[BLUEPOWER]

We recently bought a service bed and a Ford diesel pickup to put it on. So far I have a torch and generator for it and am checking into a gas powered air compressor and sometime down the road we will add a welder. We are thinkng of building some type of work bench in the back of it with a vise and a small work area. What are some things that you guys have did to yours that you like?

[boog]

BLUEPOWER, on 31 July 2010 - 10:20 PM, said:

We recently bought a service bed and a Ford diesel pickup to put it on. So far I have a torch and generator for it and am checking into a gas powered air compressor and sometime down the road we will add a welder. We are thinkng of building some type of work bench in the back of it with a vise and a small work area. What are some things that you guys have did to yours that you like?

I've been considering putting a work truck together for a couple years. We already have the gas powered a.c, welder/gen, and torch set though I'd probably buy a different torch set for the service truck. I'd also like o have one with a small crane for lifting heavy parts (not as young as I use to be ), compartments for different oils & fuel with dispensers besides tools would be nice as well. Plus a large vise.

A few framers in this area have been putting together service trucks using old van trucks with 20-24" van bodies & liftgates. Lately I've been leaning more that way. With an enclosed van you could seed or chemicals aswell as parts bins & bolt bins and would have room for a nice workbench. A couple brothers not far from me have a van semi trailer settup with a shop that most farmers would envy to have for a reg shop. Even has an overhead hoist that rolls out the back with an electrical chain hoist so they can pick up large objects & roll into the trailer but they're not ones to do anything "2nd rate".

Post pics as you put your service truck tohether.

[Chickenhauler]

I'd start with either a one ton dually cube van or a former bread truck for the reasons that boog listed....everything's under cover and out of the weather, and if you regularly find yourself using it in colder temps, you can plumb in a rear heater unit from a school bus, and VOILA, instant place to get out of the elements (warm and dry). If you use it alot in the summer (who isn't breaking stuff in the summer?), add a roof AC unit from an RV to take the 'swelter' out of it all.

Tons of exterior flood lights (nothing seems to break early in the day) are a must-have, and a few here and there must be positionable so you can adjust them as necessary. Also, some lighting inside any cabinets (nothing fancy, just a clear marker light makes all the difference).

Be sure to add on some really good tow hooks....even if you say "I'm not going to get it stuck", we all know how that goes. And I promise, the first time you get it stuck, you'll be muttering "Why didn't I put some tow hooks on this thing?"

If you're going to add alot of auxilary lighting, be sure you don't have a cheeso-light duty alternator, and you may want to install a way to bump the RPM's up off idle to keep up with the draw.

[ChrisNY]

One of the best ideas for a service truck is find a used former fire dept. walk-in rescue truck. These can be bought cheap, most are very low miles, well taken care of and make a perfect service truck. Neighbors just bought one for $15,000, its a early 90's GMC, detroit deisel, allison automatic with like 20,000 miles on it. Has a 20kw diesel generator, all kinds of flood lights, reels for electric cords and air hose and all kinds of compartment space with slide out trays, tool boards etc. Makes one heck of a nice truck and is not so overloaded like alot of these one ton service trucks around.

[Rawleigh99]

The electric utility companies also have some nicely set up trucks you buy for a good price.

[Detroit]

http://www.jjkane.com/index.php

This company has auctions all over the country for utility and power companies. Be a good place to try and get a nice truck.

[8940]

A couple pics of my service truck I use everyday, boom, air compressor, welder, mig pack for the welder, plasma cutter, torches and lots of other good stuff, handiest truck I ever worked out of

Attached thumbnail(s)

• 
• 

[plowboy]

8940 has a service truck.

I guess it depends on what you are working on, but we seldom break something which will fit in a van truck. I want to be able to get to the tools from the ground and I want a crane.

There's a reason that service trucks are built like they are...'cause that's what works best!