My partner has recently ended his relationship as a 20 year employee of a small construction company and is going out on his own. This is part of our sort of FIRE, scale back, live frugally, MMM-inspired life...
But he needs a different vehicle.
The Good: He doesn't need to carry a lot of tools, but he does need to have them easily accessible (not crawling in the back of a truck topper)and locked when in town. Would like to be able to carry 8 foot sheets of sheating/plywood/OSB. Ideally could carry lengths of lumber on a roof rack. The lumber yards in town deliver free of charge, so it isn't necessary for him to carry great volumes and the projects are relatively small. We have other vehicles-- this doesn't need to be a recreation/trip vehicle too. We are handy, and can do many repairs ourselves. We buy and use high mileage vehicles and aren't afraid of them if they have a good reputation.
The Bad: We commute. I know, I know--- it is a waste. But we live a rural life where we farm, recreate and recharge. And we have done it for (gasp) 20 years. We love where we live and we don't want to live in town. Had we been MMMers a long time ago, perhaps we would have chosen differently. But anyway... it is about a 30 mile / 35 minute highway drive to town, where most all of the work will be and has been done. To me, the best gas mileage we can get out of this situation is critical. So a pickup truck isn't ideal for mileage and winter driving, but it is an option.
He is a car guy, and tends toward things he feels are 'cool'-- and he really wants a Sprinter. But they are expensive and I think overkill for what he needs. MMM does his construction out of a minivan, and we have focused our search on trying to find a reasonably priced older Toyota or Honda van, but sometimes our geography leads to weird shortages of supply of some vehicles and higher than book value prices. A Transit type might be too small. Honda Element? Toyota T100?
I suggested a tool trailer that we could leave in town, locked at a friend's place. Then we don't have to haul everything up and down the highway, and maybe the tow vehicle could be smaller, lighter, more efficient. He doesn't warm to the idea, but maybe a suggestion would spark his interest.
Help from the tradespeople in the MMM community? What more information could I give?
Thanks in advance,
The Concerned Mustachian Partner