After over two years of general contracting, I’ve finally transformed my truck into the perfect contractor’s truck. Whether you’re a woodworker, a contractor, a remodeler, or a serial DIYer, you’ll find this article about the Anatomy of the Perfect Contractor’s Truck beneficial for discovering accessories to make your truck more practical for hauling tools and lumber.

Back at the start of the Saving Etta project, it became clear I’d need a pickup truck to assist me with hauling materials and my tools. I purchased an old white pick up truck for $4,500.

Although the truck got me through the project, it wasn’t without a fair amount of headaches. Frankly, I felt like the truck and I didn’t get along. Twice the truck locked me out. One time the keys were in the ignition and the engine was still running! Little annoying things kept breaking on the truck (like the back door latches one after the other) and then the ABS brakes (which actually control the regular brakes too) went out to the tune of $900. I replaced them, but was always wary of the possibility of them dying on me again.  Between the rising repair costs and the fear of being locked out, I decided it was time for another used truck after I sold the Saving Etta house. This time I had a much clearer vision of what I needed in a general contractor’s truck. And I think you’ll appreciate my new-to-me truck and how it really is the perfect contractor’s truck! Keep reading to find out the accessories that make it perfect and how I’m planning on keeping this truck running smoothly for me.

This is a sponsored post for Gumout. I was provided complimentary products and was compensated for my time and efforts to promote Gumout. I was not told what to write. All opinions are my own. I am particular about the brands I represent and will always let you know when you are reading a sponsored post.

The Search for the Perfect Contractor’s Truck:

When I searched the internet for ideas for what I should look for in a general contractor truck, all I found were links to truck accessory websites. Then I looked on YouTube and discovered lots of ideas for beautiful custom-built tool storage in a truck bed. Besides not having the time to build something for my truck, I also knew it would limit the flexibility and storage capacity in it.

The other options I found were true work trucks with more storage than I wanted. For example, the truck below is outfitted with storage compartments, but you usually give up valuable real estate when built-in storage is added. I knew I needed the flexibility of a full pick up truck bed sometimes. Therefore I nixed the idea of built-in storage compartments.

Before searching for another truck, I made a list of must-haves and “would be nice” options on a contractor truck.

Contractor Truck Must Haves:

  • Safe (and Weather-Proof) Place to Store Tools
  • Ability to Haul Lumber
  • Flexibility to Carry Cargo like Appliances
  • Back Seat for Passengers (and Dog)
  • Additional Storage Space in the Back Seat
  • Truck Bed Large Enough for a Sheet Goods
  • Locking Cover for Truck Bed
  • Tow Hitch
  • Strong Engine for Hauling Trailers

Contractor Truck Optional Features (not Necessities):

  • Back Window that Opened
  • Additional Storage Bins inside Cab
  • Radio/Bluetooth Stereo
  • USB Port
  • Truck Bed Rubber Mat
  • Easy Cleaning Floor Mats inside Cab
  • Leather or Vinyl Seats
  • Back Up Camera
  • Power Outlet

With my list made, I began searching for used pickup trucks that would meet my criteria. I purposely didn’t look at new trucks because I knew I’d be putting this truck through the paces and I didn’t want to cry over a scratch or dent on a new truck.

Ultimately I narrowed my search to 4-5 year old used trucks because I didn’t want to buy an older model again.

Must Have Features in a Contractor’s Truck

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Let me preface this by saying, I’ve been using this truck for almost a year now and it fits my specific needs as a general contractor perfectly. I perform a lot of my own labor, so I load my truck with the tools I’ll use for the week and remove the ones I don’t need that week.

Tool Storage:

While using the old white truck, I purchased several utility bins to keep tools and equipment organized in the bed area. This system worked so well, I decided to continue to use the bins in my new navy truck.

The nice thing about the bins is they keep my tools out of sight and drier than just sitting loose in the truck bed. Plus, the raised edges on the bin lids let me set things on top of the bins and they won’t slide around.

Inside one bin is my safety gear and occasionally a can of WD-40. LOL, not sure how that got in there. The other bin holds my smaller power tools, batteries, and bits for my drills.

The utility bins are easy to maneuver, move, or remove when I need the space in the truck bed.

Hand tools, small nails, screws, and other tools fit neatly in the Husky connect toolboxes. I purchased this top toolbox and the bottom handled-bin. Connected together they create one large toolbox.

Hauling Lumber and Materials:

(Please Note: the photos below are for illustration purposes only. Be sure to secure and tie down your lumber and material loads before transporting them.)

