Truck Refurbishing

[Brando CalPankian]

Our 1998 chip truck has been faithful, but needs to have some upgrades soon.

As we did a CBA, we decided it's in our best interests to keep the truck and referbish it. That will include mechanical and cosmetic upgrades.

One specific upgrade we're thinking of is trying to find local artists to paint the chip box in unique ways based on their interpretation of our work, our community, and the environment. It's a 20 yard box, so there's a lot of real estate.

I was wondering if anyone has had experience in this sort of thing? I've never had time for the arts in my life, and so this is completely new to me. It would be a great addition for the parade and other events we sponsor. If it goes well we could tailor it to seasons and such. Additionally, the advertising would stay simple. Right now we really don't advertise on our trucks, so I'm thinking of how to make a uniform advertising standard while incorporating a unity mindset.

Lastly, have folks used any equipment Referbishing companies? I've seen some loans for this sort of thing (specialty painting aside) and am unsure of how it would work.

Thanks!

 

[southsoundtree]

Consider a wrap

 

[pcpTR33]

The municipal works around here has local high school kids paint murals on the snow plows every couple years, obviously they choose the best student for the task but could be cheap and fun way to gain exposure as well?

 

[Brando CalPankian]

The municipal works around here has local high school kids paint murals on the snow plows every couple years, obviously they choose the best student for the task but could be cheap and fun way to gain exposure as well?

That's along the lines of what I was thinking yeah.

 

[Lumberjack]

Our 1998 chip truck has been faithful, but needs to have some upgrades soon.

As we did a CBA, we decided it's in our best interests to keep the truck and referbish it. That will include mechanical and cosmetic upgrades.

One specific upgrade we're thinking of is trying to find local artists to paint the chip box in unique ways based on their interpretation of our work, our community, and the environment. It's a 20 yard box, so there's a lot of real estate.

I was wondering if anyone has had experience in this sort of thing? I've never had time for the arts in my life, and so this is completely new to me. It would be a great addition for the parade and other events we sponsor. If it goes well we could tailor it to seasons and such. Additionally, the advertising would stay simple. Right now we really don't advertise on our trucks, so I'm thinking of how to make a uniform advertising standard while incorporating a unity mindset.

Lastly, have folks used any equipment Referbishing companies? I've seen some loans for this sort of thing (specialty painting aside) and am unsure of how it would work.

Thanks!

I'm interested in the CBA that says restoring a truck that's been through 30 salty winters makes more sense than updating the fleet.

Consider a wrap

That was my first thought as well. Vehicle wrap is relatively cheap to have printed, can validate the design and quality before it's printed. Then it's relatively easy to remove and replace with the next design.

 

[ATH]

Consider a wrap

That would look more professional/clean. But I think his idea of local artists participating makes it connect to the community better. Probably depends on the community how that's perceived.

Of course, you could have local artists design the wrap...

There seems to be a balance between
1) You are drawing advertising for me and I should pay for those creative services.
2) You are displaying your art on my truck that maybe also draws attention to you.
3) We are coming together to make the community feel more togetherness.

I think it tends a lot heavier towards #1 for a commercial company. I think 2/3 is what kids drawing on the county snowplows sounds like.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Check with a sign shop.

It’s amazing how inexpensive vinyl signs are

You could weld on tabs that signs attach to Makes change easy. Just use anti rust grease in the threads

 

[flushcut]

Once the sheet metal is squared away, repairs/paint, I’d check a sign company as well.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

If you run with the idea of changing signs pick a standard size. The sign shop will know

In fact they might need some sign clearance work done for trade

 

[Brando CalPankian]

The attachable signs is an interesting idea. My chip box has the c channel on the outside of the sheet metal. Mix and match signage could be a cool way to allow folks to have some paint work on some panels, while our "standard" can still be viable.

I was trying to think of something unique to do. Appreciate the ideas.

The idea behind our CBA is that new diesel trucks have emissions issues, which I don't want to deal with due to our cold winters. Used trucks in my price range are either equally as old, or emissions, or beat worse than mine. For $20k we could make the truck pretty nice and completely mechanically sound. No, it won't sell for what we put into it, but the opportunity cost of buying another truck and potentially dumping even more money into it seems like a poor move. If I could buy a brand new gasser 4x4 chip truck, sure, but that doesn't make economic sense with where we are at currently.

We will get wraps/vinyl on the pickups. The chip truck just has a lot of real estate and I was thinking of doing something different. My company doesn't run a pure extractive model, and I'm trying to find more ways to exemplify that. Tree removal is a small but crucial part of our offerings.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Whatever you do don’t let artsy f*rtsy hide your contact ad start looking at advertising that moves then contact info is lost in the clutter


Copywriters understand the dynamics of space on a page

Go to the library and thumb through old yellow page ads as examples of truck sides. What wirks