I'm hoping there will be some interesting answers here. I figure it might be fun to get back to basics. Be a little specific: don't just say "technician."

I'll go first:

I'm a fire safety technician, I work on fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, and fire suppression systems in commercial kitchens and auto spray booths. I work in Central Florida covering a dozen counties from Tampa and Orlando area.
Most of the other employees use company-owned vehicles, but I bought my own because they pay more for that, and I also use it to pull an enclosed racecar trailer (about 8000 pounds total, loaded with the Racecar and all the stuff).
PS- V10 vans are hard to find.

 

Alright, I'll bite. Mine is a 96 E-150 Conversion that has seats... yes, I said seats! People go in those seats and the wheels go round and round. Yup, that's about it. I've gotten some guff from people for it not being a "shop van" or "work van" but hey, it's mine and the stereo is loud as hell!

 

My tools stay dry and I can carry ladders easier....also easier to do drive bys or ****** stuff up since nobody can see inside...

 

Semi retired remodeling contractor and used to work out of a pick up truck till one day back in 2000 I decided working out of a van might be 'smarter'. Indeed it was/is. Couldn't believe how stubborn I was all those earlier years. Wasn't in the van a week and I knew there was no going back to the truck. The truck became my cruiser - it was an awfully nice truck ... '95 F250 XLT, 460, auto, loaded.

 

Sleeper van.

 

Okay, so we have an audiophile's family van, and an undisclosed technician's work van.
any more details Mr. ladders and Tools?

 

Mine's an RV. We camp in it

 

EVERYone in central Florida racing community uses pickup trucks. And their stuff gets rained on in the truck beds. I am "the guy with the van". And my stuff is dry and secure.
Vans are like upgraded pickup trucks. (I like that... I'm going to make it my new quote/signature)

 

I've always had a work van, since I was 17. First set of wheels, and it was a van.

Always worked as a finish carpenter, and this was the way to go, copied what 2 of my uncles used, vans.

Every one was a Ford, always felt there was nothing better, like my one friend says 'want a work truck, buy a Ford'

Then, 13 years ago, it all changed.........my E250 work van got totaled parked on the street one night, and I needed a truck real quick, had jobs in progress.

I knew a guy selling a 12ft cube van, and I bought that, and what a change, couldn't believe the difference. Could stand up in it, carry more tools, carry skids of doors, large door frames..........wow

Kept that up and running for 10 years, and 326K on the clock. Looking for a replacement van, and found one 2 years ago with a 14ft box and only 104K on the clock. Price right, and knew there were problems with it, so last June it got a fresh E4OD, and in September got a fresh 5.8, so up and running as good as new now

 

Moving people.

Sixto
93 E150 Chateau 5.8 190K miles

 

Retired UAW, Found a 02 E-150 low top Solar Eclipse with leather, TV, VCR, rear heat and A/C, CD-6, 4.6, 3:73 LS, 47.500 miles, now at 50,275 three and a half years later.....LOL

 

My '91 E250 Diesel Club Wagon, 12 passenger van, daily driver in the summer (stored winter), love it for long trips, and towing trailers. Do not use it for dirty work at all.

'77 E100, original "******* Wagon" 3 speed on the column, show van for car shows, and weekend fun. Stored winter.

'85 E350 extended panel Diesel van, my first vehicle, was my daily driver before the club wagon, love it for fun, traveling, or work, does everything! Stored winter


And '87 E350, Class C Diesel motorhome, 26ft, for traveling/camping. and ofcourse, stored for winter.


I miss summer and my vans


I preffer vans over pick up trucks. Alot more room, nicer looking (older body anyways), and can do anything a truck can be used for, except dropping in a load of sand or gravel in it.

 

1993 E150 disability retired me. Wheelchair conversion van bought 5 months ago

 

My current '03 E250 EB is 100% work van---installing windshields mostly in big trucks; Freightliners, Kenworth, Peterbilt etc. Along with a pretty snazzy build out its outfitted with Snap On tool boxes, rear heater and various smaller racks/shelving units to carry stuff I almost never need but still good to have it on-board when those rare times crop up.

For my work and most other business where tools can't be left out in the open a van is the only way to go.

 

This is a fun discussion.

My dad bought the '88 E150 Club Wagon XLT, 302 when he retired. He drove it 16 years, 104Kmiles and quit driving when he reached 83. Ten years later (earlier this year), he gave it to me, filled with tools he no longer uses. Since it sat for 10 years, it needed lots of work.

I have spent about $2K on it, all new ignition, all new fuel system, fixed the heater/AC, new water pump, added 12volt power outlets for GPS/phone/etc, a tach, new shocks, and remote door locks. During the engine work, I totally desmog-ed it since it is over the 25 year limit for smog testing. Runs great.

I drove a '92 F-150 Supercab for years but the van is much handier. When I do projects, I can leave all the tools in the van instead of unloading/loading the next day. Plus stuff don't get wet.

Some photos of the project are here: https://picasaweb.google.com/jimandnena4

jim
Fort Worth, Tx