Cube Vans

[AB Lawn Care]

I have often thought that a cub van would be good to use for a lawn cutting truck.Does any one use cube vans for this?If so what do you think of using them?<p>from:Adam<br>AB Lawn Care

[cjcland]

i dont use one, i use an explorer but i imagine a cube van would be good because of the large area to advertise

[Charles]

There are a few cube vans running around here used in this business. I think it is a great idea too. Good place to store your equipment out of the rain. If you could get a deisel one it would be perfect.

[ashlandscaping]

Their is a couple around here. I guy I know runs 2 looking for third. He like them better then a truck and trailer. He put a rediramp on the back to get the mower in and out. Only down fall here is what do you do with them in the winter?? no good to plow with. Cant haul bulk with? Its like haveing an enclosed trailer but it all in one instead of truck and trailer.

[Z7199999]

Cub Vans are good if you are not bagging any grass. They have no place to put grass. It might be kind of a pain to off load a cub van full of grass. Unless you can afford to have a p/up follow the cube to the bagging lawns. Which means another truck and another driver. If you do not have a lot of lawns to bag then cube vans are awesome. It is like a little traveling shop. Everything you need is inside.

[jeffclc]

Check out www.superlawntruck.com

[AB Lawn Care]

Yes I have seen the super lawn trucks.They look awsome.But there is one big problem!By the time I bought it and brought it up throught the border I'm looking at paying at least 60,000+ for one of those trucks.This is one of those time I love being canadian(NOT!).<p>from:Adam<br>AB Lawn Care

[cantoo]

Z7199999, Couldn't you just pull a trailer behind the cube van for grass clippings. <p> Hey Adam, I think I read somewhere that you are from Stratford, do you know Cosyn's Greenhouses in Stratford? I cut their cottage near where I live, small world I guess.

[AB Lawn Care]

Yes I know Cosyn's.They are the largest green house in town.I don't deal with them exclusively,Becouse they offer a 10% discount for contractors and we can get 30% at an other green house in town.They have been refering and using a well established competator in town for years now.Where is their cottage?<p>from:Adam<br>AB LAWN CARE

[Getmow]

Have any of you checked out the Super Lawn Truck? It is pricey but it is the ultimate in advertising, security, efficiency and ego. Check it out at www.superlawntruck.com<br>David

[mlc]

We switched from cube vans to box trucks a few years back. We bought them used from Ryder and Penske rental fleets. Most of the used rental vehicles like the two I purchased had been repainted white, some are still sold yellow. We prefer that the cargo area is seperate from the cab eliminated gas, fermenting grass and spray tank odors from bothering us. Our old van setup used to carry an odor with it. Either way that you decide to go, both keep you equipement out of the elements and offer secure storage plus the added benefit of a moving billboard once you get the sides lettered up!

[mountain man]

mlc:<br>I bought an old F350 UHaul 14 foot box last week. I originally planned to take off the box and make the truck a flatbed/dump for leaf season. Now I am thinking of having a ramp fabricated to fold down on the outside of the doors for the maintenance crews. The guy also mentioned putting on a beaver tail. My concern is if I put too much time, money, and effort into the thing I'm screwed if the thing is a pain to use or starts breaking down regularly. It was a UHaul, it could turn into a lemon.<p>Also what is a reasonable price to expect for painting - F350 cab and 14 foot box. I have someone to put our logo on the side. The main thing is covering that ugly orange if I decide to keep the box.

[lawrence stone]

http://www.ncrampsystems.com/endgate.htm

[mountain man]

Thanks Lawrence

[southside]

I reckon the best set up would be 2-3 ton<br>beavertail with 15 foot tray.You could put<br>a set of gates on it.Surely something like<br>that would still have the power to plough<br>snow?

[cantoo]

Adam, it is is a little place called Port Albert on Lake huron, famous for fishing. <br> We have been cutting the property since a couple of years before they bought it. We also cut properties for a couple of other people from Stratford. They are all on steep hillside lots. We use self propelled mowers on them and golf shoes.

[pete]

There is a large company around me that uses isuzu cube trucks to run the vast majority of there lawns. They have a dovetail or beaver tail rear and a ramp that folds down to the ground. They have them set up with 2 36's and a lazer and all the other stuff. It seems like a good thing to me if your trying to do mostly maintenance work. They seem easyer to manuver it traffic and tight spots than a truck and trailer. Plus they have the added bounus of the billboard and enclosed storage.

[mattingly]

This is kinda funny that this post got started. I just thought of a cube van this weekend. The responses have been helpful thus far. I was wondering however, what are the dimensions in most cube vans. Say the smaller ones? I like all of the above mentioned options but I have to be able to fit at least two walkbehinds or one wb and a ztr in, plus a push mower and the other intangibles. Is this possible in a cube van? If so this would save me about 1100 dollars in storage. Decrease some of my insurance. Increase safety. Allow for a huge billboard. Stand out in my area becuase the closest thing to this is the isuzu open bed trucks. Also I have budgeted 6000 for a truck and the cube vans I have located are 5250 for 90-92 models. I read the thing about the end ramps, but what would be the best thing to do for this and how much would it cost approximately?<br>Thanks in advance<p>----------<br>Integrated Landscape Solutions<br>Lexington, KY

[AB Lawn Care]

I have looked into cube vans and I think that a 16 foot box will hold your machines.Also look for one with out wheel wells.<p>from:Adam<br>AB Lawn Care

[MacLawnCo]

I realize how old this is, but has anyone since converted a cube van to a maintenance truck? I found an E450 PSD cube van round here for a good price and am about to jump on it. I was thinking about using a ramp like this: http://www.handyramp.com/page6.html

Any thoughts or suggestions?

