Gearing up

[Capt_Tom]

I made a little money on a sale of some personal items this past week. Besides paying bills, I am buying some equipment and stock. Today I purchased a BRAND NEW HPC Blitz 1200 CMB and all of the cards. It felt like Christmas when opening that factory sealed box! Also picked up a few small tools and about 60 pounds of key blanks. Now to figure how to put all of that in a workspace confined within the double cab of a Super Duty F250 Fork Pick Up.......OH WELL.... Mine NOW!

[2octops]

Remove the passenger seat and rear seat. You should have plenty of room then to build out some really nice cabinets and a work bench.

A buddy did that with a HHR and has an unbelievable amount of room inside to work.

[Capt_Tom]

Remove the passenger seat and rear seat. You should have plenty of room then to build out some really nice cabinets and a work bench.

A buddy did that with a HHR and has an unbelievable amount of room inside to work.

I have thought about that... but the loss of the front seat concerns me. This is also the only means of transportation that I have.

Thanks

[Anavaree]

I am doing that exact thing with my F150 supercrew. Backseat is out and have a toolbox/drawer system there and when my 3d pro come in my front passenger seat is coming out to make a work space. I also have a custom built, by me, truck box in the back of the truck with a bunch of tools and my duplicator in it. So far its working out ok but i would still like to get a big G2500 service van.

[2octops]

I have thought about that... but the loss of the front seat concerns me. This is also the only means of transportation that I have.

Thanks

Then buy a $500 camper shell off Craigslist and build everything in the bed of the truck. Just make sure everything is bolted down and locked up well.

[Capt_Tom]

I am still looking at camper shells. All that i have seen on CL in this area aren't worth going to look at..... but still looking. I have ruled out the trailer.

[shatar]

What about some sort of utility bed?

[dll932]

http://americanladders.com/Pack_Rats.html

One of these might come in handy.

[alockguru]

My favorite service vehicle is my 2 door yaris. Havn't been back to my van since. If I can fit most as many tools nside it as I do I'm sure you can get everything in your truck

I'll get a picture of the set up tomorrow it may give you some idea's. I have a 3dproX, hpc1200, 3 auto programmers, tons of tools, COutless key blanks (popular vintage cars, and moto's included), the .003 super wedge, and still good work area. Don't run any comercial jobs from it but it awesome on auto's and light duty res/com calls.

[Sinifar]

In 2000 our last Econoline E-250 Super developed a major oil leak, and at 194,000 miles it was done. I managed to slum along using an old VW camper for a couple of years, but knew with rising gas prices the future would be dark.

Time to rethink the whole thing.

If Don Wallenfang could run his lock biz out of an old Ford Wagon in the 70's thru 90's, why couldn't we today? I ended up with a Focus Wagon. it has been a life saver.

With the high gas prices, this thing laughs at the pumps. It gets 28 MPG loaded with stuff, like down to the axles. 900 pounds of tools, inventory and parts. No I can't work "out of the unit" - either I work in back under the tailgate, or take the job inside and work there. Mostly I work inside when I can. In winter this is nice. If it is warm out, I sit outside and work off the back of the wagon.

The Focus is lettered and looks nice. goes anyplace, and does what I want it to. Which is to have enough stuff with me to fix and repair anything commercial. It means having inventory in ones and twos, with some threes tossed in where the records show sales will support it. It is comfortable, easy to drive and a snap to find parking places. Goes into low garages and hides almost anyplace.

You need to hide in some job locations if you want your unit left alone.

Drop me a message if you want to know what kinds of keying equipment and machines we carry in this little dynamo.

It works, it low cost to run, and makes us a living.

Sinifar

[dll932]

I ran service for about 5 years in a 90 Geo Prizm (basically a Corolla). That was a tough little car! Only problem was, hard to hide stuff from prying eyes.

[Evan]

With passenger cars there is a lot of unprotected glass...

You could cover the glass with applique graphics, all sorts of things get covered with graphics, including the entire sides of transit buses and trains, some are even perforated so the passengers can see out...

But you would want to install some sort of a cage to prevent theft of your tools from your parked car...

~~ Evan

[Evan]

I am still looking at camper shells. All that i have seen on CL in this area aren't worth going to look at..... but still looking. I have ruled out the trailer.

Have you thought about investing in an Omaha Standard work body...

Many options available... The OSV type seems like it might suit your needs...

< external link to Omaha Standard bodies on Palfinger website >

~~ Evan

[Sinifar]

With passenger cars there is a lot of unprotected glass...

You could cover the glass with applique graphics, all sorts of things get covered with graphics, including the entire sides of transit buses and trains, some are even perforated so the passengers can see out...

But you would want to install some sort of a cage to prevent theft of your tools from your parked car...

~~ Evan

Evan - an old army blanket works great. Spread over the back of the wagon, tucked into the front where the seat is folded down to two grommets in the back with bungee cords to hold it down. Works well to hide things. As far as tools, you would get a hernia trying to pick up the tool box back there, it weighs 125 pounds. I use a dolly / hand truck to move it around job sites.

No problem getting it in or out, just slide it out on a transfer board onto the truck, and slide it back.

No problems in 12 years.

Sinifar

[pick_fu]

I like the Pack Racks drawers idea. I've seen those in Mini-Van to Camper conversions, I've seen a lot of good homemade ones made out of wood.