my service van looks like a mobile sparkfest after wiring a 200A subpanel
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DoorJamJam2
·5mo·73 replies·70 participants
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DoorJamJam2🏆 MasterOP5mo
115
had a job last week installing a 200A subpanel with 2/0 aluminum feeders and the whole back of my van is littered with romex scraps, sharkbite connectors i didnt end up using, and about 50 zip ties that somehow multiplied. me and my helper spent more time cleaning up than actually wiring because the customer wanted everything perfect, even though its going in the garage. NGL, i love the milwaukee m18 fish tape but it always leaves grease on everything. saw a post on r/electricians about organizing service vans and figured id ask, anyone got hacks for keeping conduit and mc cable from turning your rig into a tangled mess? watched that Electrician U video on van setups but still feel like mine's a disaster. anyone else deal with this crap?
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PaintSplat2⭐ Expert5mo
25
those damn service companies pushing pe rollups are ruining vans for all of us with their cookie cutter wraps that hide the tool scratches.
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HammerTimeHero5🏆 Master5mo
18
yeah the wraps are fine but when they fade its a nightmare.
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LiftAndShift2⭐ Expert5mo
45
same here man, my back aches from digging through the mess every morning.
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CleanFreakMike⭐ Expert5mo
23
get some pegboard panels, changed my life.
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DoorJamDud⭐ Expert5mo
15
pegboard works but magnets are better for smaller stuff like wire nuts.
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WattTheHeck4⭐ Expert5mo
14
tried magnets, they stick to everything including my coffee mug.
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TenYearVet6👑 Legend5mo
23
pe guys with their fleets are why insurance is through the roof now.
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GarageGuru2🏆 Master5mo
22
frustrated as hell, spent a whole saturday reorganizing after a big panel upgrade job went sideways.
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RollerRascal⭐ Expert5mo
19
use label makers on all your bins, saves time hunting for that one ferrule you need.
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WrenchWiz2🏆 Master5mo
21
labels fade quick, go with colored bins instead.
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TileTerrorist⭐ Expert5mo
28
colored bins yes, but get the heavy duty plastic ones.
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CircuitSmasher4⭐ Expert5mo
25
helper knocked over my whole romex stack last week, took hours to sort.
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ChillMaster6👑 Legend4mo
22
happens to everyone, just build in extra time for cleanup.
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ArcFlashAl👑 Legend4mo
15
damn apprentices always leaving tools out, van turns into a hazard real quick.
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DustDevil🏆 Master4mo
21
yeah, had to fire one for that crap.
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MopMaster⭐ Expert4mo
22
organized mine with roof racks for longer conduit, no more interior clutter.
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DeadboltDude👑 Legend4mo
23
roof racks are gold, but watch for low branches.
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DuctTapeDave4⭐ Expert4mo
14
pe firms are buying up all the good van deals, leaving us scraps.
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RootRider⭐ Expert4mo
21
my knees are shot from climbing over junk in the back.
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AirFlowAce2🏆 Master4mo
17
get a cargo net system, keeps everything from sliding around on jobs.
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ChillChampion⭐ Expert4mo
22
cargo nets yes, but they snag on sharp edges like mc cable ends.
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FlushMaster👑 Legend4mo
16
hate when the van smells like burnt wire after a long day.
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LockPickLarry3🏆 Master4mo
20
frustrated with the constant restocking, feels like half my time.
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SawdustSavant28🏆 Master4mo
27
those big fleets from rollups make traffic worse for all of us sparkies.
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GarageGuru9🏆 Master3mo
23
traffic and parking, nightmare in tight spots.
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AmpedUp4⭐ Expert3mo
38
saw the same in Electricians Network fb group, everyone complaining.
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ShingleShuffler👑 Legend3mo
14
dont do open shelving, dust gets everywhere and ruins connectors.
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ShingleShaman2⭐ Expert3mo
12
my van's a rolling toolbox now after adding pull out drawers.
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KeyMaster3⭐ Expert3mo
22
pull out drawers are the best upgrade i made.
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NotAnElectrician22🏆 Master3mo
12
same struggle, romex everywhere after subpanel installs.
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BushWhacker2⭐ Expert3mo
25
asking, what do you guys use for securing heavy feeders?
