New Mobile welding rig, need suggestions!

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Hello all, I'm new here and have been reading posts and getting to know some of you and I need some opinions. I've been welding since 1988 for various employers and industries and now I have decided to give a mobile welding business a try. In the process of hunting for a welder I found a package deal (on craigslist) for a 2002 GMC 3500HD dually with a 11' utility bed and two Miller trailblazers (a 302 and a 275). It was a deal I couldn't refuse! Now I own a 8 MPG vehicle that is probably way overkill for my humble beginnings. With the high cost of fuel I began to consider other options and while looking at a rig that had been offered for sale (on this site) I gained a little inspiration. User "Terrym2" hadan Isuzu NPR cabover welding rig for sale that was really interesting. That inspiration led me to another deal to good to refuse and I wound up owning a 1995 Mitsubishi Fuso witha Omaha steel flatbed. The mitsubishi could handle anything I would need it to and gets 20 MPG (3.9 turbo diesel). Now I'm questioning the whole cabover thing! I don't know why I'm making this so complicated, I just know my beat up Dodge Dakota won't work and even though it may pull a trailer rig, I'm not sure I like that concept (feel free to weigh in if you run a trailer rig.) Another option I've seen on here is box trucks, I like that idea alot but isn't that hard on a generator/welder, due to heat build-up? Please somebody help me before my neighbors call code enforcement!
Reply:If you are worried about your neighbors calling code enforcement, I'd start by finding out just what the local standards will allow. Where I live any of those vehicles could be issues IF someone complained. (enforcement by complaint) Once you know exactly what the law says, you can work around it if possible. Where I live the law says no vehicles over "3/4 ton". No max GVW given.  My truck is registered 1500 lbs over "empty" weight to comply with their regs, and I've got all the documentation to prove it. Also they won't allow any lettering on any vehicle in a residential area. My neighbor uses magnetic signs on his and removes them before parking the truck..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:LOL, Well fortunately things aren't that strict around here...lots of contractors, big trucks, big trailers, I was actually meaning my neighbors might complain about the numer of vehicles on my property.
Reply:Here is what Im talkin about Attached Images
Reply:I checked my city code and found this Parking & Storage of Certain Vehicles - Vehicles visible on any property must have a current license plate. Vehicles must be operable. Vehicles over 25' in length or over 12,500 lbs. may not park in residentially zoned neighborhoods.   Originally Posted by DSWIf you are worried about your neighbors calling code enforcement, I'd start by finding out just what the local standards will allow. Where I live any of those vehicles could be issues IF someone complained. (enforcement by complaint) Once you know exactly what the law says, you can work around it if possible. Where I live the law says no vehicles over "3/4 ton". No max GVW given.  My truck is registered 1500 lbs over "empty" weight to comply with their regs, and I've got all the documentation to prove it. Also they won't allow any lettering on any vehicle in a residential area. My neighbor uses magnetic signs on his and removes them before parking the truck.
Reply:Some people will get mad at you for parking your vehicles on your front lawn as pictured.That is what will get you in trouble.If it was me I would park them along the driveway, and in line with the driveway.AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:You could always give the neighbors small but cool pieces of iron art as Christmas gifts. A little human networking goes a long way.
Reply:Ok guys....I parked in the front yard to take those pics, Now back to my original question....suggestions for a welding rig
Reply:Not exactly sure what you are interested in. Both trucks look suitable. A lot would depend on the type of work you do. The utility body has advantages for hand tools and so on. Thats why so many mechanics use them for service trucks. The flat bed has more options for a fence or structural guy (but I'm personally not a fan of cab overs, I want something between me and the rest of the world. A box truck would give you more security, but would be some what limiting with larger items, long steel and fence panels. In some ways there's no "One" truck. You have to make concessions with any work vehicle. Where I used to work we had 2 utility bodies ( one with a 20' long rack), one stake body with a 24' long rack and side boxes, a 16' box truck with lift gate, 2 trailers and the big dump truck. What truck(s) got used depended on the work being done that day. Need to pick up long materials, most likely you're taking one with the long racks, or the small trailer if it's too heavy for the rack. Need tools, then it's probably one of the utility with the small rack, though the stake body and 2nd utility body had a general set of tools on board. Palletized stuff went in the stake body of box truck... It took many years to build up the "fleet". We'd have to load/unload every time we did a different job. Too much time lost when we'd need to load/unload the same stuff for every job because we were doing a different step that day.You need to look at the type of work you want to do, then plan the vehicle around the work. I found for my work my 11' utility body works well. I do sometimes wish I'd gone with the 14' one however (seems like I never have what I need with me no matter how much I have ) I can feel for you on the 8mpg though. Thats what my 11' is getting, and I'd planned on it being closer to my other diesel at 15-19..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Easy. You have two trucks, build the Mitsi since fuel is high and park the other one. Switch if no like Mitsi.Spare truck means you can work with no downtime if one breaks, so keep a spare. If you have box truck dreams, box the Mitsi and leave the welder mounted forward. The box can overhang the machine if you run a modified exhaust. Junkyards have some sexy stainless flex couplings from modern cars.