Traditionally I try to have lumber and supplies delivered to the job site. But, there are definitely times when it’s easier for me to pick up lumber at the last minute. With the old F-150, I had an operable back window but made the mistake of hauling big pressure treated 2x10s and resting them on the dashboard. The first bump I hit, I cracked my dashboard.  Lesson learned—and for that reason—I decided to purchase a headache rack, specifically a BackRack for the Tundra.

For those occasions when I want to haul long lengths of trim and lightweight lumber, I can rest stacks on the rails of the BackRack and feed them through the open back window. But, I never let the lumber touch the dashboard or the windshield. (No need to risk damaging them.)

Another way I use the BackRack is to haul materials over the truck cab. Normally I don’t run the lumber at this extreme an angle, but as long as it’s not going to snap and is tied down, this system works well.

If  I have to transport long boards or extension ladders, I add the bed extender. You can see it below (the bar attaches to the hitch.) The bed extender I bought also has the option to be reconfigured to support lumber extended directly from the truck bed. This has been a huge help when transporting up to 12′ lengths. Anything over that I run up and over the cab on the Back Rack.

The bed extender I purchased is the MAXX Haul Truck Hitch Bed Extender, you can purchase it on Amazon or your local truck accessory shop. When not in use, I can easily store it in my garage or shed.

If I need to haul a trailer, I can remove the bed extender and insert a towing ball mount. This feature comes in handy for hauling everything from open to closed trailers.

Security and Weather Protection:

My old F-150 had a hard tonneau cover on it. The cover was great for weather protection and security, but it didn’t offer full use of the bed. If I had to remove it, it was a literal pain in the neck trying to crawl under the cover to get to the clamps and remove items from the back of the bed. If I needed to haul appliances I had to get help removing the hard cover. It was definitely not a quick or easy process.

spruce trees loaded into back of truck

After purchasing my Tundra, I visited our local truck accessory shop and talked at length with the salespeople there. I explained all the requirements I had for my new truck and specifically asked for alternatives to the hard tonneau cover. They pointed me in the direction of the BAK Revolver X2 rolling tonneau cover. This is by far my favorite addition to the truck!

I can roll it open and closed one-handed and it gives me access to entire truck bed. Once closed, the cover won’t open until the tailgate is opened. If you want it locked, just lock your tailgate! The cover will rest nicely on top of sheet goods that don’t fit inside the truck bed.

And when I need to haul appliances, I can quickly roll the cover open and load in tall appliances (unlike the old hard cover on my Ford.) For carrying appliances, the BackRack doubles as a tie-down anchor for safely transporting appliances or other cargo.

If I had any complaints about the BAK Revolver X2 cover, they are minimal. The first is the aluminum underside gets very hot when it’s in the sun. But, I quickly learned to only touch the black felt strips when rolling the cover.

My second complaint is, the cover isn’t 100% weatherproof. A heavy rain will allow some water to seep into the truck bed at the four corners of the cover. But, I store my tools in the storage bins, so this isn’t a huge deal for me.

Miscellaneous Interior Storage and Contractor’s Mobile Office:

Inside the cab of my truck are all the things I need on a day-to-day basis. I store materials I don’t want to be exposed to the weather inside. My Tundra has a lot of compartments, but my favorite is the sunglasses compartment where I keep my favorite safety glasses inside to prevent them from getting scratched.

The center console has lots of additional storage areas for my tape measure, business cards, my favorite utility knife, and more.

Pens and pencils are close at hand in this pen grip holder which attaches to the visor in my truck.

In the backseat, I have a file bin that holds all the files I need to reference throughout the day. For safety, I keep it buckled up because I wouldn’t want to get hit in the head by the metal bin. Ouch.

One of my most miserable memories from working on the Saving Etta project was the day it was cold and rainy. After that experience, I always keep a change of clothes in my truck. My washable coveralls are also stored in the bag. I tend to spend a fair amount of time in attics and crawlspaces and the cloth coveralls are more comfortable (and form-fitting) than the disposable ones. A clean pair of boots are also a necessity. Did I tell you about the time I had to go see my son’s teacher at school and my boots were so muddy I had to leave them at the front entrance and walk through the school in my socks? True story.

Any contractor knows receipts are plentiful while working on a project. I keep my receipts organized in the accordion file in the passenger seatback pocket. I never have to hunt for receipts again and they don’t get scattered all over.

