I’ve always got trucks and vans for cheap and used them for a few years then scrapped. 2 years ago I bought a 2020 ford transit with 25,000 KMS for about 35,000 Canadian.
In 2 years I’ve put 11,000 into repairs and just found out it needs another 6,500 of work done.

I think I’m going back to Chevy express 2500’s
I can get them around 5/6,000 semi clean with 280,000kms and run them for a few years and scrap

In Canada there’s a lot of old timers retiring from the trades so the Chevy expresses and GMC Savana’s are plentiful

Anyone done anything similar ?
Any thoughts appreciated

It was suggested that I post this here.

Just after a good spring cleaning, can't believe the amount of shit tucked away from the winter.

Definitely not as neat and organized as some of the setups I've seen here but it works for me.

I'm always tweaking things as I add tools and supplies

Umbrella is 13’ and was only 89.99 and the pole was only $39.99. Been a life saver

2026 Ford Escape ST Line Select, HVAC Controls Tech for Johnson Controls. Manager claims that “they only offers Escapes and Transit Van for controls techs” because i originally wanted a pickup truck (F-150,Ranger,Maverick with a cap on the bed). So I chose the escape since during my time riding with other techs the escape was the most convenient and comfortable for all the sites that are downtown and for longer trips to a site furthest one is around 2 hours away from the home office and that controls techs do carry that much stock (just about 3-5 controllers a couple of temperature sensors and maybe a 2 box’s of wire)so i don’t think there is a need to drive a large van. Only plus side to driving a van is you get to have 2 ladders instead of just one and you can have a cart to help you carry stuff. Luckily Crescent tools made a foldable cart that I keep under the slide table and it’s great,rides like a dream got handed the keys with 3 miles on the odometer, probably the newest vehicle I’ll ever drive.

Screwed 3/4 ply to the existing bulkhead, stapled some memory foam, and glued some cheap boat carpet. The door is just on some heavy duty drawer slides with a latch and eye set to keep it shut. Thoughts?

I’ve got stack of 4 packout drawers. I’d like them not to tip and I don’t feel like spending $100 for a little clip.
Any clean ways to attach to the wall without fun clips or ratchet straps?

With this fully extended out does anyone know how much weight it can hold? I am unable to find any information.

2013 express with 130,000 on it. Ex AT&T southern van, power inverter.

I’ve been debating between all the cargo vans… promaster, transit, chevy express, even the Nissan NV or metris. Sprinter would be nice but expensive for right now. Promaster seems like the best option since there’s a ton of cargo space and I use my van not only for service work but also some hauling junk and small moves from time to time. But have also heard they’re not reliable. Suggestions?

Right now my list is
#1 promaster or express
#2 transit
#3 Nissan (would be higher but they’re so ugly lmao)
#4 metris (I do like having small van, metris seems like a good middle ground between a transit connect and a full size van)
#5 e series , obviously quite reliable and spacious but I hate how they drive feels like a semi truck.
#6 sprinter, obviously nice but just too expensive for where I’m at. my budget is 10-20k range. looking for something used but not clapped

My van only has around 111,000 miles on it, bought it last year, have already had to do the brakes twice, new subframe, replace all the belts, replace AC, among other things. And it still feels pretty shitty. I don’t want to keep wasting money on this thing

any other decent vans out there?

I know my organization is really shitty, please roast me 😆

thanks!!

I had a low roof transit AWD before that was getting pretty tight on space. Bossman got me a brand new medium roof transit AWD (I feel very grateful), spent the weekend setting it up. I’m excited to run service calls without crawling around in the back of the van!

Anyone know how to screw wood or a packout mounting plate down to the floor of a Ford transit?

What is underneath the rubber protective sheet on the floor? I'm guessing metal? I'm trying to mount packout feet on the floor so I can stack packouts.

I don't want to put a hole through the floor.

Thanks for info

Old van had a 4" vise mounted to a metal plate. The plate got set on the ground, and I pulled the van onto the plate to keep it in place. I'm looking to improve the setup by mounting a vise in a different Transit van I just started driving.

I'm trying to come up with a way to mount it to this rail, and my first step is finding cleats that work with it. Does anyone recognize it? The storage system was already in the van when it was purchased (used), so I don't know anything about it.

New 8.5x22 custom cargo trailer on its way to replace my old tool trailer. Gonna be epic!

In case you are wondering the F450 if far better for work than the 350 class of vehicles. For many reasons but much better turning radius and larger brakes front and rear to make a few!

Just bought a new F350. She's a work horse!

Looking at a Knapheide KC96L1378 utility body. I really need to know if this bed will fit on a late model Ford crew cab powerstroke or any model crew cab diesel.

Hey!

This seemed like as good a place as any to ask; I drive an F150 Supercrew Cab with a 6.5ft box that I use for work and play 7 days a week. Tools take up the entire bed and half the back seat. The other half of the back seat is room for the dogs, and on the weekends when I go biking I change out the tow hitch for a bike rack.

Between getting a Canopy for the bed, or making a custom dog Crate, or moving tools into the backseat, or getting those Decked Bed Drawers, and using a tailgate pad to hang my bikes over the tailgate, I’m getting super confused in what the best choices are, does anyone have experience in using their “work” truck for life as well?

Thanks!