Home/Operations/🔨 Handyman/Upgrading My Handyman Van's Tool Setup in North Jersey - Worth the $2k Investment?
Upgrading My Handyman Van's Tool Setup in North Jersey - Worth the $2k Investment?
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HammerTimeGuy5
·1mo·22 replies·21 participants
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HammerTimeGuy5⚒️ JourneymanOP1mo
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I've been running my handyman gigs out of a beat-up Ford Transit in north jersey for 5 years now, and it's time to upgrade the tool storage before another job turns into a crap-show. Just dropped $2k on a Husky mobile workbench and some DeWalt cordless combo kits to mount in the back - makes grabbing a circular saw or impact driver way faster for those quick drywall patches and deck repairs. No more digging through a messy pile while the homeowner's watching. Watched a video from Essential Craftsman that convinced me organized vans save hours a week. Has anyone else done a similar fleet tweak? YMMV but I'm stoked. Check out this setup I mocked up.
did the same upgrade last year on my cargo van and it's a game-changer, cut my setup time in half for those deck jobs. stoked to see your husky setup, looks solid.
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NailGunnerNed⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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damn homeowners always eyeballin you while youre diggin through that junkpile like youre some kinda slob. spent 2k on my setup last year and it shut em up quick, no more side-eye on the job.
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DrainDragon7⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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how'd you mount that husky workbench in the transit without it shifting on those jersey potholes?
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EaveEnforcer⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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man, i feel that - spent years digging through my junky cargo van setup in new jersey, turning every quick fix into a half day fiasco before i finally shelled out for some decent organizers.
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OddJobOtto2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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goddamn homeowners always bitchin when you take an extra minute to dig for tools in a messy van, like theyre payin for your entertainment instead of the damn work.
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RollMaster⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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man, that digging through the pile bullshit drives me nuts too - lost a whole afternoon last week fumbling for my impact in the north jersey rain. finally shelled out for a husky organizer myself and it cut my setup time in half, no more looking like an idiot in front of the client. been there, glad you're getting it sorted.
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TrackTormentor⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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man, i dropped 2k on a husky setup last year and three months in the damn thing warped from all the north jersey humidity, now im back to digging through crap. wish id stuck with something lighter like that weatherguard rack instead.
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DoorJamJam2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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my van was such a disaster that one time i spent 20 minutes hunting for a damn phillips head while the homeowner's dog kept nipping at my heels. dropped 1.5k on a weatherguard system last year and now i feel like a pro instead of a raccoon rummaging through trash. your husky setup sounds solid, bet it beats digging in the dark. just dont let the wife turn it into a mobile closet 😂
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ColorChaos3⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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man, that dog-nipping tool hunt sounds just like my old setup, had me swearing under my breath every damn time.
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DirtBagLandscaper6⭐ Expert1mo
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spent $1500 last year on a weatherguard system for my truck and the damn thing rusted out in six months from all the north jersey salt, total waste.
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RookieRoofer🔧 Apprentice1mo
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Organize by job type - keep all the trim tools in one drawer, it'll cut your search time in half.
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BoxTosser⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Yeah, I sectioned mine for electrical vs plumbing, game changer.
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VacuumViking⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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$2k? That's rookie money - wait til you add the custom racks and then it's a real money pit. 😂
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FrameFreak6⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Haha, true, started with $500 and now my van looks like a mobile workshop exploded.
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BoxTosser⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Same here man, my old setup was a nightmare until I got some pegboard panels.
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FrameFreak6⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Frustrated as hell with my current van - tools everywhere after every rain job.
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WireWhisperer6⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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god damn north jersey vans turn into a total crap show after every job, especially when rain hits and everything's soaked. i spent a weekend reorganizing mine and still feel like im fighting the chaos every time. screw the way these setups are designed, its like they want us to waste half our day hunting for tools. that 2k might be worth it if it keeps you from losing your mind like the rest of us.
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HardwoodHustler⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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spent $800 on milwaukee packout boxes last year and it cut my tool hunting time in half, worth every penny even if north jersey mud tries to ruin it. bolt em to the walls with some 1/4 inch lag screws so they dont slide around on bumpy roads. added rubber mats underneath to keep the wet crap from soaking everything, and now i grab my drill or sawzall in seconds. label the bins with sharpie for quick grabs, no more digging. if youre dropping 2k, throw in a dewalt toughsystem organizer for the small stuff like bits and screws. keeps the van from turning into a total disaster after those rainy jobs.
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RoofRider⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Feel you on that north jersey traffic, makes a good setup essential.
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PipeLord4206⭐ Expert1mo
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Insurance companies hate when vans are overloaded - we all gonna get screwed with higher premiums soon.
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SodSlinger⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Don't forget the coffee maker mount, nothing funny like spilling hot joe on your Makita batteries mid-drive.
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BugBusterBob2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Pro tip: add some LED strips under the shelves, turns night loading into a breeze without fumbling.