Reply:I assume what bothers you about the Mitsubishi is the cab-over part, which is the one thing you can't change.  If it was me, I'd use it in a heartbeat if it was in good shape mechanically.  But I know different people feel differently about cabovers.Personally, I wouldn't want to use a box truck because of having to climb in every time I wanted something instead of just walking up to the outside of it and getting what you need.  I know people put lights inside of them, but I'd be the one lucky enough to forget to turn them off, go to leave, and have a dead battery.  There'd be no more loading anything into it that had to hang from a crane or set of forks, although one person around here solved that by putting a trolley crane inside the truck with the rail extending slightly outside at the rear, with the double doors coped to match.  Pluses of a box truck would ease of locking all your tools at once and a big, humongous, gigantic advertising area.  It may work depending on what type of work you do.My personal experience with keeping a spare truck around is that it ends up costing more money than if I fixed the one I had and accepted the downtime, or used the money from both to buy one good one.  Not to mention it goes downhill if you aren't running it, and you're paying at least several hundred bucks a year for insurance and registration on it, too.Yes, your concerns about a welder inside are well-founded.  A company I used to work for had a Bobcat 225 welder inside the work van with the exhaust piped outside.  After about half an hour of running the welder would overheat to the point it would shut down, and there was no re-starting it until it cooled off.  Heck of a way to treat a piece of equipment.  One time, for fun, I took our confined-space entry meter and checked the CO levels inside the van with the welder running.  I stepped back outside when it reached 300 ppm, which is WAY the heck past the allowable limits.  Farmall's suggestion would be the only way I'd have a welder on a box truck.It sounds like you need to really plan it all out, think about what you do and every process involved in it, and then plan your truck out before you go and look at any more trucks.  Don't spend any more money until you KNOW what you want.   Don't forget, you may only need a cab and chassis because it looks like you've got two good beds already.  Then I'd suggest you get rid of every truck you don't need.
Reply:I'd say DSW hit the nail on the head.  Look at the kind of work you're doing, or want to do, and make the truck a tool that makes you more productive and cost effective in that kind of work.Carpenters don't use rubber mallets to frame a house.  Heavy equipment mechanics don't use crescent wrenches to tear down an engine.  Buy or build the tool to suit the work.A rig for pipelining will have little on common with a truck used by someone doing marine aluminum and stainless work.  Neither will have the right features for someone doing truck/heavy equipment service.Whatever truck you use, make it work for you.  If you're driving long distances between jobs, then the Mitsubishi might mean the difference between making or losing money on a bid job.Neither truck may work if you're working in the inner city, where jobsite access and parking can be a serious problem.A truck that's big enough to do everything will cost you an arm and a leg in fuel, maintenance, and insurance.  So unless you're driving away business by beating potential low buck customers with a stick, you need to compromise.If you don't know what kind of work you're going to do, keep it simple until you get the lay of the land.  A flat bed with modular boxes will get you through until you figure out what you need.  Then make a plan for modifying the truck to make your life easier and stick to it. Originally Posted by DSWNot exactly sure what you are interested in. Both trucks look suitable. A lot would depend on the type of work you do. ...In some ways there's no "One" truck. You have to make concessions with any work vehicle. ...You need to look at the type of work you want to do, then plan the vehicle around the work.
Reply:I'm jealous! I love cabovers! Sounds like ya got 2 trucks & 2 welders. Put a machine on each truck, hire another welder,& start yer business with a fleet!!!
