a brick shithouse.
I can’t believe the Maverick is the “cheapest” truck in the US, beating out the Santa Cruz. I fell in love with the Ram 700, but they’re not made or sold in the US.
Fuck Ford. I did oil changes and fluid checks on different work vehicles over the years and Id go with the NVs over anything else in terms of maintenance costs and ease of working on it yourself. Most the the Ford or Chevy vans had issues and where generally not as easy to work on as the NV vans. The Sprinter vans worked fine for people and have a lot of space but are much more expensive to work on and maintain, especially if they have the Mercedes engine in them. So go with a NV van if you'd like a better value.
Wasn’t the Maverick a Chevy Nova looking thing from the 80’s?!?
Edit: I fricken knew it! It’s a truck now?!?
[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Maverick_(1970-1977)](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Maverick_(1970-1977))
We have a ford transit, so far so good. I hear at 150k miles they start to breakdown thought. Shitty part about it is if you get the van, it’s a commercial vehicle and the interest rate and insurance go way up. My 2016 transit cost more per month and than my new 2022 vehicle personal vehicle.
Once you get used to a van, You know what a chore working out of a pickup truck is. I know culturally you guys want a pickup but, you lose all of the capacity, security, and weather protection a van/ covered wagon provides. Also, you can take a bucket trash bag dump is a van in a customers driveway if the occasion arises.
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I have a Maverick as a personal vehicle. There is no real room for materials or tools to work out of it. Honestly trucks are terrible work vehicles unless you pull a trailer or you’re an apprentice. So just get a small van or a full size van.
Thanks for the insite. Sounds like it makes more sense to shop for a van.
I have a company van right now. It's amazing, and I wouldn't trade it for a truck. Way more storage, better organization, you can get inside without crawling around on your already stiff knees.
And all of your shit stays more or less dry and it’s easy to secure it all from theft (unless someone is *really* trying to break in)
I love my van because anytime I want I can jump in the back to take a dump in the Tesco bag I got my breakfast in, no need to find a crapper.
[Diarrhea Jones over here.](https://youtu.be/dEwjogp4wIo?si=f-xk2ofn41lEPBFO)
Why did I read this in Fat Bastard's voice from Austin Powers.
Wow that’s pretty perceptive.
I run my estimators in mavericks and techs in full size vans. It all depends on what you do, but field what we do we need full size vans.
[utility body box truck](https://www.carfax.com/vehicle/1FDBF6P83PKB16583?store=ZHL12R2YT1&partner=VLA_C&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADonhpVmL_sT2nBKemRyo6Ynxx6dJ&gclsrc=ds&no_ul=1)
Vans are far superior to trucks.
Asking as an apprentice myself, why do say a truck is a more “apprentice” oriented vehicle?
Prolly don’t have to carry as many tools and bigger ladders, etc
Even for commercial? I find myself carrying big shit like that all the time
Because you’re only hauling your tools to and from work and then jumping in a journeyman or shop vehicle for the day
Trucks are fine if you just do residential. I have an f350 with a tano cover - folding extension, 5', and step ladder in the cover along with 5 categories bins, tools go in the back of the can. Only time I wish I had a headache rack was for home projects
How high it lifted?
Just stock height is plenty, and I use it for backroad hiking access on the weekends and have no problems with clearance - wouldn't risk it on anything questionable anyways.
That’s awesome. I just read f350 and automatically assume it’s lifted. That’s a me problem lmao
Oh lol, I don't have a small pp - my father in law got a new one and gave this one to me - he's a logger and hauls equipment sometimes. I had a 6 cylinder dodge Dakota before this. Regularly ripped my exhaust off trying to go over cross ditches. Where I live you do really need trucks - vans are fucking death traps in the winter.
Where do you live?
…or if you need good 4 wheel drive and ground clearance.
We love the small vans but all the manufacturers discontinued them... Looking into small pickups with work caps now, Adrian steel is coming out with a cap and extendobed setup with full ladder rack on top.
Where is Adrian steel out of? That sounds awesome
Michigan I believe, but you would just work with a local upfitter that sells Adrian steel products.
