I'm in the electrical program at the county vo-tech, so I realize this is a long way off, but I like to plan. I've been saving from my weekend job, and my dad suggested I think about what I'd eventually need for a vehicle if I ever go out on my own. I see guys with box trucks, Transit vans, pickups with caps, and one man at the Wawa near Wayne who runs everything out of a Prius. For someone starting small in electrical, used van or pickup with a cap? I'd rather buy once.
HVAC contractor, owner · 25 years · Middlesex County, NJ
Mentor✓ Accepted answer
Good instinct. From my own first truck:
- Used is fine. Reliability beats everything else; mine was 9 years old and never left me stranded
- A van keeps tools dry and locked; a pickup with a cap is a compromise for electrical
- Shelving costs more than you expect
- Commercial insurance and registration are part of the price
Buy it after you have the license and the work, not before.
Mechanical contractor (HVAC + plumbing) · 24 years · Burlington County, NJ
Mentor
Here's what I look for when a new hire shows up in his own vehicle: organized, clean, nothing leaking. Customers judge you by what's parked in their driveway before you say a word.