Protecting My Perfect Contractor’s Truck:

The Tundra and I are definitely working well as a team. It hasn’t locked me out once and there aren’t random things breaking on my truck. I’m determined to keep this truck for a long time and I want to protect it from excessive wear and tear. Therefore when Gumout approached me about talking about their products, I was all in!

To keep my Tundra running smoothly and let me have a dependable ride, I make sure I keep up with regular maintenance like oil changes on my truck. I also started protecting the engine by adding a bottle of Gumout All-in-One Fuel System Cleaner every 3,000 miles.

Gumout All-in-One is protecting my truck specifically in these ways:

  • Helps improve fuel economy and horsepower
  • Helps boost engine performance
  • Flushes your fuel system from gas tank to tailpipe
  • Cleans and protects engine parts
  • Get every mile out of each tank of gas
  • Helps keep your engine running smoothly
  • Guards against deposits and wear that can prematurely age an engine
  • Helps keep your engine younger, longer
  • Helps your car maintain peak performance

To protect your vehicle, add one bottle to a nearly empty gasoline tank. Refill the gas tank with up to 25 gallons of gasoline. For best results, do not refill the tank until near empty. Repeat every 3,000 miles. (It’s easiest to remember when it’s time to use Gumout again if you time it just after each oil change.)

My truck has about 60,000 miles on it, but next year that odometer will likely roll over to 75,000 miles. When that happens, I’ll be switching to the Gumout Regane High Mileage Fuel System Cleaner.

The Gumout Regane High Mileage Fuel System Cleaner benefits higher mileage automobiles in these ways:

  • Cleans your fuel system
  • Helps restore engine performance
  • Helps restore engine power
  • Helps extend the life of your engine
  • Helps keep your engine going
  • Make it part of your car’s maintenance routine
  • Help add years to your car in just seconds
  • Prevents and removes deposits that compromise fuel economy
  • Minimizes carbon buildup
  • Prevents excess friction and reduces carbon deposits

Now I’m curious, do you have any accessories or options I should add to my perfect contractor’s truck? Or let me know how you protect your automobile or truck? I definitely love my truck.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Gumout. I was provided complimentary products and was compensated for my time and efforts to promote Gumout. I was not told what to write. All opinions are my own. I am particular about the brands I represent and will always let you know when you are reading a sponsored post.

12 Tips to Maintain the Value of Your Car | Pretty Handy Girl

12 Tips to Maintain the Value of Your Car | Pretty Handy Girl

We’ve sold a few cars in our lives. Each time we were able to get top dollar for our used vehicles. Today I have 12 Tips to Maintain the Value of Your Car. 

(This is a sponsored post for Spiffy Mobile Car Wash, my newest favorite way to get my car washed!)

You’ve all heard the saying that a new car depreciates the moment you drive it off the lot. Although, this is somewhat true, you can prevent your car’s value from depreciating too much and too quickly by following these tips:

1. Keep it Clean – Leaving dirt and debris on your vehicle can cause small scratches. Worse yet, bird poop and splatters can actually damage the paint. A regular cleaning is going to keep your car in tip top shape.

As you know, those inexpensive drive thru car washes don’t get your car completely clean, especially on the inside. But, do you really have time to drop off your car to a mobile detailer? That’s where Spiffy Mobile Car Wash can help. They come to your home or place of business and clean your car while you work or chase the kids.

12 Tips to Maintain the Value of Your Car | Pretty Handy Girl

All you have to do is download the app and select your service and appointment time. Then watch as your car gets cleaned from the inside out. I’ll give you more details about the service at the end of these tips.

2. No Salt – If you live at the beach or in a harsh winter area, salt can break down your car’s paint and cause metal to rust much faster. It’s important to keep your car protected with frequent car washes and wax your vehicle’s exterior. (Spiffy Mobile Detail can do this for you if you chose the 3,4, or 5 service!)

3. Change Your Oil Regularly – Help your car’s engine run smoothly for a long time by keeping up with your oil changes. Depending on the age of your vehicle, oil changes are recommended every 3,000 – 5,000 miles. Be sure to keep your receipts to show potential buyers that your car was well cared for.