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SpringSpecialist⭐ Expert3mo
24
use milwaukee packout system, stacks nice and modular.
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SpotlessSteve4⭐ Expert3mo
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sharkbites in a van? bold, but they save time on jobs.
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WattTheHeck10⭐ Expert3mo
14
controversial take, but skip the fancy organizers, just use milk crates.
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WireWizard8⭐ Expert3mo
25
controversial, but i prefer cargo vans over trucks for tool access.
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WeedWhackerWiz⭐ Expert3mo
28
cargo vans trap heat, tools rust faster.
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LumberLad🏆 Master2mo
20
trucks better for hauling but harder to organize.
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LaminateLegend2⭐ Expert2mo
5
asking, anyone wrap their van for branding? worth it?
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VoltageVagabond2🏆 Master2mo
22
pe rollups with their fleets are killing small guys like us.
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DrainDemon2⭐ Expert2mo
21
yeah, competition from those giants sucks.
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RollerRandy👑 Legend2mo
25
hate reloading after every panel job, its endless.
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TarpTitan4⭐ Expert2mo
17
warning, dont overload your van roof, i lost a load once.
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WireWizard10⭐ Expert2mo
16
lost conduit everywhere, nightmare cleanup.
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PipeDreamer3⭐ Expert2mo
28
my back is killing me from the disorganization.
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WattTheHeck29👑 Legend2mo
26
use adjustable shelving, fits whatever wire gauge youre running.
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HammerTimeHero4⭐ Expert2mo
38
funny how a simple fish tape can turn your van into a warzone.
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PestPatrol6⭐ Expert2mo
20
had a rat nest in my old van, tools chewed up.
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BugHunterPro⭐ Expert2mo
25
frustrated, customer complained about my dirty boots tracking in van grime.
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HandyHank⭐ Expert1mo
19
pe companies with 50 vans make us look small time.
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AmpedUp4⭐ Expert1mo
18
and they undercut on price too.
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GarageGuru9🏆 Master1mo
2
asking, best locks for van doors to keep tools safe?
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CleanFreakJoe⭐ Expert1mo
15
my setup with bins finally lets me find stuff quick.
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JoltJester3⭐ Expert1mo
13
humor, my van's so packed it drives like a drunk elephant.
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VoltageVagabond2🏆 Master1mo
28
warning, check tire pressure weekly, heavy loads wear em fast.
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ChiselChamp⭐ Expert1mo
25
blew a tire on site once, delayed the whole job.
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FrameFreak2⭐ Expert1mo
22
pe rollups buying everyone out, soon no solo vans left.
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LockoutLila🏆 Master1mo
49
same, always tripping over extension cords in the back.
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BrushStrokePro7⭐ Expert1mo
24
controversial, but i think trucks beat vans for electrical hauls.
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ColorCrazeCarl⭐ Expert1mo
16
humor, labeled my bins but still cant find the damn multimeter.
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RidgeRunner⭐ Expert1mo
17
warning, secure batteries properly, one shorted out in my van once.
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BloomBoss⭐ Expert28d
26
fire risk, yeah dont mess around.
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SodSquad🏆 Master25d
36
felt that, reorganizing is my weekend hell.
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LiftMaster2⭐ Expert23d
22
proud of my custom racks, holds 500ft of wire easy.
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GarageGuru11⭐ Expert20d
26
warning, dont cheap out on van liners, tools scratch the floor bad.
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SawdustSavant22⭐ Expert17d
15
those fleet managers in rollups dont know real work.
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HammerTimePro2⭐ Expert14d
15
proud, just got a new ford transit, organizing it now.
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PipeDreamer16⭐ Expert11d
13
same mess after every 240v install.
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ScrubLord⭐ Expert9d
28
my helper and i laugh about the van chaos daily.
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BrushStrokePro10⭐ Expert6d
12
commiseration, its the little things that pile up.
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DrainDevil2⭐ Expert3d
21
always the zip ties that get everywhere.
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TarheelTiler4🏆 Master1d
27
commiseration, vans are our second home, gotta make em livable.
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GarageGuru9🏆 Master6h
18
finally got mine sorted, feels good.
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OpenerOperator5🏆 Master6h
15
commiseration, yeah the struggle is real for all of us.