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KileAnderson
USA
875 Posts |
 Posted - 10/16/2003 : 19:47:03
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I love my Dodge Ram Quad-Cab. I have a Knack Weekender ladder rack on the back with a 24ft. fiberglass ladder that thankfully rarely comes down because of my 17 ft. folding extension ladder that rides in the bed. The back seat keeps all the tools and paper goods dry while the giant center console holds the laptop at the perfect height for estimate writing and the nice little cubby under the AC controls holds my stapler perfectly.
I got the 4.7 liter V-8 which is nice, but if I had to do it again I'd spend the extra bucks and get the Hemi. The cummnings diesel is nice too if you've had a good year. I got the 2WD version but I'm hoping I don't regret it on the next ice storm. Gotta stay in budget though, otherwise you're working for the truck instead of the other way around. |
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csiemens
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2003 : 21:26:54
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| I will only drive a Chevy truck, the "real woman's truck". |
Chris Siemens |
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stevendemars
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2003 : 23:08:10
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Well my idea of the perfect VAN is a 1 ton GMC with the 4 wheel drive option . . .
Steve |
Steven DeMars |
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beumelc
USA
2 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2003 : 19:11:57
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| Chevy S10 extended cab with a weekender ladder rack. It gets good gas milage, I carry both a 16' & 24" extention ladders. The cab gets a little full when driving to the site and back but most of it stays in the hotel during the stay. |
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sbeau4014
USA
53 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2003 : 06:48:15
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Drive a Ford F-450 crewcab with the 7.3 Powerstroke Diesel Dually and have the computer set up on a table between the two front seats (on top of the console) where both my wife and I can turn it and use it from our front seats. have a desk build in the back seat that removes in less then a minute for storage, and that holds printers, paper racks, briefcase, etc. Still a ton of room in the backseat for tools of the trade, jackets, etc. Can fit 2 passangers in the back with the desk if need be. Fold up 18' ladder fits in the bed under the roll up cover and out of weather and sight. Kicking around getting a 24-26' ladder to carry, but still weighing the advantage of it. Pretty rare I can't get on roof one way or another. Here in DC even a 26' ladder wouldn't help me.
We tow a 40' 5th wheel to the storm and all equipment rides in it so it is just my wife, myself and two labrador retrievers in the truck on the trip out and back. |
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danmeler
25 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2003 : 07:26:53
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| Everything's a compromise. I guess it boils down to whatever works reasonably well for you is a good cat vehicle. Today (according to the loss reports) I have 2 slate roofs to inspect, both are 3-stories. I carry 18' and 24' ladders, neither of which will do a 3-story...and no, I won't be duct taping them together, as exciting as that plan may sound!! Here in Maryland I'm using the 24' on about 1/3 of my claims and running it all the way to the top. It seems funny I worked for many years with a small 14' extention ladder and never had a problem...bygone days I guess. |
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KileAnderson
USA
875 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2003 : 09:06:27
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| I think it just depends on where you are working. In many places a 14 ft ladder is all you'll ever need, but in large, older cities the downtown area is full of row houses that are 3 or 4 stories tall, they are a real pain. In neighborhoods built in the 50's through the 80's a short ladder will work, but for some reason, in the 90's, residential architecture got to be a bit full of itself and everyone had to have a 12/12 roof with at least 15 slopes. Hopefully this too is cyclical and when people realize how much it costs to replace those roofs they'll go back to building straight gables again. We can only hope. |
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