Truck or Tailer (welding Rig)

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G'day from Oz!So ive been building my business up for a little time now and have well and truly out grown my Toyota van (not to mention it not having enough power to tow the Lincoln AS400 trailer!)Originally we had planned to build a trailer and tow it with my Discovery but I then thought.. why not a truck? I dont mean a US truck (F250, Ram etc, we dont have many down here and they aren't cheap) I mean an actual tray truck, something around the 3-5 ton mark. I dont want to tow anything, just have welder/generator and all supplies on board and enclosed - obviously exhaust ports to get rid of fumes. I'm sure others have gone through the same decision so keen to hear which way you went and why. I changed to the truck based on the truck being able to hold more, designed for the job or carrying, more professional looking and being able to fully enclose and protect my gear. Downside is the extra registration and insurance costs and initial cost of the truck. I figure that by the time I build a large car trailer and load it up with everything it will always tow like a pig and put heaps of constant stress on the Discovery. Cheers (added pic of my poor van and the type of truck I was considering.)Any advice or experence, things to be careful of etc would be greatly appreciated
Reply:you could get the truck and cut the box back off it and then build a welding bed.. I think it would look really nice but would be extra money out of your pocket and not as much protection.Mullets&Pullets
Reply:I can buy a truck with just a tray I just thought that the protection would be better. I carry shop MIG, TIG and smaller arc as well as a plasma cutter which aren't water proof. There is also the issue of accessibility.. a trailer would be easier to walk around where as I find it a pain having to jump up into the van at the moment to get tools all the time. The truck would be worse I presume.
Reply:I dont have a welding rig matter of fact im new to welding but. I honestly would build a welding bed and have lots of cabinets.. you could store your stuff in them and your plasma cutter. just my personal opinion..Mullets&Pullets
Reply:Just fab up a nice fold out ramp or some nice steps. Don't know what terrain you go in but a truck is more maneuverable in my opinion. Although with a trailer it ie easier to swap out the town vehicle if something happensMillermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:We need more info . Where are you working at? how much crime is there? what kind of weather will you need to work in? Will you be going off road to work?
Reply:I like the enclosed truck idea.   I have a service truck with a crane, unless you need a crane, an enclosed truck is better IMHO.    The concept of locking one door to secure the entire shop makes great sense and, allows you more options in fitting out the truck.   I agree that a stairway ramp is the way to make entry easier.    Not sure how trucks are rated there but the pictured truck would be a 1 ton here.   My service truck is a 5 ton and way overkill unless you need a high capacity crane.This is a picture of my truck.     As you can see except for the crane there is little need for this big a chassis. Attached ImagesSteve from SoCal now in HutchMiller Dynasty 300DX Coolmate3 Speedway TorchMiller XMT 450 MPa plus with D-74 MPa Plus Miller Bobcat 225 NTHypertherm Powermax 45And a whole bunch of machines
Reply:Originally Posted by thegaryWe need more info . Where are you working at? how much crime is there? what kind of weather will you need to work in? Will you be going off road to work?
Reply:Originally Posted by Steve from SoCalI like the enclosed truck idea.   I have a service truck with a crane, unless you need a crane, an enclosed truck is better IMHO.    The concept of locking one door to secure the entire shop makes great sense and, allows you more options in fitting out the truck.   I agree that a stairway ramp is the way to make entry easier.    Not sure how trucks are rated there but the pictured truck would be a 1 ton here.   My service truck is a 5 ton and way overkill unless you need a high capacity crane.This is a picture of my truck.     As you can see except for the crane there is little need for this big a chassis.
Reply:I've got by for years like you with a pull behind welder and either a pickup truck, or SUV but am tired of loading everything up each time I go out. I've purchased a former concession trailer with opening sides and having several welders and tools duplicated, am building both. This will be great as when the shop doesn't need to travel for a small job, I'm not dragging everything out into a field. My truck is a former single axle semi tractor with 10' retracted, (18' extended) and folding down gin poles so a lot of capacity and capability inherent.I see it as the best of both scenarios.SlobPurveyor of intimate unparalleled knowledge of nothing about everything.Oh yeah, also an unabashed internet "Troll" too.....
Reply:The way they rate trucks here in the US has no correlation to what they actually carry!    The little box truck we call a 1 ton could weigh 10000 pounds loaded.   If you found a truck with a carry capacity of two to three metric tons you will be fine.   As to carrying steel, unless it is light weight I would consider a trailer for big material loads.    Loading and unloading heavy stuff gets old really quick, especially just to move it again.   You Lincoln welder must be a beast if it weighs 600KG, even so a couple of tons should give you a pretty good margin to build out a shop in a truck.   Another nice thing about box trucks, they have a nice solid flat floor.    With a workbench inside you can sit and do small work in comfort.   Get a ceiling fan to exhaust fumes.Steve from SoCal now in HutchMiller Dynasty 300DX Coolmate3 Speedway TorchMiller XMT 450 MPa plus with D-74 MPa Plus Miller Bobcat 225 NTHypertherm Powermax 45And a whole bunch of machines
Reply:Originally Posted by SlobI've got by for years like you with a pull behind welder and either a pickup truck, or SUV but am tired of loading everything up each time I go out.
Reply:Originally Posted by Steve from SoCal You Lincoln welder must be a beast if it weighs 600KG, even so a couple of tons should give you a pretty good margin to build out a shop in a truck.   Another nice thing about box trucks, they have a nice solid flat floor.    With a workbench inside you can sit and do small work in comfort.   Get a ceiling fan to exhaust fumes.
Reply:In that same predicament myself. Ive posted my setup here and yes its not very professional looking. A trailer wouldnt be much better in my opinion but i think thats the way its gonna have to go.   Stepping stones and minimizing debt is the best way to go about it in my opinion. Also the money saved by not going with a truck you can use on needed equipment.Dynasty 200DX   (2014)Millermatic 211 (2015)Optrel 864   (2014)Smith Medium duty MBA 30510 (Xmas 2014)Tennsmith 16ga 4ft finger brake (2015)Trailblazer 325 EFI and excel Thermal dynamics Cutmaster 82Miller maxtron 450
Reply:Id like to hear from people to that have built up their own business using a trailer rig if they have felt like they might have lost potential business/contractors because they didnt look "professional" enough.Dynasty 200DX   (2014)Millermatic 211 (2015)Optrel 864   (2014)Smith Medium duty MBA 30510 (Xmas 2014)Tennsmith 16ga 4ft finger brake (2015)Trailblazer 325 EFI and excel Thermal dynamics Cutmaster 82Miller maxtron 450
Reply:Trailers work well in a urban or semi urban setting. Our work consists mainly in the woods or fields & there's many a time I barely have room to turn the truck around. The other night after dark I had to back up 3 miles on a twisty single lane woods road after meeting a semi coming in, try that with a loaded trailer behind you.REAL TRUCKS DON'T HAVE SPARK PLUGS
Reply:With the new rules that just got announced in California, I'm betting a lot of guys will be going back to enclosed trailers towed behind standard pickups.  I know I'm seriously considering it.  The new rules now include any vehicle with a gvw of 10,000 pounds or more that is used for business purposes in the BIT program.  That means another yearly fee, filling out daily inspection sheets, 90 day inspection records, maintenance/repair logs, and inspections by the DOT of all records and vehicles.  Add that to the requirement to have a CA number, US DOT number, motor carrier permit, and all the associated fees for each, and I'm considering ditching the service truck.   Or packing it with all my crap and driving to a different state.