cargo van life

[petie1957]

I am wondering what it is like driving a cargo van? I know it is cramped space but what about the rest. You have a bunk behind seats, right? Is a cargo hold a good idea. How do you stay warm in winter or cool in hot weather? Do you idle. Is a diesel van the better way to go so you can idle? Do you get plenty of loads and is the pay .70 a mile average. What company is the better company to get leased on with. Do you know of any fleet owners looking for a driver that lives in Missouri. Just some of my questions. Can someone help me with these questions please. Thank you

[FIS53]

Yes normal vans like the GM and Ford are a bit cramped for height. Otherwise the bed layout should be setup so you can stretch out and be comfortable (hence long body vans). Storage space can be addressed in a few different ways, overhead, under bed, up the walls, use your imagination and make it safe (lips so stuff doesn't slide out).
Cargo hold? You mean something to keep cargo in place? Yup this is a must! Straps, etrack, cargo tie down rings etc. A 1500lb skid can slide forward in hard braking while only doing 35mph and can crush an amazing amount of stuff. I had one crush my bed from 72" to 18". I'm a bit over 18" wide (butt measurement) so I no longer fit the bed. Definitely carry a couple of decent outdoor folding chairs for those times you want to sit outside.
Heating is done with an Espar heater (I have a diesel engine) so heating and keeping engine warm are cured. Keeping cool well different story but many utilize a vent with a fan and you can get screens for the windows (different sizes). Lighting is done with low wattage stuff off a secondary battery that is isolated from the main starting ones but charged while rolling (or start engine to charge). Some of us utilize solar charged battery powered lighting. Again use your imagination. The sleeping area has to insulated or having heat is useless in the winter. Utilize lightweight materials and same for everything else. Keep your weight of stuff down as everything comes off your cargo capacity (weight wise and space).
Few utilize a generator and of course the obligatory power inverters for the fridges, tv, dvd player etc. By working out necessities and building properly you can have power, some toys (computer, games, movies), food storage, clothing storage and be able to haul over 1500lbs of cargo. Workout what power you need and what each device uses and build the system to handle accordingly.

Won't point at any companies but others can advise better on that point. Money wise well that's the fun part today.

Gas or diesel? I personally prefer a diesel for the better mileage and the supposed longer life. There are guys getting very high mileage out of the gassers so I suppose this is a personal and monetary choice. I love getting 600+ out of a tank on my diesel. Means fewer fuel stops while running.
Hope this helps a little.
Rob

[fastman_1]

I've been in a van since 96, I've had diffirent types of bunks, never liked having one right behind the seats, they were just to small for me, My last one folded up againest the wall and used a twin size matteress, I never had a Diesel Powered van, and have gotten tons of miles out of my gas engines, just do maintence on them and they will run, my 96 had 700,000 when I traded it in for my 2000 and it had about the same when I traded it in for my 03 which had 400,000+ when I sold it a few weeks ago.

[chefdennis]

it can be cramped yea, but it can be as confortable as you make also. you can search the old forms on CV's and find thatalot of people do well as far as comfort goes in a van. I do..Yea i'll do thingg different in my next van, but it will be alot different also not a std CV...but thats another story.

My van is heated by a Big Buddy propane heater and cooled by a Edge Star 12,000 btu single room AC unit that runs off a 2000 amp generator...so i don't have to idle. I use the laptop, frig, micro wave , 20 inch flat screen TV alarm clock radio and fans off 2 golf cartbatteries and a inverter. The van is insulated front to back in bubble foil backed insulation, and my living area is then covered with blue foam insulation, 1/4 inch luann plywood and then covered in indoor/outdoor carpet on the walls and ceiling. I have a MaxAire vent with fan in the roof above my bed. My bed is twin size and is mounted 10 inches off the floor and folds up to get to large (up to 52x48 suto bins) skids in.

Storage is all over the place, under the bed, in front of the Frig and Micro wave cabinet (that sits where the pass seat use to be) and along the wallsides in the cargo area....

So yea it can be cramped, but i actually sleep better in the van then i do at home....i think i have been doin this long enough.....but hey it works lol

[Jack_Berry]

I am wondering what it is like driving a cargo van? I know it is cramped space but what about the rest. You have a bunk behind seats, right? Is a cargo hold a good idea. How do you stay warm in winter or cool in hot weather? Do you idle. Is a diesel van the better way to go so you can idle? Do you get plenty of loads and is the pay .70 a mile average. What company is the better company to get leased on with. Do you know of any fleet owners looking for a driver that lives in Missouri. Just some of my questions. Can someone help me with these questions please. Thank you

these questions have been asked many times. use the advanced search. type in "cargo vans" or anything like that and a wealth of info will be available to you incl gas vs diesel.

if you need a fleet owner in mo then ask a recruiter directly or use the classifieds here on eo.

"What company is the better company to get leased on with."

the one that fits your requirements.