Reply:Thanks all, for all the great, well thought out suggestions! As far as what I want to do with my truck.......I tig, mig, stick, pipe, structural, stainless, carbon, aluminum whatever someone might need. I'm just planning on doing some advertising (signage on the truck, biz cards, flyers, magnents, local ads, etc.) and see what the needs of my area are. If I had my choice it would probably be stainless resturant equipment, food pros, medical, etc.. I've been a certified pipe welder for over half my life and would rather tig than stick, but I can do it all and at this stage of the game I wouldn't turn anything down I could make a buck on. Here's a thought...has anyone ever gave personal welding instruction with their rig? Welding schoolls are pricy and don't always offer the training in the processes that one may be interested in.  As for now I'm welding chill water pipe for a large mechanical contractor in S.W. Florida.Last edited by Teehee; 05-17-2011 at 04:47 PM.Reason: typo's
Reply:Anyone prefer a trailer rig over a truck?
Reply:Anyone prefer a trailer rig over a truck?
Reply:Originally Posted by TeeheeAnyone prefer a trailer rig over a truck?
Reply:Here are the pics (I hijacked from member Terrym2). This was my inspiration behind the cabover! What if any changes to this setup would anyone reccomend? Attached Images
Reply:I'd probably double up the side boxes myself and add a full length rack over the boxes as well as addding a removable front support for full lengths. I'd also look into some undermount boxes especially if you didn't want to double up the long box. The long ladder would either go on top of the rack or hang under it with the A ladder above the long box if I didn't double stack them.  I'd also use the rack to hang extra cords, hose and so on. I might think about doing away with the drivers side box ( on just using a short one) so I could turn the machine 90 deg for easy access..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:The compressor, if you run one, could go above the welder. If you really want the storage space the  compressor air tank could hang under the bed, but lines from compressor pumps get HOT so plumb accordingly.Once it's arranged as you like it, you could do what they do on military equipment and position a few simple loop steps and grab handles for easy climbing.
Reply:some good ideas here.......Id be happy with the original posters GMC utility truck.......that would suit me fine, cant find them around here that arent eaten up from the salt. I like that longer utility body, just me.....
Reply:and I agree about the power gate........that would be soo handy......
Reply:A Tommygate only requires one power cable from the battery and the mounts are very simple plates you could fab easily.You could just as easily hang one off the side of a flatbed. It was really convenient to be able to pick up ~1200 lbs of Miller 340 welder. I have a bad back and a liftgate is absurdly handy on my pickup. If you get one you'll despise regular tailgates and wonder why you didn't do it sooner. Every gearhead should have one. Here's mine:http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/88...-liftgate.html
Reply:Although being a pipeline for many years I must say I really like your new rig.  It looks pretty cool man.  All I can give you is "make it look professional", which from here it looks pro all the way for sure.   Nice job.I notice you have the front of the head-ache-rack with its ears, but no back end rack.  Make another rack for the back and carry it up on the front on hooks.  Then when you need to haul long stuff just put it in standard holes on the back and strap it down with a ratchet.  That will give you the other part of the set I think. (hope you understood all of that  )Also, you need a pull hook and a drag pan on the front.  On the back then can pull either off that ball or around the tube so it looks ok back there.  Just fix the front. lol Anyways.  Good luck with your new business.  You look to have it going on man P.S.  Stay off of the pipelines.  That cab-over rig ain't going to be that cool looking on the right-of-way I don't figure, especially with that machine on it.   (unless you're a bead-hand and that thing is a 450hp turbo charged (loud) diesel and a 4x4 mud slinger).  Then maybe it might hang.      Other than that, I'd advise against taking it out on the pipelines.     (only kidding)  But if I had it - I'd take it out there just to see what happened.....  In reality:  A service rig sometimes is a portable fab shop.  So your rig needs to be very handy to work off-of.  You have a vice....  You have a little flat area behind the welder to fab on to.  Besides that you're on the ground - looks like it to me.Think about all that once you get to working this rig.  A handy rig is a rig that will make you money and will make your good at the same time.  What works for you won't work for anyone else, so make it handy for you for what you normally do and it'll be good enough.Then its a good rig.  Thats all it really takes.  lolGood luck Last edited by slowhand; 05-18-2011 at 04:42 PM.
Reply:Thanks for the input Slowhand! Unfortunately the cabover rig you see in the last pic with the welder on it, isn't mine. That rig was foe sale a few years back and the owner put those pics on this site. My Cabover is shown in the other pics along with the GMC 3500HD utility bed truck. I was basically considering transforming the bare flatbed cabover I have into something more like the one allready rigged out. I hear you on the pipeline advice! Yea I'm from Oklahoma originally and grew up around rig welders and their trucks and never once saw anything like a cabover or even a miller trailblazer/ bobcat either. Lincoln SA's or Big 40's or nothing, lol! I would feel a little odd climbing out of that Mitsubishi with a starched kahki shirt and a pancake. Thanlks agian for your advice!