What is the perfect vehicles for a scrapper ?

Dang! logging out to get back to work and noticed this cool thread!

I drive an older 2.9 liter, 2 wheel drive Ford Ranger (7 foot bed w/ plastic liner). Most I've hauled in it was 1500lb.s of steel. Thick pieces that sat low, still scary to haul that much.

For drywall studs, ceiling grids, sheet metal it's just too small. (although I use it).
Perhaps If I built wood walls or put new springs and converted it to stake body,or pulled trailer for those jobs, but it runs too rough. (Always had bad luck with automatic transmissions AND vans...don't like vans, Pick-ups are better IMO).

Sure the little trucks get better mileage BUT NOT when one has to make ten trips which could be made in ONE trip with larger truck or larger truck with trailer for occasional use.

Even considered "scouting" stuff on a motorcycle, carry GPS maybe, mark the areas down, then return with (proper size for job) truck (???) seems like it could work.

My IDEAL truck would be an Isuzu NPR, Diesel, manual, four cylinder.
Not sure the capacity but I've hauled OVER 6000lb.s of trees to dump in one before, easily.
Plus Ideally sometime IF I had bio-deisel set up would be totally awesome.
There are all sorts of accessories for the beds Like: Hydraulic lift (dump-truck style)
...The thought of dumping 3+ tons of even plain steel that way !!!
Besides the ability to pick up from multiple HVAC companies in a single run, etc.

Oh, I like the stake body set up , BUT a box NPR could double for smaller moving and storage jobs...About to probably sell my Harley-Davidson to buy one...been thinking a lot on this is all.
Thanks.

Originally Posted by CMHN

I would like to get a car hauler, just cant justify buying one at the moment, I don't get enough cars to make it worth the investment.

IF the car will roll, U-haul (only place I know of that) rents car dollies. The two wheel dolly trailer thing.
$68 per day includes insurance.
Been thinking a good hussle (besides scrapping cars) might be to bring one to the car auction, where people cannot leave the lot until they get tags at DMV, and offer them to tow it reasonable distance for $100 or so.

Think I definately need a trailer myself IF I get into cardboard recycling for $60 per ton.
Or ever recycle 40X48" pallets again (my truck holds up to 22 but scary) full size pick-ups stack two wide and have up to 40 or so...Either way I'd have to fill my storage space and then make single trips to be worthwhile.

Oh, some essentials on my truck are: one gallon gas can, tire plug kit (had five plugs in same tire before I finally replaced it),
air pump (crappy kind that plugs into lighter), tire iron and jack of course,
A red-shirt and duct tape (to tape on when stuff is 2 ft. outside bed, OR put on if my other shirt gets wet),
Three small straps, one large 27' truck strap (for heavy stuff, two of these for pallets)(It's the only one that'll reach the leaf-springs to hook there for heavy stuff). Well I have a small tool bag with essentials, can't carry more tools than tote-able in a so-so old truck, it's a set-back.

Originally Posted by DumbD

A red-shirt and duct tape (to tape on when stuff is 2 ft. outside bed, OR put on if my other shirt gets wet),

I've been using flagger tape. Can get a big roll of it at Home Depot. Hard to miss when it's fluttering in the wind.