Working out of a Van.....

[Billy]

I'd say it is about efficiency, production rate, how you set your business and the image one wants to convey.

We all have different business models and as long as it works for us and we're honest with ourselves as to its advantages and disadvantages it's all good.

Nice to see you back Billy.

Yes well said, I know my business model isn't even close to normal but that is why I was never a good employee. Im not a very good at following others LOL...


Nice to have time to catch up with some I haven't spoken to in awhile like you Ofer.

 

[Billy]

Well put Ofer and while I'd like to a agree I simply must be truthful.

Truth is unless you do as I say and do as I do, you're..........WRONG!

LOL I resemble that.....Although I prefer being different so if everyone agreed with me it would confuse me LOL ROFL

 

[Mikey P]

Good to have you posting again Billy.

 

[Cleantechsk]

if you insulate a box truck properly its a million billion times easier to keep it warm .... outside at that.

and I am THE GUY to know

if you only do carpet/tile then Jim's van is fantastic!( if you dont need a fresh tank )

efficiency to me is being able to have what I need at all times. and If i still had a regular full size that would mean trips back to swap stuff

Only places I have trouble with the box is down town, but i hack-clean that stuff anyway because its usually locked door work

I just make sure on the phone they have a spot at the end of their drive way.

 

[FB7777]

Have you broken the 1000 hour mark on that 8 year old Aerotech truck yet Billy?

 

[Jim Martin]

I'd say it is about efficiency, production rate, how you set your business and the image one wants to convey.

We all have different business models and as long as it works for us and we're honest with ourselves as to its advantages and disadvantages it's all good.

Nice to see you back Billy.

Totally agree.....you set your truck to support your company....image...efficient..where you have to drive and where you have to park..etc....etc......

Time is money..but you want to make up your time at the truck...not in the home...it's that...quantity....VS...quality thing.....
and the more efficient the truck and your way of thinking...the more time you are going to save.....

all I am saying is......

it does not matter if I take the one on the left or the one on the right...neither one justifies my pricing...or the type of job I do...

How I do my job is what justifies that....

I am not going to drop my price or duck down in the seat...every time I take the van out because it does not give off the same high price justification vibe as my cab over.....

they are just tools.....tools that are built and set up to help me get out there suck up dog piss and live the American dream.....

 

[FB7777]

We'll said Jim, been working out of cargo vans for over 25 years and never had an interest in going with Box trucks

If I was into restoration heavily then I suppose that would change. The vans are full but they are economical , can dual wand upholstery and carpet all day long and with a 210 waste tank there really is nothing that my butler vans can't do

To each his own, branding around a Box truck is one way to go, but I feel vans are easier to maintain, more economical and user friendly

 

[Desk Jockey]

LOL I resemble that.....Although I prefer being different so if everyone agreed with me it would confuse me LOL ROFL

You too Billy?I thought you were smarter than me!

+2 good to see you posting!

 

[ruff]

I thought you were smarter than me!

Isn't that an oxymoron?

 

[Desk Jockey]

The man called me an Ox and a moron?

You do realize I'll see you next month, you better start being nicer to me!

 

[ruff]

Disregard all else.

You's be the man!

 

[Desk Jockey]

It will be nice to me you. Should I bring a translator?




Kansan to Californian?

 

[ruff]

It will be nice to me you.

After this declaration I do not think a translator will be needed.
It will be nice to me you too

 

[Desk Jockey]

How about a spell checker. "Meet"

 

[hogjowl]

English as a second language ...

 

[Desk Jockey]

Or as a first.

 

[Billy]

I think some think I was saying you can't get efficiency, Image or higher prices without a Big Truck, not so.

1. We ran a 1988 Ranger Truck with a SpitFire 3.2 & custom multi door topper for first year.

2. We ran a 1994 Ford Econoline after that until 2007. We were already the type of company we are now. we never ducked down but dry times were a challenge requireing allot of extra time & equipment.

In 2005 I made a decision we needed a new truck so I started looking more seriously. I looked at many options as well as equipment. In the end after traveling to visit other cleaners & talking to even more it came down to buying the equipment that fit us & our future plans best. We even chose the company many didn't care for then because I saw the writing on the wall for the competitor.