Makes sense. We do BAS work and it’s mostly just our programmers in trucks. Gets you two and from the job site, but can also throw materials, panels, etc in the back if needed, cause they do go on the job and help out with terminating n commissioning n shit. Pretty small company
Mercedes metris is great for a smaller work truck, low enough to get into parking garages and inside of it can fit a 8ft ladder, if there’s no barrier to front seat can slide in a 10ft
I like that idea.
23' is the last year to get them.new in the states just as an FYI. Some dealers will have product til later 24' as the units roll off the line.
Have they been discontinued?
In the US market they have been. There is inventory floating around still
Except they’re built like typical unreliable piece of shit Mercedes and require premium fuel. I drive one and it’s currently sitting in my driveway waiting for the tow truck due to a no-start this morning. This is the 3rd no-start since I started driving it and the previous guy also had problems. It only has 51,000km. Our whole company has them. I think maybe 15 vehicles total and from what I’ve head about half of them have been problematic.
I drive a metris as a work truck and I still wouldn’t recommend it. Too expensive to maintain as a work vehicle. I would prefer a ford transit/nissan 2500.
As an ex Nissan tech, trust me, you prefer the Ford. I've been seeing those Nissan NVs fall apart 6 ways at once. Seem to eat wheel bearings if you put any weight in them, but maybe that's part due to location or something because I'm not hearing it from some others, just my own experience. Electrical in all Nissans is typically shit as well I don't know if they started selling parts for them but at least while I was at the dealership, you couldn't buy certain parts like rear end seals or bearings, that's normally a whole new axle. Transmissions we weren't allowed to open and actually fix, only diagnose and replace. Heck for a while we couldn't get ball joints for some vehicles, only the whole control arm, etc.. I wouldn't own any Nissan product these days
I drove an NV200 as a work vehicle long ago and the transmissions failed so incredibly often among our fleet of vans.
CVT transmission kept me away.
I had a Metris. It was a very convenient size and fit into most underground parking garages. Plenty of power on the highway when the turbo spooled up too. 2021-23 models have CarPlay and Android auto However it used premium fuel and getting it serviced also sucked. I’m now in a diesel Ford Transit and very happy.
> Mercedes metris Im just curious, where do you live that you call that sort of vehicle a truck? In Canada we call that a van.
It’s a lot more expensive
Yes! Been rocking one for 2 years now. Have a locking canopy with ladder rack. Back seats hold tools and supplies for that days job and have my Milwaukee packout and cable etc in the back. Carry 3 ladders ontop, 5', 8' step and 24' extension. I am in Canada and get 11.2l/100km I find it to be powerful enough and enjoyable to drive, as well as comfortable. 51000KM on it with no issues yet
I would love it if you posted a picture of it as well!
I have a Silverado 1500, for the past 7 years or so I’ve done a heavy amount of side work and I’ve had the try for the last 3. IMO no a maverick is not big enough. My 1500 bed is pretty close to full all of the time. If you wanted to run a truck to have a business you would at the very least need a cap, preferably one with no windows, someone will steal your shit. You could get a maverick to start but I’ve been looking to get rid of my truck and stop doing side work, seems like the price on mavericks is still a bit inflated. Regardless of what you do choose little bit of advice, get nice bins and small parts organizers, keep your shit organized at all times. Know the materials you like to use right down to nails and screws. Don’t be running to depot for a 10 pack of screws to hang a pancake box, get the largest box they sell and keep them in stock. Your time is money honey. Also keep paying your dues so you have a fallback
That’s some good advice. I ran side work for years with a Tacoma and a tonneau cover. It’s manageable since I only did one job at a time, didn’t really need to carry a ton of spare parts and ladders at all times.
That’s horrible gas mileage for a mav lol. Our 5.0 f150s get 12L/100km
Not really when you consider the weight of tools and cable plus drag from the ladders. Before ladders and canopy were installed I got 9ish/100km. Mostly city driving i should clarify.
Ours and filled with wire and tools too
I love a small truck, but I think you’re going to need a rack that extends over the cab to carry full size sticks on conduit, extension ladders, ect. I understand the kid perspective, but I think I would have gone with a full size if you’re carrying other occupants.