4. Check Fluids – Make sure to check your car’s fluid levels at least once a month. You can check the fluids yourself or ask a mechanic to check for you. Top off engine oil, windshield wiper fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, coolant, and brake fluid if they are low. As an easy reminder, ask your mechanic to check and top off fluids at every oil change. Read more

2 Minute Wiper Blade Change | Pretty Handy Girl

2 Minute Wiper Blade Change | Pretty Handy Girl

Have you ever had something get stuck in your wiper and you don’t realize it until it is pouring rain. Instead of pulling over to remove the object from the wiper, I tried the old “reach out the window and flick the wiper up.” Big mistake! I ended up breaking the wiper blade off the wiper arm. Ugh. Luckily we weren’t far from home, and I was able to drive home and swap cars before driving off the road.

2 Minute Wiper Blade Change | Pretty Handy Girl

Lesson learned, next time I won’t be so lazy.

New automobiles have improved the ease with which you can change the wiper blades. In fact, it will probably take you less time to change your automobile wipers than it takes to read this tutorial. Do you have 2 minutes? Great, let’s get to it.

2 Minute Wiper Blade Change | Pretty Handy Girl

Buy a new set of wiper blades. Go ahead and splurge for good quality wipers so they won’t start squeaking in a few months. Grab a flathead screw driver.

2 Minute Wiper Blade Change | Pretty Handy Girl

Insert a flathead screwdriver under the tab on the wiper.

2 Minute Wiper Blade Change | Pretty Handy Girl

Lift up and expose the wiper arm hook.

2 Minute Wiper Blade Change | Pretty Handy Girl

Press the lever down and push the wiper in toward the arm to slip the blade off the hook.

2 Minute Wiper Blade Change | Pretty Handy Girl

Remove the broken wiper.

2 Minute Wiper Blade Change | Pretty Handy Girl

All wipers aren’t the same, so take a look at your’s. Sometimes you need to squeeze the sides or remove a small clip. Here’s a video to help you remove two different types of wipers: Read more

Auto Cup Holder Extender | Pretty Handy Girl

Auto Cup Holder Extender | Pretty Handy Girl

Do you have a solid cup holder in your car that doesn’t hold all size bottles and cups? The console cup holder in our older Honda CRV has been a constant source of frustration for myself and Pretty Handsome Guy. When we drive around a corner the larger water bottles will inevitably tumble. Finally, I got tired of our bottles tipping and spilling on turns.

Auto Cup Holder Extender | Pretty Handy Girl

Auto Cup Holder Extender

I found the solution in the plumbing aisle at Lowe’s! This plumbing part has solved our problem by becoming an auto cup holder extender.

Auto Cup Holder Extender | Pretty Handy Girl

It’s called a 3″ PVC Cleanout Adapter Fitting and it costs less than $4. Simply run a line of hot glue onto the bottom of the fitting and set it onto the car cup holder.

Auto Cup Holder Extender | Pretty Handy Girl

Now we can take turns like a race car driver and not worry about those taller bottles and drinks spilling.

Auto Cup Holder Extender | Pretty Handy Girl

Do you have any other auto tips or tricks for keeping your auto clean? I could use a little more help in that department.

PHGFancySign

 

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End the bottles tipping and spilling on turns in your car with this DIY cup holder extender! | Pretty Handy Girl #prettyhandygirl #DIY

DIY Headlight Restoration | Pretty Handy Girl

I have found that most of my driving is done when it’s dark outside.  I get up pretty early to go into the firehouse and on my drive in I tend to notice things around me, things like how bright my headlights are compared to other vehicles on the road. What surprises me is how many vehicles have cruddy looking headlights.  Nowadays most headlights are made from plastic.  It’s cheaper and more durable than it’s glass predecessor, but the disadvantage is that it’s prone to oxidation.  In simpler terms,  over time, ultraviolet light from the sun, breaks down the plastic, causing a hazy or yellow film to appear.  It lessens the effectiveness of your headlights and during the day, makes your car look bad.  Luckily, 3M Car Care makes a DIY Headlight Restoration Kit to get your headlights looking as good as new!

Materials:
(contains affiliate links)

The Kit contains:

  • 1- Disc Pad Holder
  • 1- 3M™ Automotive Masking Tape
  • 1- 3M™ Soft Interface Pad
  • 6- 3M™ Sanding Discs (depending on your headlight condition, you may need more than 6)
  • 4- 3M™ Finishing Discs
  • 1- 3M™ Trizact™ Disc
  • 1- 3M™ Headlight Lens Polish
  • 1-Buffing Pad
  • Headlight Protectant (not shown in this tutorial)

What Else You’ll Need:

  • Drill
  • Spray Bottle and Water
  • Several clean rags
  • Safety Glasses

Here’s the condition of the headlight that I’ll be using in my restoration.

Read more