Inspection vehicle

[pjkelly]

I am just getting into the inspection business and wondering what type of vehicles people are using. I have a Ford Escape and am feeling a little undersized. Your comments are appreciated.

[Jim Katen]

Originally posted by pjkelly

I am just getting into the inspection business and wondering what type of vehicles people are using. I have a Ford Escape and am feeling a little undersized. Your comments are appreciated.

Really? I'd think the Escape would be just about perfect. You shouldn't need a very large vehicle for inspection work. I could never understand the F250 mentality. Heck all you need to carry are a couple of ladders, a tool bag or two and yourself.

I like my Honda CRV, but it's noisy. If I had to buy a new car tomorrow, I'd look hard at the Toyota RAV4.

If I didn't need the AWD, I'd be looking at very small cars. There's an inspector in Utah who drives an MG.

Ask Richard Moore to post a picture of his ride.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[Mike Lamb]

Got kids? A Chrysler Town and Country (about $17,000 new) mini-van with a luggage rack could work.

I put 2 ladders on top. Seats inside are removable or fold over to put in more small ladders and stuff. My mpg is about 18- which is poor.

[hausdok]

Mine. After two different vans, it's perfect for this business.

Image Insert:

100 KB

OT - OF!!!

M.

[kurt]

The new CR-V's are really quite nice. A little larger than the previous models, and more than adequate to haul around anything you'd need to do the job. Or....

Honda Element; large interior space, good roof racks, good mileage.

Toyota RAV4; it's a 'yota, they run good and long.

Scion box-mobile; cheap, good mileage, large interior space.

Subaru; most excellent vehicle, but more expensive than the previous listings.

0r, a clean AFT-mobile, as in Any XXXX-ing Thing that gets good mileage.

I don't get the F250 ethic either. Entirely unnecessary for this business. Folks that have 'em, like 'em, but w/fuel costs being what they are, I also know plenty of folks trying to get rid of them, and they can't because no one wants them right now.

Cheap, good mileage, clean. That's really all that counts.

[Ken Meyer]

A Subaru wagon with a roof rack works for me, and it doubles as a vacation car, since it can get up in the snow, but the mileage is not so great. Next time, I'll get something with better mileage. Anything with a roof rack will carry an extension ladder.

[John Dirks Jr]

The ever beloved Jeep Cherokee. Not to big, not to small.

Image Insert:

906.45 KB

[Bill Kibbel]

Over a year ago, I downsized from a full-size conversion van to a Trailblazer.

Now, I'm thinking about downsizing again.

It's more fuel efficient and not quite as goofy as the toaster cars.

The wife's getting a Mercury Mountaineer that I can borrow for work when it snows.

[davidlord]

I drive a Nissan Titan just because I like a truck. The MPG sucks but thats they way it is. I think the Toyota FJ would make a cool inspection vehicle.

The Titan is an economy car compared to the Ford Excursion V-10 I use to haul the crew and tow my travel trailer.

[sepefrio]

I use a Nissan Frontier XE. Good price, good mileage (4 pumper) and plenty of space. Plus since I use magnetics, I just take them off and it's my fun truck too.

[MTL_Inspet_Man]

Greetings

I am looking into getting into the business full time

Presently working out of my 2003 Jetta Wagon

Preety good

fits everything pretty well

eventually looking at a Chevy HHR with roof ladder rack

Seems like they are becoming pretty popular with the service crowd.

Ideally would have prefferes a Chrysler MAGNUM AWD

buth with the price of gas !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

joe

[Bill Kibbel]

My colleague has been using a Magnum for about 2 years. He likes not having to reach so high for a ladder.

[Chad Fabry]

I have an F150 2wd with a 5 speed. It's absolutely the most worthless piece of crap I've ever owned. It'll be stuck if you stop on a sheet of wet newspaper. The fuel mileage is abysmal and if you try to carry 1,000 lbs it cries like a baby. I'm going to upgrade to a Caravan as soon as I can find some loser to buy my headache. My wife's Subaru Legacy would pull my truck backwards up hill.

[hausdok]

Originally posted by Chad Fabry

My wife's Subaru Legacy would pull my truck backwards up hill.

LOL, and around a corner at 60 mph on a sheet of ice and never lose traction. Subarus are phenomenal on corners - the damned things corner like they're on rails - even with ice on the road.

My sympathies, Chad. []

OT - OF!!!

M.

[kurt]

Originally posted by Chad Fabry

It's absolutely the most worthless piece of crap I've ever owned. It'll be stuck if you stop on a sheet of wet newspaper. I'm going to upgrade to a Caravan as soon as I can find some loser to buy my headache. My wife's Subaru Legacy would pull my truck backwards up hill.

That made me laugh my ass off.

[inspector57]

I've been using this since Jan. 2006. Almost 30 MPG city and highway and lots of room. I have since ditched the roof rack and carry the ladder inside. I got tired of freeway scum all over the ladder and it helped my MPG go from 28-28 to 28-30. Cheap to by and operate and it is still worth 75% of what I paid for it.

I bought it for the novelty since I was starting over in a new location and everybody remembers me.

Image Insert:

40.76 KB

[Richard Moore]

Image Insert:

36.11 KB

[kurt]

Yeah... those are two bad little vehicles.

I love toaster cars, but I'd really dig a Mini.

[tbird]

I used to have a big bad truck, 4X4, 4 doors, big bed and a thristy V8 - for what? Rarely used 4x4, only to get me out of stupid situations. I find that I, my tools, equipment and LG ladder fit fine into a 2003 Chevy Impala SS. Just put the back seat down and slide the ladder through the trunk. Nice and sporty looking, gets decent gas mileage and puts many of the passenger car suped up rockets to shame.

Image Insert:

9.15 KB

[Richard Moore]

Originally posted by kurt

Yeah... those are two bad little vehicles.

I love toaster cars, but I'd really dig a Mini.

Probably not a good idea where you are Kurt. Both have really low front clearance and would plow any snow over a 2-3 inches. As I live halfway up a steep ridge, and our local snow prep seems to consist solely of pre-positioned "Road Closed" signs, I can't even get out of the neighborhood after a heavy snow-fall. Unfortunately, that only happens about once every couple of years. I say unfortunately, 'cos I love the quiet and fun it brings.

Download Attachment: snowboat.jpg

93.47 KB

[Brandon Whitmore]

Jim,

excuse my ignorance, but is that a Scion?

Also, would I have any problems securing a 24' extension ladder to a rig such as that?

With the way gas prices are, I am thinking about purchasing something that gets better mileage than my Titan (13 mpg[:-yuck])

[Nolan Kienitz]

Originally posted by Brandon Whitmore

but is that a Scion?

You will find them at the Toyota store.

[sepefrio]

One other option, if everything fits in the bed of the Titan, is to get a bed cover. Even if you have a tool box they make them that wrap around. By putting on bed cover on a pick-up, you increase the mpg a bit.

[Brandon Whitmore]

To not get too off topic or drift too much, I will provide my own advice on getting a rig. Find a vehicle that gets the best gas mileage possible, sits low enough to not have to reach overhead to pull a ladder (it gets old), and be sure it is presentable. You need to make good first impressions every day.

I have a canopy on my truck right now, I figure it helps with gas mileage as well as a bed rail cap... could be wrong.

[kurt]

A scion is a twig or cutting, usually used in grafting new growth. A descendant.

It's also a new division within Toyota making really nice little cars. I think it's a cool name for a car. I've got one. They're damn nice vehicles at a very affordable price.