[I MOW ALONE]

hi i think that ramp would work perfect do you got a price on it yet . good luck

[MacLawnCo]

On the truck or ramp? yes i have a price on the truck, no i dont know the price for the ramp. I have an email to the ramp company, just waiting for their response.

[baddboygeorge]

i wouldnt be in this business with out them . especially if ya cut commercial an cant always keep an eye on your equipment dont worry its all locked up . i ran open trailers with the racks on the sides for trimmers an blowers for a fews years until i came back to my trailer an noticed all my trimmers an blowers gone ,,they got stolen . that was it ,i bought a box van an now i have 3 , they are shops on wheels an the nice thing when ya get in from a long day all ya do is lock the doors an set the alarm , your done . if ya set up the vans rite you can do everything in them !!! have fun an get a box van what better advertisement than an 16x8 foot sign on both sides of a vehicle !!believe me when your working they know which company is there!!

[MacLawnCo]

George, how did you set up your rear ramps to get the mowers in and out? I like the Handi ramp, but am always open to better ideas.

[Victor]

I just bought it two weeks ago. I already love this truck. It's a 99 turbo diesel, auto trans with overdrive. It's really easy to drive, and is well mannered in traffic. If you're thinking about buying an Isuzu, I'd highly recommend buying a 99, or newer model. In 99, they increased the power to 175 hp, from a somewhat paltry 135 hp. The older trucks don't do as well in certain circumstances, like highway driving. My truck comfortably cruised at 77 mph on the way back to Columbus, from Memphis.

As far as ramps go. I'm still trying to find a website for Rediramp, because Handy Ramp wants $2650 for their 12 foot ramp system. That's way too much for what you get, in my opinion.

Vic

[Barkleymut]

The link MacLawn gave has a very sturdy looking ramp. But I think it is too steep. I'll be you would be catching the deck on the spot where the ramp meets the floor of the box truck. Anyone remember Mattingly? I know he posted some pictures a couple years ago of some system he had. I seem to remember that it was pretty awesome.

[cantoo]

Mac, here is the thread with pics of my ramps. I built them myself out of 1 1/2" tubing and 5/8" plywood. They are about 6'6" long and are removable very easily. I also redid the rear floor of my cube van to make 6" dropped beaver tail inside the van to lessen the angle. It depends on the height of your bed as to what length of ramp you will need. You may have to go with a two piece ramp if you have high wheels, I have the lowest profile wheels I could find for mine to reduce the bed height. There are lots more pics of it floating around the site.
http://lawnsite.com/showthread.php?threadid=18506&highlight=cube+van

[MacLawnCo]

Thanks guys, I just got my email back from Handi-ramp and they want $2000 for a 10' ramp and $2600 for a 12' ramp, both only the 2000 pound rating. For that price, i hope it is solid gold. I may try to have a local welder fabriate a similar one.

[Bob Minney]

MacLawn
I've had on on a p/u for 8-9 years now. They are well built. Only thing to break were some springs, about $10 to fix. By the time you by materials and pay a welder, their prices are fair. Never had a weld break in all this time. They also have a good anti slip finish on the mesh.
Also the mesh is not the regular diamond style but has a twist up in it so that you don't slip.
Before you decide to build your own try to look at one, maybe they will give you a local reference.

[J&R]

for the past 15 years i have used 3/4 and 1 ton cargo vans. It keeps all the 2 cly. in side out of the rain and eyes. and use 16' trailers. for the mowers.

[FrankenScagMachines]

J&R, using the cargo type vans right? I will be using a '92 Ford E350 one ton passenger van and 6.5x12 open trailer until I can buy a truck, personally I don't see what is wrong with it it looks like new. Of course the windows don't help looks alot but I doubt most customers really care that much about it? Besides I'll only be at their house 15-25 minutes.

[turfman59]

Ramps for the Isuzu
Rick Rohl at Oakland lawn and landscape has a custom one he does in house, his maintanance man is really talented with a welder, he uses walkers and they go right up without a problem.

Call him he is really helpful he can also be found at Birmingham Landscape co.

[J&R]

Bush Hog Boy - That the seats out put your blower and trimmers in the van. If you were at the back of that house mowing i could have your trimmer in 2 min. and be gone.

[coldbrook landscapin]

ab lawn care... i don't think a cube van will work well unless the wheel wells are below the floor... do what i did keep looking around for a box van.. took me 3 years to find a one for the right price but i did i brought a 1995 16 ft van with a 4 cyl diesel standard shift for 3500. dollars. this spring will have on the road needed tires and front brakes... and a rear ramp of some sort...got a price from a local welder should take about 1200.to build one to my spec"s. so around 5 grand will have a good truck to haul lawn equipment around and save a ton of dollars from buying a new one.

[FrankenScagMachines]

J&R, less than 2 minutes unfortunately :(