Van vs Truck vs Trailer

I personally have had all three and I will give you the spoiler right away. I prefer truck setups. All three have there pros and cons and we will give you the objective truth behind each set up so that you can make the most informed decision on your own.

Van Setups

The positive notes about van setups are:

• Vans are the most secure way to transport your equipment. They can hide everything and can be parked almost anywhere with little fear someone can gain access to your equipment easily.
  
  
• Vans can work as giant billboards that roll down the streets advertising your business.

• Vans can protect the equipment from harsh weather conditions.
  
  
• Vans take up a single parking space and can be easily navigated in tight areas.

The negative points about van setups are:

• Van do not showcase your equipment. Showing off your equipment to you customers, even from afar, validates your company and your pricing. When your equipment is hidden by your van, the company will have to rely solely on branding and salesmanship. 
  
  
• Because most vans only have two doors, there is limited access to your equipment without having to get in and climb over things. This means limited configurations for setups as well.

• If you plan to store chemicals, such as Sodium Hypochlorite, in your van you will need to make sure that it has proper ventilation. Long term breaking exposure of these chemicals can lead to lifelong health problems.

• If a van has mechanical issues, all the equipment needs to be transferred to another vehicle in order to continue working.

The reasons why I would want a trailer setup are:

• I primarily work on projects that have limited parking.
  
  
• I want the largest advertisement opportunities for my business.
  
  
• My vehicle will be unattended in areas were theft if high.

• My equipment will be exposed to extreme weather elements frequently. 

Trailer Setups

The positive notes about trailer setups are:

• Having the ability to attach and detach your equipment give your the ability to keep your vehicle personal when not working or help you save gas when doing estimates.

• Trailers offer 360-Degree access to all of your equipment.

• Trailers are a great way to showcase your equipment and position yourself as an expert in your field.

• Trailers don't rely on a single vehicle for transportation. This means that if the primary vehicle has mechanical issues, the trailer can be used on another one easily.

• Trucks take up a single parking space and can be easily navigated in tight areas.

The negative points about van setups are:

• Not only is the equipment more vulnerable to theft but the trailer itself is prone to being stolen. There trailer resale market is huge among thieves. 

• If your market is homes that are built close together, trailers add another car length you have to consider when parking. This can be difficult for closely built together HOAs or city commercial projects.

• There is typically separate licensing, insurance, and maintenance cost for trailers.

• Because of the limited panels, there is limited advertising opportunities on the siding.

The reasons why I would want a trailer setup are:

• I want easy access to my equipment.
  
  
• I primarily work on projects that have plenty of parking space.
  
  
• I want to be able to detach my equipment to use the vehicle for personal use or lower gas cost estimates.

• You have a team that you want to be able to drop the trailer off with at a worksite while you do estimates elsewhere.

Truck Mounted Setups

The positive notes about van setups are:

• Trucks allow unrestricted access to your equipment from three sides of the vehicle.
  
  
• Trucks offer side panels for advertisement opportunities.

• Trucks mounted setups look the most professional and add validation for your business in the eyes of the customer.

The negative points about van setups are:

• Trucks provide easy access to thieves who can grab equipment right out the back of the truck.
  
  
• If a truck has mechanical issues, all the equipment needs to be transferred to another vehicle in order to continue working.

The reasons why I would want a truck mounted setup are:

• I want to look professional.
  
  
• I want easy access to my equipment.
  
  
• I have a dedicated vehicle in good working condition that can be allocated for work.

• I primarily work on projects that have limited parking.