Best Trucks for Junk Removal
Selecting a junk removal truck is one of the biggest decisions when starting a cleanout business. Your choice will depend mostly on your budget and credit score. Since our objective is to provide relevant information for potential and current junk removal businesses of all backgrounds, ages, and value, we will deliver information on a wide range of options.
The decision generally comes down to these four choices:
- Buy a truck and regular trailer or dump trailer
- Operate with a box truck
- Buy a used junk removal truck
- Purchase a new truck with a new body installed
Pickup with dump trailer
The cheapest choice is purchasing a pickup and trailer. For those on a tight budget and/or have bad credit or zero credit history, you will likely go in this direction. You can find a dependable truck for about $5,000 to $7,000 and add a trailer for $2,000.
There are a few downsides to going with a trailer, however. We should know. Our junk removal company in east Pittsburgh, PA started with one.
One con that goes with using a trailer is that you will unload everything manually. In other words, once the truck is loaded, the job is just halfway finished. You will need to hand unload at donation centers, recycling centers, transfer stations, dumps, and landfills.
Trucks and trailers are also more difficult to back up. This becomes a big issue when you hire helpers. Most will not know how to back a trailer. Or worse, they’ will say they know how and proceed to get in an accident.
Second, signage is not as noticeable on your trailer, thus you will probably get fewer jobs from people seeing the truck out and about.
Last, prospective customers may not take you as seriously or believe you are able to haul as much junk. There is nothing more frustrating than arriving to a customer’s job and hearing them say, “Oh, I figured you had a big truck.”
But if you’re short on money, you will have to suck it up for the time being. Focus on making money quickly for funds to upgrade your ride.
Used box truck
The second option is acquiring an old box truck. Used U-Haul, Budget, Ryder, and other rental trucks often can be bought for $10,000 to $15,000.
The box truck is only a small upgrade from the truck and trailer. You may choose to have large graphics installed on the truck to make it look more professional. However, you still will have to hand unload trash.
A box truck is solid for donations as it keeps contents dry and away from the elements. Many junk removal companies have a box truck in addition to a dump truck for donations, but they don’t work alone for full house cleanouts.
If you can’t afford a dump truck, begin with a truck and trailer and upgrade to a dump truck as soon as you can. Used dump trucks costs only a small amount more than the box truck and will pay for themselves in no time with increased efficiency.
Used dump truck
Option No. 3 is to invest in a used dump truck. You can typically find a solid truck online at Truckpaper.com or commercialtrucktrader.com. We also suggest looking on Craigslist.
If you can, avoid trucks that have been used in harsh weather conditions and coastal areas. The rust from those trucks increases maintenance costs.
When looking at used trucks, you likely see an Isuzu NPR or a GMC W4500. They are the same truck. The only difference is one says “Isuzu” and the other “GMC”.
We suggest buying a truck with a model year of 2005 and more recent. The 2005 model was the first year of the 4HK1 engine, which more power than its predecessor, the 4HE1. Additionally, many of the parts are cheaper (though still expensive).
Models from 2012 and later use Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF), which has to be refilled a lot. The DEF tank is also an area for inexperienced drivers to do damage by adding fuel to the DEF tank and not the fuel tank.
The 2007 and older models are lighter in weight. The 2008 and newer models are more comfortable, However, with added comfort comes increased weight and decreased payload weight for your trucks.
Brand new
The last option you have is buying brand new and installing your choice of truck body.
We recommend Isuzu NRR trucks, which can be purchased at your local Isuzu dealer. NRR’s have a 19,500 Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) compared to an NPR, which has 14,500 GVWR. In other words, an NRR can haul 5,000 pounds more than an NPR. That’s possible because the suspension and brakes are more heavy-duty.
NRR’s also have fewer maintenance costs. Their brakes generally last twice as long because they are larger. It is also easier to keep from overloading an NRR.
In a lot of instances, you will operate an NPR overweight, which is illegal and not safe.
The NRR costs $5,000 more upfront, but you will likely be financing or leasing. Thus, your monthly payment won’t be much higher. It is worth the cost.
Final word
We suggest purchasing a used truck or buying a new NRR. It depends on your finances. If you can afford new, do it. You will be able to do more jobs because less repairs will be needed. Besides, there is nothing worse then a truck that fails when you don’t have another as a back up.