Does the Truck I Drive Really Matter?
Yes! A handyman’s truck should tell the world that they are dealing with a reasonably priced professional. It should indicate to your customers that the owner is clean, organized, efficient, and serious about their work.
Buy a good used truck or a basic new truck like I did. Don’t get anything too flashy because it will make you look too successful. Better to be simply clean and reliable. A little extra fuel economy doesn’t hurt either (I drive about 1,200 miles per month).
The picture shows my truck. I carry nearly all of my tools with me. This has proven to be a good practice because it enables me to do the unexpected job and reduces the “I don’t have the right tool” frustration factor. In order to do this, I needed a truck with a shell or a tool van. As you can see, I chose a small pickup with a standard shell and a small rack on the roof.
The disadvantages of my set up are probably clear to you. First, the rack on top is too light to carry large lumber loads. A standard rack would have been a better choice. I continue to manage with this small rack but I am often pushing tools aside in the bed to make room for lumber.
Next, the camper shell should have been a workman’s shell with side access to the bed. That would save a lot of crawling into the bed to retrieve items stored toward the front of the vehicle. A workman’s shell would also be more secure with stronger locks and no windows.
