Work truck vs work van

So Chandler's recent posting of a massle of work trucks got my blood flowing again for a truck. So much so, in fact, that I'm trying to sell one of my cars. I like to be able to toss messy stuff in the back, I like to toss my empty root beer cans into the bed through the back window, I like the kids getting to ride in the bed around the properties, I want to have the ability to tow or pull things, the list goes on. 
But an even more practical side of me thinks as long as I am getting a full size v8 tow vehicle, if I get a passenger van, I can do all the heavy lifting of the truck, but also be useful for hauling the family around while I tow something, not strapping things down, worry about the weather, etc.

HOWEVER -- and this may be purely personal taste -- the idea of a beat up work truck with some rust doesn't phase my wife OR me, even for her to take it to her very professional workplace BUT driving around a beat up full size van with some rust? That just rubs me the wrong way. I can't do it (again), and she will not.

Anyone else get that??

I do. I get it entirely. 

Middle ground is beat up work truck with camper shell.

I think you own words above pretty much eleimate a van given that you live deep into rust country.  If you still have the Dodge Grand Caravan, its a good "freight hauler" when needed.  

In pickups, everyone wants:

1. A back seat
2. 4x4
3. big engine/big towing

If you too want the same things that everyone else wants then you'll be competing with everyone to find a good one and that high demand will dictate a high price.  With every one of those items you can drop the price will go down.  The result is that a single cab, rwd, V6 can often be downright reasonably price. 

I would argue for the van based on my experience.   200,000 basically carefree miles ago i bought a E350 with the passenger upgrade.  Tows my 20" enclosed trailer easily.   Most of the time it works 6 days a week carrying many thousands of dollars of tools in the back.  No rust yet, but... its Florida.

Everything in the back of a pickup either gets wet or stolen.

YMMV

Send out the Curtis Signal™ and allow him to tell you that you really want a need a GMT610. I know I do

Nearly every carpenter I know drives a van, unless they do exclusively roofing and siding.

In reply to P3PPY :

Haven't read the rest, yet, but want to say "I agree with your reasoning 100% a beater truck can be cool. A van? Gotta be nice!

Vans are typically cheaper to purchase & often significantly cheaper to insure. 

Depends on what you want to do. 

Haul a lot of "stuff" out of the weather and theivery?  Van

Haul more than 4 people?  Van

Dirty, smelly, stinky, leaky, oily stuff?  Truck

4x4?  Truck (4x4 vans exist but are not gonna be in your McBudget)

Stuff thats too big for an enclosed box?  Truck (van doors are smaller than you think)

Over 45 years in construction...

I've had both. The van can keep tools more secure and out of sight. It has more cargo space, and a much longer floor (12' material can lay on the floor in most). It's terrible for hauling loose material like dirt, stones, or mulch.

Utility body trucks are by far the nicest vehicles to work out of.  I've had both pickup versions and van versions.

Vans can only bumper tow, and I don't like how they tow.

I have a back seat in my pickup, which only occasionally gets used for people.  It's a great storage space for stuff I want to keep clean or dry (like clothes or office stuff)

However, the factor that keeps me returning to a pickup is separating the work area from the passenger area. A van means you will be listening to the rattling of the tools as you ride down the highway, and the work dirt will infiltrate the entire cabin. It's unpleasant to drive in for the long term. 
 

I drive a pickup with a cap and big slide out drawers. 

Duke said:

Nearly every carpenter I know drives a van, unless they do exclusively roofing and siding.

 

I think that's a Northern thing.  Probably more about keeping fine tools and small parts organized and clean in inclement weather. It's definitely not the case in the South.

I have a work truck (well, two, I guess, but one I need to sell) and a work van.

The van gets WAY more use. No, the van isn't nearly as lifestyle-sexy as a truck (especially as it's a high-roof), but holy hell is it useful. 

Purple Frog said:

Everything in the back of a pickup either gets wet or stolen.

There is a third option, blown out of the bed to become litter on the side of the road. 

We are considering work truck vs work van for a trip to AK.  Van seems to come out ok if  4x4 is not a HAVE TO HAVE

YRMV

The thing about a van to AK.  Sleep space.  Also, Load Range "E" tires are pretty tough.

Duke said:

Nearly every carpenter I know drives a van, unless they do exclusively roofing and siding.

 

I used to have a roofer client who had an HHR.

Pickups generally suck unless you are landscaping.  They are expensive, more rust prone, have less storage space per size, you can't put shelves up in them, and even if you have a camper top they are casual theft targets.  And then the camper top negates the main advantage of a pickup over a van.

How about Euro style van? Sprinter, Transit, etc.  Less tow capacity, but arguably less "beat up work van" looking, even if it's older/got some miles. 

My buddy is a carpenter and after a long ass day he liked a van to back up to the tools and toss it all in the back and GTHO of there. 

In reply to Purple Frog :

Van to AK has the potential to lower out of pocket hotel, every night, expense

In reply to Spearfishin :

You looked at prices on the Sprinter and etc. lately?

YRMV

I have a full size Chevy Van and I vote NO for going to Alaska in one , 

You sit right on the front wheels , and feel all the bumps .

But it is nice to be able to sleep in it :)

I have a full size Chevy Van and I vote NO for going to Alaska in one , 

You sit right on the front wheels , and feel all the bumps .

But it is nice to be able to sleep in it :)

03Panther said:

In reply to P3PPY :

Haven't read the rest, yet, but want to say "I agree with your reasoning 100% a beater truck can be cool. A van? Gotta be nice!

meh, just put some All-Terrain tires on it and maybe a roof rack and a beater van can look cool(ish) too :)

I would have no problem driving to Alaska in a Ford E250. It's not as nice as a modern car to drive and the MPGs suck, but with a steering stabilizer it's good enough. Already drove mine across country once.

Thanks for the input on a van to AK