Hey guys,
I’ve been using my 5x8 enclosed trailer now for several years. I never really liked the set up but it worked well enough that I didn’t feel a need to change it. Recently I had a job in an area of town that made it nearly impossible to park my 3/4 ton diesel truck and my trailer and when I did it was a short walk every time I needed to go back to get something. This got me thinking of possible alternatives that would not only be easier to park in these situations but would also streamline my entire approach in my business by lowering maintenance/insurance costs, among other things. After doing the math, I should have about $11,000 to spend without going into debt for a replacement vehicle.
I have done some searching and have found that many companies have moved to compact type vehicles like the Scion xb and Kia Soul. This vehicle would be the window cleaning/ gutter cleaning/ estimate/ route work vehicle. So am I crazy or is this a good idea for me? If you have gone this route, what do you like or dislike about it? I work alone 80% of the time so space for others isn’t a huge concern to me. I have also found a good balance of supplies that I believe will be very easy to fit in one of these vehicles. I need others opinions, I’m going crazy thinking about this.
Are you replacing the truck and trailer or adding this as a second optional vehicle? I think it’s a good idea if you can do your daily frequent cleans and still have the truck when needed. After a year or do you can see how often you used the truck vs the Xbox to determine future needs. I’m thinking of trading my full size Chevy for a transit connect or Nissan nx or similar vehicle for the same reasons. For me though its not a cost saving up front do to the value of my 07 Chevy vs a 2011-2012 can. Long term there would be a savings.
This would be replacing the trailer only. The truck would stick around for the “around the house” needs but it just costs too much to use as a work vehicle for me at this point. Plus is it way overkill for what I am using it for. I have also thought about replacing the truck with a Tacoma but that is a whole different discussion. I told you it is driving me crazy trying to figure it out.
Find a low mileage, mint condition first generation (2004-2006) Scion xB. You can’t beat the Toyota reliability and low cost of repair. Plus it’s a very compact vehicle, can literally be parked anywhere, and you can’t beat the fuel economy.
Use the remaining 4+ grand to outfit it professionally. Strip the rear passenger and cargo area and lay down a flat platform (we used plywood, but I’ve seen diamond-plate steel used very effectively). There will be tons of space, compared to trying to work out of a typical wagon/car with the seats folded down.
You can get pretty creative with storage solutions. Check out this article: Downsize to Rightsize: Service Fleet Leaps into the Scion xB - Business Fleet.
We even run a small tank for WFP work in ours. In addition, we have room for all our traditional window cleaning equipment, as well as a vacuum, duffel bag, and steam mop that we use for home cleaning, and we still have space to spare. The front passenger seat isn’t used up, so I can take one passenger on occasion.
Feel free to ask any questions about the xB. I think its perfect for the situation you’ve described. The second generation xB would be my second choice, though you may find you need a little more oomph from the later model if you plan on hauling a water tank. That’s the one drawback of driving with a 1.5L engine. The newer models have the 2.4L out of the Camry.
Ok, after thinking for a bit, perhaps the second gen xB is a slightly more practical vehicle for the application. I’m just in love with the first gen’s. They have the true box-on-wheels look, minimalistic design, and were actually made in Japan. Plus you’ll find them cheaper than the newer ones (obviously).
But sentimentality might not help when you’re pulling that nice little pressure washing trailer you decide to get a year or two from now. The first gen’s don’t even have a published towing capacity, and only have little disc brakes in the front (drums in the rear). The second gen’s are better equipped to hauling small loads. Larger engine, four wheel disc brakes, etc. Plus that little bit of extra cargo space may come in handy.
Thanks for the advice Alex. It’s looking like the Scion is the route I will probably take. Do you have any pictures of your set up? I have read that link about 5 times now and it sounds better each time I read it.
