A classic work truck...

I get the 91 Mazda B2200 with the non-existent clutch...and the landscape installation guys ride the new 2000s F-150 and Ram 1500...but hey, it gets me around! The logos are on either door, but you can't see them in the photo. In the picture it's filled with 250kg (550lbs) of branches and debris from a rather large brush clearing job on a forested property.

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

Hi Dave, I am very happy you posted this picture of your truck. All too often I think newer business owners feel they can't start a business unless they have a brand new truck and they feel a new truck will help with the appearance of their business. Can you tell us a little about your experience of using this truck? How has this truck effected your business? What advice do you have for others who are trying to get a start and don't find themselves to be successful unless they are driving a brand new truck?

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My husband has the same type of truck. He has a little Mazda B2000 for his everyday truck and saves the mileage and fuel consumption on the bigger 2007 Chevy Diesel.

It definitely helps to save on fuel...I usually spend around $40 per week on gas for it, with gas prices at $1.15/litre (~$4.37/gallon). I usually find that it doesn't affect my image too much, a lot of the guys around here are the individually-run Asian businesses, whose trucks tend to be a lot more beaten up than mine.

My only issues with it are the constant breakdowns. My starter failed twice last year (the first time I hit it with a hammer and it unseized), and it'd almost certainly going to need a new clutch this year. This is the truck my boss started the company with 5 years ago, getting from his parents, and he's since bought the other two.

I remember seeing the guy with the green Escort, and whatever you can make work when you're starting it out is what I'd go for...no point taking on a bunch of unnecessary debt when you're starting out.

[Steve]

I appreciate you sharing with us your insight on that because it will help others reading this.

[musician/lawnman]

I run an 04' ranger edge package I bought a few years ago. *Got a great deal on it. *$24k truck new, has beefed up suspension, rubber floor (Great for this biz) nice 6 speaker stereo & V6. *You can't really see it in the photo but the truck was beat up on the dealers lot when we were hit by hurricane charlie in aug. or 2004. *So my wife worked at the dealer at the time her disc. brought it from $24K TO LIKE 19,600 Then 3k in rebate + another 1000 off for financing ford motor credit. *Then the insurance company estimated the damage to the truck at like $6500 ( had a broken pasenger window, broken right mirror , a few small dents & because the dealership had a gravel roof the pebbles pepperd the paint job & little bitty specks in all the glass so to make it new again would have ment alot of body work & all new glass) *they replaced the broken window & gave me the balance ($5,700) off! *I rolled a brand new truck (17 miles on it) for $11,300 tax tag & tittle! * Best truck I've owned no worries, it already has dents! *I replaced the mirror when I bought it & last year I put coil over shocks on it to assist with the heavy loads. *This year I may put an add-a-leaf kit on the rear suspension too.

Wow...what a deal. We bought our last truck from a government/construction fleet sell-off. They tend to have good deals, but you have to know where to look to find them.

[musician/lawnman]

Well, The truck above was a great truck for me but I needed to upgrade. The dumps is too far from here & I needed a truck I can really load up (like the mazda above) before making the trip. Now I could load that ranger up & it would squat like the mazda in the pic but then I also had the trailer on the back & it wasn't enough truck for the weight. Plus sometimes I have need to pick up my kids & the car seats don't fit in a ranger.
Here is the new ride. (the wood in the back is to make similar side rails to what I had on the other truck)



2005 F150 xlt super cab, 2WD 5.4 Triton. I like this truck!

[Steve]

Oh very neat! Does it have a hitch? Have you tried pulling your trailer around yet? I bet there is an amazing difference!

Did you trade in the other truck or keep it?

[musician/lawnman]

Yes it has the factory tow package, Yes it tows the trailer much easier. I traded the other truck in, it was paid for so I had alot of equity in it & couldn't have done it otherwise, The payments would have been to high for my growing business to cover.