this post was submitted on 04 Mar 2024
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Oftentimes where it would make sense for the tradie to buy a Van.
Yeah, like when they go hunting or tow a boat. Vehicles with two wheel drive and bugger all ground clearance are awesome like that.
Plenty of tradie vans are 4wd and have decent ground clearance. And their tools won't get nicked out the back.
Oh and don't forget, plenty of places don't allow you to use your work vehicle during the weekend anyway.
First, four wheel drive vans are incredibly rare, and tend to have the same ground clearance as the two wheel drive versions. Second, it's just as easy to break a window in a van as break into a ute canopy.
And if you're self employed, you can do whatever you want with your work vehicle.
I personally know two tradies with 4WD vans, and of the builders who worked on our house back when we were building, half had 4WD vans.
Sure, it's just as easy. But then why have a ute with a canopy when a van can hold more cargo, and has a bigger roof for long items like ladders, pipes and wood? And even if we say a canopy is great, most of the actual tradie utes I see don't have any bed cover. The ones with canopys are invariably white collar workers.
Just today, I saw 5 utes with signwriting on my morning commute. One was a landscaper hauling bark, fair enough. The others were a engineer, an farm insurance company, an electrical wholesalers and a power tool salesman. They sure needed those utes didn't they?
Of course, although you have to be careful about how to claim the gst and tax on fuel etc. You are supposed to track work-related use separately.
Most tradies are not self employed though. I rarely see sparkies, plumbers or builders driving in their company vehicles during the weekend. I have a sparkie mate, and he's the only one in the whole company who is allowed to use his van for personal use, all the others aren't (except the boss of course).
I love how outraged you are about someone else's choice of vehicle.
I'm not outraged mate. I'm capable of having an opinion without being angry.
You definitely seem angry to me.
I'm really not. Typing replies does not mean I'm angry. I think you are pushing your expectations on me here mate.
Because Joe from Joe's plumbing is going to empty the van of all his tools, supplies and parts in order to take it hunting each weekend.
Work vehicles are exactly that.
I know people who do exactly that, smart-ass. Besides, you typically have enough room in a work vehicle to fit weekend gear in without emptying it out.
How many people go hunting on the weekend?