I was looking at where my money was going a few months ago and Fuel was one of the biggest expenses with no payback. I was spending between $7-900 a month at the pump driving my full size van everywhere.
I decided to make some changes. I bought a 4cyl Ford Ranger cab & a half, and kept the van for days I really needed it. In four months I used it three times, the rest of the time I managed with the Ranger. I have a topper with a rack on it and for small amounts of material I can strap it on the roof, the rest I have delivered.
I sold the van this past week and bought a nice 1967 Ford Camper Special, ironically a Ranger edition, to haul large loads, move my tractor and so forth. It has a 460 ci engine, so no 30 mpg here, but I will not need it much, and when I do it is fun.
I have been saving between 3-400 dollars a month, so that is one less day I have to work a month to end up at the same place financially. Fuel costs are never going down and raising rates for contractors to compensate is not really an option lately, so I had to cut overhead. I am happy with the new arrangement, and after a little adjustment it is not a handycap.
In a funny twist I now own the first Ranger[1967] and the last Ranger[2011] to be sold here by Ford. Now to sell my 1947 Dodge truck, no need for two old trucks.
Just a thought for some of you small contractors on the board.
Larry