canadiancree
Crusin in the boonies
join:2004-02-10
Charlottetown, PE
 ·Bell Sympatico
 ·Cogeco Cable
| What should I be looking for in a onsite service vehicle?
Hey all
I'm looking to price out a vehicle(s) for installation at customer houses, poles, towers, you know the usual things that your average WISP would be doing out in the field.
Now I was originalyl thinking a used utility truck, not the huge ones but a doneup F-450 with a 32 to 36 foot boom with a cheery picker on the end. However after pricing those out (and getting sticker shock), and finding that they're a real pain to find used, I'm wondering if maybe I'm being more complicated then I need to be.
So what do you use for your business, and mroe importantly, why do you use that over other options? |
|
polk5
join:2001-12-29
New Orleans, LA
| While a bucket truck would be nice as you said they are expensive and the insurance is astronomical last I checked. I use a chevy van with a small extention ladder and a 34'er I think it is. Will reach most two story roofs and I can handle it myself perfectly. I wish I would have got one of the ladder racks that bring the ladder down to you. They look like they would be a little easier but what the hay. My van came loaded with shelves and drawers and it helps keep everything neat and organized when I get around to cleaning it out here and there. |
|
milbrath
join:2006-03-27
Dresden, TN | reply to canadiancree
Ford Econoline van. Would love a bucket truck, but honestly it would not be used that much. Have a ladder rack with a 20 & 36ft ladder on it. Van is networked with a 500 watt ac converter. It does the job, wish it got better gas mileage.
BM |
|
Airplane777
join:2004-06-20
4 edits | I have a Chevy Venture van. It's works great for me.
I was out this afternoon to do a site survey at a coffee shop at a local industrial park, about a mile from my AP (located at my home). I was able to easily and quickly mount my 40' telescoping Wonderpole on the back hitch mount on the van, quickly mount my CPE to the pole, and raise it into position for testing. And yipee...I had a good signal there.
I also used the van when I did my first CPE customer install. If I luck out, the coffee shop will be my 2nd WISP customer. And I also used it over the past couple years when I did hotel WiFi installs.
I love my van for all the WISP testing that I have done over the past year. |
|
gunther_01
join:2004-03-29
Saybrook, IL
| reply to canadiancree
Started off with my personal Ford Expedition. It was nice but not enough room. So now I have a Ford E-350. It's over kill on the weight side but the price was right. Love the van. I only have a 24 footer at the moment but really need to get a taller ladder in addition to that one. I at least can carry all my crap now. I also have a small power inverter so I can program CPE's on site with out having the home owner on top of me. Inverter is also for two way radios, laptop, and drill charger. I just need to rig up a relay so the darn thing turns off with the vehicle. Keep forgetting and draining battery when van not in use. Maybe I ought to just use the van more  |
|
robbin
Premium,MVM
join:2000-09-21
Leander, TX
| reply to milbrath
said by milbrath  :Ford Econoline van....It does the job, wish it got better gas mileage. Dodge Sprinter -- I love mine! |
|
Airplane777
join:2004-06-20 | Wish mine got better gas mileage too. |
|
superdog
I Need A Drink
Premium,MVM
join:2001-07-13
Lebanon, PA
| I drive what my kids call "The manly man 73 Chevy van", as my daughter felt that only construction guys with big muscles do the kind of work that I do?(She is a little off base, but.....  )
My 73 Chevy van cost an entire $300. It is a 3/4 ton unit and I built my own shelving using 1x2 wood lathing and plywood(It is much lighter than metal). I made a ladder rack out of uni-strut and bolted it right thru the roof. 
I used to have a 97 GMC Sonoma pickup, but it just was not enough space and I was getting really tired of spending more time driving back and forth to the shop for something that I forgot. That all ended with my van, as I put every single tool I own in it, along with all the hardware, mounts, masts and everything else that You would need. I put hooks in the back for my harness and rain gear and I bolted a vise on a metal table that just folds out the back for an instant work bench. This allows a very nice "L" shaped work area in the back along with a 110VAC outlet that is hooked up to an inverter. I can run every power tool I own off of it, although most of drills, saws and routers are cordless, and I would recommend that any tools You purchase be the same way. I also put a large medical kit in it for the day to day scratches and bruises You run into, along with a box full of spray paint with about 15 different colors to match almost every siding and house color there is. I now buy all my caulking, tape etc. in contractor boxes, as I have the room to store it and it is cheaper in bulk.
And last but not least, I built a console for between the seats up front that allows me to sit in the warm and use my laptop with a spot to hold my coffee cup. The stereo kicks butt too, as I have a 12 inch subwoofer powered by a 200 watt amp and a 300 watt head unit with 4 6x9 speakers. I LOVE to pull up at intersections and when the kids turn their booming stereos on, I answer right back with some good old rock and roll that blows their little Honda Civics with loud mufflers off of the street and on to the sidewalk. Their hair looks like the guy in the old Maxell commercials!, blown straight back. It seems to be the only way an old guy like me can get any respect from them?. 
--
»www.wavecrazy.net Join WISPA today! »www.wispa.org/ |
|
Keithb
join:2003-09-16
US
| I have a 2007 GMC 1/2 ton crew cab 4x4 pickup. lol
Not used primarily for wireless, but my company vehicle in general. The back seat is loaded right now as it's hard to find a tool box to fix the short beds of these trucks.
I don't normally have much equipment loaded other than for installs, since the vehicles is used for much other stuff. |
|
gpilot
join:2006-04-29
Napa, CA
| We just had the problem ourselves.
so we got a :
1996 Chevy 3500 with the royal work section on the back. its a nearly waterproof bed and then around 4 storage boxes and tool boxes on either side. This means we can load most of our eqipment in the truck with tools and install eqipment. Plus it has racks for the ladders. Will also tow for when we need the trailer and alls this for $5,500. She's a high mileler but runs smoothly and is clean and tidy. |
|
VariableARK
join:2003-03-17
USA | reply to canadiancree
I am using an '02 chevy 3500 van, works great, holds most everything I need, if I got around to putting shelves in it would work better. No sound system yet, but soon! |
|