Our criteria was about
1. Efficiency
2. Dry Times
3. Wanting to use Greener Products for our health
4. 3 Passenger truck
5. Badly needed space because the Supper Van was packed & we couldn't carry all we wanted to comfortably & still work out of it
6. Weight Capacity so we wouldn't be overloaded
7. Self Contained needing very little if anything from client.
8. Something with an image we could Market making us stand out from the others in our area as soon as we pulled up since we couldn't compete on pricing at all.
9. We also were very tired of bending over & crawling up in the van to get to equipment etc... So we wanted a higher top. I am 6' so getting in & out of the current truck isn't a problem although I can't stand up completely.
10. We wanted to do business with a company that would stand behind their product & not make excuses for everything that goes wrong.
11. We wanted a true Heavy duty setup designed to be used for the intended purpose.
12. We wanted a Comfortable ride.
13. We also wanted some comforts not commonly found in trucks. A refrigerator, microwave (done away with a few years ago for healthier living), printer.
14. Wanted plenty of room to carry Rugs & also work if needed.

The list goes on & some things are for efficiency as well as other reasons but they are all just our reasons & many wouldn't want the things we wanted which is what makes each of us unique & why their are many choices out there.

I have never regretted buying the BigBearTruck although there are negatives with it also & I am not saying I would never purchase a van again. But for now the Big Truck works for our company for Image, Efficiency etc etc ......

 

[juniorc82]

I work out of a van but would love to have even a small box truck. I think I would be better prepared for the job if I had the full arsenal on the rig. I hate that the limited space makes me choose what I take. During summer move out season would be the only time I would favor the van

 

[Jim Martin]

I work out of a van but would love to have even a small box truck. I think I would be better prepared for the job if I had the full arsenal on the rig. I hate that the limited space makes me choose what I take. During summer move out season would be the only time I would favor the van

everything depends on your set up and what you do....the advantage that my cab over has on the van is when I do the schools....I have the extra large capacity reel...so it makes the school...easier......

at first I was kicking myself for not getting a small box truck...I took some time and was looking at them thinking I was just going to bite the bullet and get one and just switch everything over....then one day it just hit me and I pulled everything out and re-did the van....now I am glad I stuck with it....it can do everything Mikes..Hicks..and even my cab over can do....just a smaller foot print and smaller capacity....which works good for me because I am not in the habit of carrying a bunch of crap that I just don't need.........

 

[Billy]

My trucks have all been well organized for their capacity IMO.

But nothing changes the fact our van never could carry all we may need for some days. Especially when it came to rugs, we had to schedule pick-ups & deliveries so that no work was being done because it was just too packed making it risky for rug damage.We carried most everything for carpet, Upholstery & tile daily but wood had to be scheduled in advance so we knew to load wood products. Now we even have two machines for wood & always have one on truck which would not fit comfortably in a van.

We don't offer any emergency services so we are just cleaning but with the BigBearTruck we rarely don't have what we need especially since our latest changes to our layout, organization,all new shelving,& the addition of two custom sized Under-bed Boxes. Could we still work out of a van or even the small truck we started with, YES but we would loose the ability to do some services we offer without advance knowledge IMO. Everyone knows when a client says they want something done you should be able to do it because they can change their mind if forced to wait.


Also we have 210 gallons of water available & here in TN it wasn't always easy to use clients water. Waste tank in the van always required the pump-out on every job. Now we rarely even use our Pump-Out.


Point of all this is we can all use what ever truck size we have but there are pluses & minuses to all types of trucks IMO. It also really depends on your services offered, how many techs on truck, as well as what type of city you work in.


I personally experience more pluses with the BigBearTruck at this point in my career.


Inany case all my trucks have had redesigns based on changes in our business & we recently spent a small fortune updating our current setup which has really made us more efficient & impresses clients more than it ever did before.

 

[Jim Martin]

where do you clean the rugs....

 

[Billy]

where do you clean the rugs....

We have a 1200 sq' inside shop area as well as a covered 650 sq' area.

 

[Jim Martin]

How are you cleaning them in your shop............

 

[Billy]

How are you cleaning them in your shop............

Same as most companies but on a Non-permanent smaller scale since we have a multi use shop & It depends on the rug & what we are cleaning for. We just prefer a controlled environment for quality rugs. We will do the inexpensive type on site though to save the client cost.