So what do y’all recommend for a new install vehicle? I’m a small time installer and it’s time to retire my pickup/shell combo. Been looking at the Chevrolet Astro Cargo and the Chevrolet Express Cargo 1500.

Hey Slim, when I bought new last year, I looked at both the Astro, and the express 1500, I ended up buying the express. The astro just wasn't big enough. My dealer thru in the cage/bin package, and I bought the ladder rack. My 2 cents.....

What about the Sprinter from Dodge? It has a MB turbo diesel and gets 20 to 25 per gallon. Too big?Go with a full size van.

Love my Astro. A little cramped sometimes but it's my third personal install Astro van. I'd like to have a little more room occasionally but for as much driving as I do, I like the lower profile and the ease of parking without having to drop an anchor.

If you're not looking for new, here are a few tips:

Look for tilt steering (driving with your knees while eating, making apointments, shaving), power windows (asking for directions) doorlocks (easy for setting up the alarm sys) and Cruise (so you can fall asleep while driving home late). The most important reason is that a vehicle with these perks is generally owned by the boss and not destroyed by the turnover employees. It's generally a fleet vehicle and better maintained. There is a place out of Texas (fortworth/houston) that you will find thru autotrader.com that always seems to have very competitive pricing on the boss's vehicles. They've got the big vans too.

A trailer hitch is essential for trailering Big screens and other equipment for the bigger prewire/trims. The 10' flatbed trailers well. Would like to someday get an enclosed trailer.

I always thought it would be cool to buy an old Cuda or some other muscle car, buy an enclosed trailer to pull. After 5 years and the car needs work it would be worth the same as when purchased - not like a worn out work van.

But since we write em off I guess it's kind of a wash.

Just was thinking. I don't know about you guys, but even with my Chevy Express, I still can't get organized. I have ripped that thing apart a hundred times trying to organize it with no avail. How about posting some pics of your work van interior? Maybe we can all get organized if we feed off of each others ideas. Just a thought.

I'll get one of mine...

Here's mine.

If I were in the market, I would look long and hard at the Sprinter.
There are regular and tall versions in SWB and LWB, so you can pretty much as much room as you like.
[Link: dodge.com]

They cost more upfront, but the economy and reliability of the Benz diesel is unquestionable.

Also, if Biodiesel is available in your area, there are tax credits that equal 20 cents per gallon spent on B20 blend. They are credits, not deductions, so they come right off the top of the bill.
[Link: biodiesel.org]

Personally, I would likely have to pass on the tall because we rely too much on garage parking in the city.

Ah, yes, I lust for such a fine setup. How do you like that brand of CAT5e?

I knew someone was going to ask about the cat5E. I like it. No problems in over a year. And only 45.00 at HD... my biggest problem with my set up is trying to find wall plates.. No matter how hard I try, they get mixed.... I am considering building a box that would basically take up 1/2 of the floor in the long dimension, the box would be about 5" tall and the drawer would pull out from the back. The only problem I forsee is when I load a T.V. in. It ca be tight now as it is, especially with that rack in there for the ladder. The rest of my ladders are on top. I'm too lazy to put the one in the van on top as I use it the most... LOL....

I opted for the GMC savana with full time AWD. It was a lot of fun watching you poor bastards slide all over the place the past two winters. If I were to go rear wheel only I'd go with the 2500HD with the 4.8L V8. These trucks can get pretty heavy with all the crap we put in them. 1500 is only good for delivering flowers.

Instalz,

Hey where's the Little Giant ladder?

And if you'd leave the bong at home you wouldn't need that fire extinguisher. (just kidding)

I though the Astro was discontinued? Is it really still available new?

2nd Rick,

Those Dodge vans have intrigued me. My neighbor has one. How do those things do in a bad cross wind? They look like they would be a little tough to handle. For some reason they look like they have a high center of gravity but I suspect that is just my perception and not reality.

FP

I don't own one, but a friend has one and raved it up to me.
This is why I know so much about them.

Also, there was a Sprinter as intall vehicle thread around here somewhere...

I like the idea of using Biodiesel, and I have been an advocate long before Dubya got wind of the idea.

I need to test drive the sprinter in the wind. It looks like they are dying to lay down on there side ;-).

I'm a GM fan and have never considered a Mopar (mostly old parts and rust!) until now.

I drive about 300 miles a week and would like to get a little better mileage.

11 mpg is getting old!

What I really need is a 30' box truck that 'parks' like a mini-van, gets 20mpg,has all wheel drive, and drives like a Lexus!

Instalz;

My racks are laid out a lttle different then yours.
I can fit 4 boxes of cables on the right side shelf, and stack my spools in the same spot as your fire extinguisher.My drawers are on the left,rear. It leaves the floor area open. Perfect for 10pm loading! Toss everything on the floor and re-orginize in the morning:-)

Just spent all weekend cleaning mine out, and doing some some upgrades. Moved my inverter to the rear so it cuts donw on fan noise. Mounted all my battery chargers, meters, 2 way radios etc centrally by the inverter so I dont have to pull them out every time. Getting ready to hard wire a 110 outlet in the cab for my laptop/gps.

I cant figure out how to post pics on here. Theres no link, and it wont let me "paste" a pic. What am I doin wrong?