Should I Use a Van to Run My Lawn Mowing Business?

Whether you’re a new lawn mowing business owner/operator or considering upgrading your business vehicle, you might have wondered whether a van would suit your needs.

Purchasing a new vehicle is a significant decision to make, so it’s likely not one you want to make on a whim. Before you hand over your hard-earned money to a vehicle salesperson, take a moment to weigh up the pros and cons of van ownership in the lawncare industry.

Pro: Your Lawn Mowing Equipment Is Safe and Secure

While burglaries are allegedly declining throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, that doesn’t mean all business owners are confident that their valuable equipment and tools are safe. You might even worry about having fuel containers, lawn mowers, and other equipment sitting on a ute deck while you’re assisting a client with their lawn care needs.

That’s normally less of a concern when you use a van. Rather than storing gear on the open deck of a ute, you can place it in your locked van and feel more confident when parking it on an average NZ residential street.

Con: Strong Odours

Lawn care can be a bit of a smelly business. While few smells are as sweet as freshly mown grass, it can be a bit overpowering when mixed with the pungent odour of fuel from petrol-powered equipment.

When you have a ute or a trailer, you can typically avoid these odours, but it can be much more challenging when there is no separation between you and your equipment during transportation.   

Pro: You Don’t Have to Tow a Trailer

Towing a trailer can sometimes be frustrating. You’re limited in where you can park, you have to drive 10km slower on main highways than other drivers, and you have to adjust your driving style to suit the extra load.

You might not need to worry about that if you purchase a van. Many vans are large enough to transport push mowers and even some ride-on mowers with plenty of leftover space for other power equipment like leaf blowers and line trimmers.

Con: You Need to Stay Organised

When you run your business with a ute and trailer, you don’t typically need to worry about staying organised because you have plenty of space to work with on a trailer and ute deck.

However, the average van has less space than a ute deck and trailer combined, which means you might need to get creative with how you store your equipment for transport. If you decide to purchase a van, you might need to have a storage system in place to easily find items and remove equipment from the van quickly and conveniently.

Pro: Affordable to Buy

Vans are a tradesperson’s best friend here in Aotearoa, so there is typically no shortage of options on the market. Whether you’re buying new or secondhand, you’re bound to find something within your budget.

While there’s certainly no shortage of utes for sale in NZ, they often come with higher price tags. This is partly due to their desirability for town and country dwellers alike, but also because of the ute tax the government has imposed. This tax means Kiwis will pay approximately $3,000 more as a penalty under the Clean Car Discount package.
If you’re on a budget during your hunt for a new vehicle, vans can undoubtedly be an option you consider to keep expenditure to a minimum.

Con: Inferior Suspension and Towing Capacity

If you pay attention to the specs of any vehicle you buy, you might notice how impressive the towing capacity and suspension are of many new utes for sale. Sadly, this area is often lacking in the average van.

It can be worth keeping this in mind if you’ll need to tow a trailer to haul a ride-on lawn mower and other equipment. You might find that a ute has more ‘get up and go’ than the average van.

How to Set Up a Van for a Lawn Care Business

If you’re adamant about using a van for your new lawn care business, you might be curious about how to set them up. Everyone’s needs are different, but you could start by learning about the most necessary items and equipment to include in the average van.

At a minimum, you’ll need your client job information, lawn mower, power equipment, and fuel if you aren’t a green lawn mowing service provider. A toolkit, wet weather gear, spare parts, and a first aid kit also need to take pride of place in your van. And don’t forget your lunch box!

If you typically provide a lawn clippings removal service, you might need to tow a trailer occasionally. However, if you’re aware of these jobs in advance, you can line them up one after another to reduce the number of days you’ll need to use your trailer.

Van or Ute – You Decide

There can be so much to organise and plan when you purchase a lawn care franchise and start your self-employment journey in earnest. Now that you’re aware of all the pros and cons of van vs. ute ownership, you can make an informed choice and purchase a new vehicle with confidence.