| Nothing wastes more time than running back and | | | | comes to upgrade, go with white for the |
| forth to the store to get one more item. It is far | | | | professionalism points. |
| more efficient for you if you carry most of the | | | | Another major consideration for your vehicle is |
| tools you are going to need with you at all times. | | | | fuel efficiency. Expect to be driving over 1000 |
| In a sense, as a handyman on the go, you are | | | | miles a month. If fuel prices jack up again, even a |
| going to need to have a small traveling hardware | | | | little bit, that could seriously cut into your profits. |
| store with you. | | | | You can, of course, raise your rates a bit, trim |
| That means you are going to need some storage | | | | your service area or start charging an "out of |
| space. Most handymen get by with a truck that | | | | town" fuel fee, but all of that just masks the |
| has a cap or a "topper". If gives them the | | | | problem. According to the government fuel |
| storage space of an SUV, but they do not have | | | | economy site, the most efficient standard size |
| to change vehicles if they already have a reliable | | | | trucks are the Chevrolet Silverado 15 Hybrid |
| truck. Of course, if you have the budget to get a | | | | wheel drive and the GMC Sierra 15 Hybrid 2 wheel |
| new (or good used) vehicle, then some | | | | drive. For small pickup trucks, the Ford Ranger 2 |
| alternatives come up. Vans are a proven vehicle | | | | wheel drive and the Toyota Tacoma 2 wheel |
| for service people of all kinds. They have more | | | | drive win. For cargo vans, the Chevrolet Express |
| room than a pickup truck with a cap, which lets | | | | 1500 2 wheel drive and the GMC Savanna 1500 2 |
| you actually walk into your little traveling hardware | | | | wheel drive get the top fuel efficiency prizes. |
| store. | | | | For what its worth, I own a predecessor of the |
| If you can not afford a new (or used) cap for | | | | Toyota Tacoma, but mine is 4 wheel drive. It is |
| your truck, or you do not even have a truck | | | | approaching 200,000 miles and still runs beautifully, |
| right now, do not despair. If you are just getting | | | | even when there is half a ton of cinder block in |
| started you can certainly get by with whatever | | | | the back. My first vehicle was a GMC Suburban, |
| room is in the passenger seat and the back seat. | | | | and though I was not too focused on how well it |
| The most important thing is to have whatever | | | | ran and its utility as a work vehicle, the old, wise |
| you are driving look clean and well cared for. The | | | | men at the rural New Hampshire coffee shops |
| old "pride of ownership" will go a long way here. | | | | always seemed to approve of it, saying, "Now |
| Your customers might get a little suspicious if you | | | | that's a Vehicle". It is sad to have to note that |
| were driving a brand new top-of-the-line vehicle | | | | four wheel drive does not make for good fuel |
| anyway, so make the most of the fact that a | | | | efficiency, but anyone who has driven a four |
| used but clean truck or car makes you look | | | | wheel knows how quickly the power from those |
| honest. | | | | extra two wheels drains the gas tank. That said, |
| In terms of color for your ride, white vehicles | | | | depending on where you live, having a four wheel |
| look a bit more like standard service vehicles. | | | | drive may be the difference between getting to |
| That does not mean you need to re-paint | | | | the job or not getting to the job. |
| whatever you are driving now, but when the time | | | | |