We use a Ford E350 1 Ton van with a 7.3L Diesel and Auto, its a towing machine, mainly used to tow our 16 foot open or our 16 foot v-nose enclosed and store all the things that can normally walk away when you are not with your rig.
We also have a Ford F-150 5.4 Triton truck for pulling our 20 ft. open trailer. I like vans a lot but for NOT for storing chemical or running with bleach mixtures in tanks as the vents make the interior of the van TOXIC!
The gas and diesel fuel if your running a skid inside a van Its NOT for me. For my company while I am in the rig I want to NOT be breathing FUMES. Talk about "Sick House Syndrome "I'm talking about "Sick VAN syndrome".
Plus, if things are not really bolted down you end up with a really bad HEADACHE in a hurry with surface cleaners and fuel tanks and wands and extensions, tool boxes flying everywhere when you have stop suddenly.
I know first hand.
Thank GOD for trailer brakes.
Vans, DO, in my humble opinion most definitely have their place in the PW industry and even for Roof Cleaning.
We have just got a Chevy C30 1 ton van 350 and Auto. A gas hog but tows well. We are setting this one up strictly for mobile roof cleaning ONLY. It will tow a single axle enclosed 8x12 trailer that will house chems and fuel. Van will hold ladders, and misc. roof cleaning tools, and will be used as additional billboard signage.
Still, I don't like having to drive and sit in the same space as my cleaning Chemicals and Fuels. We are considering selling both vans next year and going flatbed trucks like the F-450 or enclosed box trucks.
Just my . 02cents.