Hello from Wisconsin! Seeking guidance!

Are you over 18? I thought yards wouldn't purchase from minors. So if that's a concern.... Also it's imperitive to get your own transportation. If it goes south with the old lady your sol. Another thing to consider is protecting your sources... If you hit pay dirt he could outbid you.(I'm not saying he will but I've seen it happen) I've seen several f-150 pickups for $1000 bucks. (Couple had the 300 6 too) get a cheap a$$ pile to start off with. Up grade when you can. If don't look like a crack head scrapper you will get even mor biz. Are rural or local? Mostly appliances or do you have access to bigger torching items? Whatch the freon thing. Dnr is hunting scrappers hardcore.... 10k fines to boot.
IAP

Don't rely too long on the GF's dad. Sounds like you have the moxy to make it happen on your own. And less potential downside long term. Get a cheap truck or full size van to start, preferably one with a HD trailer hitch, and work towards getting a trailer.

Welcome from Boston Mass. Congratulations on your desire to join your fellow metal recyclers. We are a proud and savvy bunch. Not only do we employ ourselves, we provide the communities we live in and the environment as a whole with a service most people don't appreciate or even know anything about.
So, with that said, follow your heart, secure a scrapper rig, any vehicle that will hold groceries can also hold curb scrap. You start small and work your way up. Don't take freon appliances, air conditioners, fridges, until you connect with a responsible party the properly evacuates the freon. Remember, a good scrapper also cares about his planet along with his earnings etc. I retired from a railroad several years ago, I was a freight train engineer so I always had scrapping in my blood. So now I scrap to give me some extra spending money. I go curb cruising several days per week and I fill up my rig every time I go out. Water heaters are heavy and they usually have some brass& copper fittings. Chuck them in a 5 gal. Bucket , actually, get many buckets and fill them with copper, brass, aluminum, cast iron, gold,...�� buckets help you stay organized. I'll post pictures at a later date.
Now lets talk rigs & tools. The snowmagedding we suffered here this past winter killed my longbed chevy p.u. so after a couple months of procrastinating I landed a very sweet 1 ton dump. A 1992 chev. 3500 dump. 4X4 with plow for very short money. I built up the sides with plywood and now I just push the dump button and say byby to my load. No labor. Tools: I have a old rr radio belt that I rigged up to carry the following., large wire cutters, small cutters, and cell phone, etc. The belt itself is high reflective safety red so it also protects me from distracted drivers while I'm crossing streets.
Also I fill a 5gal bucket with various wrecking tools and put it next to the pass side window for whenever I need it. Here's a good tip..cut all and any power cords from every single item you collect. They pile up fast, so store them and when you're bored or when prices are up or down, cut open your cords using a homemade wire stripper. Copper will pile up like crazy. #1 copper 220 per pound here. Yet very fluid so it changes often.
You're young and curious, thats awesome, so get to it. Get your own rig, p.u., dump, flatbed, landscape trailer, crappy old car, van....and help us save the planet. And make some cash. I make my own buss.cards with hardpaper and sharpie. People like homemade. Remember ues, reuse, recycle. Good luck.
Scrapper Al��