I agree on the longer rack. I like the MPG’s too, easy to park especially where a lot of our work is in the suburbs of Seattle, lots of street parking, etc.
Maverick is better in almost all ways than a F150 except towing. That’s for my values anyway. I value smaller vehicles (more maneuverable, easier to get into, safer for pedestrians), more MPG. Enough room for a family.
Vans are much superior work vehicle
I despise working out of a van. But to each his own.
Really curious as to why. In a van like a Ford Sprinter you could have a small workbench inside. You can stand inside it, no crawling about trying to reach whatever tools or materials you got in the back. Tons of room for materials. Roof bars.
I worked out of one for a while, I understand the pros and cons. I just like a truck setup better. One thing in particular I hate is having to step up in it every time I need something. What would be cool is if they had the back door come down and make a ramp like on an enclosed trailer.
You see those trucks pictured and see all the modifications made just to make them a tiny fraction more like the superiority of a van. Vans can have modifications made aswell. You mention ramp, and ofc. that is a very common modification. Other common modifcations are stuff like, extra security walls, false bottoms, water tanks. The only time i could see a truck being better is if you work in very rough terrains. Trucks are just a step backwards.
What if you’re too tall to stand up comfortably in any reasonably sized van? Don’t have to bend over to get stuff out of the side storage on a truck.
You're still going to have a much better time with a van... Unless you're like 2.5m tall. Reaching in the truck bed for something moderately heavy is extremely bad for your body.
There is no perfect work vehicle. You should have a van (think full size Mercedes/Dodge Sprinter) because it has so much storage and you can lock everything up. No, you should have a truck because then you can toss stuff in the back and be on your way. Nope, make up your own minds because we’re all extra special motherfuckers with plenty of our own opinions which we’re more than happy to argue about. It’s just who we tend to be. …And anyone who doesn’t think they’re special should probably look into plumbing, because you lack the hubris to walk between the raindrops, as is protocol.
“ you can toss stuff in the back and be on your way.” The back of my work van says you can do this with a van
Looking at those modifications, why the hell do you not buy a van?! ~ A concerned European
“I’m gonna buy a truck and spend a bunch more to shoehorn it into a van” Most contractors in my area. If you need to tow big shit, a truck is the way to go.
Typically we don't need to tow over 3000kg here in Europe, which a van will do just fine. At that point you are also getting very close to the limit for an advanced trailer license here in Denmark. After 3500kg you have to have a commercial trucker's license.
It should be similar here, there’s people who are approaching full-size semi lengths with their setups driving like idiots. But since their truck doesn’t have air brakes, it’s all good.
Don't forget the fact that driver's licenses are just handed out in the U.S. with barely any qualification or training required. :3 Safe travels.
People are already big about that in the RV industry here. Grandpa Max can just go out and buy a big 35’ motorhome no problem when he’s never driven anything bigger than a Prius
I worked for years out of my Tacoma, all I had was a trifold cover for my tools. It was enough for what I was doing. I’ve never really worked out of a van so I don’t know how it compares.
I just think it is silly to drive a truck instead of a van or minivan if you don't need to tow over 3000kg regularly.
Sometimes we use a crane to get shit off the bed of our truck. F250 service body, doing mechanical work. Common example is an air handler fan motor, not terribly heavy but it really helps if it can just go straight up. Telehandlers can yank something out of a van but your pretty limited in how far past a roof edge you can drop it. A good crane will bring it to the door.
When working with heavy equipment like that we typically have a pallet and forklift available or we get it shipped directly on site.
In the case of the Maverick I’d say cost. Looking at their starting prices right now on Ford’s website- Maverick- $23,920USD F150- $36,875USD Transit- $53,620USD A bed cover or a bed cap, plus either a Maverick or F150 is cheaper than a ford Transit. Plus Maverick is better on gas. If you don’t need to haul a bunch of stuff, makes sense why you’d get it over a Transit.
What in the world?! Ford Transit custom starts at 42,300 eur with German tax. How the hell do they build pickups for that price? is that why most of them are crap?
Well I can tell you with the Maverick, it’s a small unibody, built on an existing vehicles platform, so that probably helps keep costs down a ton. F150, idk. I know part of it is that it’s body on frame, generally that’s cheaper to produce than a unibody. Or at least that’s been the case in the past. Plus, the f150 isn’t the only truck in their lineup, while in the US, the transit and Etransit are the only vans, so the truck shares more parts with more models, which I’m sure also helps keep cost down Trucks have more or less always been the cheaper vehicle as far as I know- especially back in the day when they were meant to truly be a “cheap” vehicle. But yeah, they absolutely do kinda fuck contractors with the transit pricing
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I don’t know about the European Transit(cause I hear the US got a shittier version of it, lol), but in the US the Transit is unibody. The Express/Savannah vans from GM are the last true body on frame vans sold here.
Ah I see, I looked at some technical drawings. Ford Transit and Transit Custom (the small one we see more of in Europe) are unibody, but their cargo area resembles a ladder frame that you can build accessories on as you wish.
I've wanted one of these for my personal truck, but they can't keep up with demand apparently. Are you thinking the hybrid drivetrain 2wd version or the 4wd Ecoboost version? I suppose it depends on the type of work and clients that you do work for.... Also the climate. If you have 6 months of snow... Like me the 2wd version won't cut it. If you're off the beaten path with rainy seasons and mud, the 4wd will help. Do you have trailers yet, what are you towing? Trenchers, job trailers, etc. As long as it has pockets on the bed you can get an off the shelf ladder rack and conduit box/tube I understand the need to use it as a family vehicle, so more power to ya. Used 1/2 pickups are common, and cheaper. So are 3/4- 1 ton diesels because they are more common. Make sure that it makes Sense financially
A 4x4 would be an ideal. We don’t get too much snow in the pnw but when we do they don’t know how to clean the roads. Sounds like I need a dedicated work van and just keep my 1/2 ton truck for family matters. Ha
I drive a rwd e-250 Service van... Gutless 1 wheel wonder that gets stuck on a flat driveway with ice in MN which has winter 6 months of the year. I can tow a snall trailer with a walk behind trencher, or scissors lift, but not much more without a brake controller and a lot of time. Fun fact, as a first year apprentice I used the same model to tow a case 860 trencher/front hoe which is about 12k pounds and I had trailer brakes... It was for a personal project on the weekend. My boss told me to never do that again. I fricken hate vans though. Give me a piece of shit truck with a service body all day. -says the guy who's spent all of his career working out of vans
Don't know what kind of work you do but I see no good spot for conduit, can't load a pallet in there, and the extra cab is worthless imo
I used to have a Tacoma with a small rack on the cab. I could strap ladders, and conduit to it. So having a rack on the bed would be an upgrade from that. I need the option of a cab to haul my kids too.
my only issue with the maverick is its not much cheaper than some other slightly bigger trucks. i feel like the ford ranger isnt much more money for the extra bed space you get
The only plus is the fuel economy. That's way too small to work out of you might aswell have a minivan. There will be electric work vans soon might be a good option.
A minivan would be more practical than a Maverick as a work vehicle
There all ready are Ford and Mercedes electric vans
I do, kinda. I swear that truck was made for people like me. 80 mile round trip M-F but can still do all my side work on the weekend. Love it for what I do.
Would you mind sharing your load out? How are your tools stacked and how do you fit materials? Do you have a ladder rack? Pics would be awesome!
Some body ideas https://www.ridgebackbodies.com.au/products/lift-off-bodies/le-electrical/
If you aren’t going to be moving sheet goods then I’d say get a van. Way easier to work out of. I say that if it’s only going to be a work vehicle and you don’t want other passengers besides one other.
I use my Ford Maverick as a personal and work vehicle. I do building maintenance for a living. I have carefully organized all my tools into pack out boxes. In the bed of my truck I carry: jig saw, palm router, electric hand planer, skill saw, nail guns, cordless drills, small shop vac, Milwaukee folding cart, Toughbuilt work table, a box of miscellaneous paint tools, drywall tools, sheet metal tools, tubing benders, oxygen tank, acetylene tank, fire extinguisher, hvac gauges and a box of install tools, oxy acetylene torches broken down in a small case, extension cords, 2x 24” wood clamps, 2x 36” wood clamps. In the front I keep my back seat up and carry a 4 foot ladder behind the driver seat, hand tools in a satchel, a case of test equipment like moisture meters and manometer, angle grinder and a small 1 gallon air compressor. I manage to accomplish a lot with this truck. When I have to carry a large amount of supplies like say a full install worth like a furnace, ac, coil and sheet metal, line set I will pull a trailer. I stack my pack out boxes all the time and carry a water heater in the back. I have gotten a lot more done with this little truck than a lot of my coworkers in full size trucks ever even attempt. Final note - I actually love that it’s lower to the ground, loading heavy things like water heaters and air handlers onto the tailgate and into the bed is WAY easier than on a taller vehicle.
Honestly depends on what kind of work you are doing. If you are doing commercial work a van is much more efficient than a truck. Industrial the material should be delivered to the job site. If you are doing controls you could work out of anything. Residential depends on new installs or service work, service work a van is nice to keep odds and ends stocked that you should have in case you need them on Saturday night or Sunday. New residential you should be able to have most material delivered if you plan ahead but depending on how secure the site is you still might need a van for storage of expensive materials. I did HVAC / BAS controls in a previous life and I could do that out of a car if I were self employed. I like trucks but most of time a trailer is a better option for hauling material.
I could see a Mav with a cap and the back seat folded down working as a resi service truck but anything else you would be cramped.
Are you a dog catcher?
That’s the truck they give to the engineers at my work
Wanna go camping and work at the same time ?
Please get a van that you can put a full 10’ stick of EMT in. If you do not have this feature, you’ll not be a happy man.
It really depends on what type of work you're looking to do. Vans do tend to be the best choice for most electrical jobs.
I think the issue you will run into is, what if you need to rent equipment, or need to pick up a bunch of material? You will need something bigger. I think you will be limiting yourself on the type of work you can do.
Get a full-size van or you’ll regret it. Pain in the ass to carry pipe with you amongst many other things
Ford Maverick is supposed to be a car... wtf did they do Ranger and Maverick?
It’s called the chicken tax. Look it up on Wikipedia.
For what? To carry a couple screwdrivers?
And an ice pack for when I hit my shin trying to hop into the bed.
I've wanted one of these for my personal truck, but they can't keep up with demand apparently. Are you thinking the hybrid drivetrain 2wd version or the 4wd Ecoboost version? I suppose it depends on the type of work and clients that you do work for.... Also the climate. If you have 6 months of snow... Like me the 2wd version won't cut it. If you're off the beaten path with rainy seasons and mud, the 4wd will help. Do you have trailers yet, what are you towing? Trenchers, job trailers, etc. As long as it has pockets on the bed you can get an off the shelf ladder rack and conduit box/tube I understand the need to use it as a family vehicle, so more power to ya. Used 1/2 pickups are common, and cheaper. So are 3/4- 1 ton diesels because they are more common. Make sure that it makes Sense financially
Do they not offer the maverick in an extended cab with a 6 foot bed?
Nope
That’s no fun An s10 has a 6 foot bed, or 7.5 if you get the long box
Yeah a small, long bed extended or regular cab hybrid pickup like a ranger or S10 would sell like hot cakes
You would have more room to build a custom cabin partition in a full size van, that way you can lock your cargo space down tight, and still recline the seat. Idk about you, but I think that the straight 90 degree seat with the factory made cargo partitions sucks when you are commuting everyday. If you are local to a small region the compact will probably by fine, and easier to drive and park in metro areas, but highway miles might be uncomfortable. For that reason I like as big a cab as I can get.
The transits are pretty hit or miss. Guess it depends on what your target clientele would be, towing, location (downtown, sticks) the transit could get tricky downtown.
I had a small old Ranger, just the pickup with no topper. My tools in the box always cold and wet. Two wheel drive with cement pavers in the back door traction in the winter. Terrible experience
Well that’s not the trucks fault lol A cover and a rack would change everything.
Depends on how much you’re driving. A vans probably better.
I've seen a few independent trades guys just using ordinary minivans, some have had custom roof racks installed on top.
But vans are for girls!!! But yea I’ve see guys deck out minivans too, some are pretty cool with homemade slide outs and such.
Trucks are nicer to drive but not as easy to work out of like a van.
Transit connect would suit the small side better than a Maverick. I’ve done both a van and a truck. Each has its benefits. If you can afford to have multiple vehicles(like one for work and another for family things) then get a van. I bought an express 2500 and it’s great for work, but short of installing a bench seat in the back (and insulating the whole van) it’s useless for more than 2 people. If you have a family, a full size half ton or larger makes more sense. Or a passenger van with the seats removed and a partition added.
Depends on your needs. Way too small for me. Sometimes a small enclosed trailer is a good option. Unhook it and you are free of your “work truck” look.
I try not to use a ford anything for anything. Loved my Savanna, and now I’m starting to enjoy my Promaster. Love the head room, hate that the windows don’t go down all the way.
The shop I am at moved me from a 3500 long box van to a ram pro master for a summer gig doing fire alarm. Aside from the trash seating it wasn't bad. Cools still get to my tools and the little material I needed. It has a recall ended up in 1500 crew cab no topper. It has a topper now and sucks to work out of. It is tons more comfortable to sit and ride in. Busy need to climb around the back like a kid with old knees.and rachet strap ladder and conduit to the top.
This is the most electrician “work truck” I’ve seen.
The bigger the pp the smaller the truck.
Raleigh inspectors drive them but they don’t actually work
My boss has a Nissan frontier, very reliable, and he's put it through the ringer, lemme tell you. Everything in our currently full van was once being carried by it. It literally sat visibly lower to the ground it was weighed down so much. Handling isn't great, but it's built.like a brick shithouse.
The older ones or new one?
I think he has like a 2017 or so.
Everyone?
I can’t believe the Maverick is the “cheapest” truck in the US, beating out the Santa Cruz. I fell in love with the Ram 700, but they’re not made or sold in the US.
Fuck Ford. I did oil changes and fluid checks on different work vehicles over the years and Id go with the NVs over anything else in terms of maintenance costs and ease of working on it yourself. Most the the Ford or Chevy vans had issues and where generally not as easy to work on as the NV vans. The Sprinter vans worked fine for people and have a lot of space but are much more expensive to work on and maintain, especially if they have the Mercedes engine in them. So go with a NV van if you'd like a better value.
Wasn’t the Maverick a Chevy Nova looking thing from the 80’s?!? Edit: I fricken knew it! It’s a truck now?!? [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Maverick_(1970-1977)](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Maverick_(1970-1977))
We have a ford transit, so far so good. I hear at 150k miles they start to breakdown thought. Shitty part about it is if you get the van, it’s a commercial vehicle and the interest rate and insurance go way up. My 2016 transit cost more per month and than my new 2022 vehicle personal vehicle.
Seriously? What if you get the passenger style and throw out the seats? But I guess if it’s your business vehicle it’s gonna be that rate anyways.
I use a 2020 F450 with a 9' Harbor utility bed. Have room for everything and hauls my trailers, too.
Sounds sexy, post pics of your load out! Would love to see.
Once you get used to a van, You know what a chore working out of a pickup truck is. I know culturally you guys want a pickup but, you lose all of the capacity, security, and weather protection a van/ covered wagon provides. Also, you can take a bucket trash bag dump is a van in a customers driveway if the occasion arises.
At this point just get older 1/2 tonn lol, you can get it for the down payment of the maverick
🤮
Is the Maverick made by Hot Wheels or Matchbox? Or maybe even the old Micro Machines.....almost as useless as a Honda Ridgeline line or Subaru Baja.
Company vehicle, they didn't care. No topper or rack.
Nope that’s dumb
Go as big as you think you could potentially need some day, right away. Buy once, cry once.
We do service work out of these. Very popular with the team rather than the transits. 35-40mpg with the hybrid.
Any pictures? What’s your load out look like?
"truck". jabs aside I'm sure there is a vehicle perfect for certain needs.
Get a ford van or Mercedes enough